Liberalism is the belief in freedom and equal rights generally associated with such thinkers as John Locke and Montesquieu. Liberalism as a political movement spans the better part of the last four centuries, though the use of the word liberalism to refer to a specific political doctrine did not occur until the 19th century. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England laid the foundations for the development of the modern liberal state by constitutionally limiting the power of the monarch, affirming parliamentary supremacy, passing the Bill of Rights and establishing the principle of 'consent of the governed'. The 1776 Declaration of Independence of the United States of America founded the nascent republic on liberal principles without the encumbrance of hereditary aristocracy; the declaration stated that "all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among these life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," echoing John Locke's phrase "life, liberty, and property".

At the turn of the 20th century, liberalism was on the ascendant. The bastion of autocracy, the Russian czar, was o*******wn in the liberal revolution of 1917 and the Allied victory in the First World War and the collapse of four empires, seemed to mark the triumph of liberalism across the European continent, not just among the victorious allies, but also in Germany and the newly created states of Eastern Europe. Militarism, as typified by Germany was defeated and discredited. As Blinkhorn argues, the liberal themes were ascendant in terms of “cultural pluralism, religious and ethnic toleration, national self-determination, free-market economics, representative and responsible government, free trade, unionism, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes through a new body, the League of Nations.”

The social liberal program launched by President Roosevelt in the United States, the New Deal, proved very popular with the American public. In 1933, when FDR came into office, the unemployment rate stood at roughly 25 percent. The size of the economy, measured by the gross national product, had fallen to half the value it had in early 1929. The e*******l victories of FDR and the Democrats precipitated a deluge of deficit spending and public works programs. In 1940, the level of unemployment had fallen by 10 points to around 15 percent. Additional state spending and the gigantic public works program sparked by the Second World War eventually pulled the United States out of the Great Depression. From 1940 to 1941, government spending increased by 59 percent, the gross domestic product skyrocketed 17 percent, and unemployment fell below 10 percent for the first time since 1929. By 1945, after vast government spending, public debt stood at a staggering 120 percent of GNP, but unemployment had been effectively eliminated. Most nations that emerged from the Great Depression did so with deficit spending and strong intervention from the state.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the number of democracies around the world was about the same as it had been forty years before. After 1945, liberal democracies spread very quickly. Even as late as 1974, roughly 75 percent of all nations were considered dictatorial, but now more than half of all countries are democracies. Liberalism faces recurring challenges, however, including conservatism and religious fundamentalism in several regions throughout the world. The rise of China is also challenging Western liberalism with a combination of authoritarian government and economic reforms that preceded democratization.

Liberalism did not emerge as a doctrine of how to simply govern people, but rather, as a technology of governing that arose from the timeless critique of excessive government - “a search for a technology of government that could address the recurrent complaint that authorities were governing too much.”

Despite all the good Liberalism gave the world, it now has become the opposite of it's history in the US. When did "Liberals" = "Big Government, Taxpayer Waste, Over Spending, Deficits"?

It appears to me that after most of the World recognized Liberalism as the most practical and successful path to social and economic freedom, the US Conservative party began noting all the problems that too much Liberalism impacts.

And rightly so. Without a balance, both Liberalism and Conservatism reap diminishing returns. Conservatism led civilization through Ancient History and up to the Renaissance. It had a purpose to promote consistency, service to the state above self-interests. With that, it was cool to work for the common good rather than go off on your own. The biggest advances in civilization happened with conservative authoritarianism. Sure, there wasn't much liberty, but there were many great roads built, aqueducts, plumbing, mass farming, fishing and livestock with a conservative authoritarian structure that emphasized s***ery and sacrifice of individual liberty for the good of the state.

However, it was eventually realized how profit can motivate individuals to freely and liberally serve the community without a conservative authority demanding it. The enlightenment occurred and so did the industrial revolution. But after the success of FDR and LBJ liberalism, Ronald Reagan countered:'

- "Government is not the answer to the problem. Government is the problem."
- "The most frightening words in the English language are 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you.'"

However, the historical debt and S&L fiasco following his term led a majority to question that counter. After the economic success from the liberal Clinton terms and in retrospect of the GWB failed economic plans that were conservative philosophies and included Social Security "Reform", it is no wonder the liberal socialist BHO was elected to two terms.

But after two terms of BHO and an economic growth that may as well be considered "FLAT", is liberalism going to be embraced?

As long as economics are considered, conservatives will emphasize the need to change while liberals will make an argument how the economy is fine but the problem is we need more Unions and government intervention to control a minimum wage, overtime and economic growth.

Liberalism is the belief in freedom and equal rights generally associated with such thinkers as John Locke and Montesquieu. Liberalism as a political movement spans the better part of the last four centuries, though the use of the word liberalism to refer to a specific political doctrine did not occur until the 19th century. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England laid the foundations for the development of the modern liberal state by constitutionally limiting the power of the monarch, affirming parliamentary supremacy, passing the Bill of Rights and establishing the principle of 'consent of the governed'. The 1776 Declaration of Independence of the United States of America founded the nascent republic on liberal principles without the encumbrance of hereditary aristocracy; the declaration stated that "all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among these life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," echoing John Locke's phrase "life, liberty, and property".

At the turn of the 20th century, liberalism was on the ascendant. The bastion of autocracy, the Russian czar, was o*******wn in the liberal revolution of 1917 and the Allied victory in the First World War and the collapse of four empires, seemed to mark the triumph of liberalism across the European continent, not just among the victorious allies, but also in Germany and the newly created states of Eastern Europe. Militarism, as typified by Germany was defeated and discredited. As Blinkhorn argues, the liberal themes were ascendant in terms of “cultural pluralism, religious and ethnic toleration, national self-determination, free-market economics, representative and responsible government, free trade, unionism, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes through a new body, the League of Nations.”

The social liberal program launched by President Roosevelt in the United States, the New Deal, proved very popular with the American public. In 1933, when FDR came into office, the unemployment rate stood at roughly 25 percent. The size of the economy, measured by the gross national product, had fallen to half the value it had in early 1929. The e*******l victories of FDR and the Democrats precipitated a deluge of deficit spending and public works programs. In 1940, the level of unemployment had fallen by 10 points to around 15 percent. Additional state spending and the gigantic public works program sparked by the Second World War eventually pulled the United States out of the Great Depression. From 1940 to 1941, government spending increased by 59 percent, the gross domestic product skyrocketed 17 percent, and unemployment fell below 10 percent for the first time since 1929. By 1945, after vast government spending, public debt stood at a staggering 120 percent of GNP, but unemployment had been effectively eliminated. Most nations that emerged from the Great Depression did so with deficit spending and strong intervention from the state.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the number of democracies around the world was about the same as it had been forty years before. After 1945, liberal democracies spread very quickly. Even as late as 1974, roughly 75 percent of all nations were considered dictatorial, but now more than half of all countries are democracies. Liberalism faces recurring challenges, however, including conservatism and religious fundamentalism in several regions throughout the world. The rise of China is also challenging Western liberalism with a combination of authoritarian government and economic reforms that preceded democratization.

Liberalism did not emerge as a doctrine of how to simply govern people, but rather, as a technology of governing that arose from the timeless critique of excessive government - “a search for a technology of government that could address the recurrent complaint that authorities were governing too much.”

Despite all the good Liberalism gave the world, it now has become the opposite of it's history in the US. When did "Liberals" = "Big Government, Taxpayer Waste, Over Spending, Deficits"?

It appears to me that after most of the World recognized Liberalism as the most practical and successful path to social and economic freedom, the US Conservative party began noting all the problems that too much Liberalism impacts.

And rightly so. Without a balance, both Liberalism and Conservatism reap diminishing returns. Conservatism led civilization through Ancient History and up to the Renaissance. It had a purpose to promote consistency, service to the state above self-interests. With that, it was cool to work for the common good rather than go off on your own. The biggest advances in civilization happened with conservative authoritarianism. Sure, there wasn't much liberty, but there were many great roads built, aqueducts, plumbing, mass farming, fishing and livestock with a conservative authoritarian structure that emphasized s***ery and sacrifice of individual liberty for the good of the state.

However, it was eventually realized how profit can motivate individuals to freely and liberally serve the community without a conservative authority demanding it. The enlightenment occurred and so did the industrial revolution. But after the success of FDR and LBJ liberalism, Ronald Reagan countered:'

- "Government is not the answer to the problem. Government is the problem."
- "The most frightening words in the English language are 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you.'"

However, the historical debt and S&L fiasco following his term led a majority to question that counter. After the economic success from the liberal Clinton terms and in retrospect of the GWB failed economic plans that were conservative philosophies and included Social Security "Reform", it is no wonder the liberal socialist BHO was elected to two terms.

But after two terms of BHO and an economic growth that may as well be considered "FLAT", is liberalism going to be embraced?

As long as economics are considered, conservatives will emphasize the need to change while liberals will make an argument how the economy is fine but the problem is we need more Unions and government intervention to control a minimum wage, overtime and economic growth.

Today's liberalism is more like c*******m with all this Bull S**t of the disguise and pretense of nobility and caring in the Marxist propaganda of political correctness, social justice, economic justice, environmentalism and groupthink that tries to crush and shut down the opposition. Going further and further left until it ends up all the way in c*******m is what is the agenda is of those who lead it. Let us not forget that Abraham Lincoln who freed the s***es and Martin Luther King were both registered Republicans. There is nothing noble and admirable in the history of liberalism either.