During the counter-culture revolution of the 1960s and 70s, I was a liberal in favor of individual freedom and civil liberties. We respected and accepted opinions different from our own and were open to new ideas. On second thought, I was probably a Libertarian, but since they weren’t allowed in the partisan, two-party system, being a Democrat was as close as I could get to voting for what I believed in.
“We must shape a new world, a world of justice, equality, and peace.” ~ John F. Kennedy
Libertarianism is about maximizing individual liberty and minimizing government. It’s based on the idea that individuals are the best judges of what they want and that the government should be small and stay out of the way. Libertarians oppose government regulations that limit freedom, such as restrictions on free speech and the right to bear arms.
Libertarians advocate for a limited government that respects individual rights and believes individuals should be free to pursue their interests without government interference. The big difference between libertarians and liberals is that libertarians see personal liberty as freedom from government. In contrast, liberals see the government as a tool to enforce their concepts of freedom and equality, which ultimately become neither as their government transforms into an autocracy.
“Liberalism is the transformation of mankind into cattle.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
The present paradigm is similar to the cultural revolution of the 1960s. America is divided, and the rupture is so vast that Americans can’t see across it, the hope that someone might unite the nation has faded. The media relentlessly works to sustain cultural separation, acting as a propaganda outlet and manufacturing stories that support premeditated narratives. Journalistic standards and honesty have been subjugated to blind adherence to ideology.
In 1972, liberals nominated George McGovern for president. He was the worst candidate ever put forward by the Democrats. Richard Nixon destroyed him, coming close to a clean sweep of every electoral vote. Donald J. Trump wasn’t far off in his recent drubbing of Kamala Harris, making her the second worst candidate of the Donkey Party, perhaps 3rd if we consider Hubert Humphrey, another victim of Nixon. After eight years of Nixon and Ford, the Democrats got the big blue machine rolling again and slipped Jimmy Carter past Gerald Ford to claim the White House for a four-year stint.
“A recession is when a neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.” ~ Ronald Reagan
Jimmy was a nice guy with a liberal heart but not much of a leader. The country went to shit under his weak guidance, but there was also a democratic majority in both the House and the Senate which might have had something to do with it. It was so bad that the Republicans took over the leadership in the White House for a dozen years after his failed presidency – The Reagan/Bush era. Through all of that, the Democrats kept their heads screwed on and managed to steal the White House back with Bill Clinton.
Sadly for the Democratic party, they have not kept their heads screwed on this time. It reminds me of the spinning head scene from The Exorcist. Liberals have lost it, torching Teslas, advocating war, and sending AOC and Bernie out on the Oligarchy Tour while Oligarchs fill their pockets with millions of dollars. Their obedience to their globalist masters has destroyed the Party; their approval rating has dropped to the lowest point in history.
Yet, instead of moving closer to the center, they continue to move further to the left, keying Teslas in airport parking lots and screaming tax the billionaires. The Republicans approval rating is actually not much better but they do control all 3 branches of government. The idea of Liberalism in its current manifestation has hit rock bottom, and it looks like no bounce is left. Trump and his team have the Democrats in a chokehold, and they’re not letting go until they tap out. All they are capable of is a sad keening sound. The death knell is sounding for the once-powerful Democratic Party.
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” ~ Abraham Lincoln