Know the difference between a lefty liberal and a classical liberal

There are liberals, and then there are liberals

John Locke, image by joeybeatsbrady; Barack Obama, official portrait by Pete Souza

The word “liberal” is a mess. In the midst of full-on Trump and MAGA attacks on anything liberal, many of us are a bit fuzzy on what that means. It’s easy to confuse classical liberalism with contemporary liberalism. Conservatives who recoil at anything “liberal,” should realize that, unless they’re MAGA, they probably believe in classical liberalism.

Contemporary American Liberalism

Most people accurately associate “liberal” with the left side of today’s political spectrum. Liberals believe in equal treatment for all; affordable access to health care and child care; strong public schools; meaningful regulation for health, safety, and fairness; progressive taxation; helping people in need; renewable energy; and climate action. They also strongly support democracy and the rule of law.

You many notice, however, that “liberal” isn’t even much used today on the left. That’s because Newt Gingrich, Fox News, and other right-wing media so demonized the word beginning in the 1990s that by now, even liberals often don’t call themselves liberal. The current preferred monikers for liberal politicians are “progressive” on the farther left and center-left “moderates.” And don’t mistake today’s progressives, like Bernie Sanders and AOC, with the progressives of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, politicians of both parties, e.g. Republican Teddy Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson, who advocated for reform in response to oligarchic abuses of the gilded age. (Wilson’s legacy is complex, as he was also a white supremacist.)

Not our topic today, but the meaning of “conservative” is now very much in flux in the age of Trump and MAGA.

Classical Liberalism

Classical liberalism of the 18th century inspired our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and our entire system of government and market economy. Natural law; inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property; limited government; the rule of law; and a laissez-faire market economy form the core of classical liberalism.

In this view, the individual is paramount; the role of government is to protect individual liberty and rights and prevent state abuses.

The father of classical liberalism, English philosopher John Locke, argued that citizens have inalienable rights and that only the consent of the governed gives government legitimacy. Adam Smith articulated free-market economics.

Classical liberals were fearful of too much democracy, where majorities could override property rights or the rule of law.

Building on British writings, America became the first and model classical liberal nation. From classical liberal principles, James Madison, the chief architect of our Constitution, proposed our government of divided and separated powers and the checks and balances between them.

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Contemporary liberalism now differs from classical liberalism in adopting the welfare state, extensive regulation, and limits on the uses of property. Classical liberalism emphasizes negative rights, the freedom to do what you want without interference, while contemporary liberals prioritize positive rights, like rights to education, health care, and clean water.

Trump and MAGA attacks today on all things liberal often include both kinds of liberal. While they speak most loudly to disparage contemporary liberalism, their actions tear down classical liberal commitments to democracy, the rule of law, free and fair elections, checks and balances, and ethics.

This brief explainer only scratches the surface. Entire volumes are dedicated to tracing and describing classical liberalism, which deserves understanding as the foundation upon which America was created and sustained. We each need to do what we can to ensure that it continues.