Crossposted from Sideshow:
Avedon, on Atrios, you asked for a definition of liberal philosophy. This would be my answer:
The core goal of liberalism is to maximize the freedom of everyone. This requires both limiting the excesses of the powerful and ensuring that the powerless are not denied the tools by which they may achieve their full human potential. Governments are instituted and laws are passed not to grant, but to serve and protect fundamental human rights. They must be as small as possible to achieve those goals, but large enough and independent enough to confront the powerful. Fundamental human rights cannot be enumerated, but are recognizable as whatever actions are required to act to keep us alive, free, and able to follow our hearts. Among ones that are clearly recognized are:
* The rights to associate with whoever we like, believe whatever we like, and say what we like, so long as our actions do not injure others;
* No one may be pressured to believe any particular doctrine, nor may the power of the state be used to promote one doctrine or suppress another;
* Our elected representatives must submit themselves to any non-violent criticism of their policies or their actions;
* We have the right when we do wrong to be charged openly and given a fair playing field on which to defend ourselves in a timely trial;
* The law must be neutral, favoring neither rich nor poor, powerful nor powerless, but always acting according to consistent principles;
* News must circulate freely, and all viewpoints must be heard;
* Our homes may not be invaded, nor our possessions or private expressions of beliefs searched without due process;Liberalism has wandered very far afield of what it really is. For example, a dedication to small government could be achieved by reducing the size of the powerful interests which government is designed to keep in check. This is, I think, a better solution than making government bigger. Or, for example, if true non-profits competed against insurance companies, that would be an acceptable and non-governmental solution to the health insurance crisis (I’ve always wondered why the doctors didn’t create such entities; perhaps now they will). Modern, complex states do need government. The right is kidding itself if it thinks that there can be high standards of living and limited government. But my vision of liberalism involves a lot less government, especially that part of government that starts and wages wars.