2026-09-24 16:11 UTC
Replies (3)
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@kylie_kraft@lemmy.world 2026-09-24 16:37
That’s because there’s not one single definition, especially on Lemmy. To most people in the US, it’s anyone politically left of center. Primarily Democrats. To leftists, a liberal is anyone who espouses capitalism. Republicans are liberals because they fucking love capitalism. Democrats are liberals because they believe that, despite its faults, capitalism is the best system and that it can be improved with reform and regulation. Since Lemmy abounds in leftists, you will see this usage a lot. Finally, to conservatives, liberal is a slur. It’s the OG woke. It means anyone we don’t like. Conservative politicians even call each other liberals, especially during primary season.
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@Hapankaali@lemmy.world 2026-09-24 16:44
In US language, “liberal” is used pejoratively by people who call themselves conservative but are actually against conservatism to describe people who are not liberals, but are instead less conservative than the actual liberals, who are found primarily in the conservative wing of the Democratic Party. Hope that clears it up.
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@Rhaedas@fedia.io 2026-09-24 16:23
From my understanding a lot of the issue positions that a liberal and a leftist are shared. They want similar changes. Where they disagree is in how to bring about those changes. Liberal wants to use the systems in place to gradually shift, leftists are more radical and wanting quick change through various means. Centrist is what a lot of the Democrats are now, still wanting much of the liberal stance, continuing to not only want to use traditional means to get it, but also caving in often or using the excuse of working across the aisle with their counterparts as why much doesn't get done. I don't know if there's anything between leftist and liberal, maybe progressive? It is also a slur, much like boomer and millennial have become, not meaning anything beyond "different than me".