Liberalism

Although the term Liberalism has many different definitions in different eras and different settings, the following is offered as a definition for 21st Century American Liberals.

  1. Liberalism believes that the role of government is both to equip each of its citizens for prosperity and to secure each of its citizens against adversity -- seeking, but not mandating, equal levels of prosperity and adversity for all.
  2. Liberalism particularly values and trusts segments of society whose purpose is the betterment of individuals and their circumstances, such as 
    • academia, 
    • unions, 
    • government, 
    • the press.
  3. Liberalism focuses on guarding human rights.
  4. Liberalism seeks collective and cooperative solutions to societal problems.
  5. Liberalism looks to other countries for examples of how to improve society.