Liberalism
During my early morning web browsing I came across one of the best summaries of liberalism I’ve ever read:
At its core, liberalism is about the dignity and worth of every individual. It welcomes a society of choices about what to think, what to do, what to buy, what to be. Private property ensures the freedom of the individual in his private sphere. Free enterprise allows him to buy and sell on the terms he thinks best. Free markets and secure property rights allow him to dream and to innovate and to bring into the world new products, services and works of art.
A liberal society does not punish success with confiscatory taxes or reward rivals with grasping regulation or heaping subsidies. Nor does it forget the unfortunate, to whom it offers freedom, hope, the balm of individual compassion and a wealth of choices to try anew.
That sums it up. The other point which should be taken is:
We find that support for liberal ideas–free trade, social tolerance, economic liberty–extends far beyond Europe’s Liberal parties. … We find that liberalism has friends and enemies in every party. We hope to unite its friends and persuade its enemies.
No liberal political party is infallible. The LibDems included. We have some illiberal policies, just as other liberal parties do.
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June 12th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Not exactly a summary, but rather like the Herbert Samuel quote: “Liberalism stands for Liberty; its very name declares it. But liberty is not to be won merely by standing aside. Poverty fetters; ignorance hampers; disease incapacitates; privilege oppresses; war terrorises. To attack these is to be the champion of freedom.”