Throwing around “liberal” and “conservative” as interchangeable insults ignores distinct political histories. Moving the goalposts (first labeling someone a conservative, then a liberal, and claiming they’re identical) shows a desire to demean rather than engage in real debate. Nuance...

Today, social liberalism supports a social safety net and public education so individuals actually have equal opportunity to exercise freedom, whereas classical liberalism focused strictly on limiting state power. They share roots, but address different barriers to human liberty.

Over time, classical liberalism evolved into social liberalism. Thinkers like John Stuart Mill (On Liberty, 1859) realized unbridled market forces and systemic poverty could restrict individual freedom just as severely as tyrannical governments or oppressive monarchs did.

Liberalism and conservatism are fundamentally different: classical liberalism sought to dismantle entrenched feudal hierarchy to free the individual, while conservative philosophy formed specifically to defend traditional order, social stability, and organic hierarchy.

Crucially, modern conservatism emerged against liberalism. Edmund Burke reacted to the French Revolution in Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790), arguing that rapid liberal reform destroys social stability, organic institutions, and necessary traditions.

Locke is classical liberalism’s ideological father, joined by thinkers like Immanuel Kant (international rights) and Adam Smith (free markets). The earliest figures to turn this into political practice were Enlightenment reformers and leaders of the Atlantic Revolutions.

Liberalism isn't one book; it’s an evolving tradition. John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government (1689) is foundational, arguing that power stems from the consent of the governed, not divine right: establishing basic rights to life, liberty, and property.

Funny. Everything I've read decades ago, and everything I read today, supports what I think. Your idea of conservative liberalism dates from the late 18th century. Times have changed since then. Of course, US politics makes the Left a Center-Right ideology. Open a book? "Ignorance"...smh...

Historically, sure. Today: Liberals favor social progress, government intervention in the economy to reduce inequality, and the evolution of social norms. Conservatives emphasize tradition, free markets, smaller government, and the preservation of established social structures. Kiddo...

Liberal? But you started by saying he was a conservative? ...smh...

Damn...

It's actually my 4th change (web, logistics, accounting, now attempting this), LoL... For me, it was life pressures (no work from last diploma, running out of savings) and tasting the labour of plastering (undeclared renovation work making me discover new skills I didn't know I have).

Putting a spotlight on the wrong thing with this article. This isn't a question of e-whatevers. It's a question of an idiot passing a school bus. Happens just as much with non-e-whatevers. It happened recently in my city with a pedial-cyclist hitting a child getting off a school bus.

I remember my first 10 subs, 😄 Welcome to the club of small motovlog YouTube channels. 👍 I'll sub for 11.