Theos-Talk Archives (August 2002 Message tt00042)

Sometimes for the sake of brevity, I may sacrifice clarity also. So let
me further expound on my understanding of liberalism.

Prior to 1932, the word liberal had quite a different connotation than it
does today. It once stood for laissez-faire economics and limited
government. However, it was also a word that was little used in the U.S. 

It was FDR who redefined the word to denote advocacy of his New Deal
programs and the Welfare State. At the time, Hoover was angered by
Roosevelt's use of the word, but FDR one and the term stuck.

In time, liberal politics took on new "wings," including the civil
rights advocacy (racial integration forced by government, busing,
affirmative action and quotas) and the environmental movement. This is
modern liberalism.

So when I ask Bart if he is using "liberal" in a purist sense, I am
asking if he (and Leon) are harkening back to the pre-1932 definition. Or
is it something else.

And , Ian, my understanding is that Theosophy teaches that solutions to
the world's problems are not to be found in politics. But that doesn't
imply that Theosophists are anarchists! 

Larry

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