Take it easy on him -- he can't imagine anyone being further left than a 'progressive'.

K

Don't forget the most damning and horrific title of "socialist"

Eh. If you’re in the know, then yes, you’re correct, but your average American probably doesn’t even understand that there’s any distinction at all, and so for those people “liberal” is the catch-all term for progressives.

If someone who actually understands politics calls me a liberal, I’m gonna protest. If my dumbfuck uncle calls me a liberal, I’ll let it lie, because that’s as close as he’s reasonably going to get to understanding my political views.

Basically in the Midwest anyone who is not conservative/GOP is called liberal. From center to Marx himself, all libs. It is confusing being on Lemmy where classic liberalism is used.

K

That may be true for you, but not most Americans. Your corporeal body may exist in the US, but you live online.

My god, I'm merely explaining the original comment someone else made.

I know the pedantry is expected, but maybe we can take a step back and read intent before smashing faces into our respective keyboards?

You see that explanation you gave? I'm going to assume it's correct.

But that doesn't change the fact that those terms get used as synonyms by a lot of people in the USA.

And besides that point... I was only trying to explain what the original comment was pointing to.

Liberals want freedom of some kind: liberalism; liberty. That may be freedom for individuals or for companies. It may be a negative "freedom from interference" or positive "freedom to achieve ones desires". That variety is what gives it its many practical meanings

Never argued that it was more correct...

I'm merely explaining the original comment someone else made.

I know the pedantry is expected, but maybe we can take a step back and read intent before smashing faces into our respective keyboards?