The Meaning of Words Change Over Time

[Keith Broaders]

The meaning of words change over time and the meaning of the word liberal today is not what it once was. Originally a liberal was a person that favored the rights of the individual over the rights of groups. A classic liberal believed that rights were an endowment from God and that governments were created to protect these rights. Most of the Founding Fathers would have identified themselves as Classical Liberals.

A Conservative, on the otherhand believes in maintaing the status quo. The conservatives of the 1860’s believed that blacks and women should not be allowed to vote, own property or serve on juries. They believed that a strong aggressive military was necessary to preserve our freedom.

A Classic Liberal would tend to believe in aligning with sound principles rather than political parties. A Classic Liberal would have nothing to do with today’s Democratic Party nor the Republican Party which promote the principles of collectivism.

Thomas Jefferson was a classic liberal while Alexander Hamilton was a Conservative. The American Revolution was not a Conservative idea nor was the abolition of slavery. Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and FDR were not Liberals, they were Progressives that wanted to increase the governmental power at the expense of individual liberty.