Liberals- we're not all evil!

For much of the last half-century, an unchallenged dichotomy exists within the minds of students: If you are passionate, idealistic and alternative, you join the left. If you are pragmatic, realistic and economically minded, you join the Liberals.  Socialist ideology is viewed as radical, innovative and one that does something good; its adherents pride themselves in being provocative and individualistic in their fashion, opinions and behaviour. On the contrary, members of the Liberal Club are viewed as dry, dull and conservative. Interested in careers & money, not ideals and rights. Attending classes & wearing blue Ralph Loren polo’s, Chinos and boat shoes.

In part, the Liberals are to blame for this. In many ways, we have retreated from arguing the moral case, and focused on our comparative advantage: economic credentials.  Our success in arguing the economic cases, and the benefits of the consequences of our policies, have resulted in the continued re-election of Federal Liberal governments. Yet, in doing so, we have presented our opponents with the opportunity to create a caricature of who we are, our motivation, and our beliefs and values.

Moving beyond the simplistic rhetoric which dominates most political discourse in this country, Liberals fight, not for a strong economy, but rather for a value far more fundamental – freedom. Underpinning all we do is the firm belief that individuals, and not bureaucrats and politicians, know what is best for them. That communities are formed through voluntary transactions, not coercion. That we are individuals, and not part of a collective.

Contrary to popular stereotype,  it is not believing money is the alpha and omega of life that makes you a Liberal. Rather, believing people should be free to pursue their own goals, and their own happiness, whether it be financial or intangible, that is a true expression of liberalism. In many ways, a fluoro-haired tattooed & multi-pierced goth who is actually attempting to express his individuality and identity, is a truer expression of Liberal ideology than a sheep who accepts the value of nothing but the dollar, and never stands out from the crowd, and those who join the party for the wrong reasons never remain long. It is Liberalism that historically has always been on the side of dynamic innovation and diversity, and, despite popular perception, it remains this way today. That is why we support industrial relations reform; not to give employers greater power, but rather, to truly empower employees by giving them the choice they deserve.  

Liberals do not deny the negative consequences associated with freedom, nor its incompatibility with equality of outcome. But it is sheer folly to brand us as being unconcerned about the fundamental issues of rights. To use an analogy, we do not support the market because it has made people richer, and therefore allowing them to buy different types of clothes. We support the market because it gives people the freedom to experiment with, and forge, their identities. No bureaucrat exercising central planning could come up with the myriad of alternative clothing that people wear around campus. They would never order the production of underground music. They would never produce fluoro hair dye. Through the beauty of unfettered and free transaction – the invisible hand – all this is possible. Yet despite all the positive consequences that such an ideology brings, both in terms of unparalleled choice and variety, as well as previously unheard of economic benefits and spectacular growth in living standards, individual rights ought to be respected in and of themselves - we all possess the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and no government has the right to deprive us of them.

And yet Liberals are constantly derided and attacked by the left with vitriol: we are, apparently, “evil”. Yet what is so wrong with a fundamental belief in freedom? Why does this makes us bad human beings? The blind hatred by left-identifying students never ceases to amaze me, particularly as it is the Liberals who have fought so hard for the right of their opponents to actually exist: free speech was always a classical liberal concept. Ultimately, Liberals and the far left share so many outcomes of our ideal world, and differ primarily on methodology and the road to achieving them.

I concede that Liberal governments do, at times, use the powers of the state in ways that some may consider morally repugnant; the Iraq war and mandatory detention being two examples. In contrast to socialist governments, however, where turning to the coercive power of the state is often considered a first response to any number of social ills, Liberalism is firm in its belief that such powers should only be used as a last resort. Few Liberals dance in glee when viewing the situation in detention centres, however we live in a reality which is dominated not by black and white, but rather by shades of grey. Similarly, when faced with issues such as state-mandated affirmative action, whereby the options available to governments are to restrict freedom, or to permit short-term inequalities of outcome, to choose freedom as a higher goal does not make one sexist, racist &c.  In such cases, there is never an ideal option for governments to choose, but rather the choice is between the least of a litany of evils. While you may disagree with the Liberals priorities, it is simplistic folly to believe that they are caused by anything other than a desire to choose the optimum solution.

To my leftie comrades on campus, while I find most of your policies morally abhorrent and intellectually bankrupt, I nevertheless respect the beliefs and values underpinning them. It is time you do the same. For people who claim to believe in free speech, open dialogue and the exchange of ideas, it is time you abandon your prejudice and bigotry against all those who disagree with you, and stop the childish name calling of “Nazis”, “fascists” and the like. Such ideologies, founded on the twin doctrines of hate and state control, are polar opposites to the individualism at the core of Liberal values – the Liberal Party is not a party of hate, bur rather the party of choice and opportunity. To caricature those you disagree with as uncaring, part of a global conspiracy to screw over the poor, or just plain evil, does little to advance political discourse, and merely highlights your own ignorance. So grow up, check your facts, and you might just realise that Liberals do not eat babies for breakfast!