The funny part about this picture is that in Europe both would be considered to be right. Liberalism, is considered to be a right wing ideology in Europe. The Republicans would be considered to be a populist, nationalistic, conservative, christian and far right party. If they would be part of the European Union the US would have sanctions because they don't care for certain liberties, human rights and because they always had huge problems with their budget and therefor endanger the Euro. Of course they wouldn't be part of the EU in first place. Because of the death penalty and how they treat human rights. That's why they just have an observer status Council of Europe (not directly related to the EU). Just get me wrong, this isn't meant to be critique. I am just curious about how an US citizen thinks about these things. Bitcoin appears to have a community that cares about and respects different ideologies and philosophies. Therefor I hope to receive a neutral answer to these questions. Do they consider Europe to be left and do they really think democrats are left? What do they think about stuff like human rights? Oh and what I never understood is whether they still consider Russia or China to be communist states.
No, this is incorrect. Im from Europe. The word "liberal" in the USA changed in meaning at the beginning of the XX century. From that moment the ideas represented by the word liberal until then, became classic liberalism, as opposed to the new meaning, progressive "liberalism". In Europe the word did not change.
So basically european liberalism is the original liberal ideas, and are completely different from progressive "liberalism", that is the default for liberal in the USA. European liberalism is the same as classic liberalism. Libertarianism is the USA evolution of classic liberal ideas. Rothbard used the word libertarianism, because the progressives had highjacked the word liberalism.
I dont think I made myself very clear so:
- USA liberals = progressive "liberals" = european socialdemocrats.
- USA libertarians ~ USA classic liberals = european liberals
USA liberalism is not real liberalism. The word got highjacked.
What it is (was?) true is that european conservatives tend to be more authoritarian than USA conservatives (although I believe this is changing and the USA conservaties have become more like their european counterparts during the last decades, neocons). But it is also true that european lefties are also more authoritarian than the USA lefties. The USA has the (real) liberal influence and so it is (was?) less authoritarian in general.
PS: The UE is a authoritarian monster and does not respect civil liberties. The EU tried to implement Internet survailance and only popular protest stopped it. They have forced the EU countries to implement draconian airport controls, etc...
