Defensor liberalismi
@defensorliberalismi-blog
I should, perhaps, begin this description of my blog by explaining the title “defensor liberalismi”. It means, quite simply, “defender of liberalism” with the remainder of the blog’s title rendered as “A daily diary of my thoughts on matter of politics, law, and economics”. Why the Latin title? In part because I studied Latin as both an undergraduate and graduate student and I have retained a deep love of the language, in part because it evokes the pamphleteers and polemicists of the Early Modern period through the eighteen century who adopted Latin or classical noms de plume. Before proceeding further, I should define what I mean by “liberalism”. While I find much of merit in classical political, though not economic, liberalism – Mill’s On Liberty remains a touchstone for my thinking – I associate myself with the New Deal or welfare state Liberalism which had its origins in the “New Liberalism” of the turn of the last century, and which was propelled forward by the exigencies of first the Great Depression and then the Second World War and ensuring Cold War. The project pursued by New Deal or welfare state Liberals, in my view, was to marry the protection of political freedom and individual liberty to a greater measure of social justice by reconceptualising the state not as the presumptive enemy of freedom (though it certainly can be such - as is true of any collective entity), but as an agent for the empowerment of the individual which fosters substantive equality of opportunity and a minimum level of material security in defence of human dignity. It was this vision of Liberalism which was wielded against fascism, communism, and lesser forms of authoritarianism, in the great ideological clashes of the twentieth century, demonstrating that security from the ravages of economic crisis did not necessitate the negation of personal liberty, and that personal liberty did not demand submission to the vagaries of the market or the grotesque inequalities of untrammelled capitalism. To put it another way: Keynes, not Hayek; Rawls, not Nozick; Krugman, not Lucas; Mill, not Burke; FDR, not Reagan; Trudeau, not Manning. Nonetheless, though I find both conservatism and classical economic liberalism (or its neo-liberal successor) to be appalling philosophies of government, they are, in my estimation, useful critiques of the excesses and trespasses of New Deal Liberalism, and it is often only through the eyes of our opponents that we see our own failures which must be remedied – so we might then beat the bastards. Last, why this blog? Across Western Europe and North America we have seen the rise of conservative parties in the aftermath of a “Great Recession” unleashed by a financial crisis which should have disgraced and discredited their deregulatory and free market fundamentalist policies. Everywhere the welfare state seems to be under assault in the name of an “austerity” which serves as a convenient vehicle for a right-wing ideological crusade, while we tolerate levels of income inequality and a concentration of wealth in the hands of a small plutocracy such as we have not witnessed since the Great Depression. And everywhere we Liberals are in retreat, in disarray, and in despair. We need to fight back, we need to reclaim our true voice and transform public discourse. The pursuit of true equality of opportunity, medical care and pharmacare for all irrespective of wealth, an end to homelessness and child poverty, the regulation of markets to save – not destroy – capitalism from its own excesses and systemic weaknesses, etc. – in short the unyielding pursuit of a just society – by means of an activist state which empowers citizens are not marks of shame to be concealed, but the foundations of a proud vision and a noble policy agenda to be aggressively asserted and implemented. Every citizen has a voice and every citizen who is outraged by our present circumstances must raise it in protest. Here, and elsewhere, I raise mine for a fair, progressive, and liberal society. The need is great. The battle is upon us. The hour for passivity has long since passed. It’s time to fight. Post scriptum: If you’re wondering about the profile picture, I’m a fan of Star Trek and the inimitable William Shatner’s expression pretty much captures how I feel when confronted by the fear-mongering and myriad inanities of conservatives: “Khaaaann – servatives!"