Actual liberals aren't really a prominent political force at this point. The culture war is between conservatives and progressives, and, contrary to popular opinion, the latter is not synonymous with liberalism - indeed, on some issues (freedom of speech being a prominent one) they are in opposition.

I think most people in the US are, on some practical level, actual liberals. We can’t see it in the way a fish doesn’t see water. But I think mostly people think of themselves as accepting of others (while not wanting their own freedom of association impinged on). I think a lot of political disagreement shows up where liberal principles collide, like two people’s freedom of expression bumping into each other. Then it becomes a wrestling match for each side to get their position seen as the liberal one.

If people on the US were really liberal (in the original "capitalism of the free" sense), racism wouldn't even be an issue. People wouldn't care so much about race, and your genetics would be more as a "fun fact" rather than some central piece of your identity.

Also, they wouldn't care about atheists so much. Liberals may not be atheists themselves but they would be very detached from religion and "who whorships who". People wouldn't take religion so seriously.

The US is more like a bunch of conservatives trying to be liberal until their own beliefs trump liberal theory.

Which is why we say that we hope you get everything you voted for. Because it will back fire on you first. It always has, and it always will, not our fault you can't learn from your mistakes.

Is that a quote? I'm not American.

It isn’t a quote really, just a somewhat common sentiment. People are really frustrated with some of the voting patterns in the US.

They voted for a bunch of horrible people to do horrible stuff, which consequentially will negatively affect those voters the most.

> If people on the US were really liberal (in the original "capitalism of the free" sense), racism wouldn't even be an issue.

These labels dont matter when your jobs are going away though.

But that's a consequence of the global market, not because of immigration. Your wage is competing with the rest of the world.

And if there's a country capable of the same productivity with cheaper salaries, then it's expected for the company to expand overseas.

As opposed to say the former who are on a book banning spree and openly threatening the media for simply making fun of their dear leader? This idea that those shouting loudest about “free speech” actually give a shit about it is really one of the most nakedly disingenuous things I’ve seen in a long time.

I think it's a false dichotomy: both sides pretend to care about free speech and other "classic liberal" values, and both sides' actions usually aren't aligned with this at all.

The side that has the largest gap between stated goals and actual policies then proceeds to lose the election.

Exactly, and expecting every position needs to be clubbed together as left or right wing is also a big issue. eg I am politically liberal on most of the issues, but if I mention one thing for which I am not on their camp I suddenly become far right.

Really kinda depends on what that one thing is though don't you think.

Yeah, we’re being abstract, but it is a sort of important detail, haha.

Every time I see someone mention this sort of enlightened centrism online, that everyone assumes they’re far right all of a sudden for that one unmentionable idea they had, they always just leave it at “trust me bro.”