The Human Condition: The truth about liberalism

By Daniel Schnee on September 29, 2021.

Years ago I volunteered for my local small town election. As a young Liberal I was excited to help spread the good word, since my party was clearly the best choice ever for anything, ever. I was young and idealistic, what could go wrong?

While attending the first volunteer meeting things started to feel wrong. The campaign manager talked at length about turning the local scene “purple” by gaining a few more red Liberal votes in our decidedly blue Conservative riding. Liberal victory was not possible, so a mixed vote was the goal. While she spoke a homeless man peered in through the glass door, sat down and gazed longingly at the spread of sandwiches laid out for the volunteers. No one thought to offer him a crumb. Giving speeches about the federal benefits of party-building while the local hungry literally sit at the door for a half hour, staring at your free food? The scene was more than a little offensive. I immediately walked out the door and vowed to stop being Liberal.

Now that was certainly a youthful thing to do. I should have reminded myself that one campaign manager does not represent all party members. That is not fair. But the more homework I did the more I felt I could not support their candidates due to their actions, or in this case, inaction.

A greater problem has arisen though. These days, to say that I ceased being Liberal is seen as an admission of stupidity or wickedness, like I am declaring myself to be a party-first anti-science zealot, though I am deeply critical of Kenney Conservatism and hold a Ph.D.

These days liberal-minded people are considered good by default, while conservative types are intrinsically bad people who occasionally agree with good Liberal ideas. But I and other non-Liberals also strive to be, and are, good people. Take away names or titles and what remains? Values: in other words, a person’s character.

In truth I did not leave the Liberals, they left me. They went where I could not follow without betraying my belief in putting the needs of the people over the needs of the party. One justifiably purples an area by offering a superior version of Life, socio-economic uplift for all. But there was no evidence their politics would reduce poverty, increase the minimum wage, help small businesses, and such, and they showed no desire to do so in my town. Their efforts were merely cosmetic.

Thus, as impossible a goal as it may seem, I seek character in politics: demanding it within myself as much as our Prime Minister. Honesty, respect for others, responsible action, integrity; politicians are not exactly known for cherishing these values. But we are still correct to demand character from those who say they have it. For the truth of Liberalism is the truth of Conservatism: what we value defines our name, not vice versa.

As I left I took some of the sandwiches out of the campaign headquarters and gave them to the homeless man, for ‘feeding the poor’ is a “party” we should all strive to be members of. And truthfully? I am not stupid or evil because I call myself Conservative while doing so.

Dr. Daniel Schnee is an anthropologist who studies Japanese creative culture

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