scarykitties on 29/10/2009 at 18:35
Liberal arts, also known as the sounds-neat-but-won't-get-me-a-job degree.
Sometimes I worry that my own major, English Information Systems, is of the same type.
But didn't I start this thread about lollipops or something totally different?
Ostriig on 29/10/2009 at 18:49
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
To answer your first question, the short answer is "well, not really." Again, I can only speak for the USA - I know that in Australia, for instance, the Liberal Party is actually the conservative party (so confusing!).
[...]
Thanks for the breakdown! Hm, it's quite pants-on-head reverse of what I know from back home: the Liberals advocate "free-er" markets, reduced government and
especially low taxation, whereas more controlled economics, "helpful" government programs, phased, increasing taxation and so on is argued for moderately by Democrats and strongly by Socialists.
Curious, are the terms "liberal" and "socialist" interchangeable in the States, or is the latter something even more leftist? Honest question, not trying to take a stab if that comes across badly to anyone.
And now you've got me very curious on what it's like in other countries.
Aerothorn on 29/10/2009 at 18:51
From the sound of it, your "liberals" are the name of a party, ala Australia. As such, they are not liberals, simply a party called "liberal," presumably because it was liberal when it was founded but has since shifted.
Wikipedia is a good place to start for conservative/liberal definitions.
Quote Posted by scarykitties
Liberal arts, also known as the sounds-neat-but-won't-get-me-a-job degree.
Not sure this is really fair. I mean, yes, majoring in Poetry doesn't have the same job prospects as majoring in Information Technology (or Turf Management, for that matter, which is a major at the University of Massachusetts). But the point is to learn how to learn - not to acquire specific knowledge but a series of skills and disciplines that allow one to learn and adapt to a variety of jobs, and possess some skills (writing) useful in quite a lot of them.
Also, it's not like we don't have a lot of pre-med/pre-law students at my liberal arts college.
Ostriig on 29/10/2009 at 19:06
Actually, since you mentioned Wikipedia, there is this that might shed a little light on the whole thing:
Quote:
Originially Posted by (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism#Liberal_parties) Wikipedia - LiberalismToday the word "liberalism" is used differently in different countries. (See Liberalism worldwide.) One of the greatest contrasts is between the usage in the United States and usage in the rest of the world, most sharply in Continental Europe.[73] In the US, liberalism is usually understood to refer to social liberalism, as contrasted with conservatism. American liberals endorse regulation for business, a limited social welfare state, and support broad racial, ethnic, sexual and religious tolerance, and thus more readily embrace Pluralism, and affirmative action. In Europe, on the other hand, liberalism is characterized by beliefs in free trade and limited government; it is not only contrasted with conservatism and Christian Democracy, but also with socialism and social democracy. In some countries, European liberals share common positions with Christian Democrats.
Aerothorn on 29/10/2009 at 20:28
Well, that explains the confusion - but if the liberals are for free trade/small government, what are European Conservatives in favor of?
scarykitties on 29/10/2009 at 20:59
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
Well, that explains the confusion - but if the liberals are for free trade/small government, what are European Conservatives in favor of?
Tea and crumpets.
Ostriig on 29/10/2009 at 21:22
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
Well, that explains the confusion - but if the liberals are for free trade/small government, what are European Conservatives in favor of?
Harder for me to relate to that, since Romania hasn't had a genuine "Conservative Party" since WW2, but in current context I'm left with the loosely formed impression their unifying trait would be Euroscepticism of varying degrees. Also, I may be very wrong here, but I get the feel some of them are more likely to go to church and not like gays and videogames.
mudi on 29/10/2009 at 23:04
Quote Posted by scarykitties
Tea and crumpets.
Now there's a political platform I can support.
ShadowXOR on 1/11/2009 at 20:31
Quote Posted by scarykitties
Sure, Macs are great if you like to...and
be an insufferable douchebagSounds like you must be a huge Mac fan.
Sulphur on 1/11/2009 at 20:43
He's* more a fan of huge Macs, apparently. As am I. Don't you just love forced meat? It's even better if it's in a bun. Dee-lish!
*No offense if you're not. I'm basing this assumption off your posting style, kittens.
