humanities.philosophy.objectivism

Agent Cooper wrote:

> "Neoliberal" was a term that became current in the US in the 80s, I
> believe, to refer to liberals who had discovered the joys of the
> market.

Neoliberal, neoconservative. This stuff just seems like layers and
layers of bullshit to me. Round and round. The reference that always
somes to mind is from South Park: "But Dad, isn't that Fascism?" "No,
it's not, Son -- because we don't *call* it that."

Isn't all this exactly backwards? You make it sound as if it means
"Newly Liberal," which would refer to the other way around: somebody
previously conservative who had recently discovered the joys of
compulsory taxpayer funded healthcare and intergalactic bussing.

At least "Neo-Conservative," as far as I (don't really) understand it,
seems to refer to somebody who was previously leftish but has recently
come around to the enjoyment of something generally viewed as a
"conservative" value.

> Paradigms are Clinton, the Democratic Leadership Council, etc.

Right. Not Milton Friedman though.

> From there, the term took on a life of its own, and consequently the
> Powers That Be often refer to anyone who is pro-market but short of
> being a full blown libertarian gets called a "neoliberal."

Just goofy.

> Here's an
> example of the usage in context:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordoliberalism
>
> By contrast, "Classical Liberal" is a term libertarians like to use
> for themselves, but the Powers That Be

We *are* talking about the Black Thorn here, right?

> have declined to go along.