Very broad brush here on liberals. Liberals - as opposed to the "left liberals" you refer to - actually understand human nature better that conservatives. Their predictions tend to more optimistic but "liberal" societies produce a more flourishing, happier, safer society - again painting with a broad brush. Liberalism, as a political tendency, tends to be more accurate in its predictions of how incentives work in economics and social control. When liberal societies become unsafe - NYC in the 70's, say - liberals are generally better at self-correction - Koch. Not perfect - see Dinkins v. 1st Giuliani administration - but it goes with the territory. Conservatives have a tougher time self-correcting - also goes with the territory. Conservatives are a necessary corrective when liberals are in thrall to interest groups, but not sufficient, in other words.
Very broad brush here on liberals. Liberals - as opposed to the "left liberals" you refer to - actually understand human nature better that conservatives. Their predictions tend to more optimistic but "liberal" societies produce a more flourishing, happier, safer society - again painting with a broad brush. Liberalism, as a political tendency, tends to be more accurate in its predictions of how incentives work in economics and social control. When liberal societies become unsafe - NYC in the 70's, say - liberals are generally better at self-correction - Koch. Not perfect - see Dinkins v. 1st Giuliani administration - but it goes with the territory. Conservatives have a tougher time self-correcting - also goes with the territory. Conservatives are a necessary corrective when liberals are in thrall to interest groups, but not sufficient, in other words.
It's so refreshing to find a fellow Democrat who says stuff that actually makes sense to me.