I think Mill's famous quote "Not all Conservatives are stupid, but all stupid people are conservatives" is widely misunderstood.
First of all, John Stuart Mills WAS a political conservative by today's common definition. His politics are small government libertarianism with an emphasis on personal responsibility. While he did believe in a social safety net for the destitute, he was opposed to the kind of large scale welfare bureaucracy we see today. In fact, he believed that people who receive welfare should not be allowed to vote because they don't pull their own weight. A direct quote -
"He who cannot by his labor suffice for his own support has no claim to the privilege of helping himself to the money of others."
Anyone holding such a position today would be attacked by liberals as being selfish, reactionary or even "fascist"!
So what to make of his quote about Conservatives? I believe that when John Stuart Mills uses the word "conservative" he is referring to it's broader usage - timid, cautious, or not prone to taking risks.
A side note - You say that liberal has the root word "liberty." Yes, so does the word libertarian. In fact, libertarian thought USED to be call "liberal" thought and libertarians like Thomas Jefferson used to be referred to as "classical liberals" or just liberals. However, the word liberal has been tarnished by LEFTISTS who have distorted the meaning of the world liberal (which meant liberty) into something which now means "big government welfare state."
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I think Mill's famous quote "Not all Conservatives are stupid, but all stupid people are conservatives" is widely misunderstood.
First of all, John Stuart Mills WAS a political conservative by today's common definition. His politics are small government libertarianism with an emphasis on personal responsibility. While he did believe in a social safety net for the destitute, he was opposed to the kind of large scale welfare bureaucracy we see today. In fact, he believed that people who receive welfare should not be allowed to vote because they don't pull their own weight. A direct quote -
"He who cannot by his labor suffice for his own support has no claim to the privilege of helping himself to the money of others."
Anyone holding such a position today would be attacked by liberals as being selfish, reactionary or even "fascist"!
So what to make of his quote about Conservatives? I believe that when John Stuart Mills uses the word "conservative" he is referring to it's broader usage - timid, cautious, or not prone to taking risks.
A side note - You say that liberal has the root word "liberty." Yes, so does the word libertarian. In fact, libertarian thought USED to be call "liberal" thought and libertarians like Thomas Jefferson used to be referred to as "classical liberals" or just liberals. However, the word liberal has been tarnished by LEFTISTS who have distorted the meaning of the world liberal (which meant liberty) into something which now means "big government welfare state."
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