Modern political liberalism finds its roots in many threads of thought through out history, but its current form is based largely out of the political movements of the late 1700's. The Declaration of Independence, Adam Smiths Wealth of Nations, and even later works like John Stuart Mill's Principles would be considered foundational to modern liberalism. Its important to note that this nascent liberalism left out many classes of people from the definition of, you know, people. Specifically, women, first Nations peoples, Africans, etc, were not afforded the freedoms and liberties espoused in documents like the US Constitution or Declaration of Independence. This is important to note, because its a common thread throughout the evolution of liberalism into its current form, that in practice, it makes an effort to split and qualify individuals (as opposed to pursuing universality in its policies). Liberalism is fundamentally about the definition of liberties, and the protection of those liberties from the government. Not just individual liberties like voting, but also property rights, rights of free association, rights of participation, etc. Its incredibly important, however, to point out the massive blind-spots this political philosophy had towards the 'others' in society. This aspect of liberalism is just as foundational as its aspirational goals of liberty.
I think its pretty safe to argue that liberalism is the foundational political identity of the American body politic, in that it underpins both Conservatism (as foil, and thus in turn helps define neoconservatism) and Neoliberalism. American Conservatism is Luigi to American Liberalisms Mario, while Neo-conservatism and Neo-liberalism are Waluigi and Wario, respectively. Liberalism is the main character, and these other works exist almost exclusively through contrast or opposition.
I think the meme actually makes a good point. But knee-jerk liberals on Lemmy can't hang.
Who cares? Hanging out in weird niche communities having a circle jerk about who the "true" leftists are is no better than being a liberal. Buncha feel good crap that accomplishes nothing.
It's not a circle jerk, but the collective realization of who the genocides and apartheid enthusiasts are in our government, and how intrinsically it's the political ideology that tried to destroy representative democracy and not uphold it.
Republicans are classical liberals, democrats are neo-liberals, the tories in England, Macrons government, etc.
Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Raegen were liberals.
The CIA was invented by liberals.
It's not a circle jerk, but a realization of why the power structure and institutions need to be replaced with something left wing, for once.
And yet I have never seen anyone on Lemmy actually ever suggest doing anything. Its all just self congratulatory moralizing and zero action. A great big ol' circle jerk.
It matters because liberalism is inherently supportive of capitalism, a force of unchecked destruction that is incredibly harmful to the working class and indeed the entire world. To fight this requires you to reject liberalism. There is no other way. Any time you see 'leftist' you can just sub in 'anti-capitalist' if that's something you're more familiar with.
If we're both going the same direction from the current state of things, then it does not matter yet. Liberals are not happy with how conservative things are right now, so we have ground we can cover together. Cover that ground, then start fighting them