What's the difference between a liberal and a leftist?

[InsecureLivesMatter]

Nothing, they are the same

Liberals are leftist, except for classic liberals

Libertarians/paleocons are the only real liberals

Huge difference between libs and lefties

[msmissydc]

Depends where you ask this question I would say. "left-winged" is a term that came from the french revolution. Where it literally meant sitting left in the parliament. These parties where generally concerned about welfare, social markets and especially strong goverment intervention on markets.

Liberals on the other hand are on the political spectrum neither left or right but on if you look at the spectrum model are the lower half. It is considered the opposite of authoritarian which is its focal point. Because it is about not dictating anything and freedom of the individual they often oppose the ideas of social wellfare or governent interventions.

There are different Ideologies in both of these systems as they are only one axes from two.

In the U. S. I would argue that the democrats are mostly center Liberals with some influences from the left.

While the republicans are much more authoritarian in some specific points and libertarian in other points and political right leaning.

On the other hand the American system is a lot Political Individual driven and as there are only two parties both parties have influences from nearly every direction. They are both in general Liberal though.

[Soteris]

Liberals are more of a centrist than actual "leftist". The only reason they are currently on the same side is because the right wing has moved over the overton window so far that the center ends up on the left side of the political spectrum.

[gorydetails]

Classical liberalism is concerned with individualism and freedom from government. The modern leftist movement is a fascist movement pretending they are doing so under the guise of good manners.

[Vivaldi]

Leftist might be more left?