Greg Salmela
1 min readMay 23, 2024

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It has been interesting to observe how the Left has shifted away from the values of classical liberalism. Today, these values are often mislabeled as backward, extremist or "far right."

As such, I believe you may have mischaracterized conservatives.

Let’s start with a fair look at conservative views on abortion. Conservatives argue for the sanctity of life and personal responsibility, which align with classical liberalism's core values of individual rights and limited government.

Classical liberalism emphasizes individual rights, and conservatives believe that the right to life is the most fundamental. Protecting the unborn is consistent with safeguarding individual liberties. Conservatives also value personal responsibility, arguing that people should be accountable for their actions, including the decision to engage in behavior that could lead to pregnancy. This promotes autonomy and accountability, key liberal values.

Conservatives defend free speech and religious liberty, aligning with classical liberalism's defense of individual rights. They also advocate for minimal government intervention, supporting a legal framework that protects the unborn while allowing for personal and community-based support systems. This reflects the classical liberal emphasis on limited government and voluntary association.

Your critique overlooks that conservatism is often more faithful to classical liberalism than modern liberalism. Modern liberalism, associated with progressivism, advocates for more government intervention in social issues, diverging from classical liberalism's prioritization of individual liberty and limited government.

Conservatism upholds classical liberal values of individual rights, limited government, and personal responsibility.

Finally, I think we need a more nuanced understanding of the ideological landscape and encourage more constructive political discourse.

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Greg Salmela

Hanging with human-centred thinkers, researchers and designers.