“I use throughout [his book The Road to Serfdom] the term “liberal” in the original, nineteenth-century sense in which it is still current in Britain. In current American usage it often means very nearly the opposite of this. It has been part of the camouflage of leftish movements in this country, helped by the muddleheadedness of many who really believe in liberty, that “liberal” has come to mean the advocacy of almost every kind of government control.”
Hayek was fighting, and losing, to demonstrate to Americans that to be liberal was the OPPOSITE of being Progressive. To be Progressive was the same as the Socialist Leftist movements that saw civic success only in giving total life control to the government. Now, in 2017, we find ourselves as a nation in a philosophical war over what types of control the government can have….and few if any people actually demanding the Liberal position of NO, or perhaps Limited, government involvement.
What a novel idea. A Limited government in a society where we trusted one another, and were willing to take the risk of a life of freedom (but of course with the accompanying life of responsibility for one’s own actions). Wow…that idea could probably spawn a revolution, one that occurs “in the course of human events….”