Reply #26: What "neoliberal" means.

[the_spectator]

The rest of the world, especially Latin America and Europe, uses "neoliberal" to mean what people in the U.S. mean by "conservative." "Liberalism" emerged in the 19th century, and it is derived from the word LIBERTY. Liberals of the 19th century believed in capitalism, parliamentary democracy, property rights, and a kind of social darwinist attitude towards the working class. It was the dominant ideology of the 19th century bourgeoisie. It is also, basically, the belief system of Republicans like Reagan, GWB, neoconservatives, etc. (not so much the theocons). Thus the term, "neo-liberal." The progressive attitudes that in the U.S. we call "liberal" are properly called socialist or social democrat in Europe.

So no, the poster you are responding to is not trying to knock the left.