I think this citation on Wikipedia pinpoints the turning point. Yet another thing ruined by conservative McCarthyism?
Russell, Dean (1955). “Who is a libertarian?”. Foundation for Economic Education. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
Many of us call ourselves ‘liberals.’ And it is true that the word ‘liberal’ once described persons who respected the individual and feared the use of mass compulsions. But the leftists have now corrupted that once-proud term to identify themselves and their program of more government ownership of property and more controls over persons. As a result, those of us who believe in freedom must explain that when we call ourselves liberals, we mean liberals in the uncorrupted classical sense. At best, this is awkward and subject to misunderstanding. Here is a suggestion: Let those of us who love liberty trade-mark and reserve for our own use the good and honorable word ‘libertarian’.
I think this citation on Wikipedia pinpoints the turning point. Yet another thing ruined by conservative McCarthyism?
Russell, Dean (1955). “Who is a libertarian?”. Foundation for Economic Education. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
Many of us call ourselves ‘liberals.’ And it is true that the word ‘liberal’ once described persons who respected the individual and feared the use of mass compulsions. But the leftists have now corrupted that once-proud term to identify themselves and their program of more government ownership of property and more controls over persons. As a result, those of us who believe in freedom must explain that when we call ourselves liberals, we mean liberals in the uncorrupted classical sense. At best, this is awkward and subject to misunderstanding. Here is a suggestion: Let those of us who love liberty trade-mark and reserve for our own use the good and honorable word ‘libertarian’.