Berkowitz on Fawcett | National Catholic Reporter

Berkowitz on Fawcett | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I would put Liberalism as starting with the enlightentment and Locke, with its gestation going from the freedom of landowners to vote all the way to the industrial revolution - and continuing as he describes.  It is good that he mentions socialism in the 19th Century - as this seems to be the reason people were ready to settle for liberal solutions.  That was especially the case with the New Deal.  FDR used the spectre of socialism succeeding to get his agenda passed.  The Affordable Care Act passed with some conservative Democratic senators because of the spectre of a public option or single payer.  What is sad is that Socialists continue to be outflanked, although this is a largely self inflicted wound brought about by not wanting to play coalition politics in the United States.  Liberalism is all about coalitions, which is why it will remain dominant, even without an absolute majority, for the foreseable future.  Of course, if socialism or libertarian socialism triumphs, liberalism may fail unless it joins the coalition.  Liberalism is as much about process as result, even on the right.  One wonders, however, how Berkowitz and Fawcett would justify Citizens United as part of a liberal world?