What is a Liberal?

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

Thomas Jefferson

The current political discourse is one where Republicans will frequently try to pin the "L" word on their Democrat opponents and the latter will vehemently deny the charge. Only occasionally will you hear someone proudly proclaim their liberal credentials. More often than not, these very credentials are quite unliberal. 

Books, documents, and other recorded events allows us the exquisite luxury of going back in time to see how things were before the modern mangling of terms of political philosophy. During the years of the birth of our nation, Liberalism was understood, and defined by its' Latin etymology, as being in opposition to a condition of slavery. It's definitional connection to freedom is undeniable.

The liberal thought that consumed and guided our Founding Fathers was passed down by the likes of John Locke, David Hume, and Adam Smith. The connection between economic freedom and political freedom was clear in their writings, especially in the case of Adam Smith. To John Locke, the right to own private property was the key liberal idea supporting his belief that free people are capable of building a stable society - to him it was a natural right. 

A citizen's economic liberty is compromised and limited to the extent that the government competes for the same dollars. The more the government takes, the less economic freedom (and political freedom) the citizen can exert. Consequently, by definition, the less distanced the citizen will be from a condition of slavery. You may have the right to own private property but if you cannot keep enough of your earned money to more readily purchase the property it becomes a diminished right.  

Modern Liberalism is understood as supportive of government intervention into private economic affairs to fund the general welfare. The modern liberal is a proponent of a wide range of government spending discretion. Unbridled spending in areas beyond the proper role of government enters the realm of coercion. To the true, or classic, liberal this is anathema with liberty and freedom. It is anti-liberal.