The Blue-Liberal Outlook
We see people are individuals, not a class; the government as servant, not master and society as the product of reciprocal rights and responsibilities.
What does Liberalism mean?
The word 'liberal' means different things to different people.
For some it is about minority advocacy and social justice for the disenfranchised - sometimes characterised as 'left-liberalism'. For others it is about the economic dryness and distrust of big government associated with 'classical liberalism' or libertarianism.
These different ideas sit at opposite ends of the political spectrum - or at least apparently so. Certainly, there are some deep and abiding differences around the role of government. Left-liberals see active government and regulation as the means of achieving their conception of social justice. Libertarians, by contrast, see voluntary action and the market as the means of achieving theirs.
This juxtaposition has been reinforced by the ready alliance of libertarian and conservative, and the simple fact that the Left now has only its pretended social concern to distinguish it from the economic and social conservative.
The well accepted contrast that has emerged from all this obscures some of the basic principles of liberalism and the fact that it is possible to be both fiscally conservative and socially liberal; to see a role for government and voluntary, or market, action. This is the basis of Blue Lib thinking. It is the "liberal outlook"
'Blue Libs' and the Liberal Outlook
The "liberal outlook" was described by Sir John Marshall in his Maiden Speech to the House in July 1947. Intelligently balancing libertarian and socially liberal thinking, Sir John characterised the liberal outlook as
"not a fixed and definitive creed, or a rigid social system. It is rather an state of mind, an attitude towards men and public affairs which guides one's political judgments without confining them to a set formula."
That framework is not without its rigour. Sir John identified eight core principles of liberalism, which in our view, provide a strong foundation upon which National's policies can be tested.
Adapting these principles only slightly for the times, they are:
1. personal liberty - balanced against the rights of others (the harm principle) and the duties implicit in being a member of a community;
2. political liberty - the freedom to hold and express political opinions;
3. national liberty - independence and self-determination within a commonwealth of nations;
4. economic liberty - reflected in the principles of a free market and subject to regulation only to prevent monopolies, abuse of substantial market power and to protect the public interest;
5. individual property ownership;
6. personal and social security - to the extent that these do not threaten personal and economic liberty;
7. responsible government - constrained by the principles of personal liberty and responsibility; and
8. the Rule of Law, including respect for the institutions of government and separation of powers.
The Blue-Lib Priorities
For the Blue-Libs, these eight principles provide a number of key "liberal-conservative" priorities; specifically the promotion of:
1. human rights and responsibilities;
2. civil, political and religious freedom;
3. a rational place for government that does not erode the place of the community and individual responsibility;
4. just and expeditious resolution of Treaty claims;
5. judicious law making and sensible law reform; and
6. the national interest.
These points and priorities reflect a view of people as individuals, not a class, of the government as servant, not master and of society as the product of reciprocal rights and responsibilities. They also reflect the important understanding that rules cannot always be written down and that to do so can be both presumptuous and socially corrosive. They are the foundation upon which the Blue-Libs stand.
