Liberalism: Here today! OR Gone Tomorrow?
Prior to reading: What I believe about Liberal Democracy.
When I think of liberal democracy I think back to elementary school where history captivated me. Being in Washington, DC in September 2024 stirred a sense that what the founders of the United States were trying to accomplish was different, important, and life changing for an entire country, perhaps the world. Specifically, at the National Archives, I read the Declaration of Independence where the founders of this country wrote in part:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed[1].
I do believe that God created all people to be equal in God’s sight. Even while espousing equality of all, the colonial leaders missed the mark by only considering white men. All of this is to say, as with all humanity, the United States was founded on at least one flawed understanding of equality yet with an ideal that was rooted in the language of Christianity[2]. Just looking at the title of the book, and in light of what seems like growing unrest makes me wonder if liberty as I understand our founders sought is on a precipice of change.
How my beliefs been affirmed by the reading.
Reading this book affirmed my thoughts on important criteria for liberal democracy and the fragility of it. From the very beginning, Political Science Professor and author, Patrick Deneen, wrote that the best chance to have liberty was to have a limited government that sought to secure the rights of the governed. This limited government is:
- chosen by the people,
- works for their best interest,
- upholds the rule of law and
- has an independent judiciary[3].
Yet our world is very complexed and, I believe, democracy as we now know it in many places, is at risk.
In early Dec. 2024, the government of France collapsed with the ouster of their Prime Minister and no party able to reach a majority. President, Emanuel Macron appeared to precipitate the unrest with his choice of Prime Minister[4]. As I listened to the news I thought, France is not the only place experiencing signs that government stability is questionable. My German friends say their country has unrest brewing with high inflation and other areas of dissatisfaction. All this feels like it lends credibility to the unrest that I believe was brewing in the United States long before Jan. 6, 2020.
What has challenged me in this text?
Deneen’s remedy for failed liberalism was a return to household economics, where economic habits are formed to support the household and thus turns that unit into a small economy[5]. The practices he recommends could be difficult but capable to build a community within the household or neighborhood. When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents who happily allowed a pre-teen girl to follow them all day like a puppy dog. Watching them work the garden and chickens was fascinating because I lived in a small city, and we were lucky to have a tomato plant. My grandparents raised their family during the depression. As mushroom growers, they were nearly self-sufficient, bartering mushrooms, vegetables, and goat milk for bread, meat, and other supplies. They were never without provisions. Neighbors helped one another and were close in proximity and relationally. I say this is a challenge because I don’t see society as a whole capable of moving toward that direction. We do not live in an agrarian society and the cost to own a home is prohibitive for many even with outside income. Perhaps some people could choose this lifestyle but I am not sure how we would turn back the clock to a slower time that was not driven by the economy. A part of me wonders how much healthier we would be if we were to live a simpler life. Would we have less stress, sleep more from the exertion of physical labor?
Concluding Remarks
The difficult part about discussing liberal democracy is the immediate connotation of far-left agendas and movements. But liberal democracy is so much more than that. It is a system that recognizes majority rule and individual rights. Unfortunately, it also has a current connotation of being able to do whatever and have whatever we please and can afford. Some of these excesses could be what prompts movement away from a liberal democracy. Already, education has been impacted in Florida as rumblings for change hem in educational opportunities for students. Liberal arts educations are gradually being unfunded with preference for classes that promote practical jobs that some governmental officials deem more valuable: science, technology, economics and math[6]. I personally wonder where counselors will be educated, or caregiving professionals. Further, throughout history, people have benefitted from a government that both supported those in need and yet discriminated against one group or another. Peacefully and violently, people stood up to what they perceive as injustices and benefitted from the common support.
Toward the end of our class, Dr. Clark asked a question that is causing me to pause and reflect. What does it mean to have the headship of Jesus?[7] Jesus as Lord is not a democratic concept. We call Jesus Lord, yet politically we do not want a Lord. While I cannot change the world, I can, personally, live to continually submit to the Lordship of Jesus and trust in the Lord. This question will need ongoing reflection beyond this semester.
[1] Declaration of Independence (1776), National Archives Museum, visited September 2024, transcription accessed online via archives.gov/milestone-documents/declaration-of-independence, accessed Jan. 12, 2025.
[2] Patrick J. Deneen, Why Liberalism Failed (London, Yale University Press, 2018),185.
[3] Patrick J. Deneen, 1.
[4] National Public Radio report, accessed via FM Station 89.9, Jacksonville, FL,
December 4, 2024. I listen to radio in the car and information on the state of the French government was gleaned from the broadcast.
[5] Deneen, 193.
[6] Deneen, 111.
[7] Dr. Jason Clark, DLGP Class, January 13, 2024.
About the Author
Diane Tuttle
10 responses to “Liberalism: Here today! OR Gone Tomorrow?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi Diane. Thanks for the blog. How does the concept of Jesus’ headship challenge or complement the principles of liberal democracy, particularly in a society increasingly focused on individual autonomy and majority rule?
Hi Glyn, Thanks for the question. I think the Lordship of Jesus could compliment the ideal of a liberal democracy in the role of caring for those governed. Yet, I think more pertinent to today’s world, it would be in conflict with Christ’s Lordship. I mentioned in the blog that we may not really want a lord over us. At least in the States, there is a sense of freedom and ‘do it on your own’ which I think is fueled by materialism, manifested in pride, and greed. To admit and submit to the headship of Jesus says we are not the total or final authority over ourselves.
Hi Diane,
Thank you for sharing your story.
What are the potential challenges and benefits of returning to a household economy in modern society, as suggested by Patrick Deneen?
Hi Shela, Thanks for the question. Some of the benefits of returning to a household economy would be the connectedness with the people living in the household and the neighborhood. I think there are more drawbacks. Most people owe $$ on their homes so would need that to continue to keep their home and not everyone has the skills or space to become more self sufficient. I also wonder what would happen to individuals and families who have members in need of extra medical or personal care.
Hi Diane, I appreciated this thoughtful post and enjoyed hearing how your grandparents managed during the Great Depression. I agree with you. I am not sure how we would turn back the clock to a slower time. However, I do think we can take steps towards growing a stronger community. Do you have any ideas of how neighbors can grow relationally and help one another again?
Hi Elysse, When we lived in Pennsylvania, snow storms meant that all the neighbors would come outside as a blizzard began to subside to start cleaning snow and ice from any paved area. In Florida, neighbor go outside with chainsaws after a hurricane. Either way, I think having a shared event where mutual support is helpful is a strong bonding agent for community.As we watch the LA fires, there are many examples of people helping people, whether it is cooking food, offering rides, or finding clothing. The catastrophes give a blatant example. In everyday life it might be harder. Thanks for the question.
Hi Diane,
I loved picturing you in your grandparents’ garden. As technology continues to isolate society from one another, I have personally seen a significant uptick in depression and anxiety in my patients. I think a more simplified life would improve holistic health, but I, too, am not sure if that is realistic today. Are there any values or beliefs that your grandparents’ generation had that we could implement in a contextualized way in the 21st Century?
Hi Kari, All four of my grandparents were born in Italy and came to the States as older adolescents or young adults. I think for them it was faith, family, and hard work. I don’t know that those 3 need to be relegated to antiquated even today. What precious people and lessons I could glean from them. Thanks for asking Kari,
Diane, considering your observations about the tension between liberal democracy’s emphasis on individual rights and the Biblical concept of Jesus’ Lordship, how might Christians navigate this tension practically?
Hi Chad, Thanks for reading the post. Even as I re-read, I have to say that liberal democracy that I refer to is the modern version of it rather than the concept that a democracy would look out for the welfare of the governed. Lots has changed over the years. Practically, I think navigation would best start on a personal level. While some countres tie religion and government, actual faith can not be relegated. It is a personal decision, (something Poole might agree to based on reading “Robot Souls”, where functionally a person might follow the rules say to care about others out of a requirement, but not experience it as a response to faith – it might be a mechanical response, p44 my extrapolation). Practically, it would be nice if Christians practiced what we believe in earnest as a living example of following Jesus as head. Again, the problem is, we are sinful people who like looking out for ourselves sometimes more than others. This seems like a non-answer answer, but the implementation is not easy.