Reactionary Progressism

Here is Barry Rubin, director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal:

. . . excluding the extremes, most contemporary Western conservatives are far closer to liberalism than those seeking to hijack that doctrine today. Nothing could be more reactionary from the standpoint of three centuries of democratic liberalism than "progressive," Politically Correct ideology and practice.  

I have reservations about classical liberalism. Ever since the war between social liberals and market liberals turned into a war by the former on the unborn, natural marriage, and common decency, I have tended to throw in with the market liberals. The latter tend to favor equality of opportunity -- and therefore individual freedom and initiative -- rather than the impossible dream of equality of outcome. I have serious reservations about the cultural impact of the market, however, but I am convinced that the "liberal" itch to control it will lead to even greater political and cultural damage.

Which is apropos of nothing in particular. But I do agree with Rubin about the illiberal nature of contemporary liberalism, which, by the way, is perfectly illustrated in the two blog post immediately below this one.

Rubin's whole piece is here.