"Liberalism"

Orwellian language in US

Politics uses a weird code language. political words change over time and are often lies or obfuscations, For example “liberal” in US English has evolved to a different definition than it was 50 years ago. Hayek used to describe himself as a “libertarian” in US but a “liberal” in other English speaking countries. A modern US liberal is against everything a classical liberal stood for, Bill of rights, free Speech, adherence to International law. I lived in Japan, the dictionaries are based on old, 150 years ago meanings. So to translate the modern meanings the Chinese, for example had to come up with a new word. Politics in the US is confusing enough, but with foreign language speakers it makes for very serious confusion.

This makes diplomacy difficult. When liberals talk about a “Rules based order” and then the US violates the UN treaty and WTO treaty all the time, does it mean US liberals are liars or do they have a meaning different then everyone else thinks? Most of the sanctions put on Russia, Syria, Iran etc are illegal under International law, so does the Biden Administration deliberately lie, or do they mean the US can be a rogue nation while all other countries should accept US diktats? The confusion, while making US liberals feel good, causes enormous difficulty in foreign relations. Sec. Blinken should spell out in detail what he means, this US shorthand will cause foreigners to think the US is just saying blustery propaganda and lying.