The Liberals
The Liberals (also known as The Liberal Society) is an independent non-aligned public advocacy group founded on the 29th June 2008. The society includes among its membership: lawyers, economists, academics, students and business professionals. The society was established to promote liberal issues and progressive policies among ordinary citizens outside the electoral process. The society is based in Dublin, in Ireland, and subscribes to the Liberal International.
Aims
The objectives of the Liberal Society are set out under its revised constitution.
(a) To promote progressive policy and meritocracy in civil society.
(b) To promote constitutional and legislative reform to ensure greater democracy and transparency in government.
(c) To promote the teaching and learning of civics, law and politics at primary, secondary and third level education.
(d) To promote economic enterprise and the maintenance of a market economy, while ensuring the dignity and rights of employees.
(e) To promote civic pride and social responsibility.
(f) To promote democracy, the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties.
Origins
The Liberal Society has its origins in a meeting which took place on the 29th June 2008 when a small group of Irish Lawyers agreed to form The Liberal Reform Society to promote liberal issues and progressive policies. The Liberal Reform Society merged with the liberal wing of the defunct Young Progressive Democrats on the 24th March 2009 and reconstituted itself as The Liberal Society. Following a resolution on the 26th May 2009 the word "society" was dropped and the group are now formally known as The Liberals. The society has a strong independent and bohemian following among students, graduates and young professionals in the 18-34 category in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway where it is seen as an alternative to the mainstream political parties.
Ideology
The Liberal Society is a progressive liberal movement wedded to the political centre. Progressive or Centre Liberals believe that government is the servant of the people and not the other way around. Government derives its power from the people under the constitution and this requires a true separation of powers to ensure a proper system of checks and balances designed to uphold the rights and interests of all citizens and not to the advantage of local and vested interest. Central to the progressive viewpoint liberalism is dynamic and based on the evolutionary belief in reform designed to enhance the rights of the citizen and their relationship with government; political systems need to be updated every so often to prevent bureaucratic encroachment and ensure the relationship between citizen and state remains in balance. Liberalism is a centrist ideology accepting a third way between the politics of the left and right.
Aims
The objectives of the Liberal Society are set out under its revised constitution.
(a) To promote progressive policy and meritocracy in civil society.
(b) To promote constitutional and legislative reform to ensure greater democracy and transparency in government.
(c) To promote the teaching and learning of civics, law and politics at primary, secondary and third level education.
(d) To promote economic enterprise and the maintenance of a market economy, while ensuring the dignity and rights of employees.
(e) To promote civic pride and social responsibility.
(f) To promote democracy, the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties.
Origins
The Liberal Society has its origins in a meeting which took place on the 29th June 2008 when a small group of Irish Lawyers agreed to form The Liberal Reform Society to promote liberal issues and progressive policies. The Liberal Reform Society merged with the liberal wing of the defunct Young Progressive Democrats on the 24th March 2009 and reconstituted itself as The Liberal Society. Following a resolution on the 26th May 2009 the word "society" was dropped and the group are now formally known as The Liberals. The society has a strong independent and bohemian following among students, graduates and young professionals in the 18-34 category in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway where it is seen as an alternative to the mainstream political parties.
Ideology
The Liberal Society is a progressive liberal movement wedded to the political centre. Progressive or Centre Liberals believe that government is the servant of the people and not the other way around. Government derives its power from the people under the constitution and this requires a true separation of powers to ensure a proper system of checks and balances designed to uphold the rights and interests of all citizens and not to the advantage of local and vested interest. Central to the progressive viewpoint liberalism is dynamic and based on the evolutionary belief in reform designed to enhance the rights of the citizen and their relationship with government; political systems need to be updated every so often to prevent bureaucratic encroachment and ensure the relationship between citizen and state remains in balance. Liberalism is a centrist ideology accepting a third way between the politics of the left and right.
Comments