Liberalism is, I think, resurgent. One reason is that more and more people are so painfully aware of the alternative

Liberalism is, I think, resurgent. One reason is that more and more people are so painfully aware of the alternative

John Kenneth Galbraith, a renowned economist and public intellectual, was a staunch advocate for liberalism throughout his career. He believed that liberalism was not only the most effective economic and political system, but also the most humane and just. In his view, liberalism was resurgent because more and more people were becoming painfully aware of the alternative - namely, the failures and injustices of conservative and authoritarian ideologies.

Galbraith argued that liberalism offered a more equitable and sustainable way of organizing society. He believed that a strong welfare state, progressive taxation, and government intervention in the economy were necessary to ensure that wealth was distributed more fairly and that everyone had access to basic necessities such as healthcare, education, and housing. He also emphasized the importance of regulation to prevent the excesses of capitalism and protect consumers and workers from exploitation.

One of the key reasons why Galbraith believed liberalism was resurgent was because of the failures of conservative and authoritarian regimes around the world. He witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of the Great Depression and World War II, which he believed were caused by the unchecked greed and power of unregulated capitalism and totalitarianism. He saw how these ideologies led to economic inequality, social unrest, and political instability, and he was determined to prevent history from repeating itself.

Galbraith also recognized that liberalism was not perfect and that it faced many challenges and criticisms. He acknowledged that there were legitimate concerns about government inefficiency, bureaucratic red tape, and the potential for abuse of power. However, he believed that these problems could be addressed through reform and innovation, rather than by abandoning liberalism altogether.