One has to learn new definitions as political debates shift meaning depending on the writer. Historically, Liberalism is associated with values which are missing in conservatism. Liberals are the first rebels against absolute monarchy and dictatorship, espousing instead economic and social freedom and equality. Liberalism is a broad coalition of interests nowadays. Inspired by the American Founding Fathers' endorsement of liberty and equality of the individual, the French were to add fraternity, in that there is a unity and a mutual trust among those who would defend liberalism.
Sadly, the Americans now as well as some Europeans are shifting to the right again. The election of Trump represents, as the opening post says, a rejection of liberal values such as
freedom of speech (how often accused those who oppose him of lying --- firstly Ted Cruz and then Hillary Clinton and opponents at his rallies should be punched in the face),
freedom of the press (again, as part of his party piece, he would point at the press who gave him so much free coverage and would call them the worst people and liars too),
freedom of religion (his badmouthing of Muslims will never be forgotten),
free markets (Trump attacked international trade treaties and seems to want the United States to become protectionist through a series of crippling taxes on business that trade overseas,
civil rights (Trump began back in 1973 being sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination because he would not rent apartments in one of his developments to African-Americans, and he made sure that the people who worked for him understood that was the policy. He actually was sued twice by the Justice Department. So he has a long record of engaging in racist behavior; he was more recently to claim that the first black president was not an American citizen, Trump praised the Israelis for how they profile Palestinians:
CBS "Face the Nation" interviews, thoughout 2016
an American-born judge, Trump believed should be disqualified from hearing a case because he was Mexican, etc.), Other liberal values are
democracy (Trump got elected although he claimed the election was rigged),
secular governments,
gender equality, and
international cooperation (Trump is alarming Europeans by calling into doubt America's loyalty to NATO).
Now it is time for liberals to be worried and for their democratic societies to push back against demagogues like Trump and his European counterparts. Let's see if the Republican Congress will continue to stifle the Executive. Such opposition is needed.
Take your word for it. Again I don't know the book. Nor did I ever get an answer on who "you people" was, but that wasn't your term.
