Minogue presents liberalism first as an ideology, one with a very simple goal. The objective of liberalism is to promote individual welfare. This is achieved by granting each individual with seemingly endless rights or liberties. In this way each individual is free to provide for his or her own personal well being. Of course this does not lead to the bloody scenario that Hobbes predicts. Instead it assumes a number of human qualities that would prevent such primal altercations. In the liberal mind each man has his set needs, followed closely by and easily confused with his desires. He will pursue these needs and desires almost endlessly. Almost, his pursuit is tempered by an understanding that in order for him to maintain a certain leve

Of course Minogue's views are subject to the same ridicule that he provides for liberalism. The conservative society that he seems to promote functions no better in application than liberal communities. Oppressors are always present in society. The question is would you rather function in a community where these oppressors can be accepted as legitimate authority until their actions border on totalitarianism or in a community where protection of the oppressed can become the oppressor. Each sounds to be a grim proposal.

Liberalism can also be seen as a call for change. Liberalism's basic concept is individual good. This means good for all individuals, thus a general welfare. So as long as there is inequity in the world there will be a place for liberalism. In this way liberalism is the every changing ideology, a train with people getting off and on at each stop. Those people who are oppressed and those who are concerned for the oppressed on driving toward a common destination. Once equality is achieved a number of those once concerned with achieving it may find that liberalism no longer serves there needs. But undoubtedly a new downtrodden assemblage will shuffle on board in search of there own equality. So liberalism defines inequality and conversely defines equality. For both a perception of inequality and a general consensus on what equality there should be are necessary to promote any type of change. No one is going to change what is not wrong, and people seldom seek change with no alternative. It is the idea of defining equality that bothers Minogue. What is fair and equal and who is allowed to make that decision? Minogue is disturbed by the possibility that small factions of noisy people often bring about change that more often harms than benefits the general good. In another writing he mentions the movement earlier in the century by students at university. The students wanted more input into what they were learning. This seemingly harmless request resulted in the involvement of government in university reform and an endless headache for professors everywhere. In support of the students the government subsequently introduced a number of tiresome guidelines for university education. These d

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Approximate Word count = 1506
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)