It comes also from the word's meaning shifting over time. I stopped calling myself liberal and started calling myself leftist. It slaps harder and lets people know where I stand.
So you're a typical liberal who both doesn't like being called liberal, because the mean old Republicans keep using it as an insult, and doesn't know what the terms mean, having mostly arrived at your the political beliefs by being born in a liberal society and going with the flow.
A leftist is a socialist. Even under American terminology. You are a lefty under American standards, but that's just not the same thing.
That's sad to hear. I have heard that our left wing politics are pretty much on the same spectrum as European right wing politics. That makes our right wing politics way farther right.. Basically fascists / Nazis, which makes sense considering the insurrection and the fact that Donald Trump may get elected again 🤮🤮🤮
Edit: I probably look like a communist compared to the right wing here in USA.
LGBT rights, cannabis legalization, and certain disability rights are the big ones. Particularly the last one IMO - Europe is not great about having wheelchair ramps.
Overall I agree that the EU does tend to be more politically progressive, but the idea that it is a complete wash in either direction is pretty misleading.
I keep saying this to my friends but no one believes me. We talk about moving out of the country to look for a better place, but as a queer person there's really no place better than the US and that's saying something. It's not even good here but it's better than most places.
I'm afraid you're under some serious misconceptions. Both my kids are trans, so this is something near to my heart. The US doesn't even get listed in the top 10.
I'm trans too, but my experiences in other countries did not leave me with a good taste in my mouth. Maybe I just didn't find the right circles, but people here are a lot more "live your life" than in certain other places. The nail that sticks out will be hammered down, and all.
That's not to say the us is good for trans people, it's not. Where did you/your kids have good experiences?
I have no clue what rights LGBT people want, but cannabis is legal in many EU countries, and even if it's illegal then usually selling and growing is illegal while consumption is ok. Not sure about disability rights as well, but we usually have free medicine here, so I'm not sure what you mean at all. Ramps might be as common as in the US, but you can usually arrange an assistant who will either push you to your destination and even drive you around for free. I also know a few Americans who moved to the UK specifically because they can't afford treatment for chronic diseases and will die in the US.