This "polite murder through bureaucracy" IS what political liberalism IS, fyi.

This is NOT what I assume when a person says they are "liberal".

I usually assume it means that they would like tax dollars used to improve people's lives, which is a sign of having empathy for others. In general I find that admirable, even though sometimes it can be more well-intentioned than actually good.

That's the general, popular use of the term, but I'm talking about liberalism as political philosophy.