Liberalism came along way before Communism was ever conceived even as a theory.
Problem is, few are adequately equipped to see liberalism work at any more than a theoretical level. You've got to be a very big, non-ego centered, functional person to step up to that model.
Just like Communism. There was NEVER such a thing as a Communist state. Just a totalitarian regime that called it self Communist.
Now WE are an fast emerging fascist plutocracy that calls itself a Constitutional Republic. An Imperial Presidency.
We are in the midst of an awful national degeneration brought on by selfish men who believe themselves accountable to none..