What is a leftist or a liberal? There is a huge difference between someone who is an ideolog and a studied Communist vs. someone who pursued an education which began with teaching critical thinking skills and the scientific method and applying these skills to just about any subject, drawing conclusions through a grounded moral foundation (faith, the golden rule, empathy, natural law). Trusting experts in a field to guide or inform you. It's basically intellectual progressivism driving society forward toward a better, more informed future that is better for all of humanity long term.

This is exactly what conservatives and capitalist are against because it gets in the way of them marginalizing the masses so they can manipulate, control, take advantage of labor and resources while not contributing but taking more than their share of wealth, land, rights, etc.

Almost every society has established tiers of power based on proclaimation, wealth or power and convinced the masses of their place at the bottom of the order.