My political worldview on social matters developed in the early 1990s in reaction to the Reagan-Bush years. That's why I have long been a civil libertarian, esp. re: crime, drugs, safetyism and "family values" morals legislation. I bet a lot of younger GenXers are similar.
What I mean by "younger GenXers" applies to older millennials too. So, basically, people born in the 1970s and early 1980s. Much of that instinct solidified in opposition to the Christian Right apotheosis under W (and early Iraq War hyper-"patriotism" excess).
This is a big reason I am so adamant about convincing fellow Dems to pull back from ultra-safetyism around covid, esp. re: mandated NPIs. I know many conservatives view it all as a natural progression of "leftism." But the liberal-tarian in me has never accepted safety panic.
And judging by conversations I've had off Twitter (and often in DMs), I know that I'm not alone among Dems who are ready to jettison all the covid restrictions now that we have the tools to protect ourselves and families. Antiviral pills will help soon too.
An earlier Dem hero put it best in March 1933. Not just the famous "fear itself" line but the words around it. They still resonate. 
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