Liberalism is political position, not a philosophy. The liberal who defines his or her positions ontologically, so allowing his or herself to operate outside the sphere of their convictions, is at best a deluded realist.
It is interesting to note that many liberals define themselves as fiscal conservatives, whilst extoling the virtues of state spending.
On the flip side of the issue,those conservatives who see present systems as functional need only look at the financial mess the current government has spawned to realise that they themselves are also part of the artistic group defined by Fitzgerald.