You are 100% correct about the misuse of the term liberal in the USA.  I am a true liberal...both socially and economically....and I am very much in opposition to the US socialist (ie, democrat) party who has misused the word to try to sugar coat their socialism because for some reason they are afraid to have it called what it is. 

It seems evident that many have no freaking clue what Marx wrote, or even who he was.  Yes, he was an economist.  Yes, his theories generally make sense.  His conclusions, however, have largely been proven wrong by the trial of time.   I have been attacked by a former member from your state for stating that a position he took was Marxist....and my statement was absolutely and completely accurate...perhaps it was original thought to him, but it was about as close to verbatium from Das Kapital as one can get when using a different language...yet our friend carried on for days about how I was "attacking" him by pointing out who had put forth the ideas he espoused.