In Canada a (large-L) Liberal is pretty middle of the road, being outflanked on the left by the New Democratic Party and beyond them the socialist fringe. Here small-l liberal is a word meaning "generous". (Lately as there's a big scandal with missing grant money, big-L Liberal means generous too!)
We occassionally elect the New Democratic Party, usually by accident. The world does not end. Later we elect the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada who undo everything that happened.
And since it's winter here almost everyone wears leg warmers, and as for the heart rupturing, we say "remember to take a break when shovelling out the driveway!"