what defines a liberal

[RobFunk]

the hot republican buzz word which has become heavier in use since abondoning 'flip flop' weeks after abondoning 'swift boat'.

what makes a liberal in your view? why is kerry considered 'most liberal'?

just looking for a more clear definition, lets get to the root here instead of tossing out buzz words.

 

[D2bets]

He's most liberal because he disagrees with Bush a lot. That's how Bush defines a liberal -- anyone who disagrees with him.

 

[RobFunk]

no response from a republican? I guess you will just keep blindly tossing the word out without knowing what youre saying.

give me some reason why kerry is "most liberal" its not that hard. I think you guys are afraid, because once you give your lame reasoning it will be harder for you to use the 'most liberal' tag.

 

[American]

Liberal is the opposite of conservative.

 

[RobFunk]

I was waiting for a response like that or a websters cut and paste. but what are the big issues that kerry is for that makes this so pressing?! liberal and democrat have never been synonomous until now. what gives. I just want a definition. I just want reason.

 

[stacilu]

Liberal is the opposite of conservative.[/QUOTE

This is the response you get. I have been saying since I
first appeared they have no idea what the term means.
I spend at least one week in Pol Science class trying to
teach this concept to college freshmen. They, almost
without exception, have no idea either. I certainly will
not lecture the entire board. But, let it be known that
the word liberal is not a synonym for Democrat. And the
word conservative does not necessarily mean Republican.
These same students never heard of the "solid South" and
why that changed politically. The know little of T Roosevelt
and his progressive philosophy and policy. The dirty meaning
connected to the word liberal is a realtively new phenoenon
created by the far right. They have said liberal/spending
so many times that a great many of the people now think
that is the truth. However, the truth is that the current
administration is the true spending champ. (without debate
or question). Also, the people that consider themselves
"real" conservatives are not in line with most of bushies
thinking and policies. Now this will come to a shock to some
of this forum, but it is also the truth. The uneducated among
us (on this subject at least) have no clue about the orgin
of liberalism and how at its best it has championed the cause
of the ordinary man. Today it is not even a shadow of its
former self.

 

[FunkSoulBrother]

Rob, These people that follow Bush for the most part couldn't tell you what liberal means. It is just a mindless smear word for them. To them its like saying "a$$hole.

Educated people who could define the differences between Liberal, Left Wing, Socialist, Communist, Democrat would also be smart enough to see that there is nothing fiscally conservative about neoconservatives.

But to ask this question of some of the assfucks we have on this forum will just get you no where.

 

[Glaken]

How about Neal Boortz or Boortz.com...the preacer

 

[cussin'it]

But to ask this question of some of the assfucks we have on this forum will just get you no where.

:toast:

Generally, Staci has a valid point. The term is thrown around as if some kind of moral and itellectual inferiority is described by it.

Hogwash, of course. Liberalism at its basic core and classical meaning has "liberty" as the fundamental belief/principle. It essentially demmands that political authority and the attempts to curb that freedom be justified. None of us wants people to have freedoms that cause other people to suffer or be physically threatened or hurt, perhaps.
I am not free to yell "fire" in a crowded theater, which is fine as this limit to freedom is justified logically and practically.
So from the basics go a wide array of deviation of the meaning of this "social contract" as it should apply to its citizens and the role that the gov't should assume.

I feel that those who use "liberal" as a derrogatory term are very basic in knowlege and reactionary in nature, and very simple-minded bandwaggoners.
They probably have 2 things on their minds:
1. Money--growth of the welfare state (which is a sharp deviation from classical liberalism) and the effect on their pocketbook. (Higher taxes and rampant gov't spending is not something any of us espouse)
2. Moral superiority--somehow they feel that morality is in decline because of rampant liberty. They seem to think they have a monopoly on morality and should be the ones who determine for the majority of us according to their definitions without compromise, by limititing our freedoms.

Couple of other reasons may include,
3. Dislike for "Internationalism" prefer the US to police the world. Distrust of International bodies like the UN, Nato, Arab League, etc. (some of these fears may have credibility)
4. Strong nationalism, national defense. Would rather spend billions on questionable weapon systems, so as to secure their "perceived" safety, rather than invest it in their own citizenry and society.
5. Just plain stubborn and pig-headed, so forget even discussing anything more encompassing than their own material self-interests.

Would rather ship jobs overseas, fire employees, take away their benefits and pensions, then to give up that gas-guzzling Hummer and excessive Country-club lifestyle. (which is fine as a matter of personal choice and freedom as long as other people don't suffer unduly).

 

[stacilu]

Cussin it

If I were still teaching, I would be honored to
have you in as a guest lecturer. You touched
on all or mostly all of the significant points.
Refreshing to know that we have some
educated thinkers in the forum and not
all reactionaries.

 

[cussin'it]

Staci, how very kind of you.

Would have to add another point that has been, perhaps, the most devisive social issue to date:

Abortion-- many a Conservative, though they dislike the "liberal" Bush just can't get past Roe v. Wade, and will sell-out their sensiblilities on every other issue in order to vote their conscience.

Whose really to say they are wrong in their feeling on this issue? How about the women who want their freedom of choice.

Once again the gov't has to justify to its citizens the curtailing of their freedoms, and on this issue they really haven't. And the courts have upheld this fact.

 

[JudgeWapner]

We are anti American communists trying to destroy the American way of life through subversion.

 

[stacilu]

Cussin

This is my opinion and my opinion only. I believe that
if the issue of abortion is removed from politics the
R's would have a very difficult time ever winning another
national election. Many people vote for them simply because
of this religious issue. Some very informed people and
people that tend to lean to the left are mandated by their
consicence to vote for the R's. If these votes
did a complete turnabout elections would be a joke.

You are welcome, I always like to read your
posts. Comments are always factual and well
written.