For Liberal read communist?

Question

I am a European, and viewing American politics from the outside, I always considered the two opposing parties to be more like opposing wings of the same party. You do not have the idealogical difference found in most European countries' political systems, yet the language in this site would lead one to believe that the Democrat were really communist and the Republicans were neo-fascists.

The vilification of liberal views on this site is quite astounding. Is it wrong to have a social conscience? Is the only way forward to look after yourself and leave anyone less fortunate behind?

Tex - not French
As for minding my own business - your government makes it everone's business.

Answer 1

If you are confused about American politics welcome to the club. I am an American and find myself being frustrated at both parties. Democrats are Socialists and Republicans a lot of times are more into Capitalism and votes. I consider myself a Reagan Republican or a Conervative. I find the Current Republican party sliding away from my core beliefs. For example, If Rudy Guliani and Joe Liberman were running for President I would vote Liberman even though he is a Democrat because he has a higher moral standard than that of Guliani.

Answer 2

Liberal and Communist are terms that refer to two fundamentally different political philosophies. In fact they could not be more different: communism refers to Marx's ideas of a political system in which the state is managed (theoretically) in the people's interests, whereas liberalism relates to a state in which political direction is left to market forces.

I agree that the vilification of liberalism in recent years is quite astonishing. There are reasons why I believe that political liberalism does not work, but there is no question in my mind that people holding liberal views (unlike so-called communists influenced by Stalin's Soviet Union) are sincere and humane. I am also under the impression that the bigots who are trying to turn "liberal" into a turn of abuse have little idea of the meaning of the word. They ought to stop and read one of the many books on political theory.

Perhaps one might add that leading and respected United States Republicans of the earlier twentieth century, such as Herbert Hoover and Rockefeller, were ideologically liberals.

Answer 3

Leave less fortunate behind are you kidding? This country does more abroad for people than it does here. We do however have extensive programs from various organizations that do do things in this country.That's why when I read the hate Post's against Christians I have to wonder when was the last time this person ever volunteered or did anything worth while for any one else. ( since these Churches that everyone hates so much are doing allot of the helping) If you are talking about teaching being gay as OK in public schools or putting Johny on home detention for molesting the neighbor girl. I would say yes we need to leave some people behind.

Answer 4

The main difference between American liberals and communist is that liberals believe in a capitalist society that while the same as communist in the sense that it should take care of it's needy, there is still a free market. We believe that this nation is great and the one's that benefit from that wealth should contribute back into the society for those less fortunate. We believe that is what makes this country great. It's like a capitalist society that takes care of the needy, much like communism, BUT with a free market.

Neocons are different. They don't have a clue what it takes to be a great nation. They believe that a person should reap the benefits of a wealthy society but not give back and take care of the needy. What they fail to see is that taking care of the needy and not having children living under bridges is what makes us the great nation we are.

Answer 5

Many of the views expressed on this site are rather radical. Anytime someone wants to bash their opponent, they will always take things to the extreme. The extreme right is fascism, and the extreme left is socialism. It's just something one needs to get used to when studying American politics. Right-wingers are Nazis and Left-wingers are Commies.

I personally am a republican who believes in a social conscience, but a firm belief in personal responsibility. A government is not there to run the lives of its citizens. If they are not WILLING to work, then why is society forced to pick up their slack? I believe in helping others, but it is not the government's job to bail people out of their own mess. It is to provide and safe society that allows people their rights.

Answer 6

I'm not sure you have the correct read on American liberal ideology. Is this what you consider having a "social conscience?"

•attack American traditions, specifically Christian traditions and the traditional American family
•engage in "get-even" policies that support discrimination when it benefits historically disadvantaged groups
•punish and/or discourage achievement through taxation and fiscal policies
•use the rulings of the Judicial branch of the government as de facto law, irrevocable by anything short of Constitutional amendment or a future court ruling, thus bypassing the legislative process. Roe V. Wade is the most frequently cited example of "judicial activism".
•weaken the military strength and morale of the country by vilifying the practice of armed combat and hesitating to use force when it appears necessary
•use regulatory bodies over private enterprise to accomplish social goals and restrict competition (government, education, labor)
•establish secular and progressive social policy, including support for gay marriage, abortion, liberal drug policy, euthanasia and prostitution legalization.
•implement a foreign policy supporting the protection of human rights and multiculturalism through activism, social intervention and violence if necessary.

Answer 7

LONDON (AFP) - People in Britain view the United States as a vulgar, crime-ridden society obsessed with money and led by an incompetent president whose Iraq policy is failing, according to a newspaper poll.

The United States is no longer a symbol of hope to Britain and the British no longer have confidence in their transatlantic cousins to lead global affairs, according to the poll published in The Daily Telegraph.
The YouGov poll found that 77 percent of respondents disagreed with
the statement that the US is "a beacon of hope for the world".

As Americans prepared to celebrate the 230th anniversary of their independence on Tuesday, the poll found that only 12 percent of Britons trust them to act wisely on the global stage. This is half the number who had faith in the Vietnam-scarred White House of 1975.
A massive 83 percent of those questioned said that the United States doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks.

With much of the worst criticism aimed at the US adminstration, the poll showed that 70 percent of Britons like Americans a lot or a little.
US President George W. Bush fared significantly worse, with just one percent rating him a "great leader" against 77 percent who deemed him a "pretty poor" or "terrible" leader. More than two-thirds who offered an opinion said America is essentially an imperial power seeking world domination. And 81 per cent of those who took a view said President George W Bush hypocritically championed democracy as a cover for the pursuit of American self-interests.

US policy in Iraq was similarly derided, with only 24 percent saying they felt that the US military action there was helping to bring democracy to the country.

NOW WAIT FOR IT TARA LA LA LA


A spokesman for the American embassy said that the poll's findings were contradicted by its own surveys. "We question the judgment of anyone who asserts the world would be a better place with Saddam still terrorizing his own nation and threatening people well beyond Iraq's borders," the paper quoted the unnamed spokesman as saying.
"With respect to the poll's assertions about American society, we bear some of the blame for not successfully communicating America's extraordinary dynamism.

"But frankly, so do you (the British press)."

In answer to other questions, a majority of the Britons questions described Americans as uncaring, divided by class, awash in violent crime, vulgar, preoccupied with money, ignorant of the outside world, racially divided, uncultured and in the most overwhelming result (90 percent of respondents) dominated by big business.

Answer 8

Some Democrats are Communists and some Republicans are Neo-fascists.

Also, your use of the word Liberal will confuse them. They misuse the word and it means the same as Democrat to them.

Answer 9

America is one of the few countries which ridicules intellectuals and those who have a social conscience. If you know history, it is much like the climate in Germany after WW1. Very frightening.

Answer 10

Both Democrats and republicans are Foxes,one you can say SILVER and other GOLDEN and there are mix breeds like Ralph Nader and others trying to guard big Turkey Farm called USA.There are no Lions and Hyenas here.