What is a liberal?

Question

Notice how most of the answers are either hateful nonsense or silly caricatures?

How can we ever come to agreement until we are willing to really understand the other side?

Answer 1

Liberalism is an ideology, philosophy, and political tradition that holds liberty as the primary political value.[1] Broadly speaking, liberalism seeks a society characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power, especially of government and religion, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy that supports relatively free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of minorities are guaranteed. In modern society, liberals favour a liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law and an equal opportunity to succeed[2]. Liberalism rejected many foundational assumptions which dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the Divine Right of Kings, hereditary status, and established religion. Fundamental human rights that all liberals support include the right to life, liberty, and property. In many countries, "modern" liberalism differs from classical liberalism by asserting that government provision of some minimal level of material well-being takes priority over freedom from taxation. Liberalism has its roots in the Western Enlightenment, but the term now encompasses a diversity of political thought, with adherents spanning a large part of the political spectrum, from left to right. In the context of economics, the term "liberalism" refers to economic liberalism, which is associated with the political ideology of liberalism itself.

Answer 2

A Liberal is a radical left side of the Democratic Party .They tend to take things to extremes . I think they are for the working man , unions , peoples rights , helping the poor and the needy . don't mind raising taxes to pay social programs , don't like wars , try to be fair to every one and used to keep large Corporations in check . Now they are in bed with them as are the Conservatives .
Must be crowed there . A very open mined person , willing to try new things .

Answer 3

See: Kookoo bananas, Playtoofast, feelgood.

Notice how none of them can hold an intelligent convo without hateful, racist, and outright false accusations. Yeah....compare Laura bush having an accident that ACCIDENTALLY killed someone, to the Kennedy clan who drive drunk and leave a girl at the bottom of a lake..run home and try to hide...or just get lucky enough to find a kind police officer who doesn't arrest you for DUI..just go to rehab. yeah ...now I see the connection...NOT.
Liberals try to dredge up things like this old hat story, to try to show how bad conservatives are.

Teenage sex is at a all time high..thanks to their teaching birth control in classrooms, not to mention handing it out to them at school clinics.

Welfare spending is getting out of control.
They keep implementing programs geared to keeping the poor poor and the rich rich. I don't see any poor Democrat politicians, or corporate officers.

They loath the people who work for a living and make money, have nice homes and drive nice cars. They think we should give more of it away.

They want the military to go away, yet would be the first to scream if another 9-11 happened.

They want more laws for everyone, yet expect special treatment when they break the very laws they implement.

They brow beat conservatives, not allowing them to defend their points, rather talk over them in an attempt to divert attention to their cause. They HAVE to make THEIR point while preventing others who disagree with them to make theirs.

They spew disinformation and out right lies in an attempt to make the other side look bad He would want you to believe our tax rates are at an all time high when in fact they are lower than they were even 5 years ago.

Kookoo bananas epitomizes the liberal ideology. Interspersed with lies and half truthes, they splatter their language with hateful, profane speach, as this is the only way to draw attention to themsleves.

I know both sides here have been quick to throw insults at each other, but listen up Conservatives.....lets not be like them! Let their true nature come out and we can all see who has the upper high road. Don't sink to their level of juvinality.

Answer 4

Ok, here's an attempt as a less juvenile answer

broad: showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions"

having political or social views favoring reform and progress
tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition

a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties

That said, and responding to asinine responses about spending money-- then by their definition Bush would be a liberal.

Answer 5

Liberals are usually more open minded, pro choice people. We believe in a big government, NOT to be like commies or anything, but because we believe it is the governments job to provide citizens with universal health care, and so forth. Don't you agree?

Liberals are a lot more accepting than conservatives.. We believe and support everyone, reguardless of their ethnicity, sexuality, gender, or culture.

Answer 6

Actually since Mother Teressa died there are no liberals left.

The few poser liberals out there are actually all shills working for Brit Hume Driving up the cost of conservatism

Answer 7

Someone calling themself the first black president yet having less diversity in their own administration than the one they criticize.
Someone who blames, belittles, name-calls, insults a president then calls him mean-spirited.
Someone who fights for the rights of everyone, including satanists, criminals, perverts, rapists, felons...everyone not a Christian.
Someone trying to protect our fundamental rights like flag burning, baby killing, public profanity, child sex, etc, etc.
Someone saying they have a plan. Period.
Someone professing his love for our country yet undermines everything done to protect it, discloses security programs, supplies the opposition military secrets, comfort and encouragement.

Answer 8

A liberal is a person who believes they are better at spending your money than you are, and therefore should tax you highly so they can do just that.

Answer 9

Someone who claims to follow the politics of peace and love while threatening violence and hatred against anyone who disagrees.

Answer 10

a liberal is a person thats more advocating to every one. if you were to look at it in not so certain terms its a person who votes for acceptance.