What does the word "liberal" mean to you?

Question

Dictionary.com defines Liberal as:
a. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

Does the word still carry this meaning in American society today?

Answer 1

In American politics today, the term liberal certainly needs to be redefined. Somewhere along the line socialists and communists started calling themselves liberals, and they are not. They used the term liberal because it was much more acceptable than the truth. Simply because a liberal is concerned with a social issue doesn't make them a socialist.
Other people who confuse moral issues with political issues started calling themselves a liberal. Simply because a person thinks a woman has the right to murder their unborn child or believes gay people should marry doesn't make them a liberal. The democratic party needs to disassociate itself from these types or groups of people. They are not liberal points of view. Furthermore, a person who believes in wealth redistribution is a communist not a liberal. How and why these people ever got onto the liberal bandwagon is beyond me. But they need kicked off or liberalism can not go forward.
Because so many moral degenerates have labeled themselves liberals, the political pendulum has swung too far right. Our country needs a balance between liberal and conservative viewpoints. Both sides contribute to our nation's success.
Because of liberal movements our country has been desegregated, education is available to all, our elderly are cared for, and our environment is somewhat protected.

Answer 2

Not entirely, especially the "tolerant of ideas and behaviors of others" and "broad minded" part. I think today's liberals seem to have omitted that part.When someone doesn't agree with them,let the shouting and name calling begin!

Answer 3

Since I am a Liberal it means "For the people, By the people" like Abraham Lincoln wanted America to stand for...The Constitution and Bill of Rights for all Americans not just Republican Neocons like they want you to think...What Neocons are doing is dehumanizing others to push their agendas. That's horrible, and Fascists style Dictatorship rule.

Answer 4

That is correct. However Liberal to me seems the same as it has been since the '60s. they support Communism, Drugs, Welfare, Against Capital Punishment, Anti-Gun, Anti Military, Support Big Goverment, and Revolution against our goverment.

Answer 5

L-iberated
I-ntellectual
B-enefical
E-nergetic
R-ealist
A-luring
L-over of all people

Answer 6

No. it is know a bad label, because people like President Bush, used it with such vitriol in the last election, for no good reason, that it now has a smell to it.

Answer 7

A liberal is someone who thinks the government is the only solution to every problem

Answer 8

Unfortunately, not really.

A lot of people see them as "whiny, pu$$y, b*tches" which is a bit of an exaggeration.

They are a bit closed minded when it comes to Republicans. Republicans don't ALWAYS have the wrong answer.

Answer 9

Yes that is what liberal means and what we think. See what Conservative is next. I think that liberals are the essence of this definition - at least the "true" liberals.

Answer 10

liberal. Def: A person so open minded there brains have fallen out!