In reading and asking political questions, I find that use of the word liberal in the text will immediately engender negative feelings and an attack mentality. The word conservative does not necessarily produce the same response, but sometimes does. Conservatives seem to be openly proud of their ideology, while many liberals seek to reclassify themselves using other terms. I am not saying liberals aren't proud, just that they do not seem to be proud of the term. I am not talking about questions that seek to defame one side or the other, but rather questions which require an explanation of the answerer's beliefs and opinions. Both are just words and should not immeditely place people on the defensive without further discovery and yet they still do.
What say you?
2006-10-20 04:46:00 · 9 answers · asked by Bryan 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
ruth "the meanie-head": I am not necessarily looking for an absolute answer for myself. I am just interested in the opinions of others on the matter. Call it a thought experiment if you will. I try to be as fair as possible, otherwise I get called a stupid Republican, of which I am neither.
2006-10-20 05:07:21 · update #1
ruth "the meanie-head": I hope you didn't misunderstand my additional comments. I was not chiding you, just clarifying my intentions. I am also a conservative, just not a Republican, but rather an Independent.
2006-10-21 00:31:05 · update #2
Being a moderate, I'll answer this from a neutral corner. I'm sure you are aware that most conservative and moderate Democrats jumped ship and joined the Republican party during the Johnson era and later during the Reagan era. I believe it was this group of new Republicans who started bashing those they left behind in the Democratic party. Prior to this party switching era, the two political parties were civil toward one another, at least compared to what's going on today.
Being a liberal is not such an evil thing. What is bad is the evaporation effect created by moderates leaving the democratic party. What was left behind was a concentrated left wing mentality. Any political party that moves too far from center is ineffective and starts pushing policies that simply aren't any good for mainstream America.
I think I'm straying from the substance of your question. To sum up, I believe the word liberal has been turned into a dirty word by those Republicans who left the Democratic party angry over the fact that the leadership in the Democratic party had moved too far left, which in all reality it has.
2006-10-20 07:40:25 · answer #1 · answered by Overt Operative 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I prefer to use the terms Republican or Democratic parties.
Liberal wasn't construed as a "dirty word" until Republicans started the media blitz. Maybe "Foley" (and a few others I could think of...could be a "dirty word" now. I'm a proud Democrat and a Liberal regardless, because the party more closely represents my views. I am not defined by anyone else but me. Then again, I don't fall victim to brainwashing.
Further, plenty of Liberals believe in a safer country, but don't necessarily agree with the current war. That doesn't mean all Liberals are against any war. There are Liberals serving in this war right now.
People seem to want to categorize and simplify very complex matters.
Further, many churches today are subtly and aggressively pushing their memberships to vote a certain way.
Overall, most people fall on a continuum in-between - more liberal in some areas and more conservative in others. I hardly think the current administration is Conservative. Unfortunately, the middle seems to never have a candidate that really expresses their views.
2006-10-20 05:08:34 · answer #2 · answered by Lake Lover 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They shouldn't put people on the defensive, but yes, they most certainly do.
I've been attacked many times for my views, and classified as something I'm not. Some conservatives seem to think I'm liberal, while many liberals think I'm ultra-conservative.
However, I've been attacked by more liberals than conservatives on here.
I am proud of my beliefs, and I don't mind the fact that some may accuse me of sitting on the fence on some issues.
I hope this answers your question.
2006-10-20 04:50:35 · answer #3 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She isn't 'fantastically conservative" in any respect. authentic conservatives alongside with the previous due Sen. Goldwater and William F. Buckley might want to have had no longer something yet disdain for her parochialism and anti-intellectualism. they could have shuddered each and every time she made one in each and every of her tried commentaries on health care reform the position she distorts and dismembers the actuality turning it right into a sketch of actuality or speaks about "authentic individuals" and "authentic u . s . a . of america". the project with Palin is that she is ignorant and manipulative and performs on human beings's fears rather of instilling desire. Her optimism is reserved for her personal meant skills. She is a fraud.
2016-12-05 01:09:38 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Using words like liberal, conservative, Democrat, or Republican when asking a question here, does nothing but polarize any attempt at intelligent debate.
2006-10-20 04:58:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Those are bad words . I think we could do away with them. They party system is a throw back to when everybody and everything was separated.If they didn't exist voters would have to become informed.
2006-10-20 04:50:13 · answer #6 · answered by carolinatinpan 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Interestingly, I find your fairly worded question to be self-evident...
I think that liberals in general try to reclassify anything that doesn't comport with their own agenda...
2006-10-20 05:01:49 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Liberals stand for socialism, conservatives stand for freedom. One is hated the other loved.
2006-10-20 04:53:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
they shouldn't, but they do. i recognize, when one of those terms is used, that i disagree with those who it regards, but i also respect their point of view, and hope they do mine.
2006-10-20 04:50:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋