What is a 'liberal' anyway?

Question

I often hear people throw the word 'liberal' about a lot, especially at their critics, just what is a liberal supposed to beleive or is it just a stupid name?

Answer 1

They believe that our country isn't worth fighting poor, that rich people did not earn their money, that lazy people deserve more free money, they believe illegal aliens should be tolerated and allowed in, they believe we should tolerate and try to understand terrorists, they believe that big business is evil

Answer 2

Probably the easiest way to explain the basic difference between a Liberal and a Conservative in a social welfare sense is the Chinese proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." The Liberal would argue that, before any real benefit, society must begin by raising eveyone to an equal level and that only when that goal has been achieved can the individual progress. The Conservative believes that the point from which the individual starts is irrelevent and that creating an evironment where the individual is free to seek their own path, free from artificial constraints or goals set by others offers the greatest chance for success. However, the Conservative also realizes that allowances must be made for, and support offered to, those (the disabled, etc.) who are not capable of succeeding in a competative situation.

In a Constitutional sense, the Liberal believes in a (ready for this?) liberal interpretation of the Constitution, accepting it as representative of a general philosophy of government, while the Conservative believes that it should be taken literally, as written and as intended by the framers.

Understand, these are just broad generalizations for illustrative purposes.

Understand also that there is another movement in the mix, commonly known as the neocons, as represented by the current Administration. While they falsly claim to be Conservatives, they have no grounding in true Conservative principles or values. These are the folks who use "Liberal" as a definition of anyone who disagrees with them and who generally make fools of themselves spewing obnoxious one-liners and regurgitating the talking points of the Republican Party.

Again, the neocons are not Conservatives. In fact, they are almost 180 degrees from Conservatives. They have hijacked the title purely for the purpose of political gain.

Answer 3

Verily, a liberal is a mighty strange animal. It has no spine, no guts, no balls and no morals. It has a very distinct yellow liver. It can be recognised by its characteristic ability to ignore reality and facts. When in mating season they compete on how far they can shove their heads into their own a.......

Answer 4

anyone who is against the repug way of thinking is considered to be a liberal ............ just like anyone who is against a war that's got nothing to do with the security of America or the war on terror is a liberal and a traitor ........... in fact anyone who refused to be brainwash is called a liberal ........ well then call me a traitor ....... called me a liberal ............ but don't call me stupid ........ don't call me a repug ...... that title belongs to them

Answer 5

Someone who loves liberty.

Someone who wants better government instead of more government.

An American Patriot.

Our Troops.

War heros.

Answer 6

Someone left of the political spectrum.

Answer 7

Someone that is happy to share all of YOUR hard-earned money with everybody. Not THEIRS.

Answer 8

A queer loving,baby killing,America hating,scum-bum.