Are you a Liberal if ?

Question

you are capable of independent thought... devoid of hate, manipulation and love of the common good?

Answer 1

I would like to say that most liberals think in terms of the common good that's why they are spearheading economic and social equality and environmental movements. Issues like raising the minimum wage and socialized healthcare are working toward increasing the standard of living for all in a given country. This is more for the common good then conservatives who believe you make your own destiny even though some are at an obvious advantage. The whole laissez-faire gov't attitude.

Answer 2

If only things were that simple. Liberals can personify all of those praiseworthy characteristics, and yet at the same time, they can be absolutely lacking in all of them as well. Likewise, I have seen many conservatives who love and are far from acrimonious. Many conservatives are self-sacrificial, and put the needs of many before themselves. No side of the political spectrum has a monopoly on either human virtue or vice.

With that said, much of what liberals think is conservative depravity, comes from their observation of the Bush administration and his supporters. Yet, conservative ideology is not monolithic and it cannot be confined to just the Republicans any more than liberals can be categorized as solely Democrats. I know many conservatives who are completely at odds with Bush and many of his most ardent supporters. Lets look for solutions, instead of the vilification of groups through generalizations.

Answer 3

first of all there is a different understanding of the concept in different countries. i believe the british understanding is closer to the correct interpretation.
in the british acception, liberalism is opposed to socialism and social democracy.
first of all liberalism is about minimal state and least possible involvment of the state in the economy and in trade.
second it is about freedom of the individual which is more important than the common good.
third is about rule of law

PS conservatives are founded on liberal doctrine, the US liberals have almost nothing to do with that.


PPS origins of liberalism can be found if u read Locke, Adam Smith and Montesquieu. that is the proof for my point of view
as far as I know, liberalism in US is closer to the socialism. Well this is just a confusion of terms.

Answer 4

So, if you are a conservative you are not capable of independent thought? You hate, manipulate and do not love the common good???? HUMMMMMMMMMMM....sounds more like attributes of the new speaker of the house. What's her name??? What's her party affiliation??? I am so sick of libs are good, conservatives bad OR conservatives good, libs bad. We all have individual thought processes and when more of them lean one way or the other we feel the need to define that person. I say it is all garbage! We are American people that want what is best for our country, our fellow American citizens, and ourselves and family.

Answer 5

No, these are the values of conservatism. Also, define common good because this is a symbol of dictatorships.

Answer 6

Yes.

Answer 7

Liberals never have an orginal thought, they are full of hate, and want a communist/socialist nation.
Period.

Answer 8

No... that is not the definition of a liberal, nor does it describe the typical liberal....

Answer 9

No...No liberal could ever be capable of all those attributes...their head would implode

Answer 10

Liberals never think.