Liberals and/or Dems, I'm asking you nicely.........?

Question

Please do not respond to my question with insults and put downs. I'm being very serious and sincere, so please try and do the same. I don't really "side" with either political group, but I've been somewhat informed of the differences in thinking between the Dems and Republicans, through the news, and even on Y!A, and personal obsevation. I think I've got an idea of some of the reasons and issues that cause Republicans to agree with the Republican point of view, (conservative, traditional thinking, with most likely a Christian mind-set). My question for Dems/liberals is: What issues or subjects do you feel a moral responsibility for? If you answer that the war in Iraq is immoral, I understand that war is not meant to be pretty, but at the same time, it has always been a part of mankinds existence. It was in Biblical times, and was predicted to take place in our present day. What other issues do you feel strongly about, and are they because you feel "morally" obligated to support or not?

Please don't use this as an opportunity to put down Republicans. I only want to know specifically about your own personal opinions about why you believe as you do as a Dem/liberal.

My goodness, I am VERY impressed and appreciative of the honest, sincere and well thought out responses to my question. It was indeed, the kind of answers I had hoped for. It is almost impossible to pick a best answer, because I learned something from each one. Although I do agree with some of the things mentioned by R's, my question was directed toward Dem/liberals, so I feel a best answer should be chosen from among those. It would be so much easier if both sides were cut and dried, but I agree with a little from both sides. I am very glad I have a clearer understanding of what and why Dems/liberals believe. Thank you all for taking the time to answer.

Answer 1

as others have said... many actually look to Jesus as an example... even though some may not believe in his divinity even... most liberals think he was an excellent example of how a human should act and think...

we all have a moral responsibility for ourselves and our fellow humans, as Jesus fairly well lays out.... and we also have a responsibility to love our fellow man and to not judge him, unless we are without sin...

so we should help the poor, we should focus on education and we should focus on health care... all of these things are still problems, even in a country as great as America...

now granted, all liberals don't always act mature, as all conservatives don't, but I feel these ideas are a base for most adult liberals in many ways...

as far as outside of America. and the war.. much of the world is in a bit of a mess.. and can we, and should we be the "world's police"... I mean Africa, South America, southern Asia and much of the Middle east is in a lot of turmoil...

and I think wars are sometimes necessary, but we should know exactly why they are being fought and with a clear plan and focus on our goals, if we are risking American lives, our soldiers deserve that much and more... from what I've seen, almost all of those things were lacking in Iraq... the story "why" we're there has changed, and changed again, we seem to have little to no focus and no real idea what we are trying to accomplish, and of course, no idea how to accomplish it then....

all we have are vague ideas of "fighting terrorists"... yet no idea who we're fighting, where they are and how to fight them... meanwhile soldiers are dying...

Answer 2

Liberals believe that people working together to achieve common ground and goals will accomplish more than the person who prefers to look out only for themselves, especially if that includes taking for themselves the common wealth of everyone else.

They mostly think that Jesus' own effort to bring all his teachings into one sentence "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" has the meaning that we should actually try and do that.

And while we occasionally fail at that , like when we have been injured or scared, and we lash out, as indeed was the first thought after 9-11 when all the world was outraged at the conservative extremists who did it, we don't take our religion in Vain, and use it for justification in doing so.

We also responded quickly to cooler heads, wanting action that was effective, rather than action that just felt good. Especially when we realized that some were looking to deliberately make things worse, as a way to give themselves more power, even as they did not do things that would have actually helped.

And everywhere we make judgments based on the reality that can be confirmed as real. Not fantasy, and not wishful thinking. We have even conducted research into the mechanisms of both intent, and natural mental process that lead to conservative Ideology, and that has confirmed the pathology that we suspected, but shown it to be worse than suspected.

This is not a put down but a call for those who think that they are conservatives to wake up to the path they are being led down. Many of their actual policy preferences actually align with liberals, if they looked at what Liberals actually thought rather than the story made up by folk who0 wouldn't know an actual liberal thought if it bit them.

Answer 3

Neither the Rs or Ds have cornered the market on morality. Just look at the actions of leadership from both parties.

Preaching from political pulpits doesn't cut it. People are judged by what they do.

So let me ask you -
Are all Democrats in favor in universal health coverage?
Are all Republicans in favor of the same?

Are all Democrats opposed to war under any circumstance?
Are all Republicans in favor of war for any reason?

Are all Democrats in favor of spending more than we have?
Are all Republicans in favor of spending less than we have?

Are all Democrats people? Are all Republicans people?

My point is that I personally believe the R's and D's want the same things for this country (and others) but they are so into power, control and money that they are always at war with each other rather than working to solve these problems on our behalf.

I have been told by politicians that politics is a blood sport. With that kind of thinking and behavior to match ...what will ever get done?

Answer 4

There are some people that simply oppose war and the use of force (except in absolute passive self defense). And to them, the Iraq conflict is no different than any other war. All are bad.

Other people are opposed to Iraq specifically, even if they grant that war may sometimes be valid or necssary.

The argument against the Iraq occupation is centered around the lack of goals we have. Deposing Saddam was one thing. That's why we invaded in the first place. But that's done. "Mission Accomplished." So, what are we still doing there?

That's the core of your question. Some people believe we have a moral obligation to help the Iraqi people clean up the mess we created when we toppled their government.

But other people believe that we should take care of ourselves first, and put our money to our own citizens and our own defense, before we spend trillion helping another country. It all comes down to what you value more -- being a good neighbor, taking care of your own, or doing penance.

Answer 5

I am an independent and would like to throw out an answer. Most conservatives I know base their moral beliefs on the ten commandments, it defines clearly right and wrong, that with the constitution as it is written not as it is interpreted by others. Most liberals I know go along with most of that except if it feels good they add or subtract from their list of morals based on that. I understand exactly what you mean about war being ugly.

I think a lot of rancor you see in politics is not from liberals per-se but from people with a hard core socialist belief who use the liberal label to gain respectability, and these people are pure narcissistic nihilists, their morals are based on what they believe is how EVERYONE should live and if you are not with them then you have to leave.

I think it is wrong for congress to put pork in bills, that is stealing. I think it is wrong to create social programs to create classes of dependent people, heck just look at how many employees there are of government, they are going to always vote for the dems and big government, self-interest pure and simple, and simply wrong, again stealing our money for self-interest. I believe we should help and care for each other, but that we do it willingly not at the force of an oppressive government.

History has always shown and will in the future that might makes right, despite what pacifists might like to believe. There will never be world peace because you could never get even them to agree on what that means. To a communist world peace means everyone is subjegated to them, the vanguard of the elite, which is beginning to sound like our congress.

So I guess in terms of morals it is pretty simple to me, there are the ten rules that my parents taught me, the ten commandments, and then there are the ten rights of citizens in this country, the Bill of Rights, and you know what I really do not need any more than those. If you follow them, you will be morally right, not morally bankrupt.

Answer 6

This is a good question and thanks for asking it in a respectful way. I am a liberal/dem and this is how I feel...

I consider it moral to not judge another person's lifestyle as long as it does not impede on someone else's. For example, homosexuality. I don't agree with the mindset of the Rep. party as far as that goes. I think it is very hurtful to a group of people (who have been around since Bible times too...just like war) to constantly denigrade their lifestyle "choice." I don't even think it is a choice, b/c in nature there are animals that engage in homosexual and androgenous behaviors. Perhaps a natural form of population control hard-wired into our DNA. Basically, I enourage tolerance and acceptance as opposed to bashing.

Woman's right to choose--I feel it is a dangerous precedent to legislate body parts. I would never choose that for myself, but I feel that safe and sanitary avenues should be available for those who make that decision. I do feel that abortions should not occur in the 3rd trimester under any circumstances except to save the mother's life. Second trimester, I'm a little fuzzy on....I think perhaps some counseling about other avenues (such as adoption, etc.)should be given before their final choice is made. Making it illegal would not prevent abortions as 20 million of the 46 million abortions performed occur in places where it is illegal. All banning it would do would be to place our American women at risk for many different abuses and risks by having to go through other avenues. Keep in mind, abortions were performed in the BC times too...so again not a new issue.

Domestic spending-- I feel that programs should be in place to help the poor, destitute and disabled because I feel a society is truly judged by how they treat the least in their society. I don't encourage abuse of the system, but there are some people who truly need long-term help for various reasons. For this I say, WWJD?

Environmental Protection--I think we have a moral responsibility to protect the planet for future generations. Who cares if global warming is a hoax, what is the big problem with investing in green technologies? It could only help us in the long run. I prefer not to run an uncontrolled experiment on the only home we have.

Answer 7

as long as religion and money mix, we as a world unit will not get along. this is my theory and hear me out. there always has to be a balance, we can't have good if we don't have evil. we can't have births, if we don't have deaths and so on. I'm not saying one group is evil and one is not but, as far as the religion thing, i feel like republicans take the Bible as written, no if ands or buts and demarcates see the grey areas.
i think the whole thing about the war is that we have lost our direction. it's almost like we've forgotten why we went over there in the first place.
in my option, we are all children of God, no matter what God you chose to pray to. i believe we as humans, brothers and sisters in a greater since, owe it to each other to treat on another with respect, love, and dignity. also to bestow the same rights to everyone. i be live we should not be punished for the way we look, where we come from, who we pray to, or who we love.
we only have one planet and my big concern is how long it's going to be before we destroy it.

Answer 8

Despite media claims that we are "at war", this is an occupation.

Because corrupt propaganda machines have successfully maligned the once very positive term 'liberal', you would be more politically correct to use the term 'progressive.'

From what I've seen, both Democrats and Republicans in congress have thrown tons of money for an invasion and occupation of the Middle East. They've also shredded what was left of the constitution by passing laws that supposedly provided security.

Do you honestly believe our motives for the invasion and occupation are related to security and bringing freedom and democracy? Many believe this invasion and occupation was conceived as a strategic effort to secure our dominance of the world economy.

Did you know that child abuse has been around since biblical times? Is this a rational for supporting an abomination?

Answer 9

I feel a moral responsability to humanity as a whole, devoid of labels, race, creed, etc.
I oppose the Iraq war because it was an unneeded waste of human life. Afghanistan was different, we were attacked and we undertook a war to prevent that from happening again. I am not so naiive as to think there is not a time for defense. But Iraq did not threaten us, and I disagree with your interpretation that it was predicted in the bible; but I'm not going to tell you what to believe.
Other than that I believe in personal freedoms, the Constitution being more than a suggestion, helping the poor and those who need help, improving education and make college affordable to all, rebuilding New Orleans, eh, just to name a few.
One thing though, the democratic party is often referred to as the "big tent", meaning it brings lots of smaller groups together under one roof.so that makes the unified message a little cloudier. but I'd rather have my voice at least be heard than be told what to believe.

Answer 10

The Republicans plotted and concocted evidence to convince the Democrats to endorse the war against Iraq, is that morality enough for you? Furthermore what moral obligation do the loyal Bushies have to impose western type democracy on a Muslim country?