How did liberalism improve the life's of ordinary Americans throughout History and today?

Answer 1

From Turn Left


GI Bill

This act of Congress enabled millions upon millions of Americans to get college educations, something that most Americans had never had the opportunity to do previously. An entire generation of leaders, scientists, and business people owe their education to the GI Bill.

Labor Laws

An end to child labor, 40 hour work weeks, the right of employees to collectively bargain, overtime pay, workplace safety, all of the things we take for granted today are thanks to liberal laws passed in the first half of this century. It was the conservatives who fought tooth and nail against the end of sweatshops and exploitation

Environmental Laws

The environment has gotten much better in the last 30 years thanks to liberals. Bald Eagles fly once again thanks to endangered species laws, most rivers and lakes are clean again due to anti-pollution laws, and frequent smog days are a thing of the past in most big American cities. Now we will conquer Global Warming

Food safety laws

Ever read Sinclair's "The Jungle?" That's what things were really like before food purity laws were on the books. Today cases of food poisoning are rare, and consumers know that whatever they buy is safe to eat.

Workplace safety laws

Long hours in unsafe conditions are much rarer today than in the past. Tragedies such as the Triangle Shirtwaist fire and child labor have been eliminated by liberal and progressive legislation

Social Security

This program has provided three generations of Americans retirement benefits, and nearly eliminated poverty among the elderly.


Civil rights movement

Liberal ideals drove the biggest change in American society since the Civil War, the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. All Americans who believe in freedom and opportunity cannot help but be inspired by the valiant struggles of MLK and others. Also recall if you will that the major opponents of civil rights were conservatives

Women's right to vote

Before 1920, half of America's population could not exercise the essential duty of citizenship.

Universal Public Education

The reason America is so strong economically is because we have a well-educated citizenry. Public schooling is the true melting pot of America, where every student, regardless of economic background can be taught the basics of citizenship. It is no coincidence that in the last 20 years, as conservatives have greatly weakened the public school system, that American students have scored lower on tests and our civic society has started to unravel.

Hope that helps

Answer 2

Ending slavery, women's rights, labor law, equal access to education... The list goes on. This not to say, however that conservatism has not done its part in the US as well. Extremists at either end have generally done more harm than good to the common man (or woman).

Answer 3

The civil rights movement. The programs designed to be a safety net for or economy which is in a constant state of change. (That is with the exception of abuse of the safety net. Wanted to mention that before a get a thumbs down.)

...and Jesse Jackson! of course.

Answer 4

child labor laws, social security, medicare, workers' rights in general, minimum wage, OSHA, Americans with Disabilities Act...quite a few more

Answer 5

Welfare and foodstamps is something not to be considered an improvement