What makes you a liberal?

Question

Okay liberals here is your chance to shine. Tell me without the use of your all mighty google. What makes you a liberal? If you say it's your hatred of George Bush than I will have to ask you to switch to the Republican ticket in 2008. No really why do you feel so passionately the way you do? Do you work for a living? Have children? Are you a property owner? Are you a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, an agnostic. Tell me why you feel the passion that burns so deeply inside you. I am just curious.

A liberal is exactly that a person with liberal ideas or opinions. They are more tolerant of the status quo. The if it feels good do it rational. IE - Legalizing marijuana, legalization of partial birth abortion. A tax and spender, give them a fish and they will eat for a day. Teach them to fish and they'll become a Republican. But hey now I know your tolerant of others ideas because that is a true definition of a liberal. So far as I have read in yahoo I have not yet to see one true liberal not really no my friend not yet. Because a true liberal is tolerant not name calling and uneducated that my friend is the true definition of a liberal.

Now it's your turn. Why do you believe the way you do. No fair using the platforms I stated.

And for those educated Democrats out there thank you for your thoughts. Your time is appreciated.

Answer 1

What makes me a "liberal"? Why do you ask? By your insulting insinuations in your question, I can tell you have already come to conclusions, so exactly why are you asking?
In answer to your insulting, insinuating questions:

I have worked for a living and paid taxes since I was 16 years old. I have worked full time since the day I turned 18. How about you? Do YOU work? Why do you cons assume "liberals" don"t work?

I do not have children. I didn't see the need. Neither did my husband.

I don't believe in god. I don't see the need for that. I'm a tree-hugging dirt worshiper.

I am a property owner. Are you?

Last, I'm not a "liberal". I'm a radical Progressive.

Answer 2

I always considered myself a strict centrist. When Reagan was elected in 1980 the center began moving to the right, but I stayed right where I was, so today I'm considered a liberal.

I think the word 'liberal' really has lost whatever original meaning it might have had from overuse by Republicans. They use the word for anyone they disagree with or anything they don't like. Newt Gingrich, for instance, called President Clinton 'the most liberal president in the history of the US', meaning only that he hated the man's guts. Clinton was not a liberal at all in any accepted original sense of the word. During primary campaigns, Republicans call EACH OTHER liberals! They call Hillary a 'socialist' because they've worn out 'liberal' to the point where it no longer means anything.

Basically I believe in the most good for the greatest number of people. Most modern presidents, of either party, believe in making their friends and campaign contributors rich and screwing everyone else. This is certainly nothing new with GW Bush, though he does it more openly and brazenly, making it really obvious. Reagan with his 'trickle down' explanations at least tried to make it look like his ideas were good for everyone.

I believe the purpose of capitalism is to improve life for everyone, to raise the standard of living of each successive generation. Profit and return on investment are not the be-all and end-all of capitalism, they are means to an end, the end being the improvement of the standard of living. If increased profits mean that 90% of us must lose out, that we must become poorer and accept less, then something is seriously out of whack.

I am not anti-capitalism, I still believe it is the best system, but it require a certain amount of regulation. Capitalism depends on competition. But where there is competition there are winners, and once there are clear winners there is no longer competition. When the govt. sides with the winners and uses regulation to cement their lead, rather than to insure continuing competition, that is no longer real capitalism.

The style of capitalism that has become known as "American-Style Capitalism" has gotten out of hand. It is not sustainable because the people in charge are unable to take a long view, being mostly preoccupied with their own wealth and power. Some liberals--I mean -real- liberals, not just people the Republicans don't like--call this 'end-stage capitalism'.

Answer 3

Because I believe not only my comfort, but the comfort of others is important.

Because I don't believe a fetus is a baby.

Because I want the next generation to have the same rights I was born with.

Because I believe corporations cannot be trusted with power.

Because my smoking pot (or having an abortion or whatever) doesn't hurt you at all. It's the ILLEGALITY of pot that gets people killed. (As opposed to heroin, etc.)

Because property owners are better off under liberal government that won't eminent-domain their property right from under them.

Because the separation of church and state benefits BOTH.

Becaue this country was founded by liberals. Read an unbiased history. Read The Unvanquished. Thomas Jefferson grew pot.

Because Jesus was a liberal.

Because I don't get a sexual thrill from controlling others like Republican'ts do.

And a million other reasons that a rightard like you is simply too dim, too uptight, too self-righteous, and too plain EVIL to understand.

They're keeping Hades hot for people like you.

Answer 4

Actually, I am a moderate who proudly calls himself a liberal as a direct result of the policies and agenda George Bush and the current crop of so-called conservative standard bearers.

I have a college degree, I work for a living, I am a practicing Christian, I am gay.

George Bush advocates a constitutional amendment to forever ban same sex marriage. For 220 years the constitution has exsited to define and expand the rights of the people. Never has it been used to deny a right to a specifc class. That is wrong on every level.

At the same time, George Bush would pull the government out of the business of protecting the public from unscrupulous business practices.

In short, Conservatives want the Government out of the board room, but in the bedroom. I think that is crazy and just the opposite is needed.

Conservatives do not think the environment needs protected, I think it does.

Conservatives do not think that fossil fuels harm the environment enough to be worth the expense of doing anything about it. They are wrong.

Conservatves see government assistance to the poor and disadvantaged as stealing from them to give to the undeserving. As a Christian, I do not begrudge the 1% of government spending on welfare (80% of which goes to assist children). That 1% is about $200 to me. I give many times that to my church and other charities. None of which have nearly the positive impact that most social services provide to those in need. I will never understand how conservatives see it as too much, when if one looks around, it is way too little.

Finally, the war. Iraq has been a mind numbing travesty. It was completely and totally trumped up on the politics of fear so that conservitive business men could have a crack at a new supply of oil, and conservative ideologs could have a crack at tera-farming democracy in a place with no tradition of it. Those were the real reasons for the invasion. They knew that they had to lie to us to get our support, they thought nothing of it, and have no remorse at the consequences.

Answer 5

Being a liberal means nothing in this country anymore. I use to think that all liberals were hippies, but that generation is almost gone and dead. Many people who consider themselves liberal are only a step away from being considered conservative. I don't know where I stand, I feel that gay marriage is wrong morally, but I also believe that gays should be allowed to marry in a court of law and have the same civil rights like all humans. Does this comment make me liberal or conservative? I don't know? Most Americans are in a state of confusion right now. I think the word liberal changes for each generation.

Answer 6

What makes you a liberal?

Democrat, not liberal.
Respect our President, even if I respectfully and legally and patriotically protest specific policies.
I love my country. I am a patriot. That is my passion.
I did become a republican for a while, but it was a very bad fit. I did so because of the influx of socialists into my party in the 1970s.
I work, have children, own my own house. I am not religious, but respect religious freedom and our Constitution in general.

I am not a political bigot. I do not hate you. We need brakes and gas no matter what direction we are going.

Just thought I'd narrow your definition of liberals. If I am mistaken, and you saw this patriotic democrat already, my apology. I understand your question. I see it as well.

Answer 7

I am a liberal because I love my country and I respect and support the Constitution. I am compassionate and wish to provide a safety net for those who are less fortunate or are in need. I believe in equality and Civil Rights. I respect diversity and believe in the dignity of mankind. I want to protect the common person from exploitation by the greedy. I believe in the dignity of labor and the right of workers to organize and bargain in good faith. I care about environment.
I work and will soon retire. I want to protect my investment in Social Security. I have children and am raising my grand children. I want to leave the world a better place for them. I am not presently a property owner, though I have been one. I am a Christian. To be precise, I am a practicing Catholic. I pray with my grandchildren every day, take them to church every Sunday and to Religious education every week. I believe in Ecumenism and respect other's religious or spiritual beliefs.

Answer 8

Okay. I used to be a Republican in the 2000 elections, but since have shifted into a Democratic leaning person. (Bush partly, but there's more.)

I started supporting higher taxes on the rich, more gay rights, and larger government. (Hence: Universal Health Care, more government control on higher education.)
Liberals also tend to focus less on the military and more on economic development, as of the late 20th century. (Except with some interventionist thinking still there. Ex. Darfur, Pakistan.)

Liberals also seem to be more for privacy rights and labor unions. On trade, they're much more protectionist than conservatives, and seem to favor more minimum wage increases, the the rights to unionize.

It really depends. Some people in my opinion would lean towards being a conservative, but they still call themselves a liberal.

Answer 9

That's easy, I want more rights for Americans, not more restrictions...I want to live by the rules of our constitution, not by the church...I want to live by society's moral compass, not the moral compass of religious zealots...I want Americans to have the right to do what they want with their own bodies, not some bureaucrat sitting behind a desk and a bible making that decision for them...any questions...?

Answer 10

I hate the very country I make (lots) of money in; I have a very deep concern for people who are not as fortunate as myself (as long as I don't have to do anything for them); I eat for a living (lots); Religion is a waste of time: a crutch for weak minded people; No children (who would mate with me?); I own lots of property...SO STAY OFF OF IT!!!