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I'm a liberal and I'm here to learn

Posted on 12/10/2004 9:37:54 AM PST by rogerv

Hi, gang,

I was a regular contributor to the Kerry Online Forum and am now a regular contributor to the Common Ground Common Sense forum. I am a liberal, but I'll be the first to admit, I don't have all the answers. In fact, many of hte questions that matter to me probably matter to you too. I'm concerned with questions about how to tame power, whether governmental or corporate. I'm concern with the rule of law and how we can get the powerful to take it seriously. I'm concerned with the erosion of civil liberties. And yes, I am concerned about some things you may associate with liberalism--social safety nets and taking care of those who fall through the institutional cracks.

I'm here because I think agreement is overrated and that critics can be your best friends: they keep you from getting sloppy or careless. At any rate, I think there are things I can learn from you. I don't expect you are all agreed on anything--I expect there is a lot of diversity of opinion here. If you are interested in what I have said over at Common Ground Common Sense, I'm using the same handle both places, and you should feel free to come over and look around.

Anyway, I'm new here. Anybody care to give me a tour?


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: blogpimp; brownshirtsforkerry; bukkake; civilwar2; civilwarii; commonground; findyouranswers; freedom; freeperinfusion; heterophobic; heterosexualagenda; imabedwetter; imlost; justpassingthrough; kerrybetrayedamerica; kerryonline; liar; liberal; liberalinthehouse; marxism; mobyisthatyou; nannystate; nevermyfault; newbievanity; pc; politicallycorrect; postandrun; postingorgy; redroger; reprogramming; satanic; socialist; sodelluded; troll; warthog; welcometofr; youbepimpin; zot
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To: rogerv

"I am concerned about some things you may associate with liberalism--social safety nets and taking care of those who fall through the institutional cracks."

I think one thing to understand is that conservatives aren't people who refuse to help others or those in need, we just strongly disagree with liberals on how to go about it. We don't see government as the answer and we do see self-determination and personal responsiblity as the answer. The solutions cannot always come from without, when the problem may be within. The thing I'm most critical of with liberals, is that most refuse to hold individuals accountable and will blame societal conditions before objectively looking at the problem and the fact that with rights come responsibilities.


221 posted on 12/10/2004 10:22:07 AM PST by miloklancy (The biggest problem with the Democrats is that they are in office.)
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To: Conspiracy Guy

I'm sure she's just joking ... you sound great to me!


222 posted on 12/10/2004 10:22:15 AM PST by Tax-chick (Benedicere cor! Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri?)
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To: rogerv
So tolerance is the respect we pay to those we believe are sincere, rational, well-intentioned and wrong

I can only tolerate those who are wrong but willing to be corrected. We're all weak and flawed. But those who seek to perpetuate things that are wrong (e.g., homosexual marriage), I consider the enemy of society and her future.

It's really not that difficult, conservatism. Respect life from the womb to the grave, promote the traditional family, maintain a strong national defense, champion the free market system, minimal government intervention, and indebtedness to the Almighty.

223 posted on 12/10/2004 10:22:35 AM PST by Rutles4Ever ("...upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.")
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To: Conspiracy Guy

When I sing, even the frogs leave!


224 posted on 12/10/2004 10:22:39 AM PST by international american (Generation Jones: "I need, I need someone to set a pick for me at the free-throw line of life)
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To: rogerv

Hi. I used to be a liberal myself. I explain my transformation in detail on my About Me page. If you'd like to read it, just click on my name. And if you can't reply because you are overwhelmed, I understand.

As a liberal, you will probably be surprised to find that a person can be intelligent, thoughtful and knowledgeable and still be a conservative. The most unfair and undeserved stereotype propogated by liberals is that conservatives are stupid. And you will also be surprised by the variations of conservatism that you will find here. We may disagree with one another on occasion, but the bottom line is that we have one core principle in common and that is the belief in personal freedom coupled with personal responsibility.

I hope you enjoy your stay. :-)


225 posted on 12/10/2004 10:22:46 AM PST by SilentServiceCPOWife (In the smiling twilight of the new political morning, the unwashed told their betters to shove it.)
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To: Darksheare

unnnngh


226 posted on 12/10/2004 10:22:59 AM PST by Sam Cree (Democrats are herd animals)
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To: crushelits

The photo you posted disturbs me greatly and makes me cry.


227 posted on 12/10/2004 10:23:05 AM PST by balk
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To: rogerv

It's obvious you're a liberal:

1) your first post is a vanity
2) out of 224 words posted, 18 are variants of "I" and "me". That's 8%.

Here's a suggestion for you-- if you're really here to learn, get over yourself and go lurk on other threads. Listen more than you talk. You'll be amazed what you can learn that way. ;)


228 posted on 12/10/2004 10:23:23 AM PST by walden
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To: Fatalis
Out of curiousity, what's your take on Democratic Underground? When I've lurked there I've noticed they don't invite much criticism.

Yeah, when Bev Harris - noted Democrat partisan and opponent of unaccountable electronic voting systems - uncovered far more Democrat than Republican voter fraud in a close examination of Florida and reported it truthfully and without partisan bias, the DU pirhanas went after her. Loyalty? Truth? What's that?

Dems seem to be eating their own these days in their frenzy over their thrashing at the polls. Good for the Republicans, but a setback for the Republic - at least until the "two party system" consists of the Republican and Constitution parties.

229 posted on 12/10/2004 10:23:36 AM PST by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: rogerv

Welcome. For a good starting point, I suggest hanging out on some 2nd Amendment threads. If you don't yet grasp how urgently important it is for all citizens who haven't been convicted of a violent crime and haven't been adjudicated by a court to be mentally incompetent, to have unfettered rights to keep and carry all the firearms they want (no waiting periods, no registration, no background checks, no restrictions on sales between non-dealer, no carry permits, no banned types, etc.), FReepers will help you "get it". It's pure facts and logic, and thus much less messy than all the religion-based lifestyle and reproduction-related stuff.


230 posted on 12/10/2004 10:23:40 AM PST by GovernmentShrinker
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To: OldFriend

Really? You don't have any questions about power and its abuses? I'd be very interested to hear how you have found peace with all that.


231 posted on 12/10/2004 10:23:48 AM PST by rogerv
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To: OSHA; rogerv

OSHA wrote:

From his post I'd say he was about this > < close to being o good guy.



I think maybe.


232 posted on 12/10/2004 10:24:40 AM PST by tiamat ("Just a Bronze-Age Gal, Trapped in a Techno-World!")
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To: Conspiracy Guy
He has made a few responses so we are in a holding pattern.

Yes, a few. A very few. This guy is slower than refrigerated molasses.

233 posted on 12/10/2004 10:25:40 AM PST by houeto
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To: rogerv

Welcome!


234 posted on 12/10/2004 10:25:59 AM PST by b2stealth
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To: rogerv

Well, I certainly admire your audacity in coming into the Lion's Den to chat with the lions. (Any kamakazes in your family tree?) Bear in mind some lions are more civil than others and you should have a good time and perhaps learn somethings around here - we might learn something, too.

I think that the liberalism most people around these parts detest is actually socialism. No body will argue for moment that we should provide our children the best possible education - most of the debate around here begins when schools are used as political indoctrination camps versus imparting the knowledge that makes a productive future citizen? There's nothing wrong with a social safety net - but, when it breeds a generation of people who make it a profession in and of itself, something has gone haywire? When society wants to pick my pocket to redistribute the fruits of my labors to folks too poorly prepared (the schools again?) or unmotivated to get off their duffs -- I have a problem with that - particularly the part where it is given as a handout, not preparation to get ahead in the world?

Excuses, slogans, and eyewash programs that only serve to employ legions of bureaucrats are not the answer - only treating a symptom and propagating the problem. This is the socialist utopia I fear some would saddle us with if left unchecked.

Perhaps we should begin by defining terms - are we talking about liberalism or socialism?


235 posted on 12/10/2004 10:26:29 AM PST by Barnstormer
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To: rogerv

231 + posts, and still no substantive reply, I think we've been had. I'm bailin'


236 posted on 12/10/2004 10:26:43 AM PST by Dr. Zzyzx
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To: mvpel; rogerv
Dems seem to be eating their own these days in their frenzy over their thrashing at the polls. Good for the Republicans, but a setback for the Republic - at least until the "two party system" consists of the Republican and Constitution parties.

LOL! Once can only dream.

237 posted on 12/10/2004 10:27:06 AM PST by Fatalis
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To: shadowman99
People here blast the left for being hateful, and here comes this guy - polite and upfront about his politics. He didn't go on a rant. He didn't go and zot anyone. He's asking questions. Would it kill us to be decent to him?

Respect is a two way street people.


This deserves a reposting.
238 posted on 12/10/2004 10:27:19 AM PST by OESY
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To: tiamat; rogerv

The fact that he is responding is a major plus.

Rog, honestly you're outside of my realm of experience.
I live in NY state, and the usual behavior for self-identified liberals is to come out cursing and screaming about the usual talking points of 'Enron', 'Halliburton', 'Bush lied', and such.

I haven't seen you do that.
So I must say "Thank you" for actually discussing things.
This is... unique in my experience.


239 posted on 12/10/2004 10:27:48 AM PST by Darksheare (Hey! This troll tastes like Arugala! I HATE arugala!)
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To: Fatalis
Eek... once = one.
240 posted on 12/10/2004 10:27:54 AM PST by Fatalis
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