What it means to be a liberal (Barf alert!)

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | 10/16/06 | GEOFFREY R. STONE

[scan58]

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/15769917.htm

Information here.

[Sterm26]

I think that this is an excellent reply as well. The email for the Philadelphia Daily News is: views@phillynews.com

If they go ahead and print your response, be prepared for it to be heavily edited...more of that noted liberal "freedom of dissent".

[oneolcop]

Thanks. Sent.

[griswold3]

That's gonna leave a mark!
I hope you sent that to Mr. Stone!
Good job!

[Niteranger68]

By the time they wake up, it's time to go back to bed.

[VRWCtaz]

"This might be the definition of a "classical" liberal, but it's certainly not the definition of a "modern" liberal."

Would that be a "neolib?"

[kellynch]

Sounds good to me...

[Sender]

I have to admit that I greatly enjoyed a phone conversation yesterday with a woman from Berkeley who described herself "as liberal as you can get".

She had a doctorate in technology and was very witty, and I openly told her that I was probably as far from liberal as you can get.

Still, we joked and had a great time talking about issues and politics and world affairs. It's a shame that seldom we have a chance to really talk with the libs.

Not that we should adopt their policies; but communication is a good thing. There is too much animosity and hatred on the part of many on the left. Get over it. Have a beer.

[backhoe]

Vanity: Why Mommy Is A Democrat (A different kind of childrens book) Get ready to laugh

My tagline is a true saying...

[Sterm26]

It's funny, my brother is a DUer, politically the polar opposite of myself. We usually can have civil political debates, but in 204 we were at each other's throats. I almost felt bad for him after Kerry lost. (heh heh)

This year we're not going at it nearly as badly, he's so far off of the reservation that he can't see the difference bewteen Pubs and Dems anymore, and is not voting at all. I won't be encouraging him to, either ;)

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Search may be a lot of Freepers' friends, but it doesn't seem to be mine....nothing I search for ever pops up as posted!

Search, by default, is by keyword. I know this because I was going to post the same piece from the Daily News. Nothing showed up. But then I did a search on title and got two hits - yours and the original.
It's all in how you use it. And posting the same piece a week a part isn't the worst thing that can happen.
Kind regards.

[Protagoras]

he can't see the difference bewteen Pubs and Dems anymore

It gets hard and harder to see.

On many issues, it's more a matter of scope and detail than philosophical difference.

[Sterm26]

Thanks. I try to abide by the rules around here, I was just happy to finally post an article that (I thought) hadn't been posted before! You guys are very much on the ball.

[Sterm26]

I agree, but there are still fundamental differences on foreign policy that force me to hold my nose and vote Rep. If the RINOs start going wobbly on the WOT, they (and quite possible all of us) are cooked.

[Bob Mc]

...he's so far off of the reservation that he can't see the difference bewteen Pubs and Dems anymore...

I know several self described "liberals" who have become so disillusioned, they take this same stance: that both parties are corrupt, and they have subsequently dropped out of politics all together.

[D1X1E]

First I laughed. Then I got perturbed. Then I sent this to Stone. He will ignore it of course but I feel better. :)

1. Liberals believe individuals should doubt their own truths and consider fairly and open-mindedly the truths of others.

Seems to imply that liberals don't know their own minds or have any personal values or belief system.

2. Liberals believe individuals should be tolerant and respectful of difference.

Unless and until any individual's opinion is different from a liberal opinion; in which case said individual will be subject to personal attacks, possible hate crime charges and the preferred liberal method of dispute settlement, a lawsuit.

3. Liberals believe individuals have a right and a responsibility to participate in public debate.

However, any fact, no matter how indisputable, that is presented by the opposing side must be ignored in favor of maintaining the preferred liberal view.

4. Liberals believe "we the people" are the governors and not the subjects of government, and that government must treat each person with that in mind.

Yet, in spite of this professed belief, liberals strive to implement more and more government control over the individual and every aspect of life.

5. Liberals believe government must respect and affirmatively safeguard the liberty, equality and dignity of each individual.

As long as those individuals continue to vote for and with those of the liberal persuasion. Any individual daring to question an accepted liberal tenet must be ignored and in severe cases degraded and demonized.

6. Liberals believe government has a fundamental responsibility to help those who are less fortunate.

In this, the liberal belief is quite simply, wrong. Government has no legal responsibility to provide charity. Any money used for that purpose is not "government money". It is my money, your money, the citizens' money.

7. Liberals believe government should never act on the basis of sectarian faith.

Which calls into question the liberal penchant for pandering and catering to radical Muslims who govern based solely on their faith.

8. Liberals believe government must protect the safety and security of the people, for without this, liberalism is impossible.

Sounds good. Sadly, the theory one most often hears advanced by liberals is that this country should attempt the appeasement of our enemies. This particular plan does not seem destined to provide much safety or security.