Posted on 02/18/2005 2:52:25 PM PST by loe joe
Some of my friends, family members, and co-workers wonder how I could be a political liberal in the midst of this new swell of conservatism the United States. The answers to that are all too simple.
I am a liberal because the system originated by liberals called Social Security has made my parents' retirement more possible and comfortable than it would otherwise have been.
I am a liberal because the system originated by liberals called Medicare paid for my mother to have two knees and a hip replaced at a cost that otherwise could not have been born by all of her children together.
I am a liberal because Medicare paid for my father's operation to remove a cancerous kidney at a cost that would otherwise certainly have forced my parents to liquidate their assets.
I am a liberal because that system originated by liberals called WIC gives my daughter food stamps for cheese and milk and other necessities she needs to feed her children.
I am a liberal because that system demanded by liberals called company-paid employee medical insurance helps pay doctor bills for me and my wife and my daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren and sister and most of my other close relatives.
I am a liberal because the idea of autonomy of the individual is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because the idea of political liberty is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because government by the consent of the governed is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because the Bill of Rights is a set of liberal ideas which protect us all. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of worship, freedom of the press, due process of law, freedom from torture, the right to face our accusers, the writ of habeas corpus, and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure are all liberal ideas. Most people in the world do not have those rights.
I am a liberal because those liberal ideas in our Constitution give us control of our representatives from the school board to the Senate and President of the United States, give us the liberal idea of checks and balances, and the liberal idea of no taxation without representation.
I am a liberal because the idea of public education is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because the idea of a five day work week is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because the idea of a strong, well funded and disciplined military under civilian control is a liberal idea, as is the notion of Veteran's benefits and military retirement.
I am a liberal because the Geneva Conventions are a liberal idea. The conventions protect American prisoners and all prisoners of signees from torture and abuse.
I am a liberal because the idea of the public maintenance of roads is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because civil rights, children's rights, women's rights, and labor rights, are all liberal ideas.
I am a liberal because almost all the progressive ideas of the last four centuries have been liberal ideas resisted by the conservatives of their times. Those liberal ideas make this a better place to live for me, my family, my friends, my community, my country, and my world.
I ask people who insist on repudiating liberalism to please check off the liberal ideas above they are ready to do without.
Welcome to FR, newbie! This is not a new laundry list you've just shared with us.
One FReeper tagline says, approximately: "Liberals lie at the premise. Grant them that and you lose the real argument."
Let's grant for the moment that you are not lying and trolling, but are sincere. You've copied us on this old email that tries to give Constitutional credence to modern usage of the term "Liberal." Much more important: what's your personal position on concealed carry weapons for self defense, on traditional marriage and on the death penalty for child molesters? That's what we'd like to know, as a fine howdy-do....
Never mind the Ides of March, beware of kitties with Viking Helmets....
BTW, Civil Rights were conservative issues until about 1967 when the movement ceased to be about rights but race based entitlements (see wealth redistribution). Remember the GOP was founded by Anti-Slavery Democrats. Abolition was the sole purpose of it's existence. This was carried through to the 1964 civil rights act, which owes it's existence to conservatives.
BTW, you'll find most conservatives believe liberals are inherently racist. I agree with this.
Don't think so. Bush is liberalism lite aka compassionate conservatism.
I think "me and my wife" is correct in this case. Don't hit me.
I stopped reading right here. If her parents had been able to invest the money instead of it going to SS, isn't it possible they would be far better off? I think we all know the answer to THAT question. Based on everyone else's comments, the rest was just entitlement twaddle.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Bush is so liberal he wants to cut government programs. Name on RAT that will even dream of doing that ?
See:
George Wallace (D)
Lester Maddux (D)
Orval Faubus (D)
Robert Byrd (D)
Al Gore, Sr. (D)
All giants in the fight for against civil rights.
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Welcome to FR
Having fun yet?
See how nice we are Sean. 100 posts and no zot!
Are you saying that Ike was a liberal?
ROTFLMAO
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