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.
Great dad. Won't help his daughter and grandchild. Expects us to do it.
Hey, don't sic the IRS on me, but anyone who can avoid paying taxes in this country is OK by me.
I just spent 45 minute looking at your profile.
I am impressed. I am always impressed by one who can say the things that are on my mind without any prompting from me! *joke*
Thanks! It was worth the time!
My daughter was in the grocery store and trying to save money, she was at the checkout with generic brand soda's and the woman in front of her had a whole buggy full of 12 packs of Coca Cola, the brand name. Of course she paid for them with food stamps. My daughter was so mad. She said she would have loved to been able to just spend money like water but has to pinch her pennies in order to pay taxes so that woman could have her brand name sodas.
Well THAT's sucky!
Come on out West, and you can join me in being the Pit Crew.
It's an open invitation.
Hammill:
That's "Luke Skywalker".
Space Ghost:
Whatever. So, Luke, was it scary working with. . .[looks around furtively as heavy breathing is heard]. . .Lord Vader?
Hammill:
James Earl Jones is an incredible actor. . .
Zorak:
Prowse! David Prowse is the true Lord Vader!
Moltar:
No way! Did Prowse ever say, "This is CNN"?
Zorak:
Excuse me, bantha fodder! Who stalked the halls of the Death Star commanding the Storm Troopers? Who fought Obi-wan? Was that Jones? Who was that, praytell?
Moltar:
Um, er. . .
Zorak:
Did I hear you say P--Pr--Prow. . .
Moltar:
Okay, technically, that was Prowse. But. . .
Zorak:
I thought so!
LOL!
Sounds very tempting.
Space Ghost, Coast to Coast.
"I am a liberal because civil rights...are all liberal ideas."
Hey, Joe, you must of gone to one of them "liberal" public schools where they teach revisionist history. Civil Rights was never a liberal idea - check history - the Great Civil Rights Bill of 1964 was passed by Republicans, in spite of the opposition from Democrats. One of your great liberal buddies, Al Gore - how did his father, a liberal and a Democrat, vote on that bill?
The Civil Rights Bill of 1964 was in danger. That great liberal senator from West Virginia, Robert Byrd, had just ended a 14 hr 13 minute speech on the Senate floor filibustering the bill to keep it from coming to a vote. Note that liberals were in the majority in the senate in 1964. Everett Dirksen, Minority Leader and Republican Senator from Illinois rallied Republican votes that made closure on the filibuster a realistic option proclaimed, in the words of Victor Hugo, "Stronger than all the armies is an idea whose time has come." He continued, "The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing in government, in education, and in employment. It will not be stayed or denied. It is here!" The closure vote passed, the bill was voted on and passed, becoming the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Hiya, Handsome!
Good to see you!
Funny stuff, that!
I'm CEREAL!
LOL!!! Perfect...You da man!
LOL!
I'd likely be the first person to remain under the body panels of a race car while it's racing.
"Let me outta here!" *Over the hum of the tires an droar of the engine, into radio*
Hey, Face! What you up to this evening? I've been listening to an audio book of "Son of Tarzan". About to try to get some research done.
One of the weirder shows ever aired--surely a BSIC production! :-)
Nah!
It's my job to check that there are no "cooties" on the undercarriage!
You'd have to drive the golf cart to the finish line to tow the car back...
That it is, and a brilliant one at that.
(Probably due to not beng one of my ideas.)
I'm up too late, this evening, but I'm having fun for now...
How are you? Good to see you online again!
*chuckle*
"And here we have a member of the pit crew stuck under the hood still. OOOooh, that looks painful!"
LOL! True--we need a front company to handle brilliant ideas, as we wouldn't want our logo associated with those. It would ruin our image!
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