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.
Troll ping
Is the idea that rights emanate from God and not man a liberal idea?
Just so you know...you are confusing "big-L" Liberalism with "small-l" liberalism. Many of the ideas you espouse were developed by Liberalism, which in an ironic twist of semantics is now known as American conservatism. Modern day American liberalism has little to nothing to do with this--liberalism is much more akin to Socialism and Paternalism. Half of the items you included were welfare state, for which you may of course take credit. The good ones (in my view) are the heritage of Liberalism--that is, American conservatism. It's a verbal maze, I know. But thanks for posting the list--it has given us something to consider.
Saying something is a liberal idea is not a great point in a political debate. Where are your facts? Cite specifics please.
What a fitting web site name.
http://www.useless-knowledge.com/articles/apr/may161.html
So much for his claims of autonomy eh?
I notice you happened to leave out the most important freedom of all, the freedom to KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. How convienent.
Lemme edit that a bit for you:
I am a liberal because the money paid at gunpoint by US taxpayers has made my parents' retirement more possible and comfortable than it would otherwise have been.
I am a liberal because the money paid at gunpoint by US taxpayers 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 money paid at gunpoint by US taxpayers 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 money paid at gunpoint by US taxpayers 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 which the free market probably would have provided anyway, and which has driven health costs through the roof 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, yet is something modern liberals won't tolerate.
I am a liberal because the idea of political liberty is a liberal idea, yet is something modern liberals won't tolerate.
I am a liberal because government by the consent of the governed is a liberal idea, yet is something modern liberals won't tolerate.
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. Notice no freedom to bear arms there? Liberals don't want you to remember that one.
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, yet is something modern liberals won't tolerate.
I am a liberal because the idea of socialist indoctrination is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because the idea of a five day work week is a liberal idea.
-ok, I'll give you that one, but remember, those liberals weren't the liberals of today by any stretch.
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, yet is something modern liberals won't tolerate.
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. But we didn't sign it.
I am a liberal because the idea of the public maintenance of roads with your tax money, taken at gunpoint, is a liberal idea.
I am a liberal because civil rights, children's rights, women's rights, and labor rights, are all liberal ideas, developed by liberals who would be unrecognizable to today's liberal party.
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. Like Soviet Russia, Labor Unions, and Affirmative Action.
I ask people who insist on repudiating liberalism to please check off the liberal ideas above they are ready to do without.
What, no Viking kitties?
Boy Ann Coulter's appearance on C-Span really pissed off the lefties today.
I notice you happened to leave out the most important freedom of all, the freedom to KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. How convienent.
"They came in Peace!"
jutboy, jutboy3 again??
I am a liberal because I slid right past that pesky second amendment.
Hey, yer mom's calling you.
Liberals
Feelings and emotions, ends justify the means, wanting big government in charge of everything to create artificial self-esteem.
Political correctness and freedom of speech, an oxymoron of indoctrinated that liberals love to teach.
Dividing society between race, religion, gender and economic class. They pretend to help but they are only a pain in the ass.
Being friends with socialists over seas is more important to them than terrorism at home. They still think we went to war with Iraq all by ourselves and all alone.
According to liberals only the UN should take on any world affairs. I guess they didnt get that resolution 1441 by the UN was ignored without any cares.
Liberals like to control Academia, Unions, Media and Hollywood to manipulate. They think Americans dont know it is our Constitution they're wishing to eradicate.
They love to tax they want us to pay for their cause; they appoint judges rather than congress to implement new laws.
To them responsibility and accountability should be a thing of the past. Their favorite President presented lying as virtue and to his wife the right wing was very vast.
Supporting the military doesnt seem to be liberals thing. Freedom isnt free and I as an American understand and respect this is what my protectors bring.
Children need role models and they shouldnt be raised by a pop culture. Innocence shouldnt be taken by a dysfunctional societal vulture.
I believe in a two party system and liberals right to exist. I also understand that every morning I wake up there is a threat to our country and I feel safe as long as I am pissed
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