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.
He's saying, if it weren't for liberals...we wouldn't have paved roads. Clean underwear is also probably a "liberal idea".
Could be!
Is that sarcasm? I can't interpret it any other way.
You assume that this guy payes taxes. From the sound of things I would bet that he doesn't.
Hmm.. Does sound like him.
So basically, you are liberal because you like to sponge off people who actually WORK to support themselves and their families.
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.
"Me and my wife?" How about "my wife and I." Your grammar is awful.
Why don't you give them the bad.
The welfare class, Two World Wars, broken families, one fits all education, unchecked crime, corruption, drug abuse.
Have I missed anything?
I know that I did.
What the h*ll are "labor rights"??
realpolitik, Hitler, Stalinism, the Holocaust...all born out of liberal idealisms...
I am a conservative because the idea of public education should be to actually learn something, not fund liberal teachers unions at the expense of students. Reading and writing should come before condoms on cucumbers and diversity training.
And most of those "liberal" ideas/things you said are helped by the conservatives.
And I disagree that the Constitution is an liberal idea! The statements within are very conservative!!!
This guy is using an archaic form of the word liberal.
The Founding fathers were liberals for their time, but not by post-1968 standards, after the neoMarxist hijacked the Proggressive movement.
Yeah, I am a 'classic' pre-1968 liberal also, but that and 50 cents might buy you a cup of coffee.
That is a past era, and the author's muddled analysis results from his ambiguous use of these words.
Thanks for adding to the list! I know there is more!:-)
"Lemme edit that a bit for you: "
HOORAY! well said !
Actually it is a conservative idea. The modern liberal idea is that they rule and we submit to their their stupid whims.
Glad all my taxes helped pay for this liberal's goodies. /sarcasm/
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