Liberalism is the belief that founded this country, which you reject. That is what makes you an American in name only.
Dear
PaintMyHouse Thanks for clarifying which branch of liberalism
you follow, this helps a lot, and I can follow your reasoning now that I get what track you follow.
This is a VERY critical discussion to have, so thanks for talking this through. We need to understand the difference between classic liberalism and radical liberalism to work with BOTH.
You should be more specific. There have historically always been two branches of liberalism
1. Classic Liberalism associated with John Locke is the branch that has become the Conservatives of today.
The idea that rights of man are naturally inherent by human nature or God, not dependent on govt, and the role of the Constitutional laws is an agreement to limit the powers of federal govt and protect the liberty of the states and people.
2. Radical Liberalism associated with Rousseau is the branch that has become the Liberals today.
The idea that people will abuse power unless the govt is used to establish the will of the people and force all citizens to comply for the greater good of the public.
So one approach seeks to use govt to check the people from abuse.
The other seeks to represent the people to check govt from abuse of power.
Where the two agree is to resolve the source of abuses, so that we don't fight
over regulations or deregulations that affect other people besides the ones actually responsible for the abuses in question.
Where we disagree is where people don't have the same faith,
and want to revert to govt to regulate that.
Such as people not trusting individuals with the choice of abortion, and wanting govt to ban it.
Or people not trusting individuals with gun rights, and wanting govt to regulate that.
Or people not trusting corporations to respect environment or citizen rights, and wanting
govt to regulate that.
Or voting rights.
and now health care rights.
In cases of conflict, I find the common factors are people from EITHER group
A. "don't want the other group"
B. "mandating regulations or deregulations through govt"
C. "they don't consent to" (because they either don't trust A or don't agree to how B is written)
So if we would listen to each other, and work out agreements by consent,
we could develop programs that serve the intended purpose without imposing unintended consequences objected to by one party or another. We need to hear out those objections, and correct what is causing the conflicts.
It is hypocritical to blame one side for imposing in one case, if our side is imposing in another case.
Why not stop the impositions in all cases. Why not resolve conflicts, and either pass laws by agreement, or agree to separate if we can't resolve our differences in beliefs?
Both parties have established democratic structures for representation and passing
resolutions in an agreed platform that all members can reform or amend, add or change.
Why not use those structures to organize citizens by state to develop and fund the programs
they believe represent them WITHOUT CONFLICTING OR IMPOSING on any other groups that believe otherwise?
Surely with our online capacities to organize people, ideas, resources and proposals for reform,
we could set up administrative programs through each party to focus on what each wants to provide.
Each party can be delegated different tasks, develop a solution that works, and offer that to the public to
adopt and expand upon freely, not by force of law.
Why push agenda that is "faith-based".
Why not prove what programs work self-sufficiently and let people choose freely to fund and participate voluntarily?