What makes me a liberal?

[acludem]

I get asked that question a lot, what makes you a liberal? The answer I've come up with is this: I am a liberal because I choose to question. I am liberal because I don't believe every problem has a simple answer. I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream. I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say. I am a liberal because I believe society has a vested interested in educating all children, and in making sure all children have access to basic health care. I am a liberal because I believe women should have the right to make their own medical decisions. I am a liberal because I support the rights of gay men and lesbians to be who they are without fear of reproach and repression. I am a liberal because I believe people should have freedom of and freedom from religion. I am a liberal because I believe that the best societies are made up of individuals who look out for each other.

I am a liberal...and I'm damn proud of it.

acludem

 

[insein]

Originally posted by acludem
I get asked that question a lot, what makes you a liberal? The answer I've come up with is this: I am a liberal because I choose to question. I am liberal because I don't believe every problem has a simple answer. I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream. I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say. I am a liberal because I believe society has a vested interested in educating all children, and in making sure all children have access to basic health care. I am a liberal because I believe women should have the right to make their own medical decisions. I am a liberal because I support the rights of gay men and lesbians to be who they are without fear of reproach and repression. I am a liberal because I believe people should have freedom of and freedom from religion. I am a liberal because I believe that the best societies are made up of individuals who look out for each other.

I am a liberal...and I'm damn proud of it.

acludem

Its good to stand up for what you believe in. Now as a liberal, you would also support freedom of ideology would you not. People are free to think. Therefore, since not every person in the world thinks alike, how could we achieve these dreams of yours?

Everyone has a differing opinion on how we should run the world. Some are right and some are wrong. I feel your dream is a good one but it is not a practical one. Unless we all become one giant cult of man and think with one mind, we will never achieve these fantasies.

 

[Big D]

Originally posted by acludem
I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream. I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say.
acludem

If you belive this your not a liberal.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Probably you were dropped on your head. You were asking what made you a liberal, right?

 

[DKSuddeth]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by acludem
I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream. I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say.
acludem
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Originally posted by Big D
If you belive this your not a liberal.

I believe that and I'm a liberal.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Liberalism is about curtailing freedoms on the grounds that free societies are unfair because in free societies people excel at different rates, and people excelling at different rates is evil. Liberalism is primarily based on envy, and power acquisition through fear mongering, misrepresentation, and historical revisionism.

Swoosh! nuttin' but net!

 

[DKSuddeth]

Originally posted by rtwngAvngr
Liberalism is about curtailing freedoms on the grounds that free societies are unfair because in free societies people excel at different rates, and people excelling at different rates is evil. Liberalism is primarily based on envy, and power acquisition through fear mongering, misrepresentation, and historical revisionism.

Where did you pull that definition from? the middle hole of your ass?

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Originally posted by DKSuddeth
Where did you pull that definition from? the middle hole of your ass?

The middle hole? I don't have a three holed ass, as you apparently do. Can you crap out of all of them? Or are some of them vestigial and non functional?

But seriously folks. That's my definition of liberalism as I have seen it in action in the world.

 

[Bern80]

Originally posted by acludem
I get asked that question a lot, what makes you a liberal? The answer I've come up with is this: I am a liberal because I choose to question. I am liberal because I don't believe every problem has a simple answer.

Neither of these things have anything to do with being a liberal. I question all the time. It is not IF you question that makes you a liberal. It is WHAT you question. As for solutions to problems my observation has been that liberals are so terrified of making the wrong decision that they would rather sit and talk about action then actual implement anything.

I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream.

I think you believe in handing to people on a silver platter. You the right to the PURSUIT of happines/American Dream. Opportunites are seized, not given.

I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say.

Funny, that's what conservatives beleive too.

I am a liberal because I believe society has a vested interested in educating all children, and in making sure all children have access to basic health care.

I am a liberal because I believe that the best societies are made up of individuals who look out for each other.

We know this from history to be incorrect. When government have tried to make people take care of each other (socialism) they fail. It is wrong to go through life depending on other people. it is far easier to depend on yourself.

 

[Hobbit]

Originally posted by acludem
I get asked that question a lot, what makes you a liberal? The answer I've come up with is this: I am a liberal because I choose to question. I am liberal because I don't believe every problem has a simple answer. I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream. I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say. I am a liberal because I believe society has a vested interested in educating all children, and in making sure all children have access to basic health care. I am a liberal because I believe women should have the right to make their own medical decisions. I am a liberal because I support the rights of gay men and lesbians to be who they are without fear of reproach and repression. I am a liberal because I believe people should have freedom of and freedom from religion. I am a liberal because I believe that the best societies are made up of individuals who look out for each other.

I am a liberal...and I'm damn proud of it.

acludem

Most conservatives think this, too, but we go about it a different way. Liberals think we should feed everybody by giving the jobless welfare, wheras conservatives see welfare as a crutch to pay the bill and buy the groceries in between jobs, while the larger solution to feeding the everybody is to get the jobless jobs. I support the rights of gay men and women, because they're people, too. I just don't think those rights include getting married to someone of the same gender, and I still believe practicing homosexuality is a sin. I believe in freedom of religion. However, I am of the belief that you can either give everyone freedom of or freedom from religion. If everyone is free to practice their own religion, some people will probably practice it around you. Respect them, practice what you want, and get used to it. I could make a few more points, but you get the idea.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

I've never gotten a good answer on how a nativity scene is harmful to anyone in anyway.

 

[DKSuddeth]

Originally posted by rtwngAvngr
I've never gotten a good answer on how a nativity scene is harmful to anyone in anyway.

I got a splinter putting one together once, does that count?

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Originally posted by DKSuddeth
I got a splinter putting one together once, does that count?

partial credit.

 

[NewGuy]

I crucified gumby once.

 

[5stringJeff]

Originally posted by acludem
I get asked that question a lot, what makes you a liberal?

acludem, it's good to see your reasoning for your beliefs. But allow me, please, to give the conservative opinion of your reasoning.

The answer I've come up with is this: I am a liberal because I choose to question.

Anyone who is smart enough to form a political opinion for themselves questions the issues - as I have many times.

I am liberal because I don't believe every problem has a simple answer.

You are correct, many questions don't. Some questions do - for example, Bush's statement that "either you are for us, or you are for the terrorists." I think that was a statement that needed to be amde because of its glaring truth - there can be no innocent bystanders against an enemy who targets innocent bystanders, and it's time we rid the world of them.

I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream.

As a conservative, I wholeheartedly believe that. However, I believe that the best way to do that is to allow free-market capitalism to work its ways on the economy, so that people are paid according to their productivity and potential, not according to Congress's calculations. I also believe that welfare programs should be limited to the greatest extent possible in order to prevent dependence upon such problems.

I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say.

I don't know any conservative that doesn't believe that.

I am a liberal because I believe society has a vested interested in educating all children, and in making sure all children have access to basic health care.

I believe in educating children as well - but not as a role of the federal government. I believe that states and local school districts are best at making education laws and regulations, not Washington D.C.
Health care - if you want good health care, get rid of all the medical insurance regualtions, etc. Allow people to pay cash if they want, or allow companies to issue minimal health insurance at low costs to those who want that.

I am a liberal because I believe women should have the right to make their own medical decisions.

I do too. But i don't believe that an abortion - the taking of a baby's life - is a mother's decision to make. If a woman wants to make a choice about that, she should decide to use birth control, or to not have sex.

I am a liberal because I support the rights of gay men and lesbians to be who they are without fear of reproach and repression.

While many conservatives are opposed to homosexuality on a moral/religious basis, I don't know any conservatives who want to kill or beat homos based on their orientation. If you want to be gay, great - go be gay. But don't tell me that you're gay and that you then deserve special treatment.

I am a liberal because I believe people should have freedom of and freedom from religion.

Freedom from religion would be extremely difficult to attain in America. But I don't think anyone is forcing you to practice any religion right now, are they?

I am a liberal because I believe that the best societies are made up of individuals who look out for each other.

I'm all about looking out for other people. What I do not agree with is the government mandating how and how much I look out for other people.

 

[Big D]

Two liberals are walking down a street when they notice a man who has been robbed and very badly beaten. One of the liberals looks at the other liberal and says with anger, we need to find the person who did this to this man. The other liberal replies, yes we do because who ever did this is going to need help.

 

[Scourge]

The two Conservatives walking behind them whip out their sidearms and blow away a man running donw the street.

"Damn! That's one less piece of shit." one yells.
"How do you know he was guilty?" the liberal on the left asks.
"He was running. Who gives a shit, you want some of this?" he says.
"No thank you, sir." the liberal says, peeing his pants.

The other commie-lib goes to assist the dying jogger.

 

[Avatar4321]

Originally posted by Scourge
The two Conservatives walking behind them whip out their sidearms and blow away a man running donw the street.

"Damn! That's one less piece of shit." one yells.
"How do you know he was guilty?" the liberal on the left asks.
"He was running. Who gives a shit, you want some of this?" he says.
"No thank you, sir." the liberal says, peeing his pants.

The other commie-lib goes to assist the dying jogger.

Arent jokes supposed to make sense and i dunno, be funny?

 

[MtnBiker]

Originally posted by acludem
I get asked that question a lot, what makes you a liberal? The answer I've come up with is this: I am a liberal because I choose to question. I am liberal because I don't believe every problem has a simple answer. I am liberal because I believe that people ought to have a fair shot at the American Dream. I am liberal because I believe that people should have the freedom to decide what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and what to say. I am a liberal because I believe society has a vested interested in educating all children, and in making sure all children have access to basic health care. I am a liberal because I believe women should have the right to make their own medical decisions. I am a liberal because I support the rights of gay men and lesbians to be who they are without fear of reproach and repression. I am a liberal because I believe people should have freedom of and freedom from religion. I am a liberal because I believe that the best societies are made up of individuals who look out for each other.

With the exception of the gay marriage rights and abortion, you can believe all of those and be conservative. Liberals tend to believe that the government is the best method of adminastiring all of your stated beliefs, conservatives would like to see more of the private sector and less of the government. Interesting you did not include such a belief in your statement or include any sort of tax belief.

 

[Moi]

Originally posted by MtnBiker
With the exception of the gay marriage rights and abortion, you can believe all of those and be conservative. Liberals tend to believe that the government is the best method of adminastiring all of your stated beliefs, conservatives would like to see more of the private sector and less of the government. Interesting you did not include such a belief in your statement or include any sort of tax belief.

I agree Mountainbiker...except that Acludem didn't say marriage for gays...he said they had a right to live without repercussion. I, a conservative, think they do. I just don't think that marriage is a right and I don't see defining marriage as a repercussion against gays.

That's like saying that single people aren't allowed to live free without reproach and repercussion because laws treat them differently too.