What makes someone a liberal?

[Gabriella84]

Have you ever really thought about it?
I mean, besides your absurd jokes and crackbacks and theories. What makes someone develop thoughts different to your own?

I think it has to do with family and upbringing. Everyone is a product of their environment.
My family is a bit odd. We are strange exceptions in modern society.
There is no record of divorce in my family (both sides of it). No deadbeat dads or single moms. No teen pregnancies. No alcoholism or DWI/DUI arrests. Everyone is a high school graduate. Most have college degrees.
My parents never forced their beliefs on me. I didn't HAVE to go to church, take piano lessons or participate in sports.
I did HAVE to attend school every day. I had to do my work and come home with decent grades. If I made below a B in anything, I suffered loss of privileges. Which were never abundant to begin with.
You didn't argue with my mom or dad. If you acted up, you got sent to your room. Which did not have a TV, computer, phone or stereo. You read something or looked out the window.
If I asked my dad a question, his typical answer was "go look it up." Though he was always willing to discuss anything I didn't understand. One of my dad's best pieces of advice to me has been "always ask questions." If someone says something you don't agree with, don't be afraid to ask why. There are two sides to EVERY issue. No matter how unpopular or inflammatory it is. Even issues such as Sept. 11 and terrorism have another side. Most people just don't want to know what it is.

My parents never told me what to think, so why should I allow other people to tell me what to think? That is the main difference between liberal and conservative ideology. Conservatives believe what other people believe. Liberals form their own opinions and don't care what other people think.

THIS IS ALL OPINION, BY THE WAY. NO SOURCES WERE QUOTED!! :whip3:

 

[pegwinn]

Conservatives believe what other people believe. Liberals form their own opinions and don't care what other people think.

Source?

 

[Gabriella84]

I don't need a source. My opinion is good enough.

 

[Said1]

My parents never told me what to think, so why should I allow other people to tell me what to think? That is the main difference between liberal and conservative ideology. Conservatives believe what other people believe. Liberals form their own opinions and don't care what other people think.

The above is what I have a problem with. You have yet to come up with any reason WHY you believe what you believe. You are very often confronted with reasonable question which you do not answer (for the most part) chosing instead to respond to flames. You don't ask why we think what we think, nor do you care. This is made very evident by the statements you consistantly make, which are not based on anything c'ept what you want to believe. Perception my dear, that's what your problem is.

 

[pegwinn]

Conservatives believe what other people believe. Liberals form their own opinions and don't care what other people think.

First the above........
Then the below........

I don't need a source. My opinion is good enough.

No sweetie, your first sentences were constructed as positive assertions. By any discussion rules it's up to you to prove them. Had you constructed them differently, for example:

In my opinion, conservatives believe what other people believe.
-or-
In my personal experience, liberals form their own opinions and don't care what other people think

you could assert that as an opinionated statement it required no proof.
Just Food

for thought.

 

[ScreamingEagle]

Actually that's a pretty good question.

I think Liberalism appeals greatly to young people because they start out in the world with big ideas and lots of idealism. Liberalism professes progressiveness in society or at least what they consider progress.

Liberalism also appeals to young people because it appeals to more openess in the area of sexuality which, of course, is foremost on the minds of young people.

Liberalism is being pushed upon young people in K-12 and in our colleges and universities. Therefore many choose liberalism because, simply, they are taught it. They are not exposed to many other ideas (such as conservativism) unless it is within a framework of negativity and attack.

Those that continue to stay liberals are typically those that continue to stay idealistic instead of becoming mature and realistic, those who want the bennies, those who have become socialists/communists, those who are in the liberal fields (such as jounalism, education, etc.), those who follow in the historic footsteps of their parents, those who are fooled by the politicians (such as the blacks), etc., etc. Although most young people start out as liberals, at least half of them change their minds later after experiencing real life.

 

[archangel]

Actually that's a pretty good question.

I think Liberalism appeals greatly to young people because they start out in the world with big ideas and lots of idealism. Liberalism professes progressiveness in society or at least what they consider progress.

Liberalism also appeals to young people because it appeals to more openess in the area of sexuality which, of course, is foremost on the minds of young people.

Liberalism is being pushed upon young people in K-12 and in our colleges and universities. Therefore many choose liberalism because, simply, they are taught it. They are not exposed to many other ideas (such as conservativism) unless it is within a framework of negativity and attack.

Those that continue to stay liberals are typically those that continue to stay idealistic instead of becoming mature and realistic, those who want the bennies, those who have become socialists/communists, those who are in the liberal fields (such as jounalism, education, etc.), those who follow in the historic footsteps of their parents, those who are fooled by the politicians (such as the blacks), etc., etc. Although most young people start out as liberals, at least half of them change their minds later after experiencing real life.

could not have said it better! :clap1:

 

[Gem]

Gabriella,

You ask a good question. But why do you except a civil or rational answer or discussion regarding that question if you preface it by saying that liberals are the only ones who form their own opinions and conservatives just follow others?

It is obvious that people on all sides of the political spectrum fall into the realms you are speaking about. There are liberals who only believe what Michael Moore and MoveOn.Org report about what is going on in the world...and there are Conservatives who can't utter two words unless they heard it first on Rush Limbaugh's program. Conversely, there are liberals who ponder and consider issues then come up with their opinion...and there are conservatives who do the same. Just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean they haven't thought about, read about, learned about the same topic you did, Gabby...it just means they reached a different conclusion.

 

[Gabriella84]

Excellent points Gem. Thanks for presenting them.

I got to meet Michael Moore in New York City during the GOP Convention. Which I thought would be cool, since his books are interesting, well-researched and annotated.
Unfortunately, Michael Moore the person is a pompous, egotistical jerk. Everything he does is for publicity, money or both. I think he is a conservative at heart.