Rightwinger writes:
". If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."
So let's take it a step further. What does it mean to CARE about the welfare of the people, ie. their health, housing schools, jobs, civil rights, civil liberties?
Does CARING mean that the federal government confiscates property from Citizen A in order to provide healthcare, housing, education, employment to Citizen B?
Does CARING mean that the federal government decides whether Citizen A has a 'right' to defend his person or property when Citizen B threatens either? That government determines what language is acceptable to use to avoid offending Citizen B? That government can force Citizen A to hire Citizen B?
If so, then liberal CARING is looking to government authority to create the sort of society wanted.
That is NOT the definition of liberal provided by say the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
Definition of LIBERAL
1. a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education>
b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2. a : marked by generosity : openhanded <a liberal giver>
b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way <a liberal meal>
c : ample, full
3. obsolete : lacking moral restraint : licentious
4.: not literal or strict : loose <a liberal translation>
5. broad-minded; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
6. a : of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism
b capitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives.
Liberal - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
In other words, pretty much the basic beliefs of the Founding Fathers.
But based on what we read, see n television, hear on the radio, and note from comments on message boards, the modern day American liberal usually favors:
- Obamacare that effectively controls the national healthcare system.
- Affirmative Action
- OSHA, wage controls, and broad environmental restrictions.
- Enforcement of politically correct language
- Forcibly transferring wealth from the haves to the have nots.
- Federal dictates regarding marriage laws, reproduction, education, school lunches, unions, communications, commerce, and industry.
- Federal dictates of what is acceptable to regulate in the private sector re patriotic displays, guns, artistic symbolism/activities, self defense, etc.
- Use of the people's treasury to punish success and subsidize failure. . . just to name a few issues.
How does ANY of that square with the definition provided by Merriam-Webster?
