Originally Posted By johnno52 I've read many times in US media and on this board about someone being labeled a "Liberal". What does this dreaded or honored designation mean in US politics?
Originally Posted By jonvn It means something you don't like. We have people come on here and are about as right wing as Mussolini calling everyone else a liberal, and really, people are all over the spectrum. So the word has lost a bit of meaning.
Originally Posted By utahjosh Here is a pretty good list of the differences. Of course, every person is different...but this gives you the general idea: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/yoxxka" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/yoxxka</a> Here is a part of the website: CONSERVATIVES – believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems. LIBERALS – believe in governmental action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all, and that it is the duty of the State to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Believe that people are basically good. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve people’s problems.
Originally Posted By jonvn Except we have supposed conservatives doing the exact opposite of that description.
Originally Posted By utahjosh I'd say that most people fall somewhere in the middle of the two lists that I posted. Not every conservative believes everything under the "Conservative" issues, and vice versa. We are individuals.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip A liberal: 1) Supports Freedom of Choice (abortion) 2) Supports Gay Marriage 3) Supports Separation of Church and State That way over-simplifies it, but when people complain about "liberals" and compare them to Satan, those are the views they typically find most objectionable.
Originally Posted By utahjosh "Except we have supposed conservatives doing the exact opposite of that description." I know, that frustrates me. I'm generally a conservative, but i see politicians labeled "conservative" that are NOT generally following conservative principles.
Originally Posted By jonvn Basically, in this country, conservatives want to tell people how to live, how they should reproduce, who they should have sex with, how they should pray, and how they should spend their money. Oh, and that we need to be afraid. Very afraid. All the time. It is a very invasive philosophy into our personal lives.
Originally Posted By utahjosh Basically, in this country, liberals want the government to tell people how to live, how they should get health care, not allow the public to own guns, that they shouldn't pray, and that government knows best. Oh, and that we need to be open to anything and everything. Morals don't matter anymore. At all.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ See? It's like I said. We're all Satan. They are all ignorant nincompoops. (Plus they never get laid and don't like seeing anyone else get any action.) ;-)
Originally Posted By woody >>But neocons usually support the death penalty and war.<< To protect the innocent and allow justice. So more people can live. Liberals support the criminal and guilty, which creates more victims, therefore, more death.
Originally Posted By johnno52 Yes I can see how this leads to many heated arguments.I consider myself more left leaning, however with the example you sent Utahjosh (thanks) I was going down the list like a zig-zag with what I agreed with. RoadTrip (8) this about sums up Canadian Liberal/Democratic (NDP) party policy. jonvn (9)I am sure many Canadians see it that way also.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Personally I think we should round up all conservatives and put them in their own separate area of the country. I figure they can have Montana, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. We'll build a real large fence around it and shoot anyone trying to escape on sight.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan This thread went from zero to Woody in 6.3 seconds. Maybe a new record!
Originally Posted By jonvn "liberals want the government to tell people how to live" No. "how they should get health care" Because many can't get it. "that they shouldn't pray" A flat out lie. "that government knows best" Not really, no. "we need to be open to anything and everything" No. "Morals don't matter anymore. At all." Whose, yours? The one where people are allowed to live without healthcare? Or how about the one where they say it is wrong to invade and bomb a country that has done nothing to us? Right.
Originally Posted By utahjosh johnno52 said: "Yes I can see how this leads to many heated arguments" Too true. I posted a few time here, and I"m out. I'm not feeling up to a heated argument. I rarely do.
