Liberal seems to have become a "bad word" to conservatives. Below is the first paragraph from the definition of liberalism from Wikipedia. Given this definition of liberalism, to what do conservatives object?
Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal.[1] Modern liberalism has its roots in the Age of Enlightenment.
Liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. Different forms of liberalism may propose very different policies, but they are generally united by their support for a number of principles, including extensive freedom of thought and speech, limitations on the power of governments, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market or mixed economy, and a transparent system of government. All liberals — as well as some adherents of other political ideologies — support some variant of the form of government known as liberal democracy, with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law.
I think far more interestingly, the term Liberal has become a bad word to themselves as Liberals. Conservatives have no problem announcing they are Conservatives, no matter how hard the Liberals try to demonize "Conservative" as a label. But Liberals run scare at the slightest mention of Liberal. The only possible except is Nadar, but he is old school. Obama is a Liberal, but he will never admit it on camera. Sure he will in private with other Liberals in SF while talking about mid-America clinging to guns and religion, but never openly and honestly to the American people. The Democrats think nobody can see the wink and nod, but people can decode the left easier than you think. Its not abut your convictions. Its about whether you even have any convictions. Any convictions.
I'm a JFK liberal which I define as equal rights under the law for all, strong national defense, low taxes, right to organize, and right to work.
One reason present day liberals run from the label is that they have tarnished it so badly. The older union guys I worked with back in the day would be shocked to discover Democrats are now against secret ballots on union votes. That is flat fucking wrong. Period, End of sentence.
I'm unenrolled, in MA that means Independent. I have been since I left the Democrats, the party I was born into. The Democrats became the party of bigger gov't and special interest groups and I was done.
The defintion from the dictionary isn't really helpful. For example "emphasizes [on] individual rights" is something both sides can claim. They just see some of the rights in different terms and see the means of achieving those rights differently.
Likewise, "freedom of thought and speech" is a funny one for a group that has put restrictions on politically incorrect speech in numerous arenas. If you look at what is happening in Canada and Western Europe, with the belief, now enacted into law, that offensive speech can be banned, even if it is true, it is hard to say how liberals promote free speech. No conservative has ever come close to actually banning true political speech.
Finally, belief in the rule of law is so silly. Who doesn't believe in law. I am old enough to remember when the GOP was mocked for urging "law and order."
I could go though each one of those with a similar critique. But suffice to say, the labels are not helpful in a true understanding.
"Liberal" has become a bad label because many of ideas that they promote, ideas that Obama is running from, are just not popular.
For example, liberals place an emphasis on constitution rights for criminals with adherence to the rule that a bad search should be remedied by supressing the evidence, which often will result in the guilty person going free. (I know. I got one off once.)
Likewise, the "liberal" view since the 60's has been to reduce defense spending. Now, you may agree, which is why you would be a liberal. But most people do not think that is an area that should be cut, which is why the "liberal" view is something that Obama has to hide from.
One third and final example, the more liberal one is, the fewer restrictions will be placed on abortion. However, at the fringe (where Obama has stood) this allows for "post-birth" abortions, laws that parents do not have to be notified, and laws saying that the woman (often girl) does not have to be informed of other options. Most of these ideas are unpopular. Therefore, the philsophy assoicatied with it will also have a bad image.
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