I posted a thread like this one quite some time ago, but, since we now have some new members, here's a repeat. let's see if there is a generally agreed upon definition this time around.
I'm posting in the US politics forum, since we need to focus on the term as it applies to the US. A pol who is considered to be a liberal here might not be in Europe or Asia.
My contention is that there is no meaning to the word "liberal", or, perhaps it is better said that there are so many different definitions that the term has become meaningless.
Further, it is my contention that there are many people who consider themselves "conservatives", another vague term, and lump all liberals into one group. The real working definition of the term, then, is "anyone who disagrees with my point of view."
Are the terms "liberal" and "statist" synonymous? Is liberalism the same as authoritarianism? Are foreign dictators like Stalin and Mao really the same as our home grown liberals? Does one have to be pro life to be a non liberal, and if so, how does that relate to authoritarianism? What about same sex marriage, is it liberal to want to limit marriage to one's own view of the matter, or is it liberal to recognize gay rights as valid? Which point of view is authoritarian?
I'm really wanting to invite clarification rather than debate, here.
The question is much like asking what a Christian is. Its many things to many people. Christians today are nothing like the first Christians, heck they are not even like a Christian from 50 years ago. Same goes for liberals.
The word liberal is just a word used to describe the far left. Some of the left is further than others so you could use liberal for one and marxist for another and so on. The point is, its a way to distance the extreme left from the normal democrats out there.
Mostly liberal to me means a really stupid person who does not think about the consequences of their actions and are more wrapped up in how it feels, sounds, looks. and all the good intentions they feel their ideas have.
But it usually ends up meaning bigger government and more government control over people. Most of the laws they come up with are unfair, unjust and just flat stupid.
Even when they are proven wrong they refuse to admit it.
They hide the new laws they implement with confusing names straight out of 1984 like "the fairness doctrine"
They advocate for crazy rules like if you touch an owls egg even if you know for a fact it has not been fertilized it is still a crime. You can not go without a seat belt or bike helmet even though your own life is the only life wearing them
could save. BUT you can tear your child out of your body limb by limb and it's a choice.
If the far left (liberals) had their way there would be no school choice, we would all be forced to go to government schools. (their kids excluded of course)
The biggest problem I see with liberals is they always seem to know what is best for you and do their best to push their ideas and agenda on you and they have absolute disdain for the individual
Your normal main stream democrat does not think this way, but the far left (liberals) run their party for them.
Here in Oregon the liberals fought to get rid of the timber industry and logging. They used the spotted owl as the reason. Nice democrats wanted to help the owl too and just about every mill in the town closed. Most democrats are fine with helping an owl or the snowy plover or what ever creature the liberals drag to the stage but not at the expense of their jobs.
If you asked most democrats if it seemed reasonable to them that the government can force you to wear a seat belt, helmet or jail you for touching an owls egg but it's ok to have an abortion up to the 9th month for any reason. Most democrats would say, well when you put it that way... no! That does not seem right or consistent. A surprising number of democrats would say.... What is a partial birth abortion?
I would be perfectly fine living in a world of liberals if they didn't insist that we or I have to live like them. Its when they drag me along kicking and screaming, forcing me to live under their retarded rules, insist on teaching my kids socialism in class and raunchy sex ed. that I start having a problem.
What is todays liberal is yesterdays progressives and actually tomorrows progressives too. They are like DHS or CSD or what ever name they go by now. When they screw up enough to have to change their names but never their policy's
