What do American Liberals stand for?

This sort of Dovetails into what Skywalker was talking about. I know why I dislike the "liberal" views, but I would like for someone who feels that they exemplify what american liberalism is all about to tell me exactly how they see them selves and their views.....can anyone spell out to me exactly what an American Liberal believes in? What policies do they follow or desire as opposed to what American COnservatives want?

Looking forward to droves of answers

[Attalus]

It's simple: whatever George W. Bush likes, they dislike. *Ducks and gets out of the way.*

[antryg]

....the National Anthem *thank you*

Very nice you two...but I was hoping for something a bit more meaningful [img]smile.gif[/img]

[skywalker]

Maybe this will help:

http://www.bushcountry.org/news/colu...2_bcerruti.htm

I know in the past I've claimed to be liberal leaning, but I think I'm mostly in the middle. I dislike parts of liberal and conservative doctrine.

Mark

Well Mark, that link did help a bit. It pretty much defines things the way I see them but is limited in scope. The two paragraphs I thought most to the point were these:

Unlike Europe, America in the process of enacting a Constitution had developed political beliefs that included economic individualism and the limitation of government power. This was incorporated into the Constitution. This did not follow the beliefs underlying European conservatism but was in fact closer to European liberalism. The American beliefs accepted the concepts of a free market and the personal acquisition of property by individuals. Individual freedoms and property rights were representative of attendant moral, religious, political, and civil rights. As the provisions of the Constitution decreed, the federal government was limited to acting in those areas wherein the states themselves did not have that ability, in inter-state matters and in foreign relations. Great importance was placed on separation of powers, judicial review, and states' rights as opposed to federal power. This then became the foundation of American conservatism.

Entering into the 20th century Americans generally accepted these principles that were to carry the conservative label. However, there was a political movement evolving that could now be endowed with the new label of liberalism, American style, that had beliefs that government should be more involved in social issues and in controlling the free market. Since the economy had become more complex as it expanded , these liberal elements began to support the idea that the government could best promote the interests of its citizens by regulating the economy and having government provide for the welfare of its citizenry. In addition they wanted government to correct economic deficiencies they believed to be caused by unregulated capitalism. They supported progressive taxation, antitrust laws, a minimum wage, social security, public education, safety and health regulations, consumer protection and environmental preservation laws. Some of them became socialists, although not necessarily openly supporting Marxism and communism.

I however would not place some forms of social security, public education or safety matters solely into the liberal camp.

I am still hoping to find someone who will openly declare themself as an American Liberal, who will tell us what they belives being an American Liberal means to them and why they may think it is better to be a liberal vs a conservative.

And a last note, I see by reading this link you provided, that it is no wonder we get into some wonderful brouhaha's with our european members on some of the political issues since some terms are 180 degrees out of sync between them and US [img]smile.gif[/img] Thanks Mark.

[Attalus]

LOL, Galadria just reminded me of a discussion that she once had with Barry, wherein she referred to him as a liberal, and he was astonished, replying, "Oh, no, I'm not a liberal, I'm a Communist." ROFLMAO. Especially since she thinks the two are practically synonymous.

[Sir Krustin]

Originally posted by Attalus: LOL, Galadria just reminded me of a discussion that she once had with Barry, wherein she referred to him as a liberal, and he was astonished, replying, "Oh, no, I'm not a liberal, I'm a Communist." ROFLMAO. Especially since she thinks the two are practically synonymous.

Well, considering that a lot of politicians (like Trudeau up here) that entered office as liberals were card-carrying commies in college, that might not be a bad assessment. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I thought Liberal = Socialist

[ 12-21-2002, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Djinn Raffo]

Canadian here, (left wing socialist who can see the logic, need, and cleverness of alot of right wing ideas) so definetly not an American liberal.

I think both parties are extremely important to the whole. And both parties (and more than both) are needed to keep positive change, fresh ideas, the other guy kept in check, and proper representation of the population. I'm for proportional government to. Liberal ideas and conservative ideas.. both have their pros and cons and incorporation of ideas from both sides is important. Insults and generalizations between the followers of the two are useless and serve no purpose but for satisfying ego.

Anyone who tows only one party line i consider coming a little to close to a fascist or stalinist (regardless of left or right). If their was only one party and one way.. we might as well call our leader a King.

So while i personally am on the left side of the fence. I feel the need for two sides of the fence is paramount (not to mention being able to sit on that fence ). What needs to happen is to drop the back and forth insults between the two, the political kiboshing of proposals based on personal agendas (things like ridiculous add-ons to bills that have no purpose being on this bill but get tacked on and then afterwards one party accuses the other of kiboshing the main idea as if they are against that idea when really it was the 365 million towards useless widget expanders research that they were against...)

Drop the insults and ego grandstanding between the two and work together to ensure the best political for the people comes about.

[ 12-21-2002, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: Djinn Raffo ]