“Liberal” overused and misused
I believe this demonizing of the word liberal began with President Reagan who blamed liberal government for most of our problems (then promptly increased size of government). Along came Rush Limbaugh who convinced millions of meager thinking Americans that liberalism is the root cause of everything from poor test scores of school kids to mushy judges to surrendering in Iraq.
Congressmen Newt Gingrich and Tom Delay brought hate into the fight against liberalism and did well with it—-controlled congress for 12 years.
The word liberal is overused and misused and most who use it cannot explain the term in any definitive manner. What the lib haters will never admit is the simple fact that liberalism built contemporary America. From the New Deal liberal programs of President Franklin Roosevelt that gave help to farmers, that gave affordable electriciy to rural America, that built forests, bridges, roads, court houses, libraries to the mother of all liberal programs, the GI Bill that gave higher education to millions of Americans and still does. Difficult to think of any strictly conservative programs that did for America what liberal programs did. Try to think of one.
So, my fellow Americans, let’s stop the nonsense, I’ll call you Republican and you call me Democrat and we’ll all get along better.
This letter has not been edited.
Wow, Phil, are you gonna get it now. I can see the right-wing sharks circling....
Posted by Dan on November 5, 2007 02:27 PMIt's the new N word for the KKK
Posted by Another point on November 5, 2007 02:29 PMTraditional liberalism helped build America, not the socialist, foaming at the mouth crap you kiddies call liberalism. You scream about "haters" all the time yet your souls are FILLED WITH HATE. You don't hide your rage very well and you are hypocrites.
What ever drives you dysfunctional leftists is beyond understanding. Just know that A LOT of people wan't nothing to do with it. And those numbers are growing.
Posted by truthy on November 5, 2007 02:31 PMWell, if we can't be called liberals, we'll just have to settle for the record number of Americans that call themselves Democrats.
Speaking of hate oozing out, truthy, your bile is showing.
Posted by on November 5, 2007 02:39 PMAnnnnd the thread is already starting to devolve, beginning with Truthy's rather hilarious comment. I love it when someone comment's on another's rage while using all-caps to make the point.
Time to get some popcorn and watch the left/right death match. Should be fun!
Posted by on November 5, 2007 02:42 PMSo you pen this letter, fire several shots across the bow, then offer an olive branch asking that "we all get long". Please...
FDR, Kennedy and any other Democrat President with the exception of "off his rocker" Carter, have got to be spinning in their graves given the far left mentality of the current Democratic Party.
Your "meager thinking American's" comment highlights that much more, your contempt for anyone that doesn't consume the same kool-aid you so willing ingest. But oh, a Democrat is a far superior thinking creature in your estimation.
I noticed you failed to mention Social Security, too started by FDR. Perhaps because you and your liberal nut jobs have highjacked it and turned it into the entitlement program FDR clearly stated he didn't want it to become.
As for the GI Bill, wasn't it John Kerry that stated “Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting stuck in a war in Iraq." So much for his love of the GI Bill and the military. Was that the Liberal Kerry or the Democrat Kerry?
I think given the current state of the Democrat Party, Liberal is a perfect term.
Posted by on November 5, 2007 02:53 PMHalf the time my conservative Republican acquaintances don`t even know what liberals stand for or what programs they support of fight.
Posted by Sharon B. on November 5, 2007 02:54 PMAnonymous 2:53
It's ironic you bring up the Kerry "botched joke." He said he was referring to a specific person, George Bush, and not any large group of soldiers. Whether or not you believe his explanation probably depends on how you feel about Kerry.
The irony: you take umbrage with the letter-writer referring to Rush Limbaugh's listeners as "meager-thinking Americans." After his "phony soldiers" remark, Limbaugh said he was referring to a specific person, Jesse whats-his-name, and not any large group of soldiers. Whether or not you believe his explanation probably depends on how you feel about Limbaugh.
Are you going to be consistent in when you do and don't believe the explanation?
Posted by Turnabout on November 5, 2007 03:11 PMTurnabout:
He said soldiers not soldier. Do the math...
Posted by Charles B on November 5, 2007 03:16 PM2:53 says But oh, a Democrat is a far superior thinking creature in your estimation.
Well, better than you Republicans. After all, it doesn't take too much brainpower to watch NASCAR, drink Bud in your underwear, and marry your first cousin. It's why you morons elect guys like Larry Craig... you love Dick AND Bush.
Posted by on November 5, 2007 03:20 PMThe current leadership of the DNC and "Democrat" leaders of the house and senate do not deserve to wear the name of "Democrat". If you dont like "liberal" how about "scumbags"? There are a few current "republicans ' who dont deserve that name also and could also be called "scumbags". How about we just call people either americans or irrelevant?
Posted by Real American Citizen on November 5, 2007 03:21 PMevery repugnican I have ever known has smacked his sister on the butt and gone mmmm tasty at least once in public view.
Posted by on November 5, 2007 03:34 PMLiberal and conservative are ideologies. Republican and democrat are political parties. There is a significant difference between the two.
Liberal became a dirty word when self-labelled liberals became identified with socialism, baby-killing, anti-national defense, anti-self defense, environmental fear-mongering, erosion of private property rights, runaway spending, illegal immigration, soft-on-crime, etc. Personally, I prefer the term leftist to describe these people. The democrat party has aligned itself with the extreme left.
The republican party cannot make up its mind what it wants to be. It used to be the bastion of conservatism, promoting limited government, state's rights, the right to keep and bear arms, strong national defense. Lately many republicans have been spending money like democrats and embracing illegal immigration. Therefore, do not call me a republican. Call me a conservative.
Posted by on November 5, 2007 03:35 PM"Traditional liberalism helped build America, not the socialist, foaming at the mouth crap you kiddies call liberalism."
No, that's what YOU call liberal. I (and the dictionary) call it:
- favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
- favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible
- favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression - of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.
- free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant
- open-minded or tolerant
- characterized by generosity and willingness to give
Now, which of those would you say is a bad thing, and why?
The point is, the word is misused for purposes of baiting and stereotyping. It's much easier than typing or saying the more complex truth.
One republicon + one bathroom stall = one night of hot steamy romance
liberal - 1. favorable to progress or reform as in political or religious affairs.
conservative - 1. disposed to preserve existing conditions or instituitions, etc., or to restore traditional ones and to limit change.
Seems like there might be a liitle of both in all of us. How about conservative-liberal or liberal-conservative.
The use of "liberal", in the sense of being derogitory, was initiated by a series of memos which were distributed and heavily promoted by the right wing of the Republican Party in the late 1980's and early 90's, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay, and all. You didn't know that? Well maybe most Americans have a death wish or they suffer from amnesia. Or they'll swallow anything if it's repeated ad nauseam. Maybe that's why libertarians have so many problems. They've been suffocated in their own cradle!
Posted by Stan B on November 5, 2007 04:55 PMOh, I left out libertarian...
1. a person who advocates liberty, esp. with regard to thought or conduct.
Like I said, suffocated in the cradle.
Posted by Stan B on November 5, 2007 05:09 PMStan b. advocates puberty, esp. in regard to sexual conduct.
Posted by on November 5, 2007 05:13 PMYes the democratic party is responsible for the country's move toward socialism. The democrat party was the party of slavery, and will be the party of social slavery. Liberal is not accurate, SOCIALIST is a more accurate term. Goodby personal freedom.
Posted by Tom on November 5, 2007 06:42 PMLiberalism is an disease that is curable through proper education and staying off the dope.
Posted by Keith on November 5, 2007 07:36 PMLiberalism is an disease that is curable through proper education and staying off the dope.
Posted by Keith on November 5, 2007 07:36 PMLiberalism is an disease that is curable through proper education and staying off the dope.
Posted by Keith on November 5, 2007 07:37 PMdmz really needs help,
seriously.
I assume, truthy, that you were looking in the mirror when you said this:
"You scream about "haters" all the time yet your souls are FILLED WITH HATE. You don't hide your rage very well and you are hypocrites."
It fits you perfectly.
Posted by Truth on November 5, 2007 07:58 PMDmz. “ZPG (zero population growth),” – you’ll take care of that part, don’t you, how was the assassination business lately? Love? Lol, the Make love, not war! sticker, almost forgot. Did you know that making love killed more Americans via STD than all wars combined? Typical liberal logic, facts don’t matter. I don’t really care, but thought it was interesting.
Here is Stan B, “liberal - 1. favorable to progress or reform as in political or religious affairs.” – forgot to add “regardless of the consequences”. As long as it makes liberals feel good, anything goes, right Stan?
truthy @2;31 you hit the nail on the proverbial head with that one. The party has been hijacked by the ultra -left wing wackos. That's why I left the Democratic party.
Posted by Ben- Former Democrat on November 5, 2007 08:05 PMI don't understand what all the fuss is about. Liberalism is a disease in our country today. It bears no resemblance to the ideology of early Americans. Today's Liberals are hate filled arrogant self-loathing miscreants who would rather kill you than let you voice your dissent against their policies.
The big tent is nothing more than a metaphor for the gas chambers of Nazi Germany.
Posted by Sick of Liberals on November 5, 2007 08:54 PM- favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
The leftist desire for forcing socialism on the American people refutes this statement.
- favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible
The leftist ideal of "political correctness" (aka newspeak) refutes this in terms of the 1st ammendment, as does the leftist inability to recognize the fundamental human right of self defense and its extension into the right to keep and bear arms.
- free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant
- open-minded or tolerant
Usually meaning to tolerate any behavior even to the point of destruction of society.
- characterized by generosity and willingness to give
Generous and willing to give OTHER PEOPLE's money.
Uno,
yes, vasectomy after my second child was born. Please educate yourself on what ZPG means
Love never killed anyone, sex like Larry Craig likes is largely responsible for STDs
If you don't know the diference between love and sex, that's sad, and I feel sorry for you.
But that may explain your anger.
Peace.
Shreikers like DMZ represent most Democrats about like Warren Jeffs represents most Republicans.
Funny about all the polarization going on these days.The only other long-term episode in U.S. history of such a rancorous controversy dividing the population to this extent is the slavery issue.
Uno said this:
"For guys like you vasectomy is a good start, but a frontal lobotomy would have been a better choice."
Because misery loves company...
Posted by Charles B on November 5, 2007 09:55 PMOh, you want one too Charles, that’s sweet.
You and dmz...
Uno would have to have the right parts to get a vasectomy. It's funny, Repugnicons poster child for conservatism is Rush Limpbaugh, a.k.a. Viagra spokesperson, a.k.a. can't get it up without chemical help. Or at least a male page to ogle over in a bathroom stall.
Posted by on November 5, 2007 11:23 PMLiberalism is dead. Now leftists call themselves "progressives." Their goal is still the same: Your wallet is their wallet.
Posted by wrtr83 on November 6, 2007 02:02 AMI left the Republicans because I didnt make enough money tto be a member, it exists only for the rich. I also got tired of their one track mind on the 3 Gs ( God, guns and gays) with disregard to all other issues. I also got tired of hanging out in Mens rooms for the Party meetings
Posted by ex-GOP on November 6, 2007 07:08 AM2:42 PM,
Got any that popcorn left?
Posted by Stan B on November 6, 2007 09:29 AMFor the uneducated, there is nothing insulting about being called a socialist. There are millions of good socialists in the world. People who think that are insulting you when they call you a "socialist" are simply uneducated as well as bigoted. America has many socialist elements in its government. Most Americans like them. It is one thing to be opposed to pure socialism, that is true of most of us. It is another to act like there is something evil or immoral about being a socialist.
Posted by Truth on November 6, 2007 12:34 PMTruth,
Stalin would have been very proud of you.
Posted by jgd777 on November 6, 2007 01:10 PMTry very hard to listen, jdg, because I won't be repeating this gem of wisdom. Stalin was bad because he had millions of people murdered. Lots of uneducated people who have been hoodwinked by people like Keith don't realize that socialism and murder are different. Did you get your lack of smarts in the public schools or the private ones?
Posted by Truth on November 6, 2007 02:28 PMSocialism: You have two cows. The government confiscates one cow and gives it to your neighbor.
Communism: You have two cows. The government confiscates both cows and gives you some of the milk.
Capitalism: You have two cows. You sell the milk.
Capitalism (American style): You have two cows. While selling the milk from one cow, you butcher the other cow, sell the meat, and use the proceeds to purchase a bull.
Fascism: You have two cows. The government confiscates both cows and shoots you.
Socialism, is an economic system that infringes upon the rights of the individual for the supposed benefit of society at large. It is a system that confiscates from those who earn and redistributes to those who do not. In doing so, it removes incentive from acheivement and risk. Those who take risks in business and succeed are punished by confiscatory taxation. Private property rights are eroded by government seizure of major industry.
No other economic system has provided the kind of prosperity that we enjoy in the United States of America. No other economic system provides the kind of opportunities we have in this nation. This is why liberalism and its goal of socialism are defeated every time, when they are actually presented to the American people in their true form.
If you like socialism that much, Europe is already set up and ready for you. Your paradise awaits you on the other side of the Atlantic. But don't destroy the opportunities that the US has to offer.
Uno,
It's plain to see that you speak from experience, how's that lobotomy working for you? Not so good, I would guess, as there's still a lot of hate in you trying to get out.
And all you experts on socialism, SURPRISE! What do you think public roads,libraries, schools ,recreation centers fire and police departments etc. are?
IT'S SOCIALISM BABY.
Our country has been socialistic for centuries. I believe you've been confusing socialism with communism.
Uno et al ,read a damn book would ya?
And turn off Rush, and Foxaganda, for Christ's sake.
People correctly say we have capitalism in the United States. But having capitalism is something like having religion. It can cover a multitude of saints and sinners. What kind of capitalism do we have?
We started out with largely unregulated capitalism. However, we found that largely unregulated capitalism didn’t work because it begot such evils as child labor, unsafe working conditions, exploitation of the poor through long working hours and poverty level wages, unsafe food and drugs, exploitation of natural resources and the environment, deception of consumers, dishonest and fraudulent business practices, etc. It became clear that in order for capitalism to work in a fair and balanced way, it had to be socialized, that is, made fit to live among the people without exploiting them. That is why there have been laws and regulations to rein in raw, unregulated capitalism.
It is still capitalism, but it bears little resemblance to the predatory capitalism of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These various laws and regulations may be said to have the purpose of socializing predatory capitalism so as to make it fit for the general population in the same sense that we socialize children and animals so that they can fit comfortably into society without hurting society too much.
The genius of capitalism is that it gives people freedom to do as they want, so that their instincts for improving their own personal lot can result in improving the lot of society as a whole. In effect, it puts man’s greed to work for the benefit of all. But greed is not inherently concerned with the rights of others, so, left untended, greed will find a way to exploit rather than benefit. It is like a campfire that initially warms people but, left untended, reaches out to devour the forest, or like a wild horse that can be of great service to man but only if it is socialized, that is, only if reins are put on it to control it.
So, laws and regulations are put in place are to rein in man’s greed, to socialize capitalism so that it can benefit society without exploiting it. Socialize in a sense similar to the way owners socialize dogs, prisons attempt to socialize criminals, and juvenile detention facilities attempt to socialize delinquents so that society can benefit from their presence without being victimized. Domesticate, civilize and tame might also be used to describe the process.
Because of this socialization of capitalism, we now have child labor laws, wage and hour laws, industrial safety laws, food and drug laws, business regulation laws, securities regulation laws, environmental protection laws, usury laws, deceptive advertising laws, consumer protection laws, etc.
Capitalism has proved its worth. It has catapulted the US into first place in world economies. But it is not the predatory capitalism of the past but the present socialized capitalism that has given the United States its greatness. Keeping capitalism socialized is, however, an never-ending process. Greed cannot be eliminated, only controlled and channeled. So greed will continue to look for ways to exploit, and we must continue to look for ways to regulate. The examples of this are legend: Enron, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Tyco, Imclone, Adelphia, Halliburton, to name some of the more publicized cases which have cost taxpayers billions of dollars and have cost thousands of employees their jobs and their life savings.
It should be no surprise that neither unfettered capitalism nor too fettered socialism has worked very well, and that what works is a middle course. It has ever been thus.
Posted by Truth on November 6, 2007 07:44 PM Very well articulated, Truth
For better or worse, we're all in this together,
and we need level headed thinkers to help us make our Constitutional Republic function as our Founding Fathers envisioned.
As you stated, it's a work in progress, and we must continue to keep the balance of freedom and laws current.
Thank you, Truth, for providing a level head.
America, just love it, no leaving is necessary.
Thanks again.
Posted by dmz on November 6, 2007 08:28 PMLets do this for the American children,lets wipe out this nasty,discussing disease ,liberalism.
Posted by Keith on November 6, 2007 09:03 PMAnonymouse at 9:02 pm,
Thanks for backing me up on my comments. I notice you used "leftist" instead of "liberal" in your response. Pretty much proves my point - no matter how many times people say it doesn't, the meaning of a word is the meaning of a word, and "liberal" is obviously misused. But for some reason leftist haters are afraid to use the correct words to describe people they hate. Or maybe they are just hating the wrong people?
And sometimes people who just plain hate our country call themselves liberals while they fawn all over whichever nation hates us the most at that moment.The worse for the real liberals,because too often not even they can tell who's really on board with them and who's just using their movement to molest Lady Liberty.
Posted by Jimminy on November 6, 2007 10:45 PM Right-wing extremists like our friend Keithy and Bushy are why we find ourselves where we are today, fighting over fossil fuels and letting the" least of us" suffer .
We have lost patience, and are finally starting to fight back.
You ain't seen nothin' yet, as history has proven.
We Liberals are growing in numbers again, simply because the right-wingers have screwed up our country so badly that it's obvious to even Merle Haggard.
Enjoy the revolution.
Jimminy; "And sometimes people who just plain hate our country call themselves liberals while they fawn all over whichever nation hates us the most at that moment."
Right on, big guy. By God, give me the names of those people, just one to start out with, and then you and I can work together to expose them, or him or her.
You do have the name of just one, don't you, Jimminy? Just one American citizen who you can show hates our nation and fawns over whichever nation hates us most?
Or could it just possibly be that you are simply engaging in your favorite pastime of just blowing smoke?
Lets do this for the children: tie Keith in an empty swimming pool and let all of the children ion America piss on him..it will actually make him cleaner. ( though something tells me he would enjoy this practice)
Posted by htieK on November 7, 2007 12:50 PMi wanna pologioze to evrbody for being such a stoopid patetic imbellcell, butt it aint easy groin thru life wit my head up my ass
Posted by Keith on November 8, 2007 06:45 AMTruth,thanks for the quote.Want me to identify one of those America-haters? Its name on this forum is"Truth".
Posted by Jimminy on November 8, 2007 07:53 AMWill the real Keith please stand up?
Posted by Paul Atreides on November 8, 2007 08:12 AMI think Keith is a combination of An American, Hank and most of the Rightwing nuts
Posted by on November 8, 2007 02:50 PM