I am a Liberal

[luckystars]

which means I support Liberty. I don't think bombing someone
will result in them supporting my ideology.

[Iowa4Paul]

I'm socially liberal >_>

[Xenophage]

I'm classically liberal... in the sense that Thomas Jefferson was a liberal as far as the 18th century was concerned ;)

[Michael Varin]

Damn labels!

It's a true shame that we lost the label of "liberal."

Liberal is now synonymous with socialist, which is absurd.

Every time I hear talk show hosts laboring to define conservatism as something it is not and never was, I feel sad that we can't just call ourselves liberal.

That would allow us to be separated from corporatists who are the rightful heirs to the label of conservatism.

When I say we, I'm referring to individualists. We are only conservative in the sense that individualism was the original American tradition.

The ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence are still, as they always have been, radical ideas.

[Kludge]

liber...tarian.

[Kade]

Damn labels!

It's a true shame that we lost the label of "liberal."

Liberal is now synonymous with socialist, which is absurd.

Every time I hear talk show hosts laboring to define conservatism as something it is not and never was, I feel sad that we can't just call ourselves liberal.

That would allow us to be separated from corporatists who are the rightful heirs to the label of conservatism.

When I say we, I'm referring to individualists. We are only conservative in the sense that individualism was the original American tradition.

The ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence are still, as they always have been, radical ideas.

Progressive radical. Agree completely.

I have not lost the word. I am a proud liberal, and I say damn to hell anyone who has a problem with it.

[mokkan88]

In politics, a "liberal" is actually right wing. The term as it originated was defined literally: someone who supports personal liberty.

The Founding Fathers were all right wing. They believed in smaller government. Essentially, all of the Founding Fathers were either "Libertarian Republican" or "Classic Liberal", which provided the shell for today's Republicans and Democrats (respectively). In the mid-nineteenth century, the "Classic Liberals" were phased out by those politicians who held socialist ideologies (socialism is left, conservatism/liberalism is right), but they kept the name "liberal". This is why the term "liberal" today (in the United States only) indicates the left. Modern-day American "liberals" are really socialists.

The scary thing is, the Republican Party is now experiencing the same shift as the Classic Liberals did. The GOP now condones big government. (President Bush is the most socialist president we have ever had.)

For this reason, expect the Libertarian Party to gain ground within the next twenty years as our generation (Generation Y) begins to take control of the country.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

I'm a few things: I'm classically liberal, I'm a Libertarian (small "l" as well ;)), I'm an anarchist, and a voluntaryist. I have leanings towards all of these things. As far as American politics is concerned, I'm pro-choice (getting government out of it), pro-open borders (leave it to states), anti-welfare.

[huchahucha]

I prefer the purposely vague "Independent".

[smallsheep]

I'm a browncoat.

[Kade]

In politics, a "liberal" is actually right wing. The term as it originated was defined literally: someone who supports personal liberty.

The Founding Fathers were all right wing. They believed in smaller government. Essentially, all of the Founding Fathers were either "Libertarian Republican" or "Classic Liberal", which provided the shell for today's Republicans and Democrats (respectively). In the mid-nineteenth century, the "Classic Liberals" were phased out by those politicians who held socialist ideologies (socialism is left, conservatism/liberalism is right), but they kept the name "liberal". This is why the term "liberal" today (in the United States only) indicates the left. Modern-day American "liberals" are really socialists.

The scary thing is, the Republican Party is now experiencing the same shift as the Classic Liberals did. The GOP now condones big government. (President Bush is the most socialist president we have ever had.)

For this reason, expect the Libertarian Party to gain ground within the next twenty years as our generation (Generation Y) begins to take control of the country.

You will never convince me that the "Right" gives a rat's ass about personal liberty.

Never.

[Kade]

I'm a few things: I'm classically liberal, I'm a Libertarian (small "l" as well ;)), I'm an anarchist, and a voluntaryist. I have leanings towards all of these things. As far as American politics is concerned, I'm pro-choice (getting government out of it), pro-open borders (leave it to states), anti-welfare.

Pro-open borders-States issue...

I like that stance, I'm going to do some research on this... hmm.

You sound like my kind of guy. You running for an office anywhere?

[Cinnaboo]

Right, left, conservative, liberal. Dead words. I urge you to boycott them.

No, I'm not saying we should cast aside bullshit labels and celebrate our similarities rather than our differences (but feel free). Rather, there is a problem within the language itself. As you libertarians will surely know, the overwhelming representation of the word 'conservative' in both conversation and media has been conflated with whatever the G.O.P. is peddling. Conservative is their key marketing word, and regardless of whether you leave the Republican party or stay and do your part to reform the duopoly from within, you cannot save the definition of 'conservative' unless you're on television, so stop trying. The confused new meanings of these vague, political labels are so hopelessly embedded in public conversation that the history behind them, and their parties, is completely irrelevant (and party loyalty never serves reason).

Similarly, though I rarely play politics, you'd all do well to not associate liberal with 'welfarism' or all things socialist, especially in harsh terms. This language is confusing for everyone.


You will never convince me that the "Right" gives a rat's ass about personal liberty.

Never.Keep on truckin.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Pro-open borders-States issue...

I like that stance, I'm going to do some research on this... hmm.

You sound like my kind of guy. You running for an office anywhere?

Thank you. I came up with state's rights when it comes to borders. I think they should take responsibility if they want to subsidize unhealthy immigration with welfare, but the Fed gov should also stop mandating states to do so. Am I running? Thought about it. However, you can only do as much as the people will tolerate :)

[RonRules]

In politics, a "liberal" is actually right wing. The term as it originated was defined literally: someone who supports personal liberty.

The Founding Fathers were all right wing. They believed in smaller government. Essentially, all of the Founding Fathers were either "Libertarian Republican" or "Classic Liberal", which provided the shell for today's Republicans and Democrats (respectively). In the mid-nineteenth century, the "Classic Liberals" were phased out by those politicians who held socialist ideologies (socialism is left, conservatism/liberalism is right), but they kept the name "liberal". This is why the term "liberal" today (in the United States only) indicates the left. Modern-day American "liberals" are really socialists.

The scary thing is, the Republican Party is now experiencing the same shift as the Classic Liberals did. The GOP now condones big government. (President Bush is the most socialist president we have ever had.)

For this reason, expect the Libertarian Party to gain ground within the next twenty years as our generation (Generation Y) begins to take control of the country.

In Quebec, Canada, the Liberal party is Right Wing. The left is the Quebec party.

[thehittgirl]

I don't like labels much myself. They don't mean much anymore.