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Why has liberalism become synonymous with northeastern progressive politics?
When people ask me if I'm liberal, I say yes, but that to me is a synonym of "permissive". I don't want to prohibit gay marriage, riding a motorcycle without a helmet, or marijuana in the same sense that I don't want to prohibit free trade or accumulation of wealth. I don't want high taxes in the same way I don't want abstinence-only education.
Someone asked me how I can be a liberal while opposing affirmative action. My answer is simple: What's so liberal/permissive about imposing quotas on institutions regarding their enrollment/hiring data?
The statist regimes of the "right" and "left" both want government intervention, but in different areas. The left wants to tell you what kind of car you can buy, while the right wants to tell you what kind of birth control you're allowed to use.
To me liberalism and libertarianism are synonyms; in fact, they take the same root word and just use slightly different but similarly meaning suffixes.
Why has liberalism become synonymous with northeastern progressive politics?
When people ask me if I'm liberal, I say yes, but that to me is a synonym of "permissive". I don't want to prohibit gay marriage, riding a motorcycle without a helmet, or marijuana in the same sense that I don't want to prohibit free trade or accumulation of wealth. I don't want high taxes in the same way I don't want abstinence-only education.
Someone asked me how I can be a liberal while opposing affirmative action. My answer is simple: What's so liberal/permissive about imposing quotas on institutions regarding their enrollment/hiring data?
The statist regimes of the "right" and "left" both want government intervention, but in different areas. The left wants to tell you what kind of car you can buy, while the right wants to tell you what kind of birth control you're allowed to use.
To me liberalism and libertarianism are synonyms; in fact, they take the same root word and just use slightly different but similarly meaning suffixes.
Thoughts?
It's funny, because republican used to mean 'liberal' in the sense of limited government. Then the party eventually recruited the fundamentalist christian groups, and it morphed into something quite the opposite. I think Ron Paul is a good example of this original meaning of republican.
It's funny, because republican used to mean 'liberal' in the sense of limited government. Then the party eventually recruited the fundamentalist christian groups, and it morphed into something quite the opposite. I think Ron Paul is a good example of this original meaning of republican.
Liberal, in no shape or form ever meant small or limited government. The fundamental principle of Liberalism is big government. Parties don't really change, and ideologies rarely do.
Keep in mind that ever since its founding, the Republican party has been the generally unpopular group of businessmen. While yes, their support has shifted many times over the years, the same group is in charge. The post 1840's Democrats have been, and always will remain the wealthy elite.
There are two basic groups of liberals that sometimes overlap and sometimes don't----old fashioned New Deal economic "fighting" liberals and new age, "wimpy" social liberals.
I'm of the first group; I'm against abortion and for strong labor unions, I'm against gun control and for OSHA, I'm against Spanish language signs and for high wages and good working conditions for Mexican-Americans. I'm against government subsidized housing and for everyone making wages high enough to afford regular market housing.
But on the other hand I've no problem with the Gay thing and I think affirmative action did a great deal of good for Black people, I saw it work. And other than the abortion thing I'm a strong supporter of feminism. So I support some socially liberal things but the economic thing is the serious bedrock of liberalism.
Why has liberalism become synonymous with northeastern progressive politics?
I think because those with northeastern progressive leaning politics have been the loudest. Also, it reflects the politics of people in the media, entertainment (movies, tvs and books) and the real devils themselves....politicians.
The mainstream liberals are just that -- they have more in common with the mainstream conservatives then one would think. Unfortunately, both the far left liberals and the neo cons are the ones that get all the press. And votes, via party backing. Perhaps its time we start looking for politicians outside the Ivy League?
There are two basic groups of liberals that sometimes overlap and sometimes don't----old fashioned New Deal economic "fighting" liberals and new age, "wimpy" social liberals.
I'm of the first group; I'm against abortion and for strong labor unions, I'm against gun control and for OSHA, I'm against Spanish language signs and for high wages and good working conditions for Mexican-Americans. I'm against government subsidized housing and for everyone making wages high enough to afford regular market housing.
But on the other hand I've no problem with the Gay thing and I think affirmative action did a great deal of good for Black people, I saw it work. And other than the abortion thing I'm a strong supporter of feminism. So I support some socially liberal things but the economic thing is the serious bedrock of liberalism.
Why do you consider your ideas liberal? Isn't affirmative action, by definition, a pretty illiberal idea? And I'm for labor unions too, but I don't think the government as a role in promoting them (ie, I'm liberal/hands-off).
By definition, wouldn't liberalizing labor law do away with things like the minimum wage?
It's funny, because republican used to mean 'liberal' in the sense of limited government. Then the party eventually recruited the fundamentalist christian groups, and it morphed into something quite the opposite. I think Ron Paul is a good example of this original meaning of republican.
Exactly. And that's the GOP I could see myself voting for. I wasn't a Republican so I couldn't vote for him in the primary, but Ron Paul is someone I could get behind.
I disagree with him on things like abortion, but I don't see him trying to federalize state issues like that one.
Because in this society my ideas are identified as liberal. Whether they should or shouldn't be called liberal is of little importance and beside the point; they'd be my political ideals regardless of what they're called.
Because in this society my ideas are identified as liberal. Whether they should or shouldn't be called liberal is of little importance and beside the point; they'd be my political ideals regardless of what they're called.
Fair enough. Do you see any inconsistency in picking and choosing what to be permissive with?
Fair enough. Do you see any inconsistency in picking and choosing what to be permissive with?
I suppose so. I tend to favor my financial interest first and foremost and that's hard to do without inconsistencies as I enjoy pointing out to inconsistent conservatives.
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