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Why is being liberal a bad thing?
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Anonymous
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but at minimum, doesn't liberal mean freedom of choice, opportunity, & equality for all? I find that being conservative means forcing their ways on others in terms of being pro-life, anti-gay, radical Christian domination, exclusion, concern for the rich only....
So, in my eyes, when did being liberal become a bad thing? |
Anonymous
| In your eyes, it seems to be a good thing. In my eyes, it is a bad thing because I believe in capitalism. However, I agree with you about the right wing always shoving their religious and moral views down everyone's throat. |
Anonymous
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Who says it is? Conservatives? I'm socially quite liberal myself, but two things: (1) I find labels limiting to begin with, and (2) many of my most liberal friends and acquaintances are among my most intolerant friends and acquaintances. They're very intolerant of conservatives, Christians, Republicans -- basically anyone who thinks differently than they do. On the other hand, I have moderately conservative friends who are much more accepting of differences. Your own definition of conservative says more about you than about actual conservatives, who come in as many stripes as liberals do.
We'd all be better served if we stopped thinking in broad generalities that often veer into caricature. |
Anonymous
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Being liberal is a bad thing because Reagan's footsoldiers did an outstanding marketing job to make it a scary word. Hence the PP's statement that liberal is bad if you believe in capitalism. In fact, 99% of liberals believe that capitalism is the right system. But that doesn't matter, because it's been successfully ruined as a way to self identify.
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Anonymous
The religious right is part of the conservative movement, but they do not define it. I consider myself conservative because I believe in limited government, a strong defense, and self responsibility. I don't believe in shoving religion down anyone's throat; but I DO believe that people of faith should be free to express their views. A vast difference between the two! I am Catholic, and Catholic-bashing seems to be a liberal parlor game at times (notwithstanding that the Catholic vote went heavily Democrat). IMO the thread should read "Why is being conservative such a bad thing?" because the reality is the world around us is much more free to disparage someone with my views than someone with OP's views. (Rush Limbaugh excluded!) |
Anonymous
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I don't think it is a bad thing, but I have found that many liberals feel they are right, and everyone else is wrong. It is as if others do not have a valid opinion. Trust me, I get an ear full because most people don't realize I am a Republican. I am for gay marriage, have a spouse of a different race, shop at farmers markets, breastfed, didn't circ, want to take my house of the grid......... you get the idea. I have also brought myself up from nothing, and worked hard, and did it on my own. I grew up in an area where everyone survived on welfare, and I saw the life sucked out of them. It must be depressing to sit collecting money, and not having motivation to move on and do bigger and better things. I could understand why many people just had more babies, so they could prolong their assistance.
So many Liberals are all about Republican bashing, not realizing that the right wing nuts are not the ones who make up most of the party. There is too much time focused upon these idiots than the rest of us. The normal every day people, who don't feel as if they need to take things away from people, or shove their religion upon everyone. I want the government to be less involved in peoples lives. I want us to back away from socialist mentalities (part of the reason I am no longer a Dem.), and I want people to realize they need to be responsible for themselves, and for their fellow man. I don't think mandating help is the way to go. The simple fact that Republicans give more to Charity than Democrats shows that I am not alone in that thought. |
Anonymous
More Democrats are in service fields - believing instead in donating time and/or giving back. In terms of donating monetarily, we do indeed donate to charities, but b/c our salaries are less, we donate less. I'd love to make $150,000 as a teacher, but that's not going to happen any time soon. I'm not complaining - my choice. What I do impacts hundreds each day - 135 to be exact. What you have faced - liberals who seem closed minded and limited in perspective - is what I've faced with Republicans. I come from a family of immigrants who initially registered as Democrats but switched parties when they made six figures. Do they respect what I do? (no) Do they donate money? (to Republican candidates, not to charities) When it comes to "handouts," spend a day in the classroom and see how many kids are FARMS recipients (free and reduced meals) b/c both parents are working minimum wage jobs 12 hours a day. What do you tell these parents who don't have an education? Apply for CEO positions so that you can take good care of your family? Are large corporations giving back to our schools? No. In fact, schools taken over by businesses have failed miserably. Do some research on schools in Baltimore City. I may sound harsh, but I'm just sharing what I've experienced in my lifetime. And to be honest, I will never switch parties b/c I don't believe in a trickle down effect. Capitalism, although not necessarily the "devil," is based on greed. And like many of my family members, those who have tasted a 6-figure lifestyle have seemed to turn their backs on the rest of us. Grass roots efforts are what made this country great. Allowing the few billionaires in this country to "give back" is ridiculous. At this point, the divide between the haves and the have nots is so great that our only choice is to shift more to the left to balance things out. |
Anonymous
| To echo some of PP's comments, I have found many "liberals" (which to me SHOULD mean tolerant, open-minded) to be extremely closed-minded and self-righteous about their political views. They, frankly, are just as bad as the right-wing conservatives who are forcing pro-life and religion down our throats. I have friends I can not stand to be around any more because of their extremist "liberal" political views and villification of anyone who is not a leftist. Whatever your political views, you should acknowledge others' right to a difference of opinion. |
Anonymous
| When I hear a conservative use the word "liberal" it sounds like they're using it as a curse word, a strong put down. |
Anonymous
I hate to admit this, but I agree with you. I am a FLAMING lefty, and I find that sometimes there is quite a bit of closed-minded simplification in my camp. |
Anonymous
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There's something to be said about those with extreme views; they call attention to a cause.
I'm sure Annie Kenney wasn't very popular in her day. And she definitely shoved her views down everyone's throat! |
Anonymous
Did it? I always thought being labeled "conservative" was a bad thing... maybe I am bias because I consider myself liberal. Many posters made the point that not all conservatives are religious conservatives, and anti-abortion, anti gays rights etc. But usually, when someone say "X" is conservative, the first thing that comes to my mind is this type of association. I am a strong believer on captalism and that you should be rewarded by your efforts, not "handed" everything freely. But I also believe that for this concept truly work, people should be provided with the same opportunities in education and healthcare. What bothers me about religious conservatives is not the fact that they are against abortion for example - for each their own. If someone thinks/believes life begins at conception and thus abortion is a sin, don't do it then; teach those values to your kids; go help struggling pregnant women; promote adoption, etc. But be respectful of people that do not share your views, that do not believe life begins at conception and women that do not want to hear your advices and counseling. Do not try to impose your faith and moral on the rest of the world by outlawing it. |
Anonymous
Or make contraception harder to get. Or try to classify contraception as a form of abortion. |
Anonymous
Flaming lefty poster here. Point taken. |
Anonymous
Pro-lifers that I know do teach their children that all life is precious, do help pregnant women (we donate to Birthright regularly), etc. Some pro-lifers what the laws changed, true. Most pro-lifers would be satisfied to take government (and the tax dollars of those morally opposed to abortion) out of the process. When you want to take my tax dollars to pay for something I find personally very morally objectionable, I am not feeling too much respect, KWIM? It is a two way street. Let pro-life charities support mothers who choose life, and let pro-choice charities (not my taxes) support mothers who choose termination. |