lib·er·al P Pronunciation Key (lbr-l, lbrl) adj. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded. Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism. Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States. Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor. Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of potatoes.
Thus, if one didn't know anything about our political system, one would expect that liberals would be: 1. Pro choice 2. Pro Rights (all of them) 3. Pro minimal laws
The basic issue is that Liberals (note the case) ie Left leaning Democrats are big on certain things up to a point where it becomes less permissive. You can't do that because it's dangerous and you might hurt yourself or someone else (Fire Works, firearms, paintball guns, BB-guns, lability waivers, seatbelt laws, helmet laws, how you paint your house, how you arrange your yard, etc). Modern day Liberalism is antithetical to a laissez faire attitude of the old days whereby the state generally left you alone, many would argue its about being a busy body that involves itself in all aspects of your life.
By the same token the Conservative (note the case) view is less conservative in some cases and more so in others depending on what is being looked at. The term conservative of course means that one tends to be averse to change. Compare that to Conservatives that want to Abolish the IRS, that's a major change, liberal in attitude but Conservative in political stance.
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momijizukamori
Re: say, what?
Date: 2004-08-26 03:12 pm (UTC)adj.
Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.
Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor.
Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of potatoes.
Thus, if one didn't know anything about our political system, one would expect that liberals would be:
1. Pro choice
2. Pro Rights (all of them)
3. Pro minimal laws
The basic issue is that Liberals (note the case) ie Left leaning Democrats are big on certain things up to a point where it becomes less permissive. You can't do that because it's dangerous and you might hurt yourself or someone else (Fire Works, firearms, paintball guns, BB-guns, lability waivers, seatbelt laws, helmet laws, how you paint your house, how you arrange your yard, etc). Modern day Liberalism is antithetical to a laissez faire attitude of the old days whereby the state generally left you alone, many would argue its about being a busy body that involves itself in all aspects of your life.
By the same token the Conservative (note the case) view is less conservative in some cases and more so in others depending on what is being looked at. The term conservative of course means that one tends to be averse to change. Compare that to Conservatives that want to Abolish the IRS, that's a major change, liberal in attitude but Conservative in political stance.
Get what I'm driving at here?