Liberal Vs. Conservative                                                         Back

When did Liberal become a dirty word?

According to Webster Dictionary: Liberal: of a free heart; not characterized by selfish, narrow, or contracted ideas or feelings. Favorable to civil, political or religious liberty. Favorable to reform or progress, and in politics often opposed to conservative. Not too literal or strict. n. an advocate of freedom of restraint, especially in politics or religion. A member of that party which advocates progressive reform.

Doesn't that describe our Founding Fathers.

Why don't we take a look at some Liberal ideas or policies: Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid, The Peace Corps, Women's Suffrage, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Voting rights act, Not counting the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution & the Bill of Rights. Are all innovative ideas. Now ask yourself which of these your willing to give up.

Conservatism: The tendency to preserve what is established; opposition to change.

Conservative: tending to conserve, traditional, cautious, moderate, free from innovation.

If according to Webster this is a true definition of Conservative. Then would we ever have gone to the moon? or even have learned to fly? Would modern medicine exist? Or would we still live in the tried & true log cabin?

Would the Founding Fathers, if they were conservative, ever have decided to leave the protection of the King of England or would they have played it safe. I believe, if they weren't Liberal, we would still have a king.

Oh! a few more liberal ideas would be: The Minimum Wage, the Forty Hour Work Week, Overtime Pay for working over a normal work week, (an idea that the Republican Party has now attacked.) The Equal Rights Amendment, Woman's Equality, Civil Rights, & how about the F.D.I.C. would you feel safe depositing your money in a bank without it. It was part of F. D. Roosevelt's New Deal, also a part of the New Deal was The Securities & Exchange Commission, would you feel safe investing for your retirement without it's regulatory power being in place. Even small things like (They may bother you, but only if your very selfish.) Handicapped Parking Spaces. or there's the Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill, Auto Safety Laws, Air & Water-Pollution Laws, (That the Bush Administration is now attacking with gusto & impunity.) FEMA was created by an executive order of Jimmy Carter and finally though there are probable many more, The Child Labor Laws.

Now think about it. Do you really think Liberals are so bad? Which party do you think is really the party of the people?

I case your wondering, I'm a liberal, if I wasn't would I bother building this web site for your enjoyment & information without making a profit. I don't think so.

Optimistic Vs. Pessimistic

I'm hearing a lot lately of how the Kerry campaign is pessimistic about the economy. I'm sorry but always thought that  pessimism was negativity and I can't figure out how saying that America is a great country, that can do better on creating jobs, better on health care, better on education, etc. is pessimistic. I feel that John Kerry is an optimist.

George Bush on the other hand says we are doing great and it will take time but we can't do anything to make it better faster. That to me is a pessimistic attitude.

You tell me, how do you feel? Can we do better or not? Who do you feel is the optimist and who is the pessimist?

I guess I'm just a "Economic Girly Man."