What is a Liberal?

I used to consider myself a lousy Democrat. A lousy Liberal Democrat to be precise. I never put much effort into practicing my political affiliation. That said, I never questioned the definition of a Liberal. This was before the word Liberal got lumped with the evil that ululates from the depths of Hell. Or a wispy substance drifting like fairy lint through the halls of a yoga retreat. Or anybody who drives a Volvo. Or lately a Prius.

This revisionary blurring of the word Liberal is the work of nasty albeit clever Neo Conservatives.

People like Rush Limbaugh.

Here’s what Liberal really means (from Oxford Languages):

1. Adjective. willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one’s own; open to new ideas.
2. Noun. relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise. A supporter of policies that are socially progressive and promote social welfare. A supporter of a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise.

That kind of sounds to me like a good citizen of the good old U.S.A.

Liberalism is also a Political Philosophy

Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality and equality before the law.^[1][2][3] Liberals espouse various views depending on their understanding of these principles. However, they generally support private property, market economies, individual rights (including civil rights and human rights), liberal democracy, secularism, rule of law, economic and political freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion.^[11] Liberalism is frequently cited as the dominant ideology of modern times.^[12][13]

Liberalism became a distinct movement in the Age of Enlightenment, gaining popularity among Western philosophers and economists. Liberalism sought to replace the norms of hereditary privilege, state religion, absolute monarchy, the divine right of kings and traditional conservatism with representative democracy and the rule of law. Liberals also ended mercantilist policies, royal monopolies and other trade barriers, instead promoting free trade and marketization.^[14] Philosopher John Locke is often credited with founding liberalism as a distinct tradition based on the social contract, arguing that each man has a natural right to life, liberty and property, and governments must not violate these rights.^[15] While the British liberal tradition has emphasized expanding democracy, French liberalism has emphasized rejecting authoritarianism and is linked to nation-building.

Wikipedia

The Bottom Line

Our country is based on Liberalism. The U.S. Constitution is a Liberal Document. Our government is a Liberal organism. Our founding fathers designed our Republic based on the Liberal Ideas of John Locke.

The bottom line: American Conservatism is not the opposite of Liberalism. American Conservatives are also Liberals.

We are all Liberals.

The real opposite of Liberalism

This is the real opposite of a Liberal:

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement,^[1][2][3] characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.^[2][3]Wikipedia

Oops! I left this guy out:

Why am I on this subject?

I don’t know why I’m talking Politics. All it does is create division these days. I’m still a Lousy Liberal. I don’t vote. I don’t show up to champion Women’s Rights. Or Minority Rights. Or even Animal Rights. I’ve done my best most of my life to avoid the tasks of good citizenship.

I’m a lousy citizen.

I should be ashamed of myself.

But try as I might, I can’t rid myself of my Liberal Feelings.

Maybe I need Therapy.

I woke up this morning with a strange feeling. A feeling that’s escaped me for several years now.

A feeling…of pride in the Good Old U.S.A.

Why?

The American People went to the polls and voted to uphold a Woman’s Right To Choose.

And to preserve Democracy.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK