What is a Liberal really? I've allways had questions on the matter

What is a Liberal really, someone who wants bigger government? More Taxes?

Dictionary.com says a Liberal is...

6 entries found for liberal.
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.
Not strict or literal; loose or approximate: a liberal translation.
Of, relating to, or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum: a liberal education.

Archaic. Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman.
Obsolete. Morally unrestrained; licentious.

n.
A person with liberal ideas or opinions.
Liberal A member of a Liberal political party.


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[Middle English, generous, from Old French, from Latin lberlis, from lber, free. See leudh- in Indo-European Roots.]
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liber�al�ly adv.
liber�al�ness n.
Synonyms: liberal, bounteous, bountiful, freehanded, generous, handsome, munificent, openhanded
These adjectives mean willing or marked by a willingness to give unstintingly: a liberal backer of the arts; a bounteous feast; bountiful compliments; a freehanded host; a generous donation; a handsome offer; a munificent gift; fond and openhanded grandparents. See also synonyms at broad-minded
Antonyms: stingy

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Source: The American Heritage� Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright � 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


liberal

\Lib"er*al\ (l[i^]b"[~e]r*al), a. [F. lib['e]ral, L. liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet, it pleases, E. lief. Cf. Deliver.] 1. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies. `` Liberal education.'' --Macaulay. `` A liberal tongue.'' --Shak.

2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. `` Liberal of praise.'' --Bacon.

Infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free as infinite. --Milton.

3. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.

His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. --Shak.

4. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.

5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.

6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious. `` Most like a liberal villain.'' --Shak.

7. Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.

I confess I see nothing liberal in this `` order of thoughts,'' as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it. --Hazlitt.

Note: Liberal has of, sometimes with, before the thing bestowed, in before a word signifying action, and to before a person or object on which anything is bestowed; as, to be liberal of praise or censure; liberal with money; liberal in giving; liberal to the poor.

The liberal arts. See under Art.

Liberal education, education that enlarges and disciplines the mind and makes it master of its own powers, irrespective of the particular business or profession one may follow.

Syn: Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample; large; profuse; free.

Usage: Liberal, Generous. Liberal is freeborn, and generous is highborn. The former is opposed to the ordinary feelings of a servile state, and implies largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc. The latter expresses that nobleness of soul which is peculiarly appropriate to those of high rank, -- a spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment in consulting the feelings and happiness of others. Generosity is measured by the extent of the sacrifices it makes; liberality, by the warmth of feeling which it manifests.


Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, � 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


liberal

\Lib"er*al\, n. One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.


Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, � 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


liberal

adj 1: showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions" [syn: broad, large-minded, tolerant] 2: having political or social views favoring reform and progress 3: tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition [ant: conservative] 4: given or giving freely; "was a big tipper"; "the bounteous goodness of God"; "bountiful compliments"; "a freehanded host"; "a handsome allowance"; "Saturday's child is loving and giving"; "a liberal backer of the arts"; "a munificent gift"; "her fond and openhanded grandfather" [syn: big, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, freehanded, handsome, giving, openhanded] 5: not literal; "a loose interpretation of what she had been told"; "a free translation of the poem" [syn: free, loose] n 1: a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties [syn: progressive] [ant: conservative] 2: a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating marketsp

Is that what a Liberal is? 80% of that sounded like good quality's. When Bush said Kerry was the most liberal senator... did he mean that Kerry was the "most good" senator?

Strange


Anyone care to explain what a "*Liberal*" is?
After you explain what a "Liberal" is, please share with us whether you are or are not a liberal.

And if you are not a Liberal, could you tell me which political party you support and the non-liberal stances it takes on issues?
Or if you are a "Liberal", could ya share with me which politcal party you support and the liberal stances it takes on issues?


Thank you, I am very curious and this will help me understand this subject further.

[edit on 5-11-2004 by aukaiman55]

For decades American media and government has made a concerted effort to portray anyone dangerous to the status quo as an �liberal', it�s a hangover from the easy propaganda days of communists. After that the already impressionable populous didn�t need much change to point the irrational hatred towards the next undesirable sector.

Liberals are now those prepared to eat your babies, leave you defenseless, give everyone unreasonable freedoms and sell your soul to Satan. Just like the communists.

Everywhere else it's just another political position.

Why that�s the case, I'll leave you to figure out.



[edit on 6-11-2004 by kegs]

The funny thing is that outside the US a Liberal is actually as a conservative.
It's much like the definition of a billion:
US 1.000.000.000
Rest of the world 1.000.000.000.000

[edit on 6-11-2004 by Vladtepes]

Now that is funny!
1,000,000,000.00 ->One way.
1.000.000.000,00 ->the other.



I wouldn't go that far as to flag things that generally. I am sure that there are
some things in common, and only a few key things are different between liberals of different nations. Likewise with conservatives.

What would you call a Libertarian?

Libertarians want to terminate Income Tax, Social Security Tax, and Sales Tax (below 6% is ok)

Libertarians want 90%+ of all unconstitutional legislation to be destroyed. Libertarians want all drugs legalized (thus reducing crime by 90%).
Libertarians want the Federal government to be reduced to 1.) Coining money, 2.) Running the post office 3.) National Defense *military*

If income tax were terminated, everyone would get a 30% pay increase.
Income tax is 20% of the cost of products, therefore all things would cost 20% less.

A 5% sales tax would be harder on rich people, because they buy more things.


Libertarians say America is not a democracy, where 51% can boss around 49%.

Libertarians say America is a REPUBLIC, where 1% is just as important as 99%.

I pledge alliegence to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands.


What is a Libertarian? Are they Liberals?

[edit on 6-11-2004 by aukaiman55]

I think the overall average would be moderate/centrist.
In that, there are liberal Libertarians and conservative Libertarians on the fringes, but muted combinations in between.

Libertarians are strongly for civil liberties and a more translucent federal gov't with more opaque state gov'ts. I hope this isn't too simplified. Please make a correction if I am off in any way..

The U.S. is a Democratic-Republic. There are guidelines that watch for the rights of the minority without nullifing the desire of the majority. A representative republic is only one of the keys to this. However, even with this type of structure the representation in term can be superfluious at times as society changes. Therefore flexiblity becomes a need for the U.S.'s generally progressive direction. The Democratic half of the above term implies this, as that the republic that is in power when combined with compromises of the minority then reflects the will of the people. This creates a dynamic flux of litagation and legislation that constantly changes and evolves to meet said needs.

[edit on 6-11-2004 by Crysstaafur]

Is a "Liberal" a concept of a persons inner workings, or does it go deeper than that?
An antithesis to conservatism? Is it a paradigm of the illuminated one's social order?

Why do our morals have to be grounded in what someone in Washington says? If we are not lemmings by nature, then why do we act like lemmings?

Is this by design... Lord Rothschild?

Originally posted by aukaiman55
What would you call a Libertarian?

Libertarians want to terminate Income Tax, Social Security Tax, and Sales Tax (below 6% is ok)

Libertarians want 90%+ of all unconstitutional legislation to be destroyed. Libertarians want all drugs legalized (thus reducing crime by 90%).
Libertarians want the Federal government to be reduced to 1.) Coining money, 2.) Running the post office 3.) National Defense *military*

If income tax were terminated, everyone would get a 30% pay increase.
Income tax is 20% of the cost of products, therefore all things would cost 20% less.

A 5% sales tax would be harder on rich people, because they buy more things.


Libertarians say America is not a democracy, where 51% can boss around 49%.

Libertarians say America is a REPUBLIC, where 1% is just as important as 99%.

I pledge alliegence to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands.


What is a Libertarian? Are they Liberals?

[edit on 6-11-2004 by aukaiman55]

Libertarians are more like the U.S version of the world Liberals, who are right centered. A Liberal motto in South Amercia: " The smaller the State, the greater it's nation"

[edit on 6-11-2004 by Vladtepes]

Hi, I define a "Liberal" as someone who is open-minded, tolerant, progressive, etc. Liberals are usually non-conformist, while not being particularly rebellious. Liberals are egotistical, but are just as equally altruistic.

I consider myself a Liberal.

As far as political parties, I typically go for independents, and I agree with Democratic policies for the most part. Never Republican (misers and bigots, sorry). If I had to choose, I'm socialist/communist at heart, and I apologize if that offends some of you. Communism is not fascism, so let's get that out of our heads.

I like 'organized' liberalism. The reason: Anarchy can't work if people intend to live with one another. We have to cooperate to function as a society, unless we can all be hermits...

Vladtepes:

It's much like the definition of a billion:
US 1.000.000.0000
Rest of the world 1.000.000.000.000

No, in America a billion is 1,000,000,000.

aukaiman55

A 5% sales tax would be harder on rich people, because they buy more things.

I am rich and you are poor. I make $500,000/year, you make $50,000/year. We both buy a $30,000 car. A 5% tax on that car ($1500) cuts into your income more than it cuts into mine.

Also, regarding elimination of income tax: how do we fund the military?

I know i typed an extra zero. I am sleepy right now

[edit on 6-11-2004 by Vladtepes]

The only downside I see with that calculation would be that people generally purchase within their means.

That is an issue of quality.
Ergo, someone who makes $50,000 a year, are not likely to purchase a $30,000 dollar vehicle. Half of that would be closer to the truth. Other the other side, why would a person who makes $500,000 a year settle with a $30,000 vehicle when a $90,000 one would complete the illusion of kingliness. I am sure exceptions would exist though....

He does raise an interesting note of quantity though.

What does quality and quantity have to do with liberalism anyways? It doesn't. It is possible to create results favorable to liberals using very little resources, the exact reverse is also quite possible.

Originally posted by spade
Hi, I define a "Liberal" as someone who is open-minded, tolerant, progressive, etc. Liberals are usually non-conformist, while not being particularly rebellious. Liberals are egotistical, but are just as equally altruistic.

I consider myself a Liberal.

As far as political parties, I typically go for independents, and I agree with Democratic policies for the most part. Never Republican (misers and bigots, sorry). If I had to choose, I'm socialist/communist at heart, and I apologize if that offends some of you. Communism is not fascism, so let's get that out of our heads.

Ding ding ding! We hae a winner. The US version of a "liberal" is one in favor of large government ad federal spending on social programs to better provide for the people. Obviously the most pure form of this would be communism. The interesting part of the social aspect is that both partys kind of devide the "rights" so to speak. Liberals tend to favor things like gay marrige while republicans favor things like the 2nd amendment. It is really kind of funny, because there realy is not coherent argument to how these social rights were devided. The best I can coe up with is that conservatives go for the "moral" road - hene no abortion - while liberals wish to take away personal freedoms that they do not see as needed by people.

I like 'organized' liberalism. The reason: Anarchy can't work if people intend to live with one another. We have to cooperate to function as a society, unless we can all be hermits...

I hate to break it to you but Anarchy would be on the exact opposite end of communis/liberalism. The reason - both are based on BIG GOVERNMENT. If you want anarchy, it would probably be the most radical right end of the spectrum.

Originally posted by jsobecky
Also, regarding elimination of income tax: how do we fund the military?

Non-interventionism would save the nation billions of dollars. Take on a defensive stance with strong border protection and pull out of NATO. Let Europe take care of Europe, let Asia take care of Asia. Systematically ween the nation off of non-essential Federal programs. Sell Federal owned facilities and lands that are also non-essential (old military bases, forests lands that are so over-protected they're less healthy than if they were conservatively logged). Not trying to go off topic, but this could go on and on. A repeal of the income tax would take a lot more then just repealing the income tax.

The word liberal is different in America then it is in the rest of the world, the evolution of words happens. The word torch means something different in the UK as it does in America, so does a certain slang word for cigarettes. This list could go on ad nauseum. Words mean different things in different places.

The best I can coe up with is that conservatives go for the "moral" road - hene no abortion - while liberals wish to take away personal freedoms that they do not see as needed by people.

I think you hit the nail on the head with that.

I am rich and you are poor. I make $500,000/year, you make $50,000/year. We both buy a $30,000 car. A 5% tax on that car ($1500) cuts into your income more than it cuts into mine.

Also, regarding elimination of income tax: how do we fund the military?

Question 1.) Hey, you're right. DOWN WITH SALES TAX!!!
Well, in all ohnesty. I don't know, I mean someone who makes 50,000 dollars a year should maybe consider buying a 30,000 dollar car. And a Rich Person is bound to spend more money than just 30,000- thus paying more taxes than the poor person. And if the rich person doesn't waste his cash- then may he have a good life?


Question 2.) Income Tax is less than 15% of what what government makes (Please tell me if I'm VERY wrong, of if you know the correct number)

The Libertarians want to reduce our government by about half.

If anything, our military will be making MORE money.

to me a liberal is anyone who wants to take my second ammendment rights away,take from me the fruits of my labor to give to those who didnt earn it,turn over our sovernty to the UN,demand abortion for birth control anytime,anyreason with no restrictions what so ever.Looks down there nose at me because I worship god.Passes so called "hate crime" laws that say to me that my life isnt worth as much as a minority.Self hating americans,that are ready anytime something happens to blame america first,or to say we had it coming.

take from me the fruits of my labor to give to those who didnt earn it

Hmm godsmack

Are you a republican?

Do you know republicans support the income tax?

Originally posted by American Mad Man
I hate to break it to you but Anarchy would be on the exact opposite end of communis/liberalism. The reason - both are based on BIG GOVERNMENT. If you want anarchy, it would probably be the most radical right end of the spectrum.

You misunderstand liberal ideals. If liberalism means any one thing, it's freedom. Liberalism is free-thinking, not selfishness and neither selflessnes. Think back a step. The scope of government is not the point.

If Anarchy is at one end of the spectrum, oppressive Fascist/Nazi ideals are at the other. Neither left/right extremes can function indefinitely. For practical reasons, these examples should stay out of the discussion. We should 'progress' and abandon all of that, and stop agruing over iffy 'loopholes' - which is what you're doing. Government is necessary, so it should try to succeed as being a government as best it can.

Understand: Communism is meant as government by the proletariat. It's the biggest government and the smallest. It's omni-present while being inconspicuous and idle all at once. It's all about yin/yang, not liberal extremism. For a proponent of Communism, it's more accurate to think "left-of-center rationalist" than outright liberal, if we are going by the political definition of Liberal.

Liberals are liberal, no denying that. I think all Liberals would agree with me to an extent, but they aren't as radical as the right portrays them, despite what they may think of themselves. I just happen to recognize this and accept it. I think many liberal-minded people are just forced into retaliating after being hunted for so long.

I suspect many Liberals oppose the right-wing not because they're conservative (Liberals believe in forms of conservativism!) but because the right can be so short-sighted and inconsistent, from a broader viewpoint, in a larger context, if this makes any sense to you.

Just want you to see where I'm coming from.

[edit on 6-11-2004 by spade]

The current left/right spectrum is broken down like this.

Which side of your life do you want the government to controll?

Left: Democrat
Right: Republican
Both: Green
Neither: Libertarian
All I care about is whether or not the constitution is followed: Constitutionalist

Not many choices there. Are you asking what political party I align myself with?