Liberal ideology

Generally speaking, liberal ideology in America outlines a system of government which emphasises increased personal freedoms while intervening in the national economy in order to counter market forces. Liberals generally perceive taxation as a positive means of redistributing wealth and funding public works that could not be adequately supplied through the free market, such as roading or a police force.

The following are beliefs generally attributed to a liberal outlook. However it should be noted that individuals will often dissent on one or more issues; and some beliefs are also shared by a proportion of conservatives (such as separation of church and state and same-sex marriage).

1. Taxation as a means of supporting infrastructure
2. Income redistribution through progressive taxation
3. Aversion to privatisation of national assets
4. Increased government spending on healthcare, public education and social welfare
5. Regulation and monitoring of psychoactive drugs as opposed to prohibition
6. The advancement of gay rights, especially same-sex marriage
7. Implementation of affirmative action
8. Political correctness
9. Separation of church and state
10. Support of labor unions
11. Sex education in schools, emphasising contraception as opposed to abstinence
12. Legalisation and/or governmental funding of abortion programs
13. Reinterpretation of the Constitution in a modern context (see living Constitution)
14. Upholding of First Amendment liberties, especially regarding pornography and obscenity
15. Support for gun control
16. Abolition of the death penalty
17. Penal reforms with an emphasis on rehabilitation
18. Stricter environmental legislation
19. Disarmament treaties and an aversion to interventionist foreign policy
20. Reinstatement of the Fairness doctrine
21. Opposition to restriction of personal freedoms, especially under the Patriot Act