Difference between revisions of "Liberal"
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* In favor of gun control | * In favor of gun control | ||
| − | * Supports a woman's right to choose | + | * Supports a woman's right to choose pregnancy termination, i.e. [[abortion]] |
* prohibiting organized prayer in school | * prohibiting organized prayer in school | ||
* equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military | * equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military | ||
* government programs to rehabilitate criminals | * government programs to rehabilitate criminals | ||
* same-sex marriage | * same-sex marriage | ||
| − | |||
* teaching of evolution | * teaching of evolution | ||
* increased taxpayer funding of public schools | * increased taxpayer funding of public schools | ||
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* support of affirmative action | * support of affirmative action | ||
* government-sponsored education | * government-sponsored education | ||
| − | * preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a | + | * preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "[[living Constitution]]" instead of an unchanging Constitution |
*Income redistribution, with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings. | *Income redistribution, with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings. | ||
| − | * Opposition to American foreign policy <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "February 15, 2003 anti-war protest", Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_15,_2003_anti-war_protest (accessed 24 March 2007).</ref> which advocates human rights <ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0118-03.htm ''Looming War Isn't About Chemical Warheads or Human Rights: It's About Oil''], Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, 18 January 2003. </ref> and democracy <ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/iraq_strategy_nov2005.html National Strategy for Victory in Iraq], November 30, 2005. retrieved 22 March 2007.</ref> | + | * Opposition to current American administration foreign policy <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "February 15, 2003 anti-war protest", Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_15,_2003_anti-war_protest (accessed 24 March 2007).</ref> which advocates human rights <ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0118-03.htm ''Looming War Isn't About Chemical Warheads or Human Rights: It's About Oil''], Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, 18 January 2003. </ref> and democracy <ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/iraq_strategy_nov2005.html National Strategy for Victory in Iraq], November 30, 2005. retrieved 22 March 2007.</ref> |
Note, that ''liberal'' in the European context refers to moderate and center-right parties, often with a pro-business stance.<ref>http://www.alde.eu</ref> The same holds for many ''liberal'' parties throughout the world.<ref>http://www.liberal-international.org/</ref>. The US definition of liberal is much more similar to the politics of European [[socialist|socialist or social democratic]] parties.<ref>http://www.pes.org</ref>. | Note, that ''liberal'' in the European context refers to moderate and center-right parties, often with a pro-business stance.<ref>http://www.alde.eu</ref> The same holds for many ''liberal'' parties throughout the world.<ref>http://www.liberal-international.org/</ref>. The US definition of liberal is much more similar to the politics of European [[socialist|socialist or social democratic]] parties.<ref>http://www.pes.org</ref>. | ||
Revision as of 21:53, March 24, 2007
Liberal is a term used in US politics to describe a person who generally is left-wing in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and many other laws. The term was first used in reference to a political opinion c. 1801 A.D., in the aftermath of the French Revolution, when it meant "tending in favor of freedom and democracy."[1]
The term liberal is used in the United States to characterize the following set of beliefs:
- In favor of gun control
- Supports a woman's right to choose pregnancy termination, i.e. abortion
- prohibiting organized prayer in school
- equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military
- government programs to rehabilitate criminals
- same-sex marriage
- teaching of evolution
- increased taxpayer funding of public schools
- protection of natural resources and wilderness areas
- taxpayer-funded rather than private medical care
- increased power for labor unions
- disarmament treaties
- Classical liberalism stood for a limited government role [2]
- Private property and individual contracts form the basis of Classical liberal economic theory [3]
- reduction of military expenses
- support of affirmative action
- government-sponsored education
- preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "living Constitution" instead of an unchanging Constitution
- Income redistribution, with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings.
- Opposition to current American administration foreign policy [2] which advocates human rights [3] and democracy [4]
Note, that liberal in the European context refers to moderate and center-right parties, often with a pro-business stance.[5] The same holds for many liberal parties throughout the world.[6]. The US definition of liberal is much more similar to the politics of European socialist or social democratic parties.[7].
One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":[8]
- Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas ...
Another definition is a liberal is the opposite of a prodigal; where a liberal consumes resources on others, a prodigal consumes his own resources on himself.
References
- ↑ Etymology [1]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "February 15, 2003 anti-war protest", Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_15,_2003_anti-war_protest (accessed 24 March 2007).
- ↑ Looming War Isn't About Chemical Warheads or Human Rights: It's About Oil, Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, 18 January 2003.
- ↑ National Strategy for Victory in Iraq, November 30, 2005. retrieved 22 March 2007.
- ↑ http://www.alde.eu
- ↑ http://www.liberal-international.org/
- ↑ http://www.pes.org
- ↑ Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal