Liberal

The term "liberal" comes from the aftermath of the French Revolution, where it meant someone who advocated more powerful elected assemblies.

"Liberal" today means the disfavoring of individual responsibility in favor of collectivism. This term is used often in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Examples of liberal beliefs include:

• gun control
• taxpayer funding of abortion
• prohibiting prayer in school
• distributing wealth from the rich to the poor
• social programs to rehabilitate criminals
• same-sex marriage
• amnesty for illegal aliens
• teaching of evolution
• increased funding of public school
• protection of obscure endangered species
• foreign treaties, especially for disarmament

Liberal can also be defined as anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":

Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas ...