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 means of redistributing wealth and funding public works that could not be adequately supplied through the free market, such as roadbuilding and provision of police forces.

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 supplying infrastructure
2. Income redistribution through progressive taxation
3. Aversion to privatization of national assets
4. Government involvement in health care, public education and social welfare
5. Decriminalization of psychoactive drugs as opposed to prohibition
6. The advancement of gay rights, includingsame-sex marriage
7. Implementation of affirmative action
8. Political correctness
9. Separation of church and state
10. Support for labor unions
11. Sex education in schools, including emphasis on contraception as well as abstinence
12. Legalization and/or governmental funding for abortion programs
13. Interpretation of the Constitution in a contemporary context (see living Constitution)
14. Upholding of First Amendment liberties
15. Support for gun control, in opposition to the Second Amendment
16. Abolition of the death penalty
17. Penal reforms with an emphasis on rehabilitation over punishment
18. Legislation and regulation to protect the environment
19. Support for nuclear disarmament treaties
20. An aversion to interventionist foreign policy (note this is often a conservative ideology as well)
21. Reinstatement of the Fairness doctrine
22. Opposition to restriction of personal freedoms, such as those imposed under the Patriot Act