I Am A Liberal
I’m for helping those in need, not telling them to fend for themselves. I support healthcare for all, not healthcare only for those who can afford it. I believe in nutrition assistance for the hungry, not tax breaks for the greedy. I believe in healthy school lunches for children, but not by changing the definition of pizza. I’m for Social Security and Medicare, and I know these programs would be self-sustaining if the FICA cap were removed and everyone paid into the system on 100% of their income.
I believe all people should be free to practice whatever the religion they choose, not have their religion chosen for them. I believe people should be free to practice no religion at all, rather than be forced to partake in prayer. I believe religion is a system of beliefs, not a set of scientific facts. I believe there is a difference between laws laid out in the Bible and laws set forth in the Constitution. I believe all people should have the right to marry whomever they love, not be told their love is a sin.
I believe in the right of the people to bear arms, not amass armaments. I’m for keeping Americans safe in their homes, but not the uninfringeable access to guns. I’m for helping victims of violent crime, not for blaming them for becoming victims. I believe in equal justice for all, not separate justice for some. I believe rights are inherent to all free citizens, not privileges that can be taken away.
I believe in our form of government, but not imposing it on other nations. I’m for keeping America strong, but not weakening it with a bloated military. I’m for going to war to defend our country’s sovereignty, not for sending troops to fight in every country’s civil war. I’m for supporting veterans by helping them when they return from service, not dishonoring their service by cutting their benefits.
I believe in regulated capitalism, not an unfettered free market. I’m for subsidizing the development of new energy technologies, but not the production of carbon-emitting fossil fuels. I’m for protecting the environment, not destroying it. I believe we should address man-made climate change, not deny it exists.
I believe in more people voting, not fewer. I’m for term limits, not lifetime terms. I believe elected officials should serve their individual constituents, not their corporate donors. I believe money is currency, not speech, and that corporations are businesses, not people.
In other words, I believe in democracy and that’s why I am a liberal.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Mark Hersch
Mark Hersch is a Boston-bred, DC-raised liberal now living in Chicago with his liberal wife and two liberal dogs.
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Jonathan Glasman July 5th, 2014 at 07:16
Government is doing nothing for you, and you think more government is the answer. Congratulations. I’m speechless.
Hardlee_Ded July 5th, 2014 at 14:47
That is another example of an overly vague conservative position… define what YOU mean by MORE government… I saw nothing about more government… but a wish for smarter government, which is not necessarily “bigger”.
And by the way your assertion, “Government is doing nothing for you…” is flat out wrong…. and another meaninglessly overly vague statement.
Jerry Garcia July 6th, 2014 at 11:24
Yeah, like that pesky EPA that is always messing with me…
tigerlard July 6th, 2014 at 19:38
It’s not about more government or less government, but who it serves.
Jonathan Glasman July 5th, 2014 at 07:16
Government is doing nothing for you, and you think more government is the answer. Congratulations. I’m speechless.
Hardlee_Ded July 5th, 2014 at 14:47
That is another example of an overly vague conservative position… define what YOU mean by MORE government… I saw nothing about more government… but a wish for smarter government, which is not necessarily “bigger”.
And by the way your assertion, “Government is doing nothing for you…” is flat out wrong…. and another meaninglessly overly vague statement.
Jerry Garcia July 6th, 2014 at 11:24
Yeah, like that pesky EPA that is always messing with me…
tigerlard July 6th, 2014 at 19:38
It’s not about more government or less government, but who it serves.
Jonathan_J_Kim July 5th, 2014 at 13:10
Oh u f*k. Do no listen to what they say, look at what they do. F*g destroyed this nation.
Jim Valley July 5th, 2014 at 19:44
I can’t disagree with anything I’m hearing here. The only other time this happens is when I am listening to Elizabeth Warren.
Steve Collier July 7th, 2014 at 21:00
Hooray!! My kind of American!
Jim Valley July 5th, 2014 at 19:44
I can’t disagree with anything I’m hearing here. The only other time this happens is when I am listening to Elizabeth Warren.
Steve Collier July 7th, 2014 at 21:00
Hooray!! My kind of American!
All American July 5th, 2014 at 20:03
So it’s your way or the highway I get tiered being told from both sides what I should believe in and how I must think and follow their self righteous opinions
Jerry Garcia July 6th, 2014 at 11:23
No one is telling you what YOU should believe, it is not about you, dumbass!
Margie Bateman Osgood July 20th, 2014 at 21:38
No one told you what to believe in, Alan stated what HE believes in.
All American July 5th, 2014 at 20:03
So it’s your way or the highway I get tiered being told from both sides what I should believe in and how I must think and follow their self righteous opinions
Jerry Garcia July 6th, 2014 at 11:23
No one is telling you what YOU should believe, it is not about you, !
Margie Bateman Osgood July 20th, 2014 at 21:38
No one told you what to believe in, Alan stated what HE believes in.
Matt G. Leger January 17th, 2015 at 05:56
Great statement of what being liberal REALLY is (as opposed to the caricatures often presented by Republicans and conservatives and their news-media mouthpieces). I’m not sure I agree with Alan on term limits; it strikes me as having too much chance of tossing the baby out with the bath water, i.e., you lose the good ones along with the bad ones. It also takes away voters’ choice and lets them off the hook for the role they played in keeping the bad ones in power, which is why I usually refer to term-limits supporters as “the ‘Stop me before I vote again!’ movement.” But all the rest? Hell to the muthafucking YES.
Matt G. Leger January 17th, 2015 at 06:56
Great statement of what being liberal REALLY is (as opposed to the caricatures often presented by Republicans and conservatives and their news-media mouthpieces). I’m not sure I agree with you on term limits; it strikes me as tossing the baby out with the bath water, i.e., you lose the good ones along with the bad ones. It also takes away voters’ choice and lets them off the hook for the role they played in keeping the bad ones in power, which is why I usually refer to term-limits supporters as “the ‘Stop me before I vote again!’ movement.” But all the rest? Hell to the muthafucking YES. Thank you very much for writing and sharing this with us.
northierthanthou.com February 5th, 2016 at 18:34
Well written.
northierthanthou.com February 5th, 2016 at 18:35
Well played.
tracey marie February 5th, 2016 at 18:52
Appropriate to repost this with all the tension.
northierthanthou.com February 5th, 2016 at 18:54
Your capacity for straw man arguments is duly noted. …also your willingness to make blatantly false claims.