The Dirty Word

When did liberal become such a dirty word?
What does it mean?
Let's take a look:

'liberal(s)' appears to be a derogatory term for people of a particular politcal persuasion. Is Liberal the new Communist?

Here below is one set of definitions for liberal. Would this define said 'liberals' when voiced by a 'libertarian' or conservative in the states? you'll notice words like 'tolerance' and phrases like 'not bound by orthodoxy'. Are these reprehensible qualities to a tea bagger? Or does 'liberal' mean something completely different to them? Just asking...

Definitions of liberal on the Web:

•broad: showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions"
•having political or social views favoring reform and progress
•tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
•a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
•big: given or giving freely; "was a big tipper"; "the bounteous goodness of God"; "bountiful compliments"; "a freehanded host"; "a handsome allowance"
•a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets

Conversely what is Conservative:
•resistant to change
•cautious: avoiding excess; "a conservative estimate"
•a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas
•bourgeois: conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class; "a bourgeois mentality"

Increased Support for Legalization of Marijuana

You probably already knew this but more men favor legalization of marijuana as oppose to women. And of course younger, with a college education, and leaning toward liberal democrat support legalization 66% to 29%... While support for legalizing marijuana has never been higher (pun intended); it's interesting to note the polarization by: party, political leaning, education, age and gender. Political viewpoint also, not surprisingly, trend in polar opposites for Gay Marriage, Gun control, and Legal Abortion. There are roughly 72 million registered Democrats and 55 million registered Republicans... that leaves about 74 million independents. This is interesting against the backdrop that Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group.

I still think if liberal Democrats put down the bong they would sway elections more toward the issues they support.

The Thing That Pisses Me Off Most About the Right...

The thing that pisses me off most about the right... Where to start? I guess it come down to the christianista "morality" that they want to impose on everyone. In the abortion wars for example; who is really "for" abortion. Yes there are women who have used abortion as a form of birth control and that is abhorrent. It's still amazing that some insurance companies pay for viagra and not birth control pills... But here's the rub. The liberal stance is to let people have a choice. It does not qualify that with religious beliefs or other mythological questions but leaves the responsibility with the individual. The conservative view is that we have to mandate what is and is not permissible, as interpreted through christian dogma. It does not matter if the individual is a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, or Atheist... all must submit to the will of Christian doctrine because the US is a "Christian Nation."

The main thrust of the argument against, gay marriage, repealing don't ask don't tell, abortion, planned parenthood, HIV and STD counseling, and hate crimes legislation is they are inconsistent with "Christian Values." For all of the complaining and pot stirring Glen Beck and Michelle Bachmann have made about Michelle Obama promoting a "nanny state" by suggesting healthier eating options for children; I find it ironic that they don't see the same "nanny state' mentality when it comes to the culture wars. It's okay for the right to take away civil rights of minorities but if the left wants to fund planned parenthood, that is anathema.

Collectively we cringe when we hear of the penalties of Sharia law. We think a legal systems that involves stoning and amputation seems barbaric and yet any law based on religious principles is barbaric. Fred Phelps is barbaric when he pickets the funerals of fallen soldiers. The recent debate about "forced rape" as a criteria for legal abortion sounds barbaric. The solution is a truly secular legal system and it is the only way a true Democracy can survive.

Thankfully the Obama Administration rewrote the "conscience clause" allowing health care providers to decline care to patients if it would violate their religious beliefs.

The Bush rules allowed not just health workers but hospitals and even entire insurance companies to decline to provide abortions or any other service that violate a "religious belief or moral conviction."

Tony Perkins, president of the anti-abortion Family Research Council, called the changes "a blow both to medicine and the right to practice one's deeply held convictions."