The Importance of Being Liberal

Liberal Lucy is my pseudonym.
Liberal, Loud and Proud is the name of my blog.
Michigan Liberal is where I got my start blogging.

I identify myself as a liberal. I vote and belong to the Democratic Party, but I believe in liberal ideology.

When I started becoming politically active, and then again when I started blogging, the warnings were plenty loud and clear. The minute I started identifying as a liberal, folks were going to get turned off by my liberalism.

Why has liberalism been equated with a four letter word?

Does liberal = extreme?

lib·er·al
adj.

1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

You be the judge.

I believe that everyone, not just the wealthy, deserve health care coverage.

I believe that we don't belong butting our noses or tanks into other countries business unless they are threatening us with serious harm.

I believe that the government doesn't belong in my bedroom.

I believe in a separation between church and state, and that my president's religion doesn't belong down my throat.

I believe in God, but if my neighbor, congressperson, plumber, or my co-worker doesn't, that's okay too.

I believe that the government should work for the people, but not against it.

I believe that perhaps the government could take a word or two of fiscal advice from my mom.

• Don't buy things you can't afford.
  
• Pay your bills on time.
  
• Always help those in need.
• Invest in your money wisely.

I believe that while I don't enjoy paying taxes, our government can't operate without them.

Does this make me extreme? I've never thought so.

I believe that no truer words have ever been spoken than these:

I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, in human liberty as the source of national action, in the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas. It is, I believe, the faith in our fellow citizens as individuals and as people that lies at the heart of the liberal faith. For liberalism is not so much a party creed or set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man's ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves.

I believe also in the United States of America, in the promise that it contains and has contained throughout our history of producing a society so abundant and creative and so free and responsible that it cannot only fulfill the aspirations of its citizens, but serve equally well as a beacon for all mankind. I do not believe in a superstate. I see no magic in tax dollars which are sent to Washington and then returned. I abhor the waste and incompetence of large-scale federal bureaucracies in this administration as well as in others. I do not favor state compulsion when voluntary individual effort can do the job and do it well. But I believe in a government which acts, which exercises its full powers and full responsibilities. Government is an art and a precious obligation; and when it has a job to do, I believe it should do it. And this requires not only great ends but that we propose concrete means of achieving them.

Our responsibility is not discharged by announcement of virtuous ends. Our responsibility is to achieve these objectives with social invention, with political skill, and executive vigor.

-snip-

Only liberalism, in short, can repair our national power, restore our national purpose, and liberate our national energies. -John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960

Does this make one of the best loved and most respected of American presidents extreme?

I believe that diversity in all its forms, particularly political thought, is crucial to the continued success of our country. I believe that political ideology is inherently designed to be diverse. I respect and value those who subscribe to the the conservative thought. I believe that we must come together in our partisanship and serve all of the people, not just the wealthy, or the religious, or value any one group over another. It is there where I believe the fundamental differences begin.

I shall remain a liberal. A proud liberal who won't be dissuaded by the twisting of a societal label. A liberal who still believes in the power of our government and the promise that it holds for us. A liberal who hopes to humbly serve all of the people, especially those who have no voice and who aren't society's favored sons and daughters.

If that equates me with being extreme, then I'll proudly hold my head up high and remember the words of one of the loudest and proudest of liberals, John F. Kennedy as he said

I believe for these reasons that liberalism is our best and only hope in the world today. For the liberal society is a free society, and it is at the same time and for that reason a strong society. Its strength is drawn from the will of free people committed to great ends and peacefully striving to meet them.

I will always remain a liberal, loud and proud, and believe that I am all the better for it.

(Cross-posted on two very fine liberal websites, Michigan Liberal and DailyKos)