I am a liberal.
I believe that freedom of speech is essential to our democracy, no matter how unpopular or “unpatriotic” that speech is.
I believe that self-interest doesn’t make a family, a company or a society. All groups, if they are to succeed, need to sacrifice some things for the good of all.
I believe that “national security” is just another way of saying “military-industrial complex.” And even Eisenhower warned us about that.
I believe arming a society is not the way to preserve it.
I believe public education for all citizens is a vital component of a free and productive society.
I believe the state does not have the right to kill a person as punishment for killing.
I believe the state does not have the right to dictate to a woman how she manages her reproductive system.
I believe that religious freedom is preserved by the strict separation of church and state – not threatened by it.
I believe there is a big difference between being a liberal and being a Democrat.
I believe the “war on drugs” has helped no one and harmed many.
I believe in the space program, because without frontiers, without challenges, we die.
I believe questioning the government isn’t traitorous – in fact, it’s the essence of what it means to be an American.
I am a liberal, and these are the things it means to me.
Fine sentiments all. But you might add that “if we don’t get to the stars somehow, the sun swallowing the earth problem will overwhelm us” point to the space program bit.
Thanks, Adam. Everyone should examine their beliefs and come up with a similar list, or shall we call it a manifesto? We might realize our beliefs aren’t as different or incompatible as they seem. Nicely done.
Maybe this should be our weekend homework; to come up with a list of 10 things we truly believe in.
Thanks Adam.
Just passing by, and I couldn’t resist. Take no offense to my comments. I still value you as much as the next guy.
I believe that freedom of speech is essential to our democracy, no matter how unpopular or “unpatriotic” that speech is.
I agree it is essential. What do you mean by unpatriotic? Would you consider a conference or university that urges awarding one racial group over another patriotic or unpatriotic? The mainstream media disseminating left-leaning opinion – patriotic or unpatriotic? How far will you go with that? Would it be unpatriotic to, say, hijack some planes and fly them into a few buildings on American soil? Or would that be considered exercising free speech?
I believe that self-interest doesn’t make a family, a company or a society. All groups, if they are to succeed, need to sacrifice some things for the good of all.
So you don’t think your family is a family because your parents wanted to satisfy their self-interest? Companies are successful because they provide a valued service or product at the expense of, well, the company. If you were to start your own company you wouldn’t call it a company? I mean, what would be the incentive to all these small companies if it weren’t profitable to the person who originated it? Are you saying everyone needs to contribute to our government?
I have more if you’re up for it. Otherwise I’ll stop there.
I love it! I think you need to put that on its own page and create a shrine to it, like my manifesto.
The thread continues…so I thought I’d jump back in.
I believe that “national security” is just another way of saying “military-industrial complex.” And even Eisenhower warned us about that.
–You would be just as happy being blown off the earth and having nowhere to call your country. Let’s see, with that military-industrial complex, we have not been destroyed in both World Wars and we won the cold war. Without that military-industrial complex, our security has been passed to our enemies to, sometime in the future, be used against us. National security can also mean looking the country in the face and lying to them about having sex on their property in their oval office. Still don’t like those words?
I believe arming a society is not the way to preserve it.
–So you’re anti-choice. If the goal of a society is simply to preserve itself, then having guns will most definitely do so. Unless you argue that a society will perish at the hands of nuclear war. Then the only way to keep that from happening is keep building nuclear arms or build a missile defense system. Why do you care if your neighbor owns a gun? Are you going to do something to hurt your neighbor? Let us say you did have a plan to hurt him, would you do so, knowing he has a gun? And even more importantly, would you succeed if you did not know he had a gun? Deterrence protects a society.