I am a Liberal Democrat

[Riftaxe]

and there is nothing wrong with that.

I was a liberal long before the majority of you were born, and will hopefully be long after the demise of this forum.


In summation, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a liberal.

[Aristus]

1. Amen to that!

You might like my frequent refrain that old-timer DU-ers know well:

"Liberal till I DIE, motherfuckers!!!"

[Riftaxe]

4. +1

we have come so far, but still have a way to go, and darn it I still believe we have a fair distance to go

This year of all years is not to get hung up on definitions, but to keep an eye on what could be, instead of what might have been.

[patrice]

2. Not sure why you're finding it necessary to defend yourself for being a Liberal here.

I'm a Liberal too, a Left leaning Liberal, not entirely sure how that is different from being a Progressive, though I guess Progressives may have a somewhat more politically pragmatic approach, for the sake of PROGRESS, to the issues that I agree with them about in principle - just a theory.

You are right; there is nothing wrong with being a Liberal.

[Riftaxe]

6. I feel no need to "defend"

although to my generation, "progressive" still has the reek of eugenics, it is what the movement was founded on. Liberals before my time stopped that dang cold.

if that annoys you, to bad...liberals have along tradition of being right, if not correct in your eyes.

[patrice]

16. "annoys"??? I was asking why you felt being a Liberal isn't welcome here? Could you tell me please

which part of my post indicated that I do not think Liberals are correct?

Please quote me where I wrote whatever prompted you to say "... not correct in your eyes".

Thanks.

[TheWraith]

23. Some people here avoid "liberal" in favor of "progressive."

I don't mean to insult people who identify as "progressive", but it always seemed to me as being just a way to avoid saying that you're a liberal.

[patrice]

24. Oh, I agree with that strongly. They're hedging, so they can back off, when it suits them.

I haven't seen anything written about the definition of the word "progressive", but I keep trying to figure it out.

Progress means solving problems, going forward, but the word doesn't specify in-what-manner, just that something is better than it was. That's progress, but the specific traits of "better" are not identified, right? So whatever the progress is, it could be left, right, or center better -ness. I don't know if I'm reaching here, but I just need some difference between Liberal and Progressive, otherwise, why use two words?

Are they identical? Or different? If so, by how much?

[white_wolf]

25. I've never gotten an answer to the question about the difference.

I've heard answers ranging for your view that it is kind of a way to weasel out of the word liberal to some people who think progressive means something to the left of liberals. We should really make a concrete definition.

[Dragonfli]

30. It is because of the confusion that I more accurately describe myself as Democratic Socialist

The RW has turned "liberal" into a swear word on par with pig fucker, the neo-liberals make themselves into actual pig fuckers helping with the negative connotation. I liked progressive for a while simply because all the RW policies were so regressive, then I started reading stuff from the Progressive Policy Institute and learned that the corporates want that label now, the fact that so many tell me Obama is progressive is quite telling, he is center on a good day, center right on a bad one, hardly a "liberal".

I just said fuck it as the meanings have lost any clarity and tell one nothing at this point.

I know I am a Democratic Socialist because I agree with the approach FDR took, an approach that many have forgotten was in part a compromise with the Communists of the time intended to avoid a revolution (or at least the threat of one).

I would actually add quite a bit more socialism to the mixture than was accomplished before FDR's death as I feel his work had only begun and would not near completion until his "second bill of rights" was fully part of our laws and culture.

A good mix of socialism with a dash of well regulated capitalism appears to have worked the best for us and Europe for several years now, at least when tried.

The more we lose the little Socialism we have, the worse it becomes for most people, I have never had a chance to see real Communism in action and the faux attempts at the bastardized versions of Communism made me a bit distrustful that actual Communism could ever be implemented, else I would likely be a Communist.

[a smart liberal]

27. could you explain

I'm sorry, could you explain why a person would use the term "progressive" if they are liberals? I'm not following you. I am a progressive liberal and I haven't seen or heard anyone cower from their position.

[Octafish]

3. Amen and me too.

Proud to be a Kennedy Democrat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1160477

[Riftaxe]

7. Those were the days!

and can be again!

[pacalo]

14. So am I, Octafish. He was the biggest influence on my political beliefs.

Thanks for the link! I was 8-year-nightmare back then.

[rhett o rick]

5. Kick

[jeanV]

8. Nobody's perfect

By: Riftaxe

I am a Liberal Democrat

Nobody's perfect

[Riftaxe]

9. Ignorance only goes a little way

a well thought attitude of how to treat your fellows, tends in the end to beat it.

but good luck on your stay here.

Some day you might find out it is not a claim to a tilte but a way of thinking...when you begin to thin of course, i not put egg in front of chicken in your case

[jeanV]

10. thin skin?

Am I to understand 'Liberal Democrat' does not include the option 'sense of humor'?

[Riftaxe]

11. might have read you wrong, but i love humor

even at my own expense

you just need to dumb it down a bit for us proles...

[sabrina 1]

32. What do you think? I mean if you have to ask:

Am I to understand 'Liberal Democrat' does not include the option 'sense of humor'?

[pacalo]

12. I've never, ever been prouder to say that I'm a Liberal Democrat than I am now.

I've learned so much about the character of Republicans since 2000. Prior to that point of my life, I mistakenly believed that other people thought like I did. I had no idea of the extent of stupidity & moral decay there was out there around me.


Nice to meet you, Ritaxe.


Since you appear to be a Buddy Holly fan, I welcome you with my personal favorite Buddy Holly song:

Enjoy!

[Riftaxe]

13. posting my idol will not endear...

oh dear, can i warm you slippers? I tell everyone else he was cool before cool...they not believe, silly folks.

we might differ on the song choice, but i do remember!

[Jamaal510]

15. There's no shame in being a liberal.

I'm a liberal Dem, too, and proud of it. I'm proud of the fact that our side looks out for the interests of the working class and the disadvantaged in this society. I'm proud of the fact that our side takes science seriously rather than base all policies on religion, and are the ones who advocate clean air and water standards. Conservatives have NOTHING beneficial to offer to society except fear and lies.

[a smart liberal]

28. agree

Exactly!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

17. Yea, well, if you say that too loudly, some will engage in name calling and call you a "purist."

[nvme]

18. LOvING LIBERALLY

Thats me

[Swagman]

19. the media have made it a dirty word and insult and now...

they have to go further and call someone like Obama a "communist socialist"...soon those words will have little meaning as well.

what will be their next insult?

did anyone see London mayor Boris Johnson on Letterman saying his bike policy was "communism"..trying to get a point across. I think it was lost on Dave.

[RobertEarl]

20. One step at a time, eh?

Really, the top of the ladder is when you can shout down, proudly and bragging, I am a Communist!

One day soon i'll be there. Ya wanna join me/us?

[Riftaxe]

21. those who construct the ladder

do have the ultimate power, no?

[white_wolf]

22. Ultimate power? I'd be happy if communists had any power in this country.

Things might actually start improving.

[Heather4]

26. Spam deleted by Morning Dew (MIR Team)

[Heather4]

29. Spam deleted by Morning Dew (MIR Team)

[bvar22]

31. I am a mainstream/Center FDR/LBJ Pro-LABOR Working Class Democrat.

Unfortunately, I find myself labeled a Fringe Leftist in
today's New Democrat Centrist party.

I haven't changed.

"In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established [font size=3]for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.[/font]

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens."---FDFR, 1944 SOTU

There was a time, not so long ago, that voting FOR the Democrats
was Standing FOR the above values.
Sadly, this is no longer true.

---bvar22


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
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[YellowRubberDuckie]

33. Hello, my name is Mel and I'm a socialist.

Is this a support group thread?

[tabasco]

34. Okelly dokelly.

Have a good day neighbor!

[Doctor_J]

35. Huh?

[Riftaxe]

36. I am not consistent enough with paying attention to board

But i suspect the message stands for it self.


I could give you the DU and hunt down your thread recs, but you are less the poof in the wind...look at mine, and remember like the rest of these renegade liberals we do not put all in on civil liberties, but at least we bright enough to pay attention.

Liberals are more concerned then libertarians, we care about society as a whole unlike, either party...past LBJ's war on poverty we get people like you who say huh?

we molded the democrats, now they think we put up with them going again liberal ideals....this not work in the end.

Liberals as you fear, like me are going independant.