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How Liberal Are You?


               
2010 May 2, 9:05am   16,325 views  85 comments

by PeopleUnited   follow (2)  

Wikipedia says "Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis, "of freedom"[1]) is the belief in the importance of liberty and equality... ...The revolutionaries in the American Revolution and the French Revolution used liberal philosophy to justify the violent overthrow of tyrannical rule, paving the way for the development of modern history in tandem with liberal history.... ....Words such as liberal, liberty, and libertarian all trace their history to the Latin liber, which means "free"... ....Liberal could refer to "free in bestowing" as early as 1387, "made without stint" in 1433, "freely permitted" in 1530, and "free from restraint"—often as a pejorative remark—in the 16th and the 17th centuries."

At the core, liberalism is about what you would or would not allow.

Would you allow corporations to contribute to political campaigns?
Would you allow corporations to dictate their own salaries and bonuses?
Would you allow federal workers to have a union?
Would you allow medical doctors to practice without a license?
Would you allow citizens to seek medical care from a "doctor" who does not have a license?
Would you allow people to eat food that is known to cause disease if consumed in excess?
Would you allow people to consume in excess?
Would you allow businesses to sell to people in excess of their needs?
Would you allow a wealthy person to live in luxury while their neighbor goes without?
Would you allow police to ask for proof of citizenship/visa?
Would you allow police to create random checkpoints for drugs or drunk drivers?
Would you allow US military to attack and occupy foreign nations?
Would you allow US military to detain foreigners for extended periods with no trial?
Would you allow people to carry concealed weapons?
Would you allow people to use narcotics?
Would you allow people to use alcohol?
Would you allow people to sell alcohol?
Would you allow people to sell narcotics?
Would you allow people to manufacture their own alcohol?
Would you allow people to manufacture their own narcotics?
Would you allow government to restrict travel?
Would you allow people to travel without restriction?
Would you allow public nudity?
Would you allow burning of the American Flag?
Would you allow cruelty to animals?
Would you allow people to express racism, bigotry etc...?
Would you allow the government to punish people based not on what they do but an opinion of why the did it?
Would you allow someone to see you naked as a requirement for your free travel?
Would you allow corrupt and/or bankrupt corporations to fail?
Would you allow the government to take money from savers/workers to bail out speculators?
Would you allow people to smoke?
Would you allow people to smoke in public?
Would you allow tobacco ads on TV?
Would you allow alcohol ads on TV?
Would you allow prescription drug ads on TV?
Would you allow nudity on TV?
Would you allow pornography on TV?
Would you allow pornography on network/public TV?
Would you allow people to educate their children free from government interference?
Would you allow people to seek the medical treatment of their choice?
Would you allow parents to seek the medical treatment of their choice for their own children?
Would you allow the free exercise of religion?
Would you allow the right to bear arms?
Would you allow the right to bear any and all arms?
Would you allow government to require background checks as a stipulation for acquiring the right to bear arms?
Would you allow government to require registration as a stipulation for retaining the right to bear arms?
Would you allow people to not buy health insurance?
Would you allow people to not save for retirement?
Would you allow people to opt out of government entitlement programs?
Would you allow states to succeed from the union?
Would you allow a private bank to debase the currency?
Would you allow citizens to establish their own currency?
Would you allow people to prohibit homosexuals in their place of business?
Would you allow homosexuals to refuse to hire heterosexuals at their place of business?
Would you allow Muslims to refuse to hire Jews?
Would you allow people to refuse to join the military?
Would you allow people to work for a wage that is acceptable to them without interference from the government?
Would you allow businesses to refuse to pay "minimum" wage?
Would you allow people to work for benefits that are acceptable to them (including none) without interference from the government?
Would you allow government to take money from workers in the form of payroll and income taxes?
How much money would you allow government to take from workers in the form of payroll and income taxes?
How much would you allow government to restrict travel?
How much would you allow government to tell parents how to educate their children?
How much would you allow government to restrict what companies can sell or do?
How much would you allow government to dictate the rules and choices of the people?
How much salt would you allow people to eat?
How much beer would you allow people to drink?
How much meth would you allow people to do?
How much hate speech would you allow people to do?
How much money would you allow businesses to make?
How much money would you allow wealthy people to have/keep?
How religious would you allow people to be?
How much time on the internet would you allow?
How much of a carbon footprint would you allow?
How much liberty would you allow?
How liberal are you?

Comments 1 - 17 of 85       Last »     Search these comments

1   Â¥   2010 May 2, 9:39am  

Running low on the meds again I see.

2   elliemae   2010 May 2, 12:00pm  

Troy says

Running low on the meds again I see.

I wonder how he allowed that to happen...

3   Â¥   2010 May 2, 12:09pm  

elliemae says

Troy says

Running low on the meds again I see.

I wonder how he allowed that to happen…

well, if he's true to his no-government principles he is individually negotiating with the pharmaceutical industry instead of buying through the socialist systems of Canada or our own governmental Medicare if he qualifies for that.

(I assume now that big scary government is mandating individuals carry insurance or take the tax penalty he's cancelled any insurance coverage he had, "live free or die" and all).

AdHom must think we are 10 year olds who don't understand the economic and political history of this country and the larger world.

Libertarianism in a nutshell:

1) http://www.dailynebraskan.com/opinion/derek-kieper-individual-rights-buckle-under-seat-belt-laws-1.998553
vs:
2) http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_d61cc109-3492-54ef-849d-0a5d7f48027a.html

says it all, really

4   PeopleUnited   2010 May 2, 2:51pm  

Troy says

Libertarianism in a nutshell:

1) http://www.dailynebraskan.com/opinion/derek-kieper-individual-rights-buckle-under-seat-belt-laws-1.998553
vs:
2) http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_d61cc109-3492-54ef-849d-0a5d7f48027a.html

says it all, really

You should be happy, one less "under medicated" libertarian mucking up the works. He should be happy too, he died doing what he loved. And furthermore society should rejoice in the survival of the fittest. Clearly his ideology was flawed and it resulted in his own death. We are all stronger because of it are we not? He died because he defied the law? No, he died because he was foolish to confuse top down government control such as seatbelt laws with bottom up common sense and that is that seat belts save lives. Cigarettes and alcohol destroy lives, should we ban those?

How liberal are you?

5   elliemae   2010 May 2, 3:03pm  

AdHominem says

You should be happy, one less “under medicated” libertarian mucking up the works. He should be happy too, he died doing what he loved. And furthermore society should rejoice in the survival of the fittest. Clearly his ideology was flawed and it resulted in his own death. We are all stronger because of it are we not? He died because he defied the law? No, he died because he was foolish to confuse top down government control such as seatbelt laws with bottom up common sense and that is that seat belts save lives.

Based on the cruel way that you assert that society should rejoice in someone's death, you are a heartless human being. And I thought that my opinion of you couldn't be any lower... once again, you prove me wrong.

6   PeopleUnited   2010 May 2, 3:28pm  

And yet so many rejoice at the death of hated enemies of freedom such as Saddam Hussien, Tim McVeigh and Adolf Hitler, and imagine the rejoicing at the death of Bin Laden. There has or will come a day when you rejoice in someone's murder or execution mae dog, proving that you are depraved. Just wait and see what you have become.

BTW, my comments to troy were made in jest and agree that this man's death is trajic, and I could care less of your opinion of me. But you failed to see that it was the man's confusion of common sense with politics that killed him. Go back to wasting your time on other perceived internet enemies. I'm on your side ellie, in a true cause and effect manner, the government killed him. He felt so oppressed that he chose not to wear the seat belt as an act of defiance.

Had there been no seat belt law, being an intelligent young man he probably would have made a rational choice rather than rebelling and forsaking the logical safety of the seat belt. I think the dead man is a victim of both the government and his friends who should have refused to let him in the car without promising to wear the seat belt. It is common sense. Wear the belt. We don't need government to tell us that though, nor to fine us if we don't.

7   4X   2010 May 2, 3:38pm  

@adhominem

I like the post....maybe you can post the opposing view as well for arch-conservatives like myself.

It would be interesting to see.

8   4X   2010 May 2, 3:43pm  

...now the tea party view on liberals:

How many **** people would you allow to live in your house?
How many **** people would you support on welfare?
How many **** people would you allow to cross the border illegally?
How many burger joint jobs would you allow **** people to take from our teenagers?
Are you ok with sharing a water fountain with a **** person?
Are you ok with sharing a toilet seat with a **** person?
Would you adopt a **** baby?

Note: These are not my views, but my perceptions of what it seems the tea party stands for...racial seperatism.

9   PeopleUnited   2010 May 2, 3:44pm  

4X says

@adhominem
I like the post….maybe you can post the opposing view as well for arch-conservatives like myself.
It would be interesting to see.

That's easy. Supporters of "conservatism" are on the steady march back to where we were before the revolution: Totalitarianism. If you like the idea that top down government control is the only way to solve our problems you are a conservative. Bully!

10   4X   2010 May 2, 3:46pm  

AdHominem says

4X says


@adhominem
I like the post….maybe you can post the opposing view as well for arch-conservatives like myself.
It would be interesting to see.

That’s easy. Supporters of “conservatism” are on the steady march back to where we were before the revolution: Totalitarianism. If you like the idea that top down government control is the only way to solve our problems you are a conservative.

What would be the questions for conservatism similar to what you posted above?

11   elliemae   2010 May 2, 3:54pm  

AdHominem says

I’m on your side ellie, in a true cause and effect manner, the government killed him. He felt so oppressed that he chose not to wear the seat belt as an act of defiance.

What the fuck you talkin' about, Willis? I'm not the one who claims to be a victim - that's you. And I don't take delight in this person's death - rather, I'm saddened that you believe it's cause to rejoice.
But then again, your posts have shown that you have no soul. This one shows you have no heart. Keep going, soon you'll be gone...

12   PeopleUnited   2010 May 2, 4:17pm  

elliemae says

AdHominem says

I’m on your side ellie, in a true cause and effect manner, the government killed him. He felt so oppressed that he chose not to wear the seat belt as an act of defiance.

What the fuck you talkin’ about, Willis? I’m not the one who claims to be a victim - that’s you. And I don’t take delight in this person’s death - rather, I’m saddened that you believe it’s cause to rejoice.

But then again, your posts have shown that you have no soul. This one shows you have no heart. Keep going, soon you’ll be gone…

Ad Hominem much? BTW as i said earlier, my comments to troy were made in jest. The death was tragic. But then again you never read it in the first place did you?

13   nope   2010 May 2, 5:03pm  

AdHominem says

Had there been no seat belt law, being an intelligent young man he probably would have made a rational choice rather than rebelling and forsaking the logical safety of the seat belt. I think the dead man is a victim of both the government and his friends who should have refused to let him in the car without promising to wear the seat belt. It is common sense. Wear the belt. We don’t need government to tell us that though, nor to fine us if we don’t.

If there was some way to make the financial burden of the people who don't wear seat belts born by that person, I'd be all for getting rid of the requirements. Unfortunately, it's difficult to extract money from dead people.

14   tatupu70   2010 May 3, 12:01am  

Exactly--many people are confused about the seat belt law. The point is to save money, not lives. (although saving lives is a good thing too)

15   Leigh   2010 May 3, 12:02am  

I'd like to see a post defining/discussingng "compassionate conservative."

16   Leigh   2010 May 3, 12:03am  

I'd like to see a post defining/discussing "compassionate conservative."

17   PeopleUnited   2010 May 3, 3:41am  

Leigh says

I’d like to see a post defining/discussing “compassionate conservative.”

This is that post. You see unless you believe people should be free to make their own choices, then you probably believe in top down government control. See the definition of liberal above and think about what the opposite of liberal is.

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