Difference between revisions of "Liberal"
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'''''Liberal''' is a term used in US politics to describe a person who generally is left-wing in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and many other laws. The term was first used in reference to a political opinion c. 1801 A.D., in the aftermath of the French Revolution, when it meant "tending in favor of freedom and democracy."<ref>Etymology [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=liberal]</ref> | '''''Liberal''' is a term used in US politics to describe a person who generally is left-wing in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and many other laws. The term was first used in reference to a political opinion c. 1801 A.D., in the aftermath of the French Revolution, when it meant "tending in favor of freedom and democracy."<ref>Etymology [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=liberal]</ref> | ||
| − | The term ''liberal'' is used in the United States to | + | The term ''liberal'' is used in the United States generally to characterize the following set of beliefs, although these may vary from person to person: |
| − | * | + | * in favor of [[gun control]] |
| − | * | + | * supporting a woman's [[right to choose]] pregnancy termination, i.e. [[abortion]] |
| − | * | + | * promoting secularism and the prohibition of organized prayer in school |
* equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military | * equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military | ||
* government programs to rehabilitate criminals | * government programs to rehabilitate criminals | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
* increased power for labor unions | * increased power for labor unions | ||
* [[disarmament treaties]] | * [[disarmament treaties]] | ||
| − | * | + | * classical liberalism stood for a limited government role [http://www.economyprofessor.com/economictheories/economic-liberalism.php] |
| − | * | + | * private property and individual contracts form the basis of Classical liberal economic theory |
* reduction of military expenses | * reduction of military expenses | ||
* support of [[affirmative action]] | * support of [[affirmative action]] | ||
* government-sponsored education | * government-sponsored education | ||
* preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "[[living Constitution]]" instead of an unchanging Constitution | * preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "[[living Constitution]]" instead of an unchanging Constitution | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[income redistribution]], with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings. |
| − | * | + | * opposition to current American foreign policy <ref>Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, [http://nicomedia.math.upatras.gr/conf/CAWM2003/Papers/Verhulst.pdf The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme](PDF). </ref> which advocates human rights <ref>[http://www.forward.com/articles/4039 "The 'Answer' Question Poses Difficult Choices for Liberals"] by Gal Beckerman, ''The Forward'', September 30, 2005. |
</ref> democracy <ref>[http://www.un.int/usa/02_131.htm President Bush's address to the United Nations], United States Mission to the United Nations, Press Release #131(02), 12 September 2002.</ref> | </ref> democracy <ref>[http://www.un.int/usa/02_131.htm President Bush's address to the United Nations], United States Mission to the United Nations, Press Release #131(02), 12 September 2002.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 01:13, March 26, 2007
Liberal is a term used in US politics to describe a person who generally is left-wing in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and many other laws. The term was first used in reference to a political opinion c. 1801 A.D., in the aftermath of the French Revolution, when it meant "tending in favor of freedom and democracy."[1]
The term liberal is used in the United States generally to characterize the following set of beliefs, although these may vary from person to person:
- in favor of gun control
- supporting a woman's right to choose pregnancy termination, i.e. abortion
- promoting secularism and the prohibition of organized prayer in school
- equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military
- government programs to rehabilitate criminals
- same-sex marriage
- increased taxpayer funding of public schools
- protection of natural resources and wilderness areas
- taxpayer-funded rather than private medical care
- increased power for labor unions
- disarmament treaties
- classical liberalism stood for a limited government role [2]
- private property and individual contracts form the basis of Classical liberal economic theory
- reduction of military expenses
- support of affirmative action
- government-sponsored education
- preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "living Constitution" instead of an unchanging Constitution
- income redistribution, with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings.
- opposition to current American foreign policy [2] which advocates human rights [3] democracy [4]
Note, that liberal in the European context refers to moderate and center-right parties, often with a pro-business stance.[5] The same holds for many liberal parties throughout the world.[6]. The US definition of liberal is much more similar to the politics of European socialist or social democratic parties.[7].
One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":[8]
- Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas ...
References
- ↑ Etymology [1]
- ↑ Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme(PDF).
- ↑ "The 'Answer' Question Poses Difficult Choices for Liberals" by Gal Beckerman, The Forward, September 30, 2005.
- ↑ President Bush's address to the United Nations, United States Mission to the United Nations, Press Release #131(02), 12 September 2002.
- ↑ http://www.alde.eu
- ↑ http://www.liberal-international.org/
- ↑ http://www.pes.org
- ↑ Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal