What is the definition of "Liberal" to you?

[mommaduck]

Personal Opinion thread...

 

This word seems to get bandied about, overused, and misused. So I'm curious what definition people are using. 

[Guest]

I consider it synonymous (in varying degrees, it depends on the topic and to what facet of life it is being applied) with progressive, new wave, revisionist/retrospective, leftist, emotive/passionate. It really depends.

 

Classical liberalism is a different animal, and I don't consider liberal religion, politics, or lifestyle choices in that light because of how far removed it is now.

 

When I use the term it's usually just descriptive, but some people hear it as derogatory, which isn't the case. It's the other side of a dichotomy and usually an oversimplification of a given position but can be useful for broad classification. People aren't liberal, positions or beliefs are. And because of that many people may be liberal on a certain topic and conservative on another.

 

Clear as mud?

[SemiSweet]

I am a political liberal, meaning I generally have many of the same stances as Democrats, or in reality, I align more closely with the Green Party. I strongly believe in progressivism. I believe in protecting our planet, our people, equality, helping those in need, family values (even if your family looks different than my own), and trying to be a good, honest person. As an individual I'm sometimes on the conservative side, I don't like over-sexualization in our society, I hate that my kids can see nearly pornographic magazines at their eye level at the checkout, I'm pro-life in reality, for myself, but not for many (or any) laws against abortion.

 

So I think liberal as an identification system, often looks like a person like myself, but the term seems to mean anything opposite of conservatism. I don't think it's quite that black and white though, every issue has a huge range, and then the two terms have a lot in between them as well.

[mommaduck]

AM, Yep :) It's a good response. I've heard it thrown about as a derogatory term by those that simply don't like someone disagreeing with them (typically on facebook...sometimes here or irl).

[Pawz4me]

Open minded -- willing to consider and be tolerant of various points of view.

[mom2samlibby]

Open minded -- willing to consider and be tolerant of various points of view.

All the liberals that I know are the exact opposite of this, even though they say that they are. Liberals that I know are only open minded, if you are agreeing with their point of view.

[mommaduck]

All the liberals that I know are the exact opposite of this, even though they say that they are. Liberals that I know are only open minded, if you are agreeing with their point of view.

 

This is her definition of the word, which is what I asked in the OP. What is your definition? Sounds like your definition is a specific group of people? Could you define that? What would make one Liberal, in YOUR opinion.

[Melissa in Australia]

Here liberal is one of the main political parties. they are generally more into saving money as apposed to the other major party, labor, who are into going into massive debt on useless money wasting things.

 

I am sure that is not what you are meaning. But where I live the term liberal is strictly used for politics and not to mean other things.

[mommaduck]

I do enjoy hearing from those in other parts of the world as well, so your input IS welcomed :)

[Rosie_0801]

As Melissa said, Liberal is a political party. People might also say "liberal Christian" which means not conservative enough that it'll come up in conversation any time soon. The assumption here is that a Christian is a liberal Christian until you find out otherwise.

 

When not talking about politics, I consider it to mean more accepting of more ways of living than those who consider themselves conservative, I guess. 

[Guest]

The word liberal to me means not rigidly adhering to tradition, as applied to politics, religion, general worldview, or any combination of those things. Not committed to doing what has been done before.

 

In DH's eyes, it is always a negative term, but in mine, it is a description.

[rose]

Maybe this is overly simplistic and I'm willing to change my working definition. Generally I refer to liberal as someone who would probably align themselves most closely with the values of the American Democrats or Green Party and conservative as someone who would more closely match the values of the American Republicans or Tea Party. Even for folks that are apolitical or not American I would still use these terms this way. I would concede that given this definition people could be "liberal" in some parts of life and "conservative" in others.

[Cammie]

I'm a Liberal. 

 

I believe in separation of church and state - absolutely and totally.  No nativity scene at the town hall.  No religous arguments re: abortion rights.  No religious rights re: legal acknowledgement of same-sex marriage. 

 

I also believe in freedom of religion.  If your religion says don't have an abortion - then no one should force one on you.  However, if you are in a job that requires you to perform services to the public (like a pharmacist at CVS) I believe you should provide those services without imposing your religious beliefs on your customers.

 

I believe in unions.  I believe that workers need to have unions because I do not believe that management or market forces can be trusted to protect the interests of the worker.

 

I beleive it is imparative we protect the planet.  And if that means more rules and regulations on industry - I'm fine with it.

 

I believe there is a role for the government to play in many areas - including access to healthcare.

 

I believe it is important that the government find ways to ensure that the elderly, the young, the infirm do not fall between the cracks of our society but are supported and protected.

 

I believe in the importance of public schools to an educated populace.

 

I believe the government should be OUT of people's bedrooms.

 

I believe war should always be the LAST option.  And I believe the government owes it to our men and women in the military to provide them with the care and support they need when they come home.  Our VA hospitals should be the BEST funded hospitals in the country.

 

 

 

 

 

[Audrey]

Here, as well, Liberal is a political party.  Conservative is also a political party.   The two terms are only used to discuss the parties in question.   We also have NDP (National Democratic Party) and Green in seats at the moment, but there are many, many other parties (just not holding seats currently -- and, the Greens have only 1). 

 

It's kind of funny, though.  Our Conservatives are more liberal (small l) than yours in the US.  It's all dependent upon your perspective, I suppose.

 

[SemiSweet]

I'm a Liberal.

 

I believe in separation of church and state - absolutely and totally. No nativity scene at the town hall. No religous arguments re: abortion rights. No religious rights re: legal acknowledgement of same-sex marriage.

 

I also believe in freedom of religion. If your religion says don't have an abortion - then no one should force one on you. However, if you are in a job that requires you to perform services to the public (like a pharmacist at CVS) I believe you should provide those services without imposing your religious beliefs on your customers.

 

I believe in unions. I believe that workers need to have unions because I do not believe that management or market forces can be trusted to protect the interests of the worker.

 

I beleive it is imparative we protect the planet. And if that means more rules and regulations on industry - I'm fine with it.

 

I believe there is a role for the government to play in many areas - including access to healthcare.

 

I believe it is important that the government find ways to ensure that the elderly, the young, the infirm do not fall between the cracks of our society but are supported and protected.

 

I believe in the importance of public schools to an educated populace.

 

I believe the government should be OUT of people's bedrooms.

 

I believe war should always be the LAST option. And I believe the government owes it to our men and women in the military to provide them with the care and support they need when they come home. Our VA hospitals should be the BEST funded hospitals in the country.

Yes to all of this!

[Melissa in Australia]

 

 

I also believe in freedom of religion.  If your religion says don't have an abortion - then no one should force one on you.  However, if you are in a job that requires you to perform services to the public (like a pharmacist at CVS) I believe you should provide those services without imposing your religious beliefs on your customers.

 

I don't quite get what you are saying here. If your beliefs are that performing an abortion is actually killing someone they why should you be compelled to perform the service ( of killing someone if that is your belief). the religious belief is not  don't have an abortion, but rather that abortion is murder.

 

 

I think that is a whole different kettle of fish from making a cake for  homosexuals.

[Cammie]

If you hold those beliefs...you should not accept a job that would put your beliefs in direct opposition to the duties of your job.

 

Pacifist don't join the army.

 

 

[LucyStoner]

All the liberals that I know are the exact opposite of this, even though they say that they are. Liberals that I know are only open minded, if you are agreeing with their point of view.

If ALL of the liberals you know can be painted with one broad brush stroke, you either don't know enough of them to draw any sort of valid conclusion or you are letting your own bias color your view of them.

 

There are open minded, tolerant people of all political and social persuasions. There are also closed minded, intolerant people of all political and social persuasions.

[Slojo]

Liberal to me means progressively leaning political viewpoints about the environment, civil rights, women's rights, etc... Tends to "see" the need for and complexities of social/societal change in many areas of life, tends to value a sense that "justice requires that one remains open to the possibility of ever-expanding rights" including those whose rights (of lack of rights) may have previously been rendered invisible (and maybe the latter is progressive more than liberal, but that distinction is another thread).

 

Lifestyle-wise tends to be "live and let live" in terms of other people's lifestyle choices, though sometimes wary of folks who seem to be religiously conservative (and worried that they want to impose or legislate a social morality on others that only fits a narrow framework). They may or may not be religious themselves, but if they are, tend to interpret their religious texts broadly rather than narrowly -- much more "spirit of the law" rather than "letter of the law" people. 

 

That's my rough sense of what it means to be "liberal," and, yes, I do have those leanings (which obviously colors my perspective). 

[albeto.]

All the liberals that I know are the exact opposite of this, even though they say that they are. Liberals that I know are only open minded, if you are agreeing with their point of view.

 

I suspect this is a rather common opinion, but I think it's not so much a matter of not being open-minded. Instead, I think it's a matter of not being effectively persuaded to maintain conventional practices. In other words, it's not that liberals aren't considering conservative arguments, they're not convinced by them. And for me, that's part of being liberal - the essence of "liberating" society from certain problems (ie, oppression of some kind).

[SKL]

It depends on the context.

 

In the political context, it is issue-dependent.  You can agree with the liberal view on one issue and be diametrically opposed to the liberal view on another.  We all know what the "liberal" views are on the big social and economic political issues.

 

I don't agree with the idea that liberal people tend to be more open-minded.  I've conversed with a lot of very closed-minded "liberals."

[Amy in NH]

It depends on the context.

 

In the political context, it is issue-dependent.  You can agree with the liberal view on one issue and diametrically opposed to the liberal view on another.  We all know what the "liberal" views are on the big social and economic political issues.

 

I don't agree with the idea that liberal people tend to be more open-minded.  I've conversed with a lot of very closed-minded "liberals."

 

I believe open-minded means unprejudiced, unbigoted, and inclined to respect views and beliefs that differ from your own.  Note that someone does not have to change their views and agree with you to be open-minded, they just need to respect the fact that your beliefs are different by not trying to force their beliefs on you through legislative or other means.

 

I guess you need to define open vs close minded in order for anyone to assess your claim.

[SKL]

I believe open-minded means unprejudiced, unbigoted, and inclined to respect views and beliefs that differ from your own.  Note that someone does not have to change their views and agree with you to be open-minded, they just need to respect the fact that your beliefs are different by not trying to force their beliefs on you through legislative or other means.

 

I guess you need to define open vs close minded in order for anyone to assess your claim.

 

Yes, by that definition, I have conversed with a lot of very closed-minded liberals.

 

Not that you are saying this, but if anyone feels "liberal" means "not trying to force their beliefs on people through legislative or other means," I have to strongly disagree with that.  Many "liberal" policies involve using legislative or other means to force something on people whether or not they agree with it.

[Paige]

It depends on context. If I see the word liberal outside of politics or a culture-war type of context, I think generous. "That is a liberal spoonful of cookie dough!" or "Your allowance is very liberal."

 

Politically or philosophically, I think of a liberal as someone who is not committed to the traditional or old-fashioned morals and beliefs. A liberal would be more likely to advocate for generous (dare I say liberal?) social benefits or entitlements for its citizens with no morality test required: something like generous food stamp budgets for parents without drug testing required or any benefit for being married.

 

A liberal would not discriminate against people for social "sins" such as drug use, sexuality, the way they talk, dress, or who they live with. This person may also advocate for making their choices (not to discriminate and a belief in liberal benefits) to be the law of the land or at least the social norm.Liberals would be more likely to desire social change, even radical social change, because of a belief that problems of today are caused or exacerbated by flaws in the traditional beliefs or ways of life.

 

Because they are human, liberals may be likely to think people who disagree with them are wrong or misguided but not in greater rates than people of other political beliefs. 

 

 

 

[Tanaqui]

Liberal in the US generally means "adhering to left-wing social and economic principles". Frustratingly, our left-wing is what the rest of the world would consider centrist.

 

I have some thoughts on the moral values typically held in high esteem by liberals, but I need some time to phrase it correctly so it doesn't read like I'm implying that conservatives are amoral thugs. I do not generally believe that about conservatives as a group.

[MaeFlowers]

My first definition of liberal is to use in abundance. A liberal use of salt type thing.

Defining liberal (or conservative, for that matter) in a political sense is very difficult. It, likes most things, falls on a spectrum and most people tend to fall in the middle. A few liberal views, a few conservative views. For example, I consider myself conservative but agree with much of what Cammie wrote. I'm not so sure that liberals and conservatives have different end goals, it's the disagreements about how to get there that cause all the ruckus.

[Sneezyone]

My first definition of liberal is to use in abundance. A liberal use of salt type thing.

Defining liberal (or conservative, for that matter) in a political sense is very difficult. It, likes most things, falls on a spectrum and most people tend to fall in the middle. A few liberal views, a few conservative views. For example, I consider myself conservative but agree with much of what Cammie wrote. I'm not so sure that liberals and conservatives have different end goals, it's the disagreements about how to get there that cause all the ruckus.

 

I used to think this but not so much anymore. There is a genuine animus towards others, however one defines that, that makes the end goals so much more controversial. How else can one explain our collective (in the US) inaction on something like climate change?

[Sneezyone]

Liberal, to me, includes much of what's already been mentioned:

- Respecting, not just tolerating, others' personal choices
- Caring for the earth and its inhabitants
- Engaging in collective action and movements
- Opposing tyranny and oppression
- Being open to new ideas and research, willing to evolve
- Pitching in to support common needs (transportation/defense/water/air) and a safety net for others because I could be them
- Believing violence should always be reluctantly used

[Laura Corin]

In the UK, it's the name of a political party, the Liberal Democrats, who are centrist in UK terms.  In political terms, we are more likely to say left wing and right wing, rather than liberal and conservative (particularly as 'Conservative' is also the name of a political party).

[SemiSweet]

All the liberals that I know are the exact opposite of this, even though they say that they are. Liberals that I know are only open minded, if you are agreeing with their point of view.

I would just like to point out that being tolerant of intolerance isn't really part of the liberal creed. You think homosexuality is a sin? Great, just don't try to legislate against it. I will vehemently disagree and and be intolerant of viewpoints and/or legislation that aims to oppress or harm other people, period. Even if one wants to call it "intolerant". On the flip side, I will also vehemently fight for your right to believe it's a sin and I would never support legislation that aims to force you to do things that go against your religion (just going to throw out that baking cakes isn't mentioned in any holy book that I'm aware of). Your right to your religion and/or conservative beliefs ends at the rights of others, and vice versa.

[kiwik]

I don't quite get what you are saying here. If your beliefs are that performing an abortion is actually killing someone they why should you be compelled to perform the service ( of killing someone if that is your belief). the religious belief is not don't have an abortion, but rather that abortion is murder.

 

 

I think that is a whole different kettle of fish from making a cake for homosexuals.

I think she means if you choose to stay in the job you have to be prepared to do the job. I am sure there are ways of avoiding being required to perform abortions.

 

I have trouble when listening to Australian new because i expect a party called liberal to be more like our labour or green whereas it is your ewuivalent of our national or Britain's conservative. That said i assume a liberal person would be more a live and let live person and the opposite of conservative but that is often not the case. I think it is a word to be avoided because it has become too confused.

[Guest]

If I though abortion was murder, I wouldn't choose to work in women's reproductive health.

 

Most doctors who do perform abortions don't do it because they get their jollies from it, but because it's an aspect of reproductive health.

 

[bIt's part of the job, kwim ?

 

Choose another speciality if you don't want to perform abortions. Don't be an ob/gyn.

 

Go into pediatrics or something.[/b]

 

I'm only addressing Melissa here; I don't want to get into this with anyone else on this thread. This is a Melissa-only reply :) because we won't get all nasty about it with each other.

I agree with this to a point, however developments can arise in the profession for which one trained. Perhaps you became a pharmacist, but then the Plan B pill was developed, or it was legally available to a young lady (including minors) without parental consent. This is where a person could have a moral dilemma where there was not one previously. Or suppose one was opposed to any use of marijuanna, but now must provide it if requested. What if you are a cosmetic surgeon and now a mom brings in her minor child for breast enlargement? Perhaps you think this is a reprehensible thing to permit and pay for in a minor. This may not be a scenario you ever imagined when you trained to be a doctor and you can't just become an accountant instead.

[poppy]

Liberals think the government (of the people, by the people) can make the world a better place. Offer worker protections, limit pollution, make buildings safe, etc on a basic level and beyond that, value programs that protect our most vulnerable citizens. Social security , universal education, voter protections. We do not think the being wealthy necessarily makes one morally or intellectually superior and are nervous about turning or nation into an oligarchy. We also tend to think that the values and goals or for -profit companies do not necessarily align with the public good.

[Wheres Toto]

I agree with Semisweet and Cammie for the most part.  I would definitely consider myself liberal.  To me it's very much about live-and-let-live, not telling people how they need to live their lives, especially not based on one religions guidelines.    It's a constant awareness that not everyone believes the same thing, has the same needs, or has the same opportunities and abilities.  It's definitely not "trickle-down economics" or expectations that big business can be trusted to treat employees (or the world) fairly if we just give them tax breaks and regulation breaks and every other break.  

 

I also describe my daughter's university as "liberal".   It's in an urban area of New Jersey, has dorms for those who are and who are comfortable living with students who are gay, bi, trans, etc. (sophomore and above only and must be applied for), it is extremely racially diverse, has many students who are GLQBT, there are multiple religious organizations but there is no assumption that people are Christian and there are decent sized organizations for Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Pagans, etc., dorms are mixed genders on the same floor.

[SKL]

Interesting use of words on the liberal side - it is "giving a break" to take a less massive chunk of one's wealth and economic choices.  It is "caring" to instead take a bigger chunk of such wealth/choices to support policies that not everyone agrees create net benefits.

[73349]

I consider myself a liberal. I am generally in favor of letting people do what they want as long as they're not manifestly hurting (not merely annoying) anybody.

 

I believe that...

• A belief or practice from the past is not inherently superior (or inferior) to a new idea; everything is subject to scrutiny and should be considered on its merits.
• What other people believe is up to them and not really my concern, unless it is the basis for laws or policies that affect others.
• People are people, and businesses are not.
• People have an inherent worth and dignity that is not dependent on any kind of status.

[poppy]

 

 

It is "caring" to instead take a bigger chunk of such wealth/choices to support policies that not everyone agrees create net benefits.

 

In the US, it doesn't have to be "everyone" who agrees with a policy. It just has to be enough people. That is the beauty of representative democracy. And why liberals are not in favor of gerrymandering.

[mommaduck]

I'm asking for people's personal definitions of a word. Please debate issues such as abortion in another thread and please do not demean other people's definitions or term usage. It distracts.

 

I'll be back with my comments in a bit. Waking up, dealing with kids, etc.

[SKL]

In the US, it doesn't have to be "everyone" who agrees with a policy. It just has to be enough people. That is the beauty of representative democracy. And why liberals are not in favor of gerrymandering.

 

It's the belief that the government has first dibs on the individual's income / wealth that I was pointing out.

 

Liberals like gerrymandering just as much as conservatives.  (Most conservatives would say they don't agree with it either.  Along with voter fraud and intimidation and several other unfortunate realities.  But in reality, most people are happy if the end result is their preferred result.)

[ktgrok]

I don't quite get what you are saying here. If your beliefs are that performing an abortion is actually killing someone they why should you be compelled to perform the service ( of killing someone if that is your belief). the religious belief is not  don't have an abortion, but rather that abortion is murder.

 

 

I think that is a whole different kettle of fish from making a cake for  homosexuals.

 

but if you feel that way, why take a job that requires you to perform an abortion??? The amish don't drive cars. So they probably shouldn't get a job as a bus driver. I'm against the death penalty from a relgious perspective, so I won't take a job executing people. If you are against abortion, don't take a job that requires you to violate that belief. There is no law requiring an Amish man to be a bus driver or anConservative Pro Life Christian to be a pharmacist or Ob/Gyn. 

[SKL]

I do not understand how going to school to learn how to give birth to live babies equals taking a job that requires one to perform elective abortions.  I hope nobody is saying it should be illegal to be a pro-life OB / delivery nurse etc.  (I know there has been some back and forth about whether med students should be required to learn how to perform abortions, but I didn't think it was anywhere universal policy at this point.)

 

The pharmacist issue is a tricky one as the law has indeed changed a lot in recent years.

 

They let underage cashiers call an older employee to check out alcohol, so why can't they let pharmacists with ethical issues do similar?  Or just dispense the controversial drug at whatever place it was prescribed?  It seems there should be a way to accommodate people without making them switch careers just because a law changed.

[livetoread]

Liberals think the government (of the people, by the people) can make the world a better place. Offer worker protections, limit pollution, make buildings safe, etc on a basic level and beyond that, value programs that protect our most vulnerable citizens. Social security , universal education, voter protections. We do not think the being wealthy necessarily makes one morally or intellectually superior and are nervous about turning or nation into an oligarchy. We also tend to think that the values and goals or for -profit companies do not necessarily align with the public good.

I see this as one of the biggest differences b/t liberals and conservatives in the U.S., namely the role government should play in obtaining the desired goals.

 

For example, both might agree that poverty is bad, but a liberal thinks gov't, funded through taxes, should play more of a role in fighting that, while a conservative thinks the private market, through fewer regulations and taxes, should play more of a role.

 

Edited to add I think another closely related difference is individualism vs. collective responsibility. Again taking poverty, a conservative is more likely to emphasize individual responsibility and downplay social factors, while a liberal would do the opposite. Thus, a liberal is more comfortable with broader, collective responses, while the conservative isn't.

[brehon]

Personal Opinion thread...

 

This word seems to get bandied about, overused, and misused. So I'm curious what definition people are using.

I distinguish liberal from Liberal, the latter usually referencing a political ideology. Small 'l' liberal denotes to me a more classical definition that has little to do with today's political issues, except perhaps in a broad, overarching sense.

 

I agree the word is misused, overused, and thrown about more as a perjorative.

[poppy]

I see this as one of the biggest differences b/t liberals and conservatives in the U.S., namely the role government should play in obtaining the desired goals.

 

For example, both might agree that poverty is bad, but a liberal thinks gov't, funded through taxes, should play more of a role in fighting that, while a conservative thinks the private market, through fewer regulations and taxes, should play more of a role.

 

Edited to add I think another closely related difference is individualism vs. collective responsibility. Again taking poverty, a conservative is more likely to emphasize individual responsibility and downplay social factors, while a liberal would do the opposite. Thus, a liberal is more comfortable with broader, collective responses, while the conservative isn't.

 

Yes, exactly, which is why I mentioned that liberals do not tend to think of for-profit companies goals aligning with the public good.  Conservatives believe the opposite, t seems to me.

 

Along the same lines, liberals tend to believe socioeconomic differences can create disadvantages that the govt can, in some cases, try to correct for.  (See: using race as a factor in college admissions).  Conservatives are more "if you want it and work hard, you will achieve your goals, regardless of your economic or social starting point". From what I understand.   

 

Saying this in a way to seem neutral, I know this is not a political thread.

 

Edited to add: JINX! Edited to add I think another closely related difference is individualism vs. collective responsibility. Again taking poverty, a conservative is more likely to emphasize individual responsibility and downplay social factors, while a liberal would do the opposite. Thus, a liberal is more comfortable with broader, collective responses, while the conservative isn't.

[poppy]

 

 

I do not understand how going to school to learn how to give birth to live babies equals taking a job that requires one to perform abortions.

 

OB/GYNs train to provide medical care for women's reproductive systems.

[MaeFlowers]

I used to think this but not so much anymore. There is a genuine animus towards others, however one defines that, that makes the end goals so much more controversial. How else can one explain our collective (in the US) inaction on something like climate change?

I think it is the hostility that makes us inactive. How can people work together if they see each other as the enemy? We're so polarized that we're blind to the value of others arguments.

When I say on most issues, we have the same end goal, I think we do. The problem lies in defining a root issue and then, again, how to tackle said issue. With the environment, defining the root is hard when one talks of climate change because it, in itself, is such a controversial subject. The extremism of politics paints monsters. They say conservatives don't believe in climate change, therefore they want to destroy the environment. It creates hostility based on an irrational argument.

Edited to actually address the quote. It's still to early in the morning.

[SKL]

OB/GYNs train to provide medical care for women's reproductive systems.

 

I will leave it at this because people define reproductive health differently.  Personally I think calling elective abortion "reproductive health" is backwards, but this is not the thread for that discussion.

[SKL]

I think it is the hostility that makes us inactive. How can people work together if they see each other as the enemy? We're so polarized that we're blind to the value of others arguments.

 

This is definitely part of it.

 

It is also that there is honest disagreement on what helps / hurts.  So-called "environmental" legislation often leads to things that harm the environment.  A slower approach isn't always a bad thing.

[foxbridgeacademy]

I am a political liberal, meaning I generally have many of the same stances as Democrats, or in reality, I align more closely with the Green Party. I strongly believe in progressivism. I believe in protecting our planet, our people, equality, helping those in need, family values (even if your family looks different than my own), and trying to be a good, honest person. As an individual I'm sometimes on the conservative side, I don't like over-sexualization in our society, I hate that my kids can see nearly pornographic magazines at their eye level at the checkout, I'm pro-life in reality, for myself, but not for many (or any) laws against abortion.

 

So I think liberal as an identification system, often looks like a person like myself, but the term seems to mean anything opposite of conservatism. I don't think it's quite that black and white though, every issue has a huge range, and then the two terms have a lot in between them as well.

:iagree:

 

I'm a far leaning liberal on most issues for the wider public but will often not lean so far to the left in my personal life. 

[MaeFlowers]

Liberal in the US generally means "adhering to left-wing social and economic principles". Frustratingly, our left-wing is what the rest of the world would consider centrist.

 

I have some thoughts on the moral values typically held in high esteem by liberals, but I need some time to phrase it correctly so it doesn't read like I'm implying that conservatives are amoral thugs. I do not generally believe that about conservatives as a group.

I don't know how to bold on my phone but I have a question about the last sentence of your first paragraph. Why do you say "frustratingly"?