Can you define liberal?

Question

please if you cant actually define it stop using the word

Answer 1

a liberal doesn't think in black or white, they are able to mull around new ideas because their minds are open to gray areas. they easily adapt to change when it is the good for the people.

                                                                              

Answer 2

Open minded and accepting of anything and everything except traditional values and Christianity.

Answer 3

Modern day liberals believe that the government is responsible for promoting individual liberty rather than the individual themselves.

This stands in stark contrast on Lockean individuality, in which this country was founded.

Answer 4

Liberal is the one who accepts different perspectives, keeps in touch with time. A liberal is someone who is less traditional - someone more open.

Answer 5

In the context of American politics : Someone who cares about the greater good for all Americans, not just "what can I get out of it"

Answer 6

Yes I can define it!  You!! And you sound like an angry one which most of them are.

Or if we choose, we can look at hollywood  or the main stream media. Listen to their thoughts and actions and spin on things and there I gave you a working definition of one.

There R two groups the hard left do not want to see get ahead and will do ANTHING to prevent it. Conservative blacks and Conservative women. This is Clearance Thomas all over again!! Sarah being attractive,tough and bright the hard left libs are going to town. (Come on:her 16 year old preg. daughter. Leave the kid alone.

Her hubby got a DUI over 20 years ago. The hard left went to far this time.

If you get a chance look at the contrast between people magazine and their portrail of Sarah next to the front cover of their portrail of Michelle Obama.

One question for you and thought. I learned a long time ago to never ask a question I already know the answer to. I am sure you are intelligent so why would ask what constitutes a liberal when you already know.

Can you define a Conservative. Come on an 11 year old can define those 2 groups.

Gosh, did Sarah get to you that much tonight with her great speach and a couple of other speakers. Although I do believe M Roomney took things too far and did himself a diservice.

Answer 7

Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal.  Modern liberalism has its roots in the Age of Enlightenment.

Liberalism emphasizes " individual rights " and "equality of opportunity". Different forms of liberalism may propose very different policies, but they are generally united by their support for a number of principles, including extensive freedom of thought and speech, limitations on the power of governments, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market or mixed economy, and a transparent system of government.  All liberals — as well as some adherents of other political ideologies — support some variant of the form of government known as liberal democracy, with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law.

Liberalism rejected many foundational assumptions that dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the Divine Right of Kings, hereditary status, and established religion. Social progressivism, the belief that traditions do not carry any inherent value and social practices ought to be continuously adjusted for the greater benefit of humanity, is a common component of liberal ideology. Liberalism is also strongly associated with the belief that human society should be organized in accordance with certain unchangeable and inviolable rights. Different schools of liberalism are based on different conceptions of human rights, but there are some rights that all liberals support to some extent, including rights to life, liberty, and property.

Within liberalism there are two major streams of thought which compete over the use of the term "liberal" and have been known to clash on many issues as they differ on their understanding of what constitutes freedom. Classical liberals believe that the only real freedom is freedom from coercion.  As a result, they see state intervention in the economy as a coercive power that restricts the economic freedom of individuals and favor a laissez-faire economic policy. They oppose the welfare state.[5] Social liberals argue that governments must take an active role in promoting the freedom of citizens. They believe that real freedom can exist only when citizens are healthy, educated, and free from dire poverty. They generally favor the right to an education, the right to health care, and the right to a minimum wage. Some also favor laws against discrimination in housing and employment, laws against pollution of the environment, and the provision of welfare, including unemployment benefit and housing for the homeless, all supported by progressive taxation.

Now...can you define "Limited government"?