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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAn open letter to friends and family who are/were shocked to discover I'm a liberal...
(mr pete received this from a brewing buddy)
This is going to be VERY long, so: TL;DR: I'm a liberal, I've always been a liberal, but that doesn't mean what a lot of you apparently think it does.
Some of you suspected. Some of you were shocked. Many of you have known me for years, even the majority of my life. We either steadfastly avoided political topics, or I carefully steered conversations away from the more incendiary subjects in the name of keeping the peace. "I'm a liberal" isn't really something you broadcast in social circles where "the liberals" can't be said without wrinkling one's nose.
But then the 2016 election happened, and staying quiet wasn't an option anymore. Since then, I've received no shortage of emails and comments from people who were shocked, horrified, disappointed, disgusted, or otherwise displeased to realize I am *wrinkles nose* a liberal. Yep. I'm one of those bleeding heart commies who hates anyone who's white, straight, or conservative, and who wants the government to dictate everything you do while taking your money and giving it to people who don't work.
Or am I?
Let's break it down, shall we? Because quite frankly, I'm getting a little tired of being told what I believe and what I stand for. Spoiler alert: Not every liberal is the same, though the majority of liberals I know think along roughly these same lines.
1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. Period.
2. I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Somehow that's interpreted as "I believe Obamacare is the end-all, be-all." This is not the case. I'm fully aware that the ACA has problems, that a national healthcare system would require everyone to chip in, and that it's impossible to create one that is devoid of flaws, but I have yet to hear an argument against it that makes "let people die because they can't afford healthcare" a better alternative. I believe healthcare should be far cheaper than it is, and that everyone should have access to it. And no, I'm not opposed to paying higher taxes in the name of making that happen.
3. I believe education should be affordable and accessible to everyone. It doesn't necessarily have to be free (though it works in other countries so I'm mystified as to why it can't work in the US), but at the end of the day, there is no excuse for students graduating college saddled with five- or six-figure debt.
4. I don't believe your money should be taken from you and given to people who don't want to work. I have literally never encountered anyone who believes this. Ever. I just have a massive moral problem with a society where a handful of people can possess the majority of the wealth while there are people literally starving to death, freezing to death, or dying because they can't afford to go to the doctor. Fair wages, lower housing costs, universal healthcare, affordable education, and the wealthy actually paying their share would go a long way toward alleviating this. Somehow believing that makes me a communist.
5. I don't throw around "I'm willing to pay higher taxes" lightly. I'm self-employed, so I already pay a shitload of taxes. If I'm suggesting something that involves paying more, that means increasing my already eye-watering tax bill. I'm fine with paying my share as long as it's actually going to something besides lining corporate pockets or bombing other countries while Americans die without healthcare.
6. I believe companies should be required to pay their employees a decent, livable wage. Somehow this is always interpreted as me wanting burger flippers to be able to afford a penthouse apartment and a Mercedes. What it actually means is that no one should have to work three full-time jobs just to keep their head above water. Restaurant servers should not have to rely on tips, multibillion dollar companies should not have employees on food stamps, workers shouldn't have to work themselves into the ground just to barely make ends meet, and minimum wage should be enough for someone to work 40 hours and live.
7. I am not anti-Christian. I have no desire to stop Christians from being Christians, to close churches, to ban the Bible, to forbid prayer in school, etc. (BTW, prayer in school is NOT illegal; *compulsory* prayer in school is - and should be - illegal) All I ask is that Christians recognize *my* right to live according to *my* beliefs. When I get pissed off that a politician is trying to legislate Scripture into law, I'm not "offended by Christianity" -- I'm offended that you're trying to force me to live by your religion's rules. You know how you get really upset at the thought of Muslims imposing Sharia on you? That's how I feel about Christians trying to impose biblical law on me. Be a Christian. Do your thing. Just don't force it on me or mine.
8. I don't believe LGBT people should have more rights than you. I just believe we should have the *same* rights as you.
9. I don't believe illegal immigrants should come to America and have the world at their feet, especially since THIS ISN'T WHAT THEY DO (spoiler: undocumented immigrants are ineligible for all those programs they're supposed to be abusing, and if they're "stealing" your job it's because your employer is hiring illegally.). I'm not opposed to deporting people who are here illegally, but I believe there are far more humane ways to handle undocumented immigration than our current practices (i.e., detaining children, splitting up families, ending DACA, etc).
10. I believe we should take in refugees, or at the very least not turn them away without due consideration. Turning thousands of people away because a terrorist might slip through is inhumane, especially when we consider what has happened historically to refugees who were turned away (see: MS St. Louis). If we're so opposed to taking in refugees, maybe we should consider not causing them to become refugees in the first place. Because we're fooling ourselves if we think that somewhere in the chain of events leading to these people becoming refugees, there isn't a line describing something the US did.
11. I don't believe the government should regulate everything, but since greed is such a driving force in our country, we NEED regulations to prevent cut corners, environmental destruction, tainted food/water, unsafe materials in consumable goods or medical equipment, etc. It's not that I want the government's hands in everything -- I just don't trust people trying to make money to ensure that their products/practices/etc are actually SAFE. Is the government devoid of shadiness? Of course not. But with those regulations in place, consumers have recourse if they're harmed and companies are liable for medical bills, environmental cleanup, etc. Just kind of seems like common sense when the alternative to government regulation is letting companies bring their bottom line into the equation.
12. I believe our current administration is fascist. Not because I dislike them or because I'm butthurt over an election, but because I've spent too many years reading and learning about the Third Reich to miss the similarities. Not because any administration I dislike must be Nazis, but because things are actually mirroring authoritarian and fascist regimes of the past.
13. I believe the systemic racism and misogyny in our society is much worse than many people think, and desperately needs to be addressed. Which means those with privilege -- white, straight, male, economic, etc -- need to start listening, even if you don't like what you're hearing, so we can start dismantling everything that's causing people to be marginalized.
14. I believe in so-called political correctness. Not because everyone is a delicate snowflake, but because as Maya Angelou put it, when we know better, we do better. When someone tells you that a term or phrase is more accurate/less hurtful than the one you're using, you now know better. So why not do better? How does it hurt you to NOT hurt another person? Your refusal to adjust your vocabulary in the name of not being an asshole kind of makes YOU the snowflake.
15. I believe in funding sustainable energy, including offering education to people currently working in coal or oil so they can change jobs. There are too many sustainable options available for us to continue with coal and oil. Sorry, billionaires. Maybe try investing in something else.
I think that about covers it. Bottom line is that I'm a liberal because I think we should take care of each other. That doesn't mean you should work 80 hours a week so your lazy neighbor can get all your money. It just means I don't believe there is any scenario in which preventable suffering is an acceptable outcome as long as money is saved.
So, I'm a liberal.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)MLAA
(17,288 posts)Anyone who has a problem with what youve said isnt someone Id want you to have to be around 🙂
Doreen
(11,686 posts)Leith
(7,809 posts)True Blue American
(17,984 posts)Last edited Fri May 15, 2020, 05:19 AM - Edit history (1)
pandr32
(11,583 posts)This is excellent.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Hekate
(90,683 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Bookmarking!
BigmanPigman
(51,591 posts)titanicdave
(429 posts)........Simply......BEAUTIFUL!!!!........
Arkansas Granny
(31,516 posts)proud patriot
(100,705 posts)mac2766
(658 posts)Very well said. You speak for me exactly.
Stuart G
(38,427 posts)cate94
(2,810 posts)Perfectly stated!
Traildogbob
(8,739 posts)Describes everything I am about. Well done. Sounds kinda like a man 2,000 years ago, in sandals, long hair, brown, did not speak English. And I am no Christian. Maybe would be if this were their beliefs and actions. This should be the dem Platform and our choice for president should sign an oath to this.
Martin Eden
(12,867 posts)Is mos def NOT a testament to American greatness.
Alliepoo
(2,217 posts)aggiesal
(8,914 posts)"Because I went to college and got something out of it."
You should see their jaws drop!
I agree with most everything from 1-15.
But I did stop using the word regulate or regulations, because it gave conservative friends a reason to argue about not regulating something.
I started using the word protect or protections. Makes it harder for conservative friends to say that they are against protecting something.
All those bank regulations that conservatives spouted during the mortgage meltdown, I would turn the question to "You mean those bank protections that were put in place to make sure the bankers didn't play with our money at the nearest casino? You mean those protections?"
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Really helpful!
aggiesal
(8,914 posts)KS Toronado
(17,235 posts)I'll be adding those to my vocabulary when conversing with red hats. Our politicians could learn a thing or two from you. Thanks
aggiesal
(8,914 posts)Ive done it so many times, I love seeing their faces.
Theyre stunned because they cant argue that they dont want to be protected.
And I also say it is because I listened in church
malaise
(268,997 posts)JGug1
(320 posts)I'm asking but am going to assume you will allow my using parts of your piece. It is SO well done.
keithbvadu2
(36,803 posts)Many images - https://www.pinterest.com/lisalynn61/republican-jesus/
Republican Jesus is a conservative.
Wounded Bear
(58,654 posts)luv2fly
(2,475 posts)Thank you so much for sharing.
DownriverDem
(6,228 posts)I agree! As to #7, I'm not against churches & folks practicing their religion, However repub Christians want their version to be the prevailing religion. It would just be a slippy slope and the fight would have to continue. I think freedom from religion should be the rule.
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)Kick, rec and bookmarked.
MFGsunny
(2,356 posts)For me it feels like that memorable ::
I AM SPARTACUS
Much obliged.
Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)Nature Man
(869 posts)Make it effective:
1. Eliminate text wall
2. Bullet points
3. Pictures
Then they'll still not get it.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,368 posts)But not without proper attribution, I promise.
If there was ever a post on DU that needed to go viral, this is it.
Kudos.
Well fucking said.
kpete
(71,991 posts)are a diverse lot
this was meant to be shared
peace,
kp
SouthernAtheist
(45 posts)Very nicely done. I'd go out of my way to have a decent beer with whoever wrote this for sure.
My only quibble would be an addendum to number 14 with respect to personal pronouns. I will gladly adjust my use of pronouns to align with whatever anyone desires with one exception. I cannot in good conscience use a plural pronoun for a singular entity. To be honest, I'm not sure this is really even a 'thing' as I have only read of it. But I have tried in mock conversations to construct such a conversation, only to fall into a pit of verbal nonsense. If I'm wrong on this point, I'll listen to anyone who can make it work.
I think I should inaugurate a new award. Is that kind of thing done in these parts? Not sure what to name it, but the button would say:
"I don't need your God.
I'm already BETTER than that."
Pass it along to you're friend, would you kpete? You found one of the good ones there.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)3. I believe education should be affordable and accessible to everyone. It doesn't necessarily have to be free (though it works in other countries so I'm mystified as to why it can't work in the US)...
Well, this is why we can't have nice things - take a look at the big blue pie slice on the right of this chart:
rainin
(3,011 posts)mr pete and i share posts with coffee every morning
i knew this one was special
please do share
kp
robbob
(3,530 posts)In all the years theyve been trying to repeal the ACA have they ever revealed what they are going to replace it with? I mean, even ONCE has the GOP leadership said, ok, here is how we want to do healthcare in America? During the 2016 election Donald Trump had a health care plan. Do you remember it? Were going to have great health care, beautiful health care, and everyone will be covered...
Thats it. Vague generalities without an ounce of substance. Like everything else that ridiculous con man proposes. But of course, if all you do is watch Fox News you dont think about these things because they never bother discussing it. Tell me, reThug voter, what IS the GOP plan for health care?
KS Toronado
(17,235 posts)start asking how trumpcare works because it's cheaper and better than ACA, wasn't he going to do that first year in office? etc etc
Usually all I get is mumbles and blank stares. repugs are so stupid and brainwashed
calimary
(81,265 posts)Thank you, kpete, for sharing this with the rest of us!
Some seriously wonderful talking points here! Especially for those of us who just absolutely positively flatly categorically and defiantly REFUSE to be cowed or misrepresented as something foul and somehow un-American.
crickets
(25,979 posts)Poiuyt
(18,123 posts)Thank you
stopwastingmymoney
(2,042 posts)It would be easier to read if there were a blank line between the points
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,615 posts)I have a conservative friend who leans libertarian. I am going to print this and give him a copy.
It should be interesting!
crazyboy44
(27 posts)Thank you for this post.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)GusBob
(7,286 posts)Did I miss that in the text?
LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)it's really difficult to read without spacing between points.
Thanks for sharing.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,857 posts)Thank you for this.
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)Your buddy is a good writer - and a good person.
1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. Period.
And there you have it - you take care of the weakest members because everyone is a weakest member at one time or another. You were a child, you will (hopefully) be elderly, and anyone at any time can become sick or disabled. That's why people's taxes should go to other people's health care and other safety nets. Because anyone can end up in a position where they need them. The millionaires on Wall street in 1928 threw themselves out the windows in 1929 when they lost everything. Nothing is guaranteed.
duhneece
(4,112 posts)You took the words right out of my mouth!
onecaliberal
(32,858 posts)NoRoadUntravelled
(2,626 posts)Thanks for this.