AlterNet: Self-Declared Liberals Have Nothing to Be Afraid of

[marmar]

Self-Declared Liberals Have Nothing to Be Afraid of

By Greg Colvin, AlterNet. Posted September 21, 2007.



Should we bury the word "liberal" and try to define ourselves along a spectrum that puts progressives on the left side and conservatives on the right? No, for several good reasons.



I often think it's comical -- Fal, lal, la!
How Nature always does contrive -- Fal, lal, la!
That every boy and every gal
That's born into the world alive
Is either a little Liberal
Or else a little Conservative!
Fal, lal, la! —Iolanthe, Gilbert and Sullivan, 1882

Hillary Clinton: "... So I consider myself a proud modern American progressive, and I think that's the kind of philosophy and practice that we need to bring back to American politics." Anderson Cooper: "So you wouldn't use the word liberal, you'd say progressive?" Hillary Clinton: (nods) --CNN-YouTube presidential primary debate, July 23, 2007



It is time for a fresh look at how we label political viewpoints in America.

These days, the terms left and right, liberal and conservative, are most often applied to ideas, groups, and individuals by those aiming to discredit them. Not a very reliable way of understanding what the words mean.

If you are inclined to be a liberal, you can't avoid hearing the radio voices of the Limbaughs, Coulters, Hannitys, and Savages growling and hissing in the back of your head.

Liberalism has been so demonized that many people have either stopped defining themselves politically, straddled the question ("I'm a fiscal conservative but liberal on social issues"), claimed to be independent or pragmatic, looked for a "third way," moved to the center, or adopted the term "progressive."

The word "progressive" seems honorable enough, harkening back to the Progressive Era, 25 years of popular upheaval before World War I when anti-trust laws were passed, child labor was abolished, Teddy Roosevelt dedicated national parks, and government reforms were directed against the wealthy and the corrupt.

So, should we bury the word "liberal" and try to define ourselves along a continuum that we call progressive on the left side and conservative on the right?

No, for several good reasons. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/story/63169/