It really isn't hard to be a Liberal. If you lack common sense and intellect then you probably already are one. No seriously! If you have no faith in yourself or others and you believe that the Government should be responsible for telling you how to think and live, then you have already fallen prey to the Left's plan. Now I know that nobody wants to admit that they are this pathetic, but I can assure you that many people are. As a matter of fact, if you look at the social trends around you, it becomes even clearer that most people are just plain ignorant.

The liberal politicians also believe that most 'common' people are too incompetent to manage their own lives effectively, therefore, they believe that we must let the government intervene and rescue us. They create all these new entitlement programs to keep the 'unfortunate' reliant upon them. There was a time in America when those in power challenged us to rise above our hardships. Today, however, they ask those in "need" to put their trust in the government to take care of their problems. This assures that the government will have control over many aspects of our lives. Welfare is just one prime example, but there are many more.

They also like to claim that they are for the "working people." I am still waiting for them to define what they consider that to be. It seems to me that if they were truly fighting for the working class in America, they would not have such an opposition to tax cuts. They are dead set against them! They always claim that tax cuts only help the "rich." The simple truth is, the so-called "powerful" (to coin an Al Gore reference) do pay the majority of the taxes collected by the Federal government. The very top 5% of wage earners pay more than 50% of the total income taxes collected annually! But the liberal politicians would like you to believe that they do not pay their fair share. They hate people with money! They believe that all wealth belongs in Washington, so they try to demonize the successful and create a class warfare.

So you see, Liberalism takes many forms. All of these forms begin with one common thread; a lack of common sense! For example, the Left is always trying to rally for tough gun legislation, and they place the blame on the NRA (National Rifle Association) for all gun related crimes. As far as these left wing idiots are concerned, no citizen should own a gun (I know they won't always admit it.) Now ask yourself this; if Congress passes strict gun legislation who is really affected by it? Only law abiding citizens! Criminals don't care one damn bit about abiding by the law, that's why they are CRIMINALS! In fact, any legislation that makes the purchasing of a firearm difficult for law abiding citizens only works in the favor of criminals. If you were a criminal, what would be your biggest deterrent from committing a violent act? I know that I would be much less likely to commit a crime if I felt that my potential victim was "packing."

Criminals will continue to steal firearms or purchase them on the black market, therefore nullifying any threat that gun legislation would pose to them. If the law abiding public is unarmed, the criminals have no deterrent of any kind! So again, ordinary citizens get the shaft. And wouldn't it be a shame if a criminal broke into your house and assaulted a family member while you were waiting on your government permission to buy a gun? The answer is simple; enforce existing gun crime penalties. The bleeding heart Liberals would rather focus all their attention on disarming decent citizens than prosecuting the thugs that get convicted of these gun crimes and they are the first people on the scene to rally against the death penalty for these criminals! They are a mass of contradiction, 'save the violent criminal, kill the innocent unborn child'. What a warped bunch of freaks.

They realize that the best way to have total control is to make sure that the people do not have the ability to protect themselves from the Government. If they have their way, no citizen will own a gun. Thank God for the second amendment.

Guns do not kill people. Someone has to pull the trigger. But the Left is not concerned with correcting the social problems that lead to such violent crimes. Imagine how ridiculous it would be if people blamed cars for the deaths caused by drunk drivers! It is the exact same logic. More people are killed in vehicle accidents than by guns! So why are they not trying to ban automobiles? This answer is also simple; they are not really concerned about the crimes committed by guns, they are only concerned about the threat that guns pose to their plan for total government control (Socialism). As long as we remain armed, we also remain a threat.
Hypocrisy is another common thread to the Left. It is evident in almost every aspect of the liberal mind set. It is another quality that is crucial to the makeup of any true Liberal. It is generally played out in the form of "symbolism over substance." It was very evident in the 2000' Presidential election campaign. For years the liberal Democrats have been attacking the "Religious Right" for their belief in God. And they have always claimed that religion and politics are two issues that must remain separate. However, when Al Gore's pole numbers were slumping, they decided to play a different card. Enter Joseph Lieberman. All of the sudden they have a Vice Presidential candidate on their ticket that claims to be a man of God! He spoke about his faith at every possible turn, but did you hear the Liberals complaining? Hell no! There is a very good reason why. When you look at the position Lieberman takes on many moral issues it becomes quite evident that he poses no real threat to their agenda. He talks about God, but his voting record and his position on Abortion are in stark contrast to his own faith! He also brags about how he "scolded" president Clinton in the Senate during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, however, when it came time to back up his strong words he played the political coward and voted against impeachment.

Lieberman (the so-called "conscience of the Senate") also supported the ruling in favor of partial birth Abortion. This is an absolute slap in the face to any legitimate religion. But his double standards don't stop there. He was totally opposed to Clarence Thomas (a Conservative) being appointed to the Supreme Court based on flimsy allegations of sexual harassment brought on by Anita Hill. But when fellow Democrat Bill Clinton was accused of raping Juanita Broaddrick, Joe Lieberman was opposed to Senate hearings to investigate the matter! There were several Democrat congressmen that had interviewed Mrs.Broaddrick about her accusations against the President and many of them were visibly shaken immediately after hearing her claims. Some were even in tears! Several in Clinton's own Party claim that there is absolutely no way Mrs. Broaddrick was lying about her allegations. She must have had some compelling evidence against him! But Lieberman, being the good little Liberal that he is, stayed true to his Party and did not have the fortitude to be balanced and unbiased.

Hillary also parades around claiming that she is an advocate for America's children. Can anyone list even one thing this woman has ever done for the children in this country? And how can she be pro-abortion and claim that she is even remotely looking out for the best interest children? Well, she has been able to pull it off! She also believes that "It takes a village" (the title of her new book) to raise our children. I'm sorry Hillary, I don't want my child anywhere near your village, all it really takes is decent parents.

The Democrats are opposed to "school choice" as well (hmm...I thought they were "Pro choice"?!). Republicans favor letting parents decide where to send their kids to school. Quite logically, competition would be in the best interest of Education as a whole. However, the Democrats have long been in the back pocket of the teachers Unions (as well as every other Union) and they claim that Public schools are the answer! Any intelligent parent today knows that our Public schools are painfully inadequate. As a matter of fact, our Public school systems are an absolute joke! And a large number of teachers that teach in these schools are highly incompetent. These institutions are more interested in handing out condoms, teaching sex education, eliminating any reference to God, and liberalizing our children's minds than they are with actually educating. Today your children can't pray in school, but your daughter can go to the school 'guidance' councilor and be referred to an Abortion clinic without your consent! Many schools are also teaching (and promoting) homosexuality. God help us.
The people of this country had better wake up soon and realize what is taking place in society today. We are slowly giving more and more ground to the liberal jackasses that have been setting the agenda for our future. And as you have seen, they are able to pull it off by using smoke and mirrors. They claim to be for choice, but not in education (although they send their own kids to private schools). They claim that you can't legislate morality, but they legislate immorality. They claim to be pro family, but support Abortion. They claim to support freedom of speech, but not if it's religious. They claim to be for the people not the powerful, but they are in bed with Hollywood (as was evident at the 2000' Democratic National Convention). They want to nationalize health care and schools. They oppose tax cuts, they support the "death tax" and the "marriage tax". They believe that "freedom of religion" means "freedom from religion." Ultimately, they believe that Government is the answer to every problem. And all the while they claim that the "Right Wing" is nothing but a bunch of religious radicals that want to keep this country from moving "forward" in the right direction. Unfortunately, they have been entirely too successful in selling this nonsense to the American people.

So as you have seen, the two main ingredients to any Liberal is hypocrisy and stupidity (or lack of common sense). They truly do believe that the Federal government has all the solutions. And for years now they have been misinterpreting the Constitution to fit their twisted ideology. It is time for people to start taking a closer look at what our so-called 'democracy' is becoming. It doesn't take any guts to be a Liberal, all it requires is laziness.

One other ingredient to liberals that I would include is the unlimited ability to delude oneself.

Your average working slob with responsibilities (especially finanical ones) hanging over his/her head is fairly grounded in the realities of the everyday world. Once having mastered the ability to adapt to the conditions, they are not eager for the fantastic visions of leftist social engineers. They want stability and the prospect of economic advancement, not radical social experimentation with themself as a guinea pig. These are your basic red state voters. The Left does not understand them in the least, and that's why the Left has been getting its ass whipped in recent elections.

So what is the leftist reaction to this? Does the thought that they are out of touch with public sentiment ever capture their thoughts? Nope. You see, in their mind the REAL reason for their predicament is that the public (that Marx, their God, scornfully dismissed as the "lumpen")is simply too ignorant to realize that the Right is ruthlessly exploiting them and fooling them into voting against their own best interests. That's why every leftist you ever meet will always, sooner or later, go off on that "EDUCATED people think like we do" angle.

Yes, their crowd certainly is more "educated". Master's degrees and PhD.s abound among them. The thing they will never admit to, however, is that increasing education corresponds in direct proportion to decreasing common sense, i.e., "street smarts". It has been my experience that the more educated one becomes, the more stupid they actually are, and that these poor creatures are good with neither their minds nor their hands. Of course, since they are so well-educated in theories rather than realities, it's only a short step from there into self-delusion.

I hope that someday some very serious research will be done into the psychology of the liberal

great post, it is so true

Liberals, whilst ever vigilant to protect imperiled personal freedoms from governmental intrusion, believe in the communitarian imperative, that confidence in "We the People" that is essential to a democratic republic.

An abiding patience is their hallmark, in the knowledge that progress is ineluctable - emancipation, universal suffrage, child labour laws, workplace safety regulations, civil rights legislation, etc. - the achieved liberal goals all staunchly opposed by conservate obstructionists, history's inevitable losers.

The guiding principle of equality demands this ongoing inclusionary trend as discriminatory barriers are razed. However, conservatives do perform an important function, that of the stabilizing tail on the soaring kite of progress for, "The winds are mad. They know not whence they come, nor whither they would go."

Liberalism means a large government, in my opinion. IE, Bush might be our most liberal President, along with FDR.

Junior Bush, failed military imperialism aside, has not only expanded the size and cost of "gub'ment" but has disingenuously contrived to make it more intrusive - e.g., the morally depraved "out-of-your-wallet, into-your-womb" ploy.

That does not make him a 'liberal' however."Anonymous" provided a concise and perspicacious precis of the inevitable progress of genuine liberalism: inclusivity. Conservative obstructionists merely delay the inevitable.

stay on the topic

The purview of liberalism is the topic under discussion. Proper application of the term is entirely germane and 'on topic.' A purportedly purely theoretical exegesis serves merely as an exercize in vapid, partisan prejudice - hardly illuminating.

Like Michael Savage says: "Liberalism is a mental disorder."

As an old New England headstone sagely proclaims,

HOWEVER, IN LIFE, A LIBERAL!

Next time you encounter a 'liberal' thank him or her for a social safety net,civil rights for youre female family members and freinds,employee rights,pollution control,consumer safety.

When i think of a conservative a think of a stubborn ol fuddy dud who unreasonably expects everyone to conform and worries about everyone elses personal business.Or an uptight,angry white male who demands patriotic-nationalistic fervor from his fellow americans.The angry white male should travel to countries that dont allow citizens to criticize thier respective countriews norms,values etc. then the angry white male will listen attentively with his thick,hardnosed redneck holier than thou bible thumping skull and appreciate social progressives.Its not surprising that that blue collar large truck confederate flag displaying lunk thinks HIS country is the freest and greatest because he has the most to gain or lose.

How bout ol pastor and his frumpy middle aged wife who refuses to rent to unmarries couples?Man would i looooove to give ol pastor a taste of his holier than thou medicine.Sorry pastor but i cant condone youre superstitious,wierd,conformist lifestyle.Theres a homeless shelter down the street!What goes around comes around.

Ever been to Canada guys?Now THATS a free country.If anything the average Canadians mind is freer.No fuss over gay marriage.Interracial dating;not a problem.I live in Michigan and always vacationed in Canada with my 'coloered' girlfriend;we didnt have to second guess where we could go and felt much safer.

The freedoms we enjoy in America are compareable to many other democracies based on my perception of freedom.America,i beleive is much more socially rigid than liberal democracies with mixed economic systems.Heck,musliim Pakistan has had a female leader.Canada outlawed slavery and legalized interracial marriage way before usa.America is still very prudish when it comes to nudity and sex.European television has been showing nudity forever.Here in prudish America there is a fuss over actor Mickey Rooney briefly displaying his bum in a commercial.All in all americans still restrict their countrymens freedom with their intolerant behaviour.

That last reply was absolutly ignorant and proof that the beginning article itself is true.

Example:

I have seen other countries, in fact there is not a country I have not seen. I own and operate www.backpackearth.com a budget travel search portal. I have used up two passports and am proudly Conservative anywhere I go.

What is it with you libs calling us rednecks? I am hearing this more and more lately. Are you that angry that we keep kicking your ass in elections? I have a tanned neck, almost a brown color. There is no red around my neck at all. Think before you post jack ass.

Bible thumper??? try beer thumper, yes I drink like a fish and have tattoos covering both arms, but you sure as hell wont catch me voting for some dumb **** that cant even make himself "appear" to have a "plan".

How about I direct you over to my newest website?
www.rightconservative.com

Our aim is to expose the idiots like yourself and rid our great nation of your ignorance and intolerance for freedom.

Good luck in life, your going to need it.

First of all,i dont beleive most Americans are solidly liberal or conservative.Secondly,i was attempting to use humor to describe my immediate mental perception when i think of the word-idealogy conservative.Thirdly,Eric,buddy,i dont beleive im an 'ididot'although ive made many mistakes in life which i take responsibility for;(conservative veiw).Youre certainly not an idiot.I beleive america is much more socially rigid and conservative than most democracies on social issues.Isnt the democratic party for the most part,as Howard Dean described it," trying to be republican light"?In most free socieities liberal parties dominate.Contrary to what we see coming out of Hollywood,conservatism seems to reighn supreme throughout american society.How many states have legalized prostitution?Most sex related businesses where i live are extremely regulated;for instance,there is a lingerie shop that can only have a small amount of shelf space for non-lingerie sex items.I view community assaults on massage parlors and strip clubs as an attack on free enterprise and free choice.

Marriage is still the norm,though,thankfully couples who choose not to make it official are encountering much less social stigma(there arent any gurantees with marriage.)Races remain segregated,multiculturalism is strongly opposed,communism has been for all practical purposes imploded,the labor movement is much weaker than in countries with mixed economic systems.So stop listening to all those talk show hosts who target americans like you with liberal this or liberals did that.They want to create an enemy and market merchandise.


the conservative pledge;(Picture a group of emotionless,serious expression on faces white business people)Together they pledge in conformist union;Because we are free we must conform.Because we are free we must not question authority;Because we are free we must chase material wealth and status.

Good post, very honest and presented quite well.

Thank you Terry.

I didnt mean to come off wrong, but Im getting tired of being called "redneck" and "racist" when I am the complete opposite. Seriously, I dont know where this painting of Conservatives being so "extreme" is coming from. I work in politics daily and I really do not know a single Conservative that is much different than I. Now I dont live in the "bible belt" so that could play a role, but I just think the picture most are getting of Conservatives is all wrong. JMHO

Thank You.
And if i may add to my last post;think about this;had Ross Perot not been in the 92 presidential race would President Clinton have been elected?Although i vote democratic im never angered or surprised (just dissapointed) when republicans take office.Actually if the libertarian wing of the republican party had more influence i would be extremely tempted to vote Republican.

There is much i appreciate about our President.I dont just consider what i disagree or dont like.Some of the choices for his cabinet are o.k.He urged calm and restraint after 9-11.He reminded Americans not to take out their frustration and anger on others because they are different.There were some environmental and labor issues he handled well.

There are extremists on both side,but i think America is centrist?for the most part.Not all democrats are vegan or limpwristed panzies.Ive known many a democrat that has a gun collection,eats meat,drives big trucks.I have voted for female candidates but have been in social situations in which politically correct females have criticized me for referring to them as "sweety" or "baby" which kind of irked me.To be perfectly honest if i was well off financially and could find a woman that would do most of the cooking and cleaning i would enjoy it.

"Next time you encounter a 'liberal' thank him or her for a social safety net,..."

The "Social Safety Net" that will be bankrupt in 2016? Thanks a lot!

"civil rights for youre female family members and freinds,..."

Yes, Bill Clinton was a staunch advocat of women's rights! Thank you SO much!

"employee rights,"

Oh, yes! Mafia-run Unions have been SUCH a godsend! Thank you SO VERY much!

"pollution control,"

Thank you SO much for the fires at Yellowstone, and the other National Forests! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

"consumer safety."
Oh yes! I especially LOVE the way that LIBERALS are misusing it to bankrupt the firearms industry in America! A Thousand Thank Yous!!

THANKS FOR NOTHING, THAT IS!!!

92% of rebublicans in congress voted to pass the Civil Liberties Act
60% of democrats voted yes on the same bill

I'll thank a republican congressman for his support of minority rights, thank you.

Liberalism is simply a mental disorder.

That would be a very hard question to answer in this day and age......
Even though I have seldom agreed with the libral Democrates I used to respect them....Not any more......Today, with all their anger and just plain saying the exact opposite of common sense to every issue just leaves me wondering.......

What happened to compassionate conservatism? Personally, I believe its a joke, really come on now, see what stupid things come out of that dummy's mouth when you forget to turn on the wire in his ear?

Anyway, as a republican, a moderate republican, I'll say liberalism, hmmmmm, its like conservatism. They're both radical philosphies, whereas republicans and democrats are really just party names, liberalism might pertain to one's beliefs but that doesn't make them a democrat. I find myself very displeased with the current administration, in fact it reminds me much of the Nixons, (can't stand the media), (very quiet about internal affairs), (and this administration just looks plain scary, I'm literally terrified of Rummy, and Rove!)
Liberalism has to be looked at from a fair view, let's not make generalizations, and crude judgements until you have the facts. For you to use one (1) persons comment, be it Al Franken, or Bill Clinton, that does not make it so that the belief system of that person is the belief system for all liberals. And I know, the "liberals" do it too, they assume because Bill Bennet said something terrible (which he did) that means every republican/conservative minded voter believes in the same value system....

This speile (not german) I just gave you, don't interpret it as coming from a liberal mind, heavens no, if I had a dollar for everytime some bible thumper denounced my arguements as liberal biased, man I'd be as rich as they are hypocritical. I didn't vote for Bush in 04', nor 00', both times he seemed to "conservative", in my definition...too religiously and fiscally carefree. And, I was correct, he is the WORST fiscally concerned republican president. (nor did I vote for Gore or Kerry, in 00' I voted McCain, and in 04' I voted Wesley Clark, both of whom were heroes, and strong leaders. Something deminishing in modern day "conservative values."


Overall....Liberalism= Representation for the worker, and the impovershed and needy, (in most cases, my favorite president is FDR, who set the tract record).
and Conservatism= Representation for the wealthy, the privately employeed, and the persons who fear government control of their rights and liberties. (Patriot Act---doesn't count evidently)

In the course of the 20th Century in all other advanced countries besides the US, and in many others too,  strong Socialist and/or Communist parties grew up. They typically had the support of many manual workers, and also of the majority of the intellectuals. Thus in most other countries, there is no such thing as "liberalism," but rather socialism of one form or another.

In the US, for reasons with which we need not concern ourselves, no such mass workingclass party emerged. Those who would have been socialists in other countries, became liberals in the US. That is, their political goals did not include the explicit abolition of capitalism.

But their fundamental motivation and world outlook was the same as that of their socialist (Marxist) cousins in other countries. A belief that man was the product of his social enviroment -- and therefore perfectable, given the right social environment -- plus a commitment to equality (as opposed to liberty -- or rather, equality ahead of liberty), and thus a deep instinctive hostility to capitalism, even though in the US no agency for its abolition appeared.

But whereas the Marxists had/have an elaborate theory about how society works, and how it changes, from which they draw tactical prescriptions for what to do next, liberalism tends to be just a bundle of warm generous impulses.

Because liberals have the socialist impulse, although not the socialist ideology, they are easily led by those who have both. Thus the success of the CP in building a Popular Front and taking leadership of many liberals in the late 1930s, and the success of the Revolutionary Communist Party, and the Workers World Party, respectively, in building Not In Our Name, and A.N.S.W.E.R.

Those interested in reading an attempt to put  liberal political theory on a sound philosophical footing should consult the late John Rawls A Theory of Justice.

Note that because liberals have an essentially oppositional, not to say adversarial, attitude to existing society, it is they who have pioneered in fighting for certain causes which are only later embraced by conservatives, such as Civil Rights for Blacks, and Equal Rights for Women. Liberals deserve credit for this.

Unfortunately, they do not the see the value of our existing culture, and thus go along with Leftist efforts to deconstruct it. Liberals are also uncomfortable at best with American military power.

Young conservatives who find themselves in arguments with liberal friends may wish to get a (free) copy of a short essay I am writing, entitled How to Talk To A Liberal -- Because You Must. (With apologies to Ann Coulter.)

Doug

Do you even know what Liberalism is?

Im sorry but the post really is ignorant is it thinks liberalism is that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

Liberalism is an ideology, or current of political thought, which strives to maximize individual liberty through a democratic system of rights under law. Liberalism seeks a society characterized by free action within a defined framework. This framework is generally seen to include a pluralistic democratic government, the rule of law, free exchange of ideas, and economic competition. Liberalism rejected many foundational assumptions which dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the divine right of kings, hereditary status, and established religion. The fundamental principles of liberalism include transparency, individual and civil rights, especially the right to life, liberty, and property; government with the consent of the governed as determined by open and fair elections (liberal democracy); and equal rights for all citizens under law.

I am a Classic Liberal, a liberal is someone who believes in freedom, freedom to do things.

A liberal, believes in both social and economic liberalism.

Have you not heard of the political compass here?

www.politicalcompass.org

Take it, you will see two bars. Social authoritarian/libertarian and economic authoritarian/libertarian

A liberal would be both socially and economically liberal.

A conservative would be economically liberal and socially authoritarian

A liberal socialist would be economically authoritarian and socially liberal.

Stalin would be socially authoritarian and economically authoritarian. Just like Hitler.

Use the correct term for liberal, not the wrong one. John Kerry and the Democrats are not liberals. They are socially but economically they are social democrats/authoritarians.

Do you even know what Liberalism is?

Im sorry but the post really is ignorant is it thinks liberalism is that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

Liberalism is an ideology, or current of political thought, which strives to maximize individual liberty through a democratic system of rights under law. Liberalism seeks a society characterized by free action within a defined framework. This framework is generally seen to include a pluralistic democratic government, the rule of law, free exchange of ideas, and economic competition. Liberalism rejected many foundational assumptions which dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the divine right of kings, hereditary status, and established religion. The fundamental principles of liberalism include transparency, individual and civil rights, especially the right to life, liberty, and property; government with the consent of the governed as determined by open and fair elections (liberal democracy); and equal rights for all citizens under law.

I am a Classic Liberal, a liberal is someone who believes in freedom, freedom to do things.

A liberal, believes in both social and economic liberalism.

Have you not heard of the political compass here?

www.politicalcompass.org

Take it, you will see two bars. Social authoritarian/libertarian and economic authoritarian/libertarian

A liberal would be both socially and economically liberal.

A conservative would be economically liberal and socially authoritarian

A liberal socialist would be economically authoritarian and socially liberal.

Stalin would be socially authoritarian and economically authoritarian. Just like Hitler.

Use the correct term for liberal, not the wrong one. John Kerry and the Democrats are not liberals. They are socially but economically they are social democrats/authoritarians.

Because this so called argument has sparked my interest, I will pick it apart, paragraph by paragraph.

First paragraph: Broad accusations that are not supported by facts or even real thought

Second: Personally I don't believe that most people are too incompetent to rule their own lives effectively. This is the first of many instances that you confuse modern Liberalism with Socialism. And about welfare "you don't think that we should give money to people who can't afford to support themselves or their family?"

Third: Liberals do support tax cuts most of the time. If they do not support tax cuts then it could only be for the reason that it will create a federal deficit. Hmmm... sounds like the situation we're in right now. If the government is in a deficit then they can't adequately pay for programs like helping crippled children or giving welfare to families who REALLY need it. This is another paragraph that is not supported by anything other than your opinion.

Fourth: Again, a paragraph that using sweeping generalizations to persuade people. "Liberals place the blame on the NRA (National Rifle Association) for all gun related crimes." Now that's just silly. "They believe that no citizen should own a gun." Thats just wrong. If I were a criminal and my "potential victim was packing" I would take special preqautions like buying bullet-proof armor or sneak up an them and then kill them. If a person is bent on killing another person then they will find a way to do it even if they have a gun.

Fifth: You're exactly right. "Guns don't kill people" But if it wasn't for the gun the person probably wouldn't have died. You're are correct in saying that the left isn't concerned with the social problems that cause gun violance but I'd like to point out, neither is the right. When's the last time you heard about social problems leading to gun violance and fixing them?

The next few paragraphs are just political moves used by liberals to gain political favor. I could name hundreds of examples, like these, of conservatives doing the same thing. Politics are full of hypocracies, get used to it. Let's see...more generalizations that if you learned more about this issue you would understand them.

And thats about it. In general this "argument" is completely baseless and filled with lies and half-truths. I suggest learning how to form an argument before you start stating things for shock value.

The first post is a prime example of why our nation has become so polarized. We're using false assumptions as the basis for our political arguments. I'm a liberal and I don't even recognize myself in that description.

I remember when Rush Limbaugh was first gaining popularity. My sister, a huge fan, used to criticize my politics -- telling me what I believed and why it was wrong. I'd sit there dumbfounded. Just like the earlier poster tired of being called a redneck (I don't blame you), I was having to defend myself against characterizations that were not only wrong, but damning.

And when I'd protest, she'd say, "See? Typical liberal."

It reminded me of those experiments that Jane Elliott conducted in the 1960s, when she was trying to teach people about bigotry:

"You have this problem with blue-eyed people. You give them something decent, and they just wreck it. Another thing that is obvious about blue-eyed people is that they are poor listeners."

The right has relentlessly redefined liberals the same way, carving an impression into Americans' psyche that has elements of truth but a whole lot of crap thrown in.

Here's what I, a lifelong, die-hard liberal, believe: That our leaders should appeal to our noblest aspirations, not pander to our deepest fears. That "bleeding hearts" and "do-gooders" aren't insults. That, nonetheless, people should be held accountable for their deeds, even if that means getting the death penalty for a heinous crime. Karmic retribution, baby. That gays and lesbians deserve every ounce of liberty that the rest of us enjoy. That the economy serves the people instead of the other way around. That the end does not justify the means. That disagreeing with a conservative isn't "whining." (Seriously, can we put that word to rest?) That political correctness is a modern scourge that quashes free expression. And finally, that idealogues of any political stripe or nationality are dangerous.