[RalphyS]

Quote: (Originally Posted by eusebioCBR)

The liberal question. Educated elitist politicians and journalists share a misguided notion that it is their noble duty to save the uneducated "unwashed" masses from themselves. The media shares their ideals and they want a share of the power.

Just to pick up on this, first of all I never understood the negative connotation that Americans have given the word "liberal", mostly pre-empted by "bleeding heart". When I learned about liberalism in history class on school, I was totally for it and if you read the definition on wikipedia, I don't see what anyone could have against that:

Quote:

Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.

I do find individual liberty one of the most important things we achieved as humans throughout history. I do consider myself a liberal as defined above.

Than on a second note, the disparagement with which you name the "uneducated unwashed masses". I suppose it's allright for you yourself to have a life of fortune, while others may starve. I am not a communist, not even a socialist, but I do feel every human being has the responsibility to try and decrease suffering in the world to a bare minimum. Ofcourse everybody able is also responsible to work for his living etcetera, but there are those less fortunate in the world or in our own countries, who may have not the earning capacity, physically or mentally, to live minimally decent life and I do feel that the government should look out for these weakest elements in our society. I am willing to pay taxes for that and also for the possibility that I some day may not be able to fend for myself, due to circumstances, god forbid (manor of speaking as you know I'm atheist).

This is what grosses me out mostly about conservatives/republicans, it's always me, me, me and let the rest of the world rot. And it's not only economically, abortion and gay marriage should be forbidden, because they (or if you like it better their idea of a god) forbids it, it doesn't matter what others think about it. The idea of "you are for or against us", I always think there are more colours than black and white, I could go on, but I've rambled enough.