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Liberal Philosophy #1
Oct. 9th, 2006 12:07 amOne of the problems in politics is voters "know" what Republicans and/or conservatives stand for, in nice short pithy sentences, but don't seem to know what liberals stand for. Or don't think they know. And there's some that think liberals stand for surrendering to terrorists and forced abortions for everyone and are going to make everybody gay. Or something. Those people probably aren't worth trying to get to.
So, I figured I could try and figure out what I, as a liberal, think the fundamental parts of liberalism are, and then boil them down to something short and memorable.
The first part that came to mind is equality, or maybe better as a "Level playing field." Everybody should have the same opportunities for education and jobs and medical care, marriage, place to live, and the right to speak their mind as anyone else. Regardless of age, sex, religion, income, who their parents were, who they're shagging, political beliefs, where they live, who they associate with, or anything else largely outside of their control or irrelevant. Anybody who does the same work with the same skill should get paid the same, have the same opportunities to be promoted get bonuses, or whatever.
I want to try and tie this into Security too, with the sense of people should be secure in their persons and health and not worry that their job's going to disappear and then they'll lose their house and health and spiral into endless debt, and that they don't have to worry about being blown up at the airport, or have to stand around for two hours and have their shoes x-rayed, or get disappeared or held just because they have the same last name as somebody who once upon a time sent a check to a hospital that was also a front for Al Queda money laundering or something. But I think that's a somewhat separate issue, although security's a part of opportunity, because there's lots of opportunities you've got more pressing concerns like being shot at or losing your job or so on.
A lot of these things connect and tie together at some fundamental levels, at least it feels that way to me. Which makes me think this is possible.
Comments on the first part, anyone? Suggestions for other key ideas?
So, I figured I could try and figure out what I, as a liberal, think the fundamental parts of liberalism are, and then boil them down to something short and memorable.
The first part that came to mind is equality, or maybe better as a "Level playing field." Everybody should have the same opportunities for education and jobs and medical care, marriage, place to live, and the right to speak their mind as anyone else. Regardless of age, sex, religion, income, who their parents were, who they're shagging, political beliefs, where they live, who they associate with, or anything else largely outside of their control or irrelevant. Anybody who does the same work with the same skill should get paid the same, have the same opportunities to be promoted get bonuses, or whatever.
I want to try and tie this into Security too, with the sense of people should be secure in their persons and health and not worry that their job's going to disappear and then they'll lose their house and health and spiral into endless debt, and that they don't have to worry about being blown up at the airport, or have to stand around for two hours and have their shoes x-rayed, or get disappeared or held just because they have the same last name as somebody who once upon a time sent a check to a hospital that was also a front for Al Queda money laundering or something. But I think that's a somewhat separate issue, although security's a part of opportunity, because there's lots of opportunities you've got more pressing concerns like being shot at or losing your job or so on.
A lot of these things connect and tie together at some fundamental levels, at least it feels that way to me. Which makes me think this is possible.
Comments on the first part, anyone? Suggestions for other key ideas?
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