From: jason@ab20.larc.nasa.gov (Jason Austin)
Subject: Re: "Liberal" - A Misnomer
Reply-To: Jason C. Austin <j.c.austin@larc.nasa.gov>
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
	<JASON.92Sep8151229@ab20.larc.nasa.gov> <pjs7us@twilight.wpd.sgi.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 16:31:33 GMT

In article <pjs7us@twilight.wpd.sgi.com> coolidge@speaker.wpd.sgi.com (Don Coolidge) writes:
-> In article <JASON.92Sep8151229@ab20.larc.nasa.gov>, jason@ab20.larc.nasa.gov (Jason Austin) writes:
-> |> 
-> |> 	Words mean things, and the terms liberal and conservative
-> |> designate a general politcal philosophy.  A conservative believes in a
-> |> reduction of government and traditional values while a liberal
-> |> believes in the expansion of government to supply everyone with
-> |> everything they need. 
-> 
-> Incorrect on both definitions, both by the dictionary and by practice. 
-> Like many, you've probably just swallowed the reactionaries' "definitions"
-> rather than understanding what the words really mean. A conservative believes
-> in slow, or no, change. S/He wants the status quo, not a retreat to the past.
-> If you choose to misinterpret that as seeking a reduction in government, you
-> ignore the vast mass of historical liberals (including our revered Founding 
-> Fathers (tm)) who sought to limit government as much as they could (check out
-> the Constitution - a very enlightening read).

	Look at the facts.  Bush and Reagan has vetoed bill after bill
in an attempt to stop the growth of the government.  The Conservative
ideal is keeping government out of the individual's life and out of
business.  For example, a bill in the works now will force business to
provide long term maturnity leave; this is an expansion of government
to take more control of private business.  Bush has vetoed this bill
in the past and will probably veto it again.  An example Bush used in
one of his speeches was a law that would force companies to sterilize
hard hats before they can be worn by another person even though there
is not a single case of infection passed by hard hat.  Bush vetoed
that one also to keep the government's nose out of business.

-> A liberal believes in expanding an individual's rights and powers. If
-> you believe that requires a growth in government, those same Founding
-> Fathers (tm) come back to haunt you. 

	The Founding Fathers lived in a different world, a different
time, and a different situation.  Anyone who thinks they are in as bad
shape as a monarchy oppressed country has been spoiled by the easly
life in the US.

	A liberal believes in expanding the government's rights and
powers.  Look at the examples above.  Look at Clinton's plan for a
government take over of the health care industry.  

-> And "traditional values"? Whose traditional values? Those of our
-> liberal Founding Fathers? :^) Those of the Haitian boat people, or
-> Native Americans, or Hmong refugees, or the African-American descendants
-> of slaves? Or just those of people like yourself? 

	Any country must be based on a value system.  Laws are nothing
but written down values, and laws are the only thing that protects
freedom.  Without the law, someone could walk into your house, take
everything you own, and unless you're bigger, there's nothing you
could do.  Without the law, someone could force you to work without
pay.  Whose values?  A conglomerate of all the people in this country.

-> |> Both of these terms are more extreme than most
-> |> people are, but they give a direction and philisopical background to
-> |> making moderate decisions.  Picking a side and calling them
-> |> label-throwing is label-throwing in itself and completely void of any
-> |> issue discussion.
-> |> 
-> |> 	Here's my general reasoning for believing it's time for a more
-> |> conservative government:
-> |> 
-> |> 	Historically, a left wing society is economically inefficient
-> |> and is much too permissive of criminal and anti-social behavior.  A
-> |> right wing society is highly efficient but is too inflexible in
-> |> defining morality.

	I didn't try to answer anything below this, because I can't
discuss something where no facts are presented.
--
Jason C. Austin
j.c.austin@larc.nasa.gov