Quote:
Originally Posted by Flint
My misunderstanding, I had thought you were replying directly to me.
Interesting observation, each one of your items in the vanilla description of what it means to be a Liberal is stated in the terms of how Liberals differ from Conservatives some "other" position. I wonder if its even possible, these days, to describe a position without employing this device. I've been remarking for years that people vote "against" rather than "for" candidates. Similar thing here? Thoughts?
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The comparisons weren't necessary but I thought brought an added perspective.
Just as I think it is more interesting for discussion purposes to define consensus liberalism and conservatives in how they are reflected in real programs and real policies as opposed to a more academic description.
IMO, consensus liberalism in those terms is not as extreme as consensus conservatism in current American politics
Using the examples from above and current public policy issues:
Consensus liberals dont want to force people to accept gay marriages in their churches, they just want gay couples to have equal marital rights under law. Or to promote abortions or force people to accept abortions, but simply to allow a woman's right to choose. The other side is much more extreme with policy positions to amend the Constitution to deny these rights.
Consensus liberals dont want strong environmental regulations because they are tree huggers or want to protect some endangered species no one every heard of, but because clean air and clean water is beneficial to the quality of life or our species. As opposed to trusting industry to voluntarily meet comparable guidelines.
Consensus liberals want more investment in clean energy, not to save the world from global warming, but because it makes both economic and environmental sense as opposed to "drill baby drill" and $billions in subsidies and tax breaks for five big oil companies making $hundreds of billions in profit.
Consensus liberals recognize the need to compromise on government spending but think a small tax increase on the top bracket should be part of the solution to reducing the debt as opposed to the consensus conservative position that tax increases on the top bracket is non-negotiable.
The Affordable Care Act with its public/private partnership is consensus liberalism as opposed to a more extreme government single payer system, yet the ACA is demonized by conservatives as socialism and government takeover of health care.
You may not agree, but I think current policies and programs of the two major parties defined by their liberal and conservative members reflect the above.
added:
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being extreme conservatism, 5 being moderate and 10 being extreme liberalism, I would put consensus conservatism in current American politics at a 2 and consensus liberalism at a 7. That is, consensus liberalism is closer to the center, if only marginally and consensus conservatism more extreme.