What does being a "Liberal" mean? (US)

[richlevy]

I think you are confusing liberal and conservative with libertarian and authoritarian.

In my opinion, both liberals and conservatives have espoused authoritarian ideas. The concept of gay marriage is one example. The argument being that if gay couples are allowed to marry, it will 'spoil' marriage for some heterosexuals.

That's sort of like passing a law that only people who have more than $1 million dollars can own a Mercedes because otherwise millionaires will stop buying them.

Looking at the number of restrictive amendments to the Constitution proposed by 'conservatives', I can only wonder about the cries of 'states rights!' that went up during the Civil War and the Civil Rights era.

My political compass profile lists me as a libertarian leftist. In my opinion that means that as long as my neighbor doesn't engage in behavior that threatens me and adheres to some basic zoning concepts, I'm ok. Gay wedding in his backyard? I'll send a fruit basket. Wild drug fueled screaming orgy in his pool? I'll buy earmuffs.

It's when he or she stockpiles a ton of explosives or wants to open a toxic waste site that I believe that I have the right to point to the zoning laws and/or basic rules on public safety.