What Liberals Believe

[smoogatz]

Some of us feel it's time to take the lead in framing the political debate. I think it's high time we resuscitated the image of The Liberal as someone who cares about the way average Americans live, at the same time that we frame Bushco as the lying, elitist corporatist bastards that they are. With that in mind, I thought it might be interesting to compile a list--what liberals believe vs. what the radical right believes (framing starts with successfully labeling your opponent). A couple of examples:

1.Liberals believe that your grandparents should not be forced to live in cardboard boxes and eat cat food if their savings are wiped out by a stock market crash.

The Radical Right believes that Social Security is an evil communist plot and that old people should shut up and quit bitching.

2.Liberals believe that the Bush administration lied to congress, the UN and the American people about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Saddam’s “ties to al Qaeda,” in order to win popular support for the invasion of Iraq.

The Radical Right believes that “Our overall objective is to remain the predominant outside power in the region and preserve U.S. and Western access to the region's oil.” (Dick Cheney, 1992)

I'll compile the best responses and send them on to brother Howard Dean. What he does with them is his business.

[mzmolly]

1. I like the way you think.

Nominated. ;)

[usregimechange]

2. Agreed.

[smoogatz]

3. I should add that I'm looking for input from DU

Please feel free to contribute your own examples/comparisons.

[mike_c]

4. liberals believe that people should come before profits...

...and that government policies should work to improve the lives of people first-- in America and abroad-- and should benefit corporations only to an extent that does not conflict with the interests of real citizens. At least this liberal does.

The right views its citizens as "consumers" at best and more usually as wage slaves and raw material. "Business friendly" is right-wing speak for "catering to robber barons while the people struggle in poverty."

[Vincardog]

5. Liberals believe that Government has a duty to provide for the

common welfare.

The radical Right believes that all welfare should benefit the Corporate interests and let the crumbs trickle down to the people.

Liberals believe that this is a Government of by And for the people.
The Radical Right believes it is more important to serve their corporate constituents than any humans.

Liberals believe it is important to know their constituents and work in their interests.

The Radical Right believe is is important to control their constituents by whatever propaganda lies or abuses are expedient.

Is that what you are looking for?

[smoogatz]

10. Good!

A bit more populist zing would be even better.

[Vincardog]

13. Liberals believe that

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,

Rabid Radical Right Wing Nuts believe that all men are defined by the wealth accrued at their birth. That Among these are the right to exploit repression and the pursuit of profits. That to secure these rights governments are instituted among the moneyed elites deriving their powers from the power of capital, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to the unfettered pursuit of profit it is the Right of the moneyed to alter or abolish it and to institute a new government more in keeping with their soulless psychopathic supercilious aim.

[Been Fishing]

6. Posted before but worth repeating

Best expression of liberalism:

http://www.liberalslant.com/liberalism.htm

[Nadienne]

8. And the Right believes:

in Freedom but only for us (the Right), and those with other religions, perspectives, and messages are infringing upon our freedom when they use theirs...

in inequality, that some people deserve more rights, by "virtue" of sex, race, creed, sexual orientation, or ethnicity...

that only the worthy (ie, the wealthy, and their children) deserve an education...

that the life choices of others are our (the Right's) business. Not only is it our business, but it is our right to make their lives uncomfortable if we don't approve of their life decisions...

that bad things don't happen to good people, and that if you're irresponsible enough to not plan for the worst, we (the Right) who do take responsibility for our lives should not be the ones to support you...

that your employment is a gift from your employer, and you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you...

that the environment and all the resources it contains are there to be turned into products for the profits of businesses and the use of consumers...

that "family" consists of a man, his wife (especially if they were married in a church), and their children...

that "responsibility" means "You should take responsibility for your actions", but we (and corporations) won't take responsibility for our actions...

that government should not infringe upon the free market except to make it a better business environment for big corporations at the expense of people's rights...

that some people are above the law...

and that Progress will take us away from moral values. We (the Right) look at the "progress" since the 1950s and blame it on Liberals.

[bonito]

7. divide and conquer n/t.

[BillZBubb]

9. Liberals believe Labor is just as important as Capital.

Capital gains and unearned income should not receive special benefits over money earned in honest labor.

Liberals also believe business has more responsibilities than simply turning a profit. And if they won't live up to their
responsibilities, government must make them.

[jdj]

11. liberals believe gays should have access to all the civil rights

and ceremonies that heterosexuals have.

The right believes gays are okay as long as they stay undercover and have sex in bars, meet over the internet for paid trysts, and don't interfere with the right's maintaining a straight cover so that they can keep breeding soldiers for the state.

[mopinko]

12. here's to hilllary's frame of unintended pregnancy as tragedy

:toast:
nail/head

[ginnyinWI]

14. Agreed, we need to reframe, but

I have a few disagreements with your framing.

First, the word "liberal" has got to go. It originated as a label from the right meant to diss us, and they still use it that way. Call us Democrats, or call us Progressives.

The Right doesn't think Social Security is a Communist plot--and saying that marginalizes us as fanatical. But they believe that people only deserve what they can do for themselves, and government is only for military protection and law enforcement, so that makes social programs immoral, by their standards (see George Lakoff for more on this).

I agree that the Bush administration lied us in to the war in Iraq, and our best hope to get out now is to somehow convince the majority of people that it is an immoral war waged for immoral reasons. Otherwise they really don't care whether Bush lied or not--if they think the ends justified the means! So forget trying to tell them about the lies, unless it is to prop up the argument that this war is plain wrong--bad for us and bad for the Middle East, and that Bush and Co. ought to be held to account for their war crimes.

[Name removed]

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