1. Derived from "Liberty", a liberal is literally someone who believes in freedom. This includes freedom of religion, freedom from tyranny, and free markets.
However, American liberals have rejected freedom of the market, and have economically mixed liberal ideals with socialist ideals to create the American liberal. This is someone who supports personal freedom in social issues, and mixed economic initiatives to create greater equality within capitalism.
Typical issues that liberals support are less restrictions on abortions, more restrictions on guns, the equality of genders, races, religions and sexual orientations, and the Separation of Church and State. The American liberal would add on such things as socialized healthcare, environmentalism and greater support for the poor through welfare and greater spending on public services.
Liberal is sometimes used as an insult by their enemies, conservatives. This occurs in the United States, elsewhere liberal is usually a complement. As a result, many liberals dub themselves progressives, which does not have the same negative connotations.
However, American liberals have rejected freedom of the market, and have economically mixed liberal ideals with socialist ideals to create the American liberal. This is someone who supports personal freedom in social issues, and mixed economic initiatives to create greater equality within capitalism.
Typical issues that liberals support are less restrictions on abortions, more restrictions on guns, the equality of genders, races, religions and sexual orientations, and the Separation of Church and State. The American liberal would add on such things as socialized healthcare, environmentalism and greater support for the poor through welfare and greater spending on public services.
Liberal is sometimes used as an insult by their enemies, conservatives. This occurs in the United States, elsewhere liberal is usually a complement. As a result, many liberals dub themselves progressives, which does not have the same negative connotations.
1. "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
Benjamin Franklin
2. "I hate liberals. Stupid pinko liberals are ruining America."
"Yeah, damn liberals and their...their...liberty. Psht, this is America, we don't need liberty. God bless America."
"Hey, wait..."
3. Often thought of as the founder of Liberalism, John Locke said that no state has the right to take away a person's "life, health, liberty, or possessions."
Benjamin Franklin
2. "I hate liberals. Stupid pinko liberals are ruining America."
"Yeah, damn liberals and their...their...liberty. Psht, this is America, we don't need liberty. God bless America."
"Hey, wait..."
3. Often thought of as the founder of Liberalism, John Locke said that no state has the right to take away a person's "life, health, liberty, or possessions."
by SpecialKay May 2, 2006
Get the liberal mug.A word Americans has no clue as to its meaning.
Another derogatory word used by small minded bible pushing hypocrites to box anyone that has an opposing view.
Progressive thinker in an evolving society
Oh…last but not least, a person that does not agree that W.M.D spells liberation.
Another derogatory word used by small minded bible pushing hypocrites to box anyone that has an opposing view.
Progressive thinker in an evolving society
Oh…last but not least, a person that does not agree that W.M.D spells liberation.
“Was watching Fox news and this liberal dude with the glasses next to Sean Hannity (the Jewish looking one they seem to invite every night) must be a fag as he did not agree with Ann Coulter and made her mad…she tried hard to explain in English that WMD spells liberation, he even objected to her idea of us nuking France”
by Libby Rawl October 8, 2005
Get the liberal mug.by Jim Ignatauski July 4, 2005
Get the liberals mug.Someone who thinks that killing an unborn child is free choice, but killing a convicted murderer or a child rapist is "insensitive".
Someone who think the government should control all aspects of life examples: Healthcare, Education, Business, personal income, and religious beliefs (So nobody can be offended).
Someone who thinks that eliminating poverty is more important than preserving economic freedom in life.
Someone who thinks that fair taxation is not fair until the people who make more money pay more than their fair share.
Someone who supports such extreme environmental regulations that drilling for oil in the US is virtually impossible, but also fight against any source of energy that actually works (Nuclear, Coal). But they can also support ethanol that takes approximately 1.5 gallons of diesel fuel to provide the power to make 1 gallon of "environmental friendly" ethanol.
They must also subsidize ethanol companies, therefore creating a money vacuum into a doomed energy policy. Which not too mention has decreased US food production and therefore has led to a worldwide increase of countries with food shortages by the way.
Someone who supports free speech as long as it doesn't contradict what they believe, then it's no longer free speech, but "hate speech."
They must also be completely ignorant of history which shows us that increase in government control ultimately leads to the destruction of freedom. Examples: The Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, The People's Republic of China, etc.
Someone who believes in equal economic outcome (an aspect of socialism) instead of inequality based on what you earned (an aspect of capitalism).
Someone who blindly believes that the government would never do anything to hinder the freedoms of people no matter how much power it is given and the government is the solution to all economic and social problems because they actually know what's best for you, not the individual. Remember, Big Brother is here to help you, not hurt you.
There are of course many other things that you must blindly believe in order to be a liberal in the modern political American aspect of the word. Regardless of what history teaches us about government control in people's lives.
Someone who think the government should control all aspects of life examples: Healthcare, Education, Business, personal income, and religious beliefs (So nobody can be offended).
Someone who thinks that eliminating poverty is more important than preserving economic freedom in life.
Someone who thinks that fair taxation is not fair until the people who make more money pay more than their fair share.
Someone who supports such extreme environmental regulations that drilling for oil in the US is virtually impossible, but also fight against any source of energy that actually works (Nuclear, Coal). But they can also support ethanol that takes approximately 1.5 gallons of diesel fuel to provide the power to make 1 gallon of "environmental friendly" ethanol.
They must also subsidize ethanol companies, therefore creating a money vacuum into a doomed energy policy. Which not too mention has decreased US food production and therefore has led to a worldwide increase of countries with food shortages by the way.
Someone who supports free speech as long as it doesn't contradict what they believe, then it's no longer free speech, but "hate speech."
They must also be completely ignorant of history which shows us that increase in government control ultimately leads to the destruction of freedom. Examples: The Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, The People's Republic of China, etc.
Someone who believes in equal economic outcome (an aspect of socialism) instead of inequality based on what you earned (an aspect of capitalism).
Someone who blindly believes that the government would never do anything to hinder the freedoms of people no matter how much power it is given and the government is the solution to all economic and social problems because they actually know what's best for you, not the individual. Remember, Big Brother is here to help you, not hurt you.
There are of course many other things that you must blindly believe in order to be a liberal in the modern political American aspect of the word. Regardless of what history teaches us about government control in people's lives.
Conservative: Doesn't history show us that too much government control, even with good intentions, leads to inevitable destruction of freedom?
Liberal: That's only because the wrong people were in power
Conservative: What makes modern American liberals so different?
Liberal: Because WE have the best interest of the people on our minds.
Conservative: That's what every oppressive government in history said when they eliminated freedoms for the sake of the "common good"
Liberal: But we're different! We're not eliminating freedom, but eliminating people's choice to make wrong decisions.
Conservative: So who decides what's "best for the people", the government? How does that make you different than a socialist?
Liberal: WE JUST ARE! You're a racist! And a Bigot! And you don't care about anybody but the super rich!
Conservative: Why? Because I don't want the government to have complete control in people's lives? But instead give the people the right to prosper if they choose, or to not if they choose?
Liberal: Just shut up! You're an ignorant, Christian, redneck, homophobe!
Conservative: My point exactly.
Liberal: That's only because the wrong people were in power
Conservative: What makes modern American liberals so different?
Liberal: Because WE have the best interest of the people on our minds.
Conservative: That's what every oppressive government in history said when they eliminated freedoms for the sake of the "common good"
Liberal: But we're different! We're not eliminating freedom, but eliminating people's choice to make wrong decisions.
Conservative: So who decides what's "best for the people", the government? How does that make you different than a socialist?
Liberal: WE JUST ARE! You're a racist! And a Bigot! And you don't care about anybody but the super rich!
Conservative: Why? Because I don't want the government to have complete control in people's lives? But instead give the people the right to prosper if they choose, or to not if they choose?
Liberal: Just shut up! You're an ignorant, Christian, redneck, homophobe!
Conservative: My point exactly.
by Ethan Daigle April 21, 2008
Get the liberal mug.1. Political tendency which, in the European context, sits firmly in the middle of the spectrum, without any strong political ideology. Synonymous with "middle-of-the-road". American liberals are considerably to the right of their European counterparts.
"A woolly liberal", "a wet liberal"
2. Theological tendency, synonymous with Modernist, opposite to Conservative or Fundamentalist.
3. An ill-defined term, often abusive, which provokes violent and hysterical reactions from Americans.
"A woolly liberal", "a wet liberal"
2. Theological tendency, synonymous with Modernist, opposite to Conservative or Fundamentalist.
3. An ill-defined term, often abusive, which provokes violent and hysterical reactions from Americans.
by Unsavoury foreigner February 16, 2005
Get the liberal mug.Liberate your mind
You motherfucker, you're so narrow-minded
So narrow-minded
Liberate your mind
Now motherfucker, will you liberate your mind
This time
Bold motherfucker
Don't limit your mind
Can't you see that the pace
Has fallen behind
All the hate in your heart
Will be leaving you blind
So bold motherfucker
Don't you limit your mind
This time
Waiting, for your modern messiah
To take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye
Still awaiting, I.
"Out of Zion shall come forth a law
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem
Nation shall not raise sword against nation
And they shall not learn war anymore
For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken"
Waiting, for your modern messiah
To take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye
Still awaiting, I.
You motherfucker, you're so narrow-minded
So narrow-minded
Liberate your mind
Now motherfucker, will you liberate your mind
This time
Bold motherfucker
Don't limit your mind
Can't you see that the pace
Has fallen behind
All the hate in your heart
Will be leaving you blind
So bold motherfucker
Don't you limit your mind
This time
Waiting, for your modern messiah
To take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye
Still awaiting, I.
"Out of Zion shall come forth a law
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem
Nation shall not raise sword against nation
And they shall not learn war anymore
For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken"
Waiting, for your modern messiah
To take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye
Still awaiting, I.
by Keael April 8, 2006
Get the liberate mug.a group of people who place names on people such as homophobics, calls every republican either a white trash hillbilly who doesn't know better or a super rich stuck up snob who hates the poor and wants to take their money which doesn't make any sense when you think about it...why take the poors money? They have barely any money? There poor? Liberals can be any person who belives in their views...no one puts a name on them like they do to the conservatives. Liberals own all of the media and control all of it which isnt a bad thing its just that the news on TV is extremely biased. Democrats are fine in my opinon its just the extreme liberals that can hurt the country in my opinion.
by Matt June 21, 2004
Get the liberals mug.