What kind of liberal are you?

Note: These are overly generalized positions, but they offer a general outline of belief systems.

So, for the purposes of this poll:

Social issues liberal: One who strongly favors a woman's right to choose, supports stem cell research, opposes faith based initiatives in government, supports gay equality unequivocally and adamantly opposes the agenda of the religious right across the board.

Social issues centrist: One who is okay with faith based government initiatives, thinks we need to "dialogue" over abortion rights, thinks liberals sometimes have a problem with religion in general, and sees the need to at least listen with an open mind to the religious right on certain hot button issues.

Economic liberal: Thinks corporations have been allowed to run amok, are in dire need of regulation and would like to see the government have much more control over the healthcare system.

Economic issues centrist: Thinks the private sector can usually do better on its own without governmental interference. Favors some, but minimal governmental control, including on healthcare.

Foreign policy liberal: One who believes the US should generally not interfere in the various hotspots around the world, because we always end up acting like imperialistic bullies. Almost never supports using force - negotiate whenever possible. Usually believes Palestine is suffering at the hands of an overly oppressive and unfair Israeli regime.

Foreign policy centrist: One who believe in walking softly, but carrying a big stick. Does not hesitate to use force when American interests are at stake and negotiations are futile. Generally believes that Isreal is one of our strongest and most vital allies.

They may as well be Republicans, afaiac. It's the economic issues that really matter and which make us liberals.

:dem:

-Laelth

There's people who are democrats/liberals primarily because of social issues. There's people who are democrats/liberals primarily because of foreign policy. Not everyone's most important issues are the economy. Look at the religious right if you have any doubt, they don't take a stance on economic and tax issues, they don't care much about them. There's voters who are like a liberal version of that in our party, motivated by fighting for equality for all the persecuted minority groups in America, as well as protecting a woman's right to choose, and who don't care much about the economy as long as they can get a job.

I consider myself a very strong social liberal, primarily motivated on social issues. On foreign policy I'm mostly a liberal, but still somewhat centralist at times. I consider myself an economic moderate.

But on all the significant social issues in America, the left has already won. We just haven't seen all our cultural victories translated into law yet, but we will. Republicans keep hammering these wedge issues, but they seldom act on them when they have the chance. They controlled the federal government between 2003 and 2006. They could have outlawed abortion, if they wanted, but they didn't. They know they have already lost that argument. Only their rabid base, a small and dwindling minority in this country, would support such a measure. The vast majority of the country is "socially liberal." That doesn't make them all our political allies.

As for foreign policy, while that's very important, I don't see a clear liberal/conservative distinction. I see differences between various administrations, but I don't think these differences are shaped by either classic liberalism or classic conservatism. Isolationism has often been considered a conservative position, for example, but the Bush administration wasn't isolationist at all. In fact, their aggressive foreign policy philosophy has been called "neo-liberalism." Ultimately, I am uncomfortable describing myself as either liberal or conservative on foreign policy. I just don't find those labels to be particularly useful.

So, because we've already won on the social issues, and because "liberal" and "conservative" are not terribly useful in describing people's opinions on foreign policy, I return to my assertion that it's the economic issues that matter. Whether people have homes, whether they have jobs, whether they can afford health care, whether our economy collapses, and whether people can afford to feed their families ... these are the issues that really matter. These are the issues most often affected by the laws passed in Congress. These are the areas where we most often disagree with Republicans. And it is on these issues where politicians show us whether or not they are liberal. The words "liberal" and "conservative" have real and profound meaning in the context of these issues.

Of course, the Republican Party is in dire straits. We have always has conservatives in the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party will continue to attract more conservatives as the Republicans dwindle. We have to accept that fact, for the moment, but I will continue to reserve the word "liberal" for those politicians who show an inclination to act on behalf of the less fortunate in regards to the issues that matter most ... the economic ones.

Thanks for the response.

:dem:

-Laelth

you don't want those people voting republican if you want to be a national party.

So I copped to the liberal liberal liberal.

I'll take "what works" over stale ideological dogmatism any day.

Where can I vote for THAT!

It's always about money.

n/t

Especially on social issues though. Listening to the religious right on social issues is ridiculous.

an economic issues centrist. It's just that the center is so far to the right in our country.

More so in economic and foreign policy, but I am in social, too. I think equality for all is very important, and think stem cell research has great potential.

I'm a social liberal. I support a woman's right to choose, I support stem cell research, I oppose faith-based government initiatives, I support equality for ALL people (though not necessarily in the specific manner some here do). I do not, however, "adamantly oppose the agenda of the religious right across the board". I consider each issue separately, I don't automatically oppose a proposed plan simply because of the source.

I'm a fiscal conservative (true conservative, not neocon). I support the idea that government should provide a basic level of support and opportunity for all people, but that excessive government control/intervention is generally counterproductive. I'm not a lunatic "Constitutionalist", but I believe that the Constitution provides for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" and I believe that's both a minimum AND maximum requirement.

I'm a foreign policy centrist...out of practicality. I believe we should look after our own needs first and use any surplus to both aid the needs and foster improved relations with certain nations (with the emphasis on looking after our own needs first). I believe that both Israel and Palestine bear responsibility for their actions and the effect those actions have had, but I believe that we have been overly biased toward Israel.


My main gripe is that your "liberal" definitions are generally left wing while your "centrist" definitions are right wing. I see no allowance for any real "centrist" position in your choices.

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what specific form of inequality do you support instead of actual equal equality? You sound socially middle of the road to me. You favor 'a form of equality' which obviously means something less than equal rights.

Eh, whatever. I'm not up to providing my own definitions this morning, so I went ahead and used his definitions.

aaaaaaghhhhhh -

I am NOT a social centrist!!

I believe in free markets and free trade. I'm a social liberal.

actually work.

As meticulous as you were coming up with this, I don't think it did the job.

Try just splitting Dems into three groups- DLC/conservative Dems, moderate liberal Dems, and "left-wing" Dems, and then use examples. See how many people identify with each group. Generally works.

economic and foreign policies, pro life and mildly conservative on some social issues.............

the first one.

wow! no wonder I get so hammered here.

Totally lib on every social issue.. I hate the Religious right.

Foriegn Policy - more centrist. I don't think we should have ever invaded Iraq, but I think there are times when we have to use force to defend the US. A lot of people do indeed hate us.

Fiscally - also centrist. I feel the government should assist somewhat, but I also think if you make it to comfortable, people won't ever learn to stand on their own 2 feet. I also don't think you can keep increasing taxes to cover all programs - look at California, its running them into the ground.

Social issues:

I'm pro-life, but pro-gay marriage. So I can't say I'm liberal on social issues, right?

Economic issues:

I'm pro-union and pro-trade, but not pro-free trade.

Does that make me a liberal? Moderate?

Foreign issues:

I'm not a pacifist. I think war is entirely justifiable at times. But I don't think I'm a centrist here.

I don't think FDR was a foreign policy centrist.

It just seems putting it into liberal/centrist is far too convoluted to answer legitimately.

Curious as to what you mean by "pro-life".

I think that's a personal opinion.

I understand why someone can be pro-choice.

Personally? I'm not. But then again, I'm a man and if my gf/wife wanted an abortion, I'd support her 110%.

consider that to be a pro choice position. You are not in favor of government telling women what they can and cannot do - you favor the private choice of the individual.

It sounds like you are personally "pro-life", but pro-choice when it comes to public policy.

foreign policy is murkier. Sometimes we need to step in and help others (Bosnia), sometimes we have to defend ourselves. However, going to war with a country that has nothing to do with us (Iraq, Vietnam) is ridiculous. And we need to get out of situations that did have to do with us but are not going well (I am torn over Afghanistan).

I have always been socially very liberal, pro life, pro gay marriage, pro legalize drugs. The govt. needs to not dictate how people lead their lives.
Economically, the govt. should step in to help people...universal health care, progressive taxation, social programs. I am disgusted with huge corporations running our lives.

So I guess I am centrist only on foreign policy.

I support second ammendment self defence rights, and I support Israel and do not believe Palestine is a victim.

Oh, and I believe this is MY country, not the GOP's.


mark

While I always score as a moderate/centrist/realist in those on-line political spectrum quizzes, my views on any particular issue vary and it's not so cookie cutter simple. But if one wants to keep things simple, I have no problem with being idetified as a centrist with the understanding that there are exceptions to the label when one gets into the details of an issue.

Social:

Death penalty - against; I take the Catholic view here
Abortion rights - pro-choice, but think we need to make the case that we support choice rather than abortion
Stem cell research - in favor, with an eye on it
Faith based initiatives - I don't believe they have a place in government
Affirmative action - support, but believe we should bring economic status into it
Gay equality - support
Religious right - I'm spiritual myself, but oppose most religious right principles. Believe we should appeal to the religious by using things like Jesus's compassion

Overall - liberal

Economic:

Yes, think corporations have run amok
Break up "too big to fail" banks
Strive to provide everyone with the necessities, even those who aren't working
Am for single payer health insurance

Overall - very liberal, since I mix socialism with capitalism. The only thing I'm conservative on is making sure taxes on the middle class and poor are low

Foreign policy:

No war unless there's a situation like WWII
Believe both Palestine and Israel have faults, but do not support Israel over Palestine
We need to reduce our defense budget

Overall - very liberal

:shrug:

3rd survey in the last month to exclude the Labor people.