Political titles - 'Liberal'

Liberal became a pejorative during the regan revolution. The even used the phrase “L-word” when describing Dukakis, as if it was a dirty word. If it weren’t for liberals, we would still have slavery, no women voters, and our government would be a theocracy by now.

I am a liberal, and damn proud of it.

Amen to jimahl.

Well, ‘fau’ I don’t understand your answer, which is probably all for the best. Everyone else - thank you, what you are saying helps me to understand the issues, but I can see I’ve only heard one side of the discussion so far. Are there any ‘non-liberals’ who are prepared to answer?

It’s a Cold War issue.

American society is more conservative than European society, for the most part. Also consider that the policies of left-leaning candidates and parties tend to be a little more socialistic, and historically Americans have much more aversion to socialism than Europeans do.

So it’s easy for right-leaning candidates in the US to get votes by portraying left-leaning candidates as “socialists” and to equate liberal views with socialism, communism, etc. The Cold War made American society associate communism with evil and be suspicious of anyone who promotes socialistic ideas. So the word carries more power and has a much more negative connotation.

Interesting, fillet! Thanks. Coming from the opposite side of things to you, I was always happy to be called ‘Liberal’, but I had a similar issue with ever calling myself an ‘Evangelical’ Christian. That’s what I am, but for years I wouldn’t associate myself with that label because of the political baggage it seemed to carry. When the UK’s Evangelical Alliance appointed Joel Edwards, a black former social worker, as its president, I knew I was ready to ‘embrace’ that kind of evangelicalism. I think I understand what you’re saying.

Somewhere along the way, liberalism came to be associated with massive government and socialism.

So, people who call themselves ‘conservative’ use the word ‘liberal’ as an insult, while they vote for ever larger government and more socialism.

Some Americans make a fine living by demonizing groups and driving wedges between people. On both sides, these guys (and gals) exaggerate, distort and outright lie in order to polarize our nation and present their own ideals as the absolute truth.

Although I am quite “liberal” in my thinking and identify more closely with American liberals, there are many stereotypical “liberal” ideas that I don’t support and many stereotypical “conservative” ideas that I do support. I suppose this makes me exactly what most Americans are - mainstream.

The pejorative use of “liberal” (or “conservative) is just one more result of this imaginary Culture War that we’re fighting against each other. It’s pointless and stupid and it’s lining the pockets of talking heads everywhere. As long as we are arguing with each other, we’ll never be able to come together and resolve anything.