Yes, I used that word, ‘liberal.’ I identify as one after all. I have already made clear why I prefer that term to the one currently in vogue, ‘progressive.’ Now I lay out what, exactly, as a liberal I believe. This has all been out there before, but I feel the need to reiterate it.
I believe in democracy and the will of the people. We are nation governed by people and ruled by laws. That means when conservatives and Republicans win elections they inherently have my consent to govern on that basis and I will accordingly defend their right to do so. While I will forcefully oppose the elements of their agenda I consider bad, I will nonetheless support their right to enact it so long as it is consistent with the Constitution.
I believe regulated capitalism is the best economic system for prosperity and societal development and advancement. There must be regulations in place to curb its excesses, but, overall, it is better than any other system that has been put out there. When properly regulated, the invisible hand postulated by Adam Smith can, and will generally, be effective. It is not always pretty, and it is certainly not perfect, but many people will innovate based upon the perceived economic benefits to be reaped by accurately judging society’s wants and needs.
I do not believe corporations are inherently evil. They are mere pieces of papers; fictional constructs designed to limit the liability of investors to the size of their investment. That limited liability encourages investment. It helped promote significant economic growth here and in other nations. As with other elements of a capitalist economic system when its excesses are not curbed it can, and will, cause significant damage. That, however, is not an argument to eliminate the concept of limited liability, or capitalism for that matter. Instead it is merely a reason to pursue effective and reasonable regulations.
I believe that people rise and fall on their own merits. Health care and education and other forms of government assistance are not handouts and they should not be viewed as such, either by the people receiving them or the people criticizing the programs. They are, instead, a hand up. Government should not be there to make people succeed or fail, but, rather, to give people the opportunity to succeed or to fail. This means properly funding government programs, but it also means everyone accepting their personal responsibility.
I believe that health care and education and Social Security are rights. I believe that everyone that is willing to work hard should be able to find a job and have a roof over their head and food on their table. I believe there should be a living wage. I believe government should be there to help those that are working hard and need just a little bit of help to make ends meet. A little bit of assistance can go a long way.
I believe in a system of progressive taxation where the burden is commensurate with the ability to pay. We all benefit from the many services and guarantees that come with stable government and effective government services. We all share in paying for that burden, but some are more financially capable to contribute than others. There is merit to the argument that we should all be taxed, to some extent, in some way, shape or form, however that does not justify treating all types of income and all levels of income identically.
I believe in fiscal responsibility. Government should spend the people’s money wisely. Sometimes this will be more expensive and sometimes will be less expensive. It is not an ideology inherently grounded in big government or small government, but rather one grounded in smart government. It does not start off with the idea that government is the answer for everything or that it is the answer for nothing. It starts out by asking ‘What is the problem?’ and then asking ‘What is the best solution?’ Sometimes that solution will be the government directly providing services; other times that solution will be government as facilitator for private provision of those services.
I believe in a strong national defense. We must have a military that is ready and able to defend our interests and our liberty anywhere on this planet. War should be avoided whenever possible, but sometimes it is unavoidable. I am in the tradition of many liberals in our history such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. We must be vigorous in defense of our liberty and we must show that when pressed we will do what is necessary to preserve that liberty.
I believe that so long as someone is not harming others that it is not the business of the government to interfere. If someone wishes to smoke marijuana in the privacy of their home, that is not the government’s business. However, once they decide to drive while under the influence of marijuana it is no different than driving under the influence of alcohol. Similarly, if someone wishes to marry someone of the same-sex that is not the government’s business and it should be treated no differently than when an opposite-sex couple wishes to marry. If a person opposes same-sex marriage, then the solution is not to prevent others from marrying persons of the same sex, but for them to not marry a person of the same sex.
I believe in individual autonomy. People have the right to control their own bodies. A woman’s decision to terminate a pregnancy is a decision for her alone. It is a matter of her own conscience. All people are entitled to respect and to dignity. This inherently includes the ability to make decisions about their own bodies without interference from the government. This does not grant them the right to harm their fellow citizens, but rather the right to merely decide personal matters without government dictates.
This view of government I lay out is one of limited government. It is a government that seeks to protect the rights of the individual, facilitate the ability of the individual to rise and fall on his or her own merits and to help provide for a basic level of needs for all citizens. To me, this is what it means to be a liberal and it is why I am proud to call myself one.
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