I have a question for you:
Why is it that every time someone challenges you and your narrow vision of politics , the de rigueur response from you is to throw out the accusation that someone is a "Liberal", as if it is a dirty word? You fling it like so much proverbial dung at the wall, hoping for it to stick, and thus cloak your enemy with something that smells, and then self-righteously claim to have won the war of words.
Do you and your cohorts even understand the concept of being Liberal, or for that matter Conservative? Or are you simply mimicking so much groupthink like screaming schoolgirls going off a cliff in a bus?
Well, here is a quick and basic primer for you so that you can have at least some understanding as to why you look so ridiculous tossing out a word that frankly, we on the other side can wear as a badge of honor, not shame, for much of it benefits you as well�
It so happens that those "Liberals" you, and many of your cronies seem to cast aspersions upon are responsible for many liberties and protections we (that includes you, Oh Conservative One), as Americans, currently enjoy. Take for example:
- The 40 hour work week created by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Seems the Right, through various legislation , would like to repeal portions of this Act so that big business won't have to pay overtime to workers, and raise the work week standard from 40 hours to 50 in an effort to avoid overtime and time and a half. Reclassification is a big trend too, designed to take earnings away from you. Is that what you, as an American, would like to see happen? It is hard enough to make ends meet as it is.
- Child Labor laws. Do Americans want to see their children slaving in sweatshops here in the U.S., as they certainly did at one time? The Republican party fought hard against this at the turn of the century because they thought an employer should be able to employ whomever they wished. In fact, the Republican controlled Congress of 1924 shot down a Constitutional Amendment looking to protect children regarding labor practices. It took FDR and the FLSA to make it law. So much for Conservatives caring about children�
- 1964 Civil Rights legislation. I certainly hope you as an American don't expect to send minorities to the back of the bus again.
- Social Security Act. I don't think I know a single retired American in either party who hasn't partaken of this program. This was, and continues to be, fought against by the Right as being too "entitlement". I�d like to see you explain that one to Grandma.
- The G.I. Bill of Rights. This bill has helped to educate millions of soldiers after serving their country honorably. After all they have done for us, in terms of protecting our nation, this is the least we could have done for them. I wonder how many of your family members benefited from this legislation as well, which was introduced by John Stelle, a Liberal who was Governor of Illinois at the time.
- The Federal Reserve Act. This act helps to protect your money in any banking institution in the U.S. This was fought by the Republican party on behalf of the banking industry as being too controlling of business. I'm glad they lost that battle as well.
- The Minimum Wage laws. This law guaranteed Americans the chance to at least earn a wage that would ensure some sort of survival. Many Americans have benefited from this. Again, fought by the Right as interfering in big business, to this day.
- Unemployment Compensation laws. See the Social Security Act. Again, I know of few people who have not been in the position of needing this safety net when finding themselves out of work. I would like to see how Americans would react to it if it were taken away.
So, Conservatives, please stop using Liberal as a filthy word and derogatory insult to fling at someone. It simply isn't true.
And the above benefits you currently enjoy are proof.