Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Hatter
Does anyone else think liberal/conservative is a false dichotomy? Can't we be liberal on some issues and conservative on others? Are right wing libertarians liberals? What about post-modernists?
I think it would be more productive to evaluate each issue independently rather than just dismiss it as part of the liberal agenda. We're polarized enough as it is.
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Exactly. Both labels may be marginally useful in a really broad sense, but for the most part they fail to take into account the complexities of the issues, and allow for polarization and stereotyping.
I am a HUGE liberal in many ways - I am pro-choice, support legalization of marijuana, want to lower the legal drinking age, support same-sex marriage, and support the removal of trade barriers. All very liberal stances.
On the other hand, I want to ban tobacco, support government regulation of business practices, a moderate form of socialized healthcare, support government enforcement of environmental standards, etc. ANd those are the opposite of liberal stances. Which doesn't make them conservative, by the way.
So what am I? Liberal? Or not? I don't know. I tend to think of myself as a liberal, but in many ways I am not. The label fails to accurately depict my beliefs. And that's the same for everyone; there are very few people who are purely liberal.