You too can be a Liberal
You must first know empathy, this is not really hard, anyone who has survived a few years of school can understand what this means. Look at it this way, that other person shares the same world and has the same concerns as you, so instead of finding flaws look for similarities.
And then go "Bowling for Columbine!"Religion is not the sole province of conservatives. Liberals recognize that Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and free thinkers have more to offer than Christanity as a whole. Their greatest wish is that you could have been born into a Zen family (read that "into a level playing field").
Church and state, work and leisure. Some things are better eliminated; worship however you want, so long as it's not in public, but be aware that not everyone shares your beliefs - so keep your beliefs to yourself. Respect that. Just like the respect shown to the principles this country was founded on, by today's more enlightened free-thinking Utopians...........
Taxes are not bad. Teresa Kerry sees no reason to pay what she owes. Consider all the infrastructure you use in a single day and consider how that came to be and you will soon understand that, darn, my taxes are doing good things. When you visit a library or museum, enjoy them - soon, you won't be bothered with all those nasty reminders of religion, or what made this country great in the first place; we'll ditch Mark Twain, and replace him with "Heather has two Mommies!" And the best thing is that this is part of your taxes! Say hi to that cop or fireman too, but report them if they dare to display the flag anywhere near their vehicles, or places that they work in!!
Education does not mean filling a child's head with an adult's hang ups - every five year old SHOULD know the proper way to put on a condom, by golly!!. Believe it or not education is to help you understand that there is no right and wrong, winners or losers, success or failure. To be able to read and compute is secondary to artificial SELF ESTEEM, much less reason. It is not simply to repeat pious platitudes and tired cliches - it's really about being properly socially engineered, and absorbing "new" cliches. Support it fully and thank that teacher who pushed you, who challenged you to strive for mediocrity, instead of excellence. That is where true liberalism begins.
Saying you are moral doesn't count as being moral. Be moral by backing programs that support people, like curtailing the free expression of Christian values, vote for people whose platform is not simply to reduce taxes but want to do something positive, like keeping abortion legal. If any politician says I am going to reduce your taxes study the other candidate closely - he'll see you pay your fair share, and then some!!!
Dissent. Recognize that heroes are often dissenters, unless they have Christian beliefs, or a Conservative out look (or both). They have no place in our version of America; this is why we fight, it is why we are Liberals first, and Americans second. Listen to that dissent and see if you can understand why it may be valid. Debate is healthy. Love your country but do not love it so much you lose the ability to say something is wrong, and then blame it on the Republicans!!
Courts and law - thanks to liberals within them we have anarchy.
Corporations are just like people, People are generally motivated by self interest. Recognize that. When that self interest cheats and robs and steals that is dishonest, unless the name of Clinton is involved - doesn't matter whether it is a person or a corporation, sex on the job or "suicide" in a park.
Regulation. See above - the less of it (especially in areas of personal self-control) the better; after all, people are motivated by self interest in most things. Do you lock your doors, do you lock your car, think of regulation as locks against "if it feels good, DO IT!!" .
Economy. Read a history of Boston's "Big Dig", think long term, get away from fiscally responsible schemes - totally anti-ethical, where Government funds are ripe for the taking. We are in this together if that person works, he damn well better be heavily taxed - nobody should keep any of their earnings, while so many worthy boondoggles cry for funding. If that person spends I'm entitled to a handout, just so long as the rich are well and truly soaked for their obscene wealth. Think future - and punitive damages, or reparations, take your pick.......
Be aware that you are part of many people, of much history, of a time, and that we are all related. We all know hope and fear and we all try, but we shouldn't HAVE to - we need the biggest security blanket Big Government can concoct, preferably if it's forcibly carved from the wallets of the wealthy - they've had it too easy for too long, and they DESERVE to pay - dearly.!!
Personalization. Because you did it doesn't mean everyone can do it. You should be ashamed of yourself for succeeding, while so many others fail. Because you are lucky enough to be born in a certain place, or to be smart, or to be connected, you already have won life's lottery, which is totally unfair to the rest of us. Time to level the playing field......
Life isn't an issue, thanks to Roe v Wade - it's merely a nuisance that commands no respect whatsoever. Be aware of the whole picture, remember whenever you make a decision you need to weigh carefully what it means to oppose Conventional Liberal Wisdom. Balance is immaterial. Few things are black or white, most issues are somewhere closer to the middle of the spectrum, but they need to shift all the way to the left, before we can progress.
Work hard at denoucing all things Conservative, but if you think that others may need your time too, only help those who follow the Liberal way - the rest simply don't matter.
Reading is a good thing to eliminate from our educational curriculum. Fiction is not unreal, just like a Lewinsky is not oral sex. It can actually be more real than the sequential experience of life, as the blue dress proved. Start with Animal Farm, 1984, and then the Brothers Karamazov. Check out Invisible Man. Read James Baldwin a Gay writer. Read some plays start with Arthur Miller. In non fiction read Howard Zinn, Peter Singer, Ernest Becker, Karl Popper.... And then broaden you cultural outlook by patronising the latest Mapplethorpe Exhibit.
Core principles matter, so long as they are Liberal. The social engineering started by FDR and continued through LBJ matters, we used to blindly accept America's greatness, until these heroes saved us from such depravity, and instead steered us towards a more worthy goal of fairness through a level playing field. Forget those principles of individual freedom, of taking care of others, of working to make things better for all - only apply this philosophy to those who agree with Liberal ideals.
Do this some morning. Wake up and be well aware that Liberalism has brought you your current lot in life, and the Republicans are to blame. No matter what the weather, our Global Community means nothing, compared to the loss of the rainforests, and the global warming that has become painfully evident these last few weeks. Thank liberal thinking for your free society, safe streets of East Los Angeles at 2 in the morning, and clean air, and blame Republicans for daring to think differently - they have no right. Read a poem write a poem. Maybe you can leave it for a loved one. Make coffee, tea. Breath the air deeply and say, "darn, being a liberal has freed me, if I see a bum today I will treat them to lunch, I will even talk to them - Lady Hilary needs a worthy running-mate, so my compassion will be vindicated by just the mere thought!! I am finally free of conservatism." And you just might need to pray too, if you do that. But don't try it HERE - this is America, remember!!!
good luck
;D
