Liberal Confessions

[Ian_rd]

Inspired by the morning segment on Air America, I thought it might be interesting to start a thread where people can post their views that differ from those that are typically considered "liberal" and explain their position. Mine:

Affirmative Action:

I oppose affirmative action. Many supporters disagree on what affirmative action should be, but if it involves granting material preference or advantage in education and the workplace solely based on race or gender, then I consider it unconstitutional, unethical, and completely flawed in any attempt to remedy the racial divides we have in our country.

Affirmative action is facial tissue for the pneumonia that is institutionalized racism. If we want to cure this problem, there is no easy fix. It involves adequately funding schools in traditionally poor minority communities. Which is why I do support redistribution of education taxes to equalize the quality of education and hence opportunities among our youth. It also involves curing law enforcement of racial profiling and differing treatment of minority neighborhoods and citizens, which most definitely includes fixing the huge discrepancy in punishment handed down to minorities and whites for the same crimes (A black murder convict is far more likely to get the death penalty than a white murder convict. And possession of drugs? Who's gonna do time - the suburban white kid or the hispanic kid living in the Barrio?).

On the flip side, it also involves striking down the "affirmative action" enjoyed by the privileged in our society (Did George W. Bush really deserve to go to Yale and Harvard? And how did he get into the Texas National Guard despite the long waiting list?).

But affirmative action? No. How many times have employees in a corporation or government secretly muttered "affirmative action" when meeting their new minority or lady co-worker? It may have minor benefits in the present, but is only doing more harm than good in the long run.

[motocicleta]

1. All logical, well, and good, but ...

how do we condone acting against affirmative action programs without dealing with the racist nepotism inherent in the current power structure? If W can still get into Yale, why should I care if some minority gets a leg up just because they are a minority? In my mind, you are right logically but practically? Just because some folks grumble isn't enough to make me go against affirmative action. I don't believe that it is enough of a reason to explain why the pukes rule this country right now.

For my confession? I know globalization causes innumerable wounds to our first world standard of living, and without proper controls on capital it creates a superclass above and beyond governments. But I am still entranced with the possibilities for leveling the human playing field and eliminating poverty and undemocratic regimes, I just don't think it has been implemented properly.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. I shop at Sam's Club

I need to save a few bucks because I'm in a profession that has been extensively offshored.
Been out of work a few years.... you think they still count me in the unemployment stats?

[noonwitch]

3. Affirmative Action is too idealistic, in some ways

I'm not opposed to it, but we need a better solution to racial inequities in this country. It was assumed that after a generation or two, AA would not have been needed anymore because we would have overcome past racism as a society. It didn't work that way-in some ways we are better off than 50 years ago, but in others, we are not.

Affirmative action did not account for how deeply racism is ingrained in our society, and that policy cannot change the human heart.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. I shop at Walmart

I believe abortion is murder.

I go to church.

My family has an SUV. (Four adults/2 kids)



Oh. dear. God. I'm conservative.

nah...I have some very wacky ideas in other areas.

[Ron Mexico]

5. I am pro-gun, I oppose any and all

social programs for illegal aliens, and I think anyone who employs illegals should get jail time. I also scoff at the "jobs Americans won't take" line and can't believe that Bush - of all people - had the audacity to use it.

I hope that's all I have in common with the assholes on the right.

[quinnox]

6. Some opinions that I think many Duers would disagree with

I like Hillary Clinton a lot, and think she would have a shot at winning the presidency and would make a fine president.

I don't believe Bush was behind 9/11. But I agree there are some serious questions surrounding the event that have not been explained.

I don't care about the DLC and don't think they are some boogeyman that controls all the Dems.

I think Congressional Democrats in general are doing a great job opposing the president considering they have no power whatsoever in all three branches of government.

I think Al-Queda is a threat and should be hunted down and taken care of.

I love the United States of America and believe it is a great place to live and I don't blame it for all the world's problems. I'm not part of the "Blame America first" crowd.

But of course I do blame Bush for lowering American world prestige because of his stupid foreign policy decisions, but that can be rectified when he leaves office.

[Ian_rd]

7. Responding to each of yours

I like Hillary Clinton a lot, and think she would have a shot at winning the presidency and would make a fine president.

- Hillary appears to be a strong, capable person, but she has never shown me anything that would prompt me to support her for the presidency.

I don't believe Bush was behind 9/11. But I agree there are some serious questions surrounding the event that have not been explained.

- I've never heard of anyone who thinks Bush or our government was involved except crackpots like Alex Jones.

I don't care about the DLC and don't think they are some boogeyman that controls all the Dems.

- I consider the DLC to be one of the primary factors in the continuing success of the Republican Party when their corruption and failures should have easily brought them down. It seems like every time an issue arises where the Dems could take advantage of yet another Republican screw-up or atrocity, the DLC launches a campaign saying that "it is not in the best interest of Democrats to oppose Bush on <blank>."

I think Congressional Democrats in general are doing a great job opposing the president considering they have no power whatsoever in all three branches of government.

- I think considering how polls consistently show that the majority of Americans agree with progressive positions but instead continue to vote for Republicans, then the Dems need to pull their head out of their ass and realize that being a party of principled liberals will bring more success than timid "moderates."

I think Al-Queda is a threat and should be hunted down and taken care of.

- I have never met anyone that disagrees with this. I'm pretty sure any DUer reading this also agrees. It was actually BUSH who said he wasn't concerned about him at a press conference - and this was after 9/11.

I love the United States of America and believe it is a great place to live and I don't blame it for all the world's problems. I'm not part of the "Blame America first" crowd.

- Don't fall for the Republican talking point about how liberals always blame the U.S. for everything. I love this country and consider it to be a fine example for much of the world. But the fact is that we are to blame for much. We are the most powerful nation in the world and we regularly intervene in situations all over the world, many times in a way that makes things much, much worse. Don't be afraid to "blame" America when America needs to be blamed.

But of course I do blame Bush for lowering American world prestige because of his stupid foreign policy decisions, but that can be rectified when he leaves office.

- Sooner rather than later I hope.

[walldude]

8. Your post reminds me of the saying

Whistling past the graveyard.

Hillary: Corporate hack. Wouldn't be holding office if it weren't for her husband.

9/11: Maybe it wasn't Bush himself but the WTC buildings came down in a controlled demolition. Including I believe it was building 7 which was not hit by a plane or anything else but managed to fall straight to the ground anyway. I have spoken to pyrotechnics and demolitions experts about this.

The DLC: Political hacks who believe the way to power is to be more conservative.

Democrats doing a great job: Your kidding right?

Al-Queda: Couldn't tell you if they are a threat or not. If you believe what the government and media tell you then yeah they are. However, the government and media have proven time and time again that they can't be trusted to do anything that is not in their best interest.

Blame America first: Nice RW talking point there. While I'm not quick to "blame America first" I'm also not arrogant enough to think that we are the be all end all of existance. What you and the RW call Blame America first I call taking responsibility for your actions.

Do you really think that after the torture and murder we have brought upon the middle east that it will just be "rectified" when Bush leaves office? America now has the blood of thousnads of innocent women and children on it's hands, you think we are just going to be able to wash that away? It's going to take a miracle to get us out of this mess.

[left of center]

9. Good topic. I'd like to reform our legal system. I'm not sure how

exactly to go about it, but capping punitive damages would be a start. I've lately given this issue more thought after seeing numerous TV advertisements on behalf of law firms soliciting people who have been injured in auto accidents and who have taken certain presecription drugs.

Another issue is religious freedom. I'm not religious myself, but feel the left is often heavy handed towards public religious expression. It is very difficult to draw a line on what is acceptable, yet where many on the left have drawn it is clearly at odds with what the great majority of the general public thinks.

Abortion is another. My personal view is that is should be unrestricted through the first two trimesters with exception to a few restrictions such as parental notification.