NationStates Jolt Archive

OK, I don't know if this has been discussed earlier. If so, then sorry for posting this again, but I'm damned curious. It's aimed at you Americans out there. Why do Americans in general dislike/hate anything "liberal", what encompasses the term "liberal", and why is it so bad?

Please, keep it civil.

Because they can.

It's a recent event were liberal is used like a dirty word.

It's a convient target to focus the people while doing other things. After all you got to watch those dirty marxist commie libs or they will eat your babies and make you have gay sex.

i am a liberal american. our gov't finds liberals scary, not us.

since the majority are conservative, i guess that's why.

Why do Americans in general dislike/hate anything "liberal", what encompasses the term "liberal", and why is it so bad?
Roughly half the US did vote for the "liberal" candidate, so I don't see how "Americans in general" hate "liberals"...

Some people on the right have managed to brainwash a segment of the population into thinking that Liberal means drug addicted, sexually perverted, communist. Because of that Liberal has become a very negative adjective in some circles.

Why do Americans in general dislike/hate anything "liberal", what encompasses the term "liberal", and why is it so bad?


"Liberals" comprise nearly half the American public.

OK, I don't know if this has been discussed earlier. If so, then sorry for posting this again, but I'm damned curious. It's aimed at you Americans out there. Why do Americans in general dislike/hate anything "liberal", what encompasses the term "liberal", and why is it so bad?

Please, keep it civil.
Well if you want the basic lets just assign liberal and conservative to the parties. Since your already assuming all americans hate liberals this is probabl a step up.
The elections are about 50-50. A little more or less on each side per election. Which means that half of america would have to hate the other half if the before said is true. However, its not that simple. The vast number of americans are those mythical creatures known as moderates. Having characteristics of both the extremes. As you have the largest number in the middle you must gradually get less and less as you approach the extremes. Roughly the same amount of psychos on each side of the extreme.
Now for who is hated more is dependent on where you go. I doubt you will find very many people at all chanting against 'liberal' ideas at a prochoice or save the rainforest rally.

Also, liberal and conservative are terms that are subjective to both time and place and change meanings depending on those two previous variables.

Hmmm,...we dont hate anything "Liberal". There are lots of liberals in the country that express their views freely and do have power to push thier ideals...its just that they tend to strike at things like religion. Christmas was killed because Liberals said it was offence to other religions. We allow other religions to celebrate their religions during the holidays with no fuss...but no Christians NO CANT ENJOY OUR HOLIDAYS WHERE OFFENDING EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE AIR TV SHOWS ABOUT IT, PUT UP DECORATIONS, AND WALK AROUND SAYING "MERRY CHRISTMAS"...NO we have to keep quite and let the holiday pass by quitely...In addition, there are others reasons that Liberals allow to many loop holes in our laws. So many criminals end up back on the streets to commit crimes once again but no THEIR ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED THOUGH THE OPPURTUNITY TO LEAVE THAT LIFE IS AVAIBLE....now i come from a ghetto (i'm Puerto Rican) and trust me i'm going to college and breaking away from that life of being a gangster...so thats wat i got to say about LIBERALS and their agenda....

The reason why I said that Americans in general hate liberals is because of the many outcries against liberals we here in Europe (at least where I live) recieve. It appears to us that you guys all hate liberals. I appologize for my mistake.

<brainwashed def.> Liberal means drug addicted, sexually perverted, communist.

I'm wondering just exactly how that's a bad thing. :D

Thanks to talk radio, it's an easy way of classifying Americans who happen to be more left of center on the American political spectrum, and it's also become a "dirty word".

Frankly, being a political professional, when people start talking about the Liberals or the Neo-Cons, I have to fight to not ignore them because those kinds of terms are only used in demogoguery, not in any kind of substantive debate.

I honestly wish people could discuss issues without it turning into name calling, but then again, this is the internet.

I'm wondering just exactly how that's a bad thing. :D
1) Being addicted to drugs isn't good. It makes one act like an irresponsible asshole and in some cases places an unnecessary burden on society.

2) The conservative elements who try to smear liberals use arguments like "The gays want to recruit your kids in their schools" and "The ACLU supports child molestation". Basically they smear liberals as kid touchers.

3) Communism is seen as a pretty lousy system of economics and government by most Americans.

1) Being addicted to drugs isn't good. It makes one act like an irresponsible asshole and in some cases places an unnecessary burden on society.

I find most people say that while drinking a Coke and smoking a cig.

"Liberals" comprise nearly half the American public.



More like 20%. 30% Conservative and 50% Moderate.


So many americans hate your political agenda, not everybody has to agree with you.

I find most people say that while drinking a Coke and smoking a cig.
You're telling me that smokers aren't a burden on our health care system?

OK, I don't know if this has been discussed earlier. If so, then sorry for posting this again, but I'm damned curious. It's aimed at you Americans out there. Why do Americans in general dislike/hate anything "liberal", what encompasses the term "liberal", and why is it so bad?

Please, keep it civil.

well republicans and democrats -- at least the vast majority of us -- are classical liberals.

when I use the word "liberal" I'm talking about points left of center on the socialism/free enterprise continuum.

1) Being addicted to drugs isn't good. It makes one act like an irresponsible asshole and in some cases places an unnecessary burden on society.

2) The conservative elements who try to smear liberals use arguments like "The gays want to recruit your kids in their schools" and "The ACLU supports child molestation". Basically they smear liberals as kid touchers.

3) Communism is seen as a pretty lousy system of economics and government by most Americans.



I am gay, and sadly I have seen some gays try to do just that. Not the majority and I never did that, but it has happened.

I am gay, and sadly I have seen some gays try to do just that. Not the majority and I never did that, but it has happened.
Those guys you've seen trying to hit on schoolkids, they're not gay, they're child molestors.

I don't hate Liberals. I hate FAR LEFT Liberals, just as I hate FAR RIGHT conservatives.

The reason I hate far left Liberals is because they seem to think that if you tap a terrorists phone, it means your also tapping the phone of every American in the country.

They seem to think that child molesters getting therapy is more important than getting justice for a six year old girl who's been repeatedly raped.

They seem to think that a cold blooded murder should live a nice cosy life with all the books he can read, cable TV, nice meals 3 times a day, free healthcare, and free schooling.

They seem to think that Americans who keep a terrorist up for 36 hours, or dunk him in water to scare the shit out of him, are just as bad as someone who can hold down a defenseless person who's never fired a weapon, and cut off their head while they scream for mercy, or put a bullet into the back of the head of an innocent aid worker.

They seem to think that someone who wants to protect the rights of newborn babies thinks so because they believe women should just stay in the kitchen with their mouth shut like a good wife.

They seem to think that making documentaries with more editing tricks than Star Wars is ok, but paying for 100% true stories in the Iraqi media is treasonous.

They seem to think that because hardened criminals use guns to commit burglaries, honest, law abiding citizens like me shouldn't be able to keep one to protect my family.

They seem to think that since I want immigrants to enter the country legally, I must be in the KKK, and want all brown people to just stay the hell out and starve in their own country.



Should I go on?

Those guys you've seen trying to hit on schoolkids, they're not gay, they're child molestors.


:rolleyes:



Not them. Inside school there are a group of gays who try to encourage people they find hot to be gay. Fencesitters get that a lot.

Christmas was killed because Liberals said it was offence to other religions.

Actually the only time I hear happy holidays is from businesses. Don't recall ever seeing a memo from the goverment saying they had to say it.

Even when I worked for the evil Disney empire; the manager said we say it because not everybody is a Christian.


We allow other religions to celebrate their religions during the holidays with no fuss...

As long as they don't put symbols on public property, there is no issue on what you do.


but no Christians NO CANT ENJOY OUR HOLIDAYS WHERE OFFENDING EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE AIR TV SHOWS ABOUT IT, PUT UP DECORATIONS, AND WALK AROUND SAYING "MERRY CHRISTMAS"...NO we have to keep quite and let the holiday pass by quitely...

Wow I guess all the Christians in my neighborhood missed the memo.


In addition, there are others reasons that Liberals allow to many loop holes in our laws. So many criminals end up back on the streets to commit crimes once again


Do you understand the differnce between the Judical and Penal institutions?

So what did Keating get for a punishment after ripping off all that money?

Do you think Ken Lay will do any serious prision time?

:rolleyes:



Not them. Inside school there are a group of gays who try to encourage people they find hot to be gay. Fencesitters get that a lot.
Sorry, I don't understand this post. "find hot to be gay" and "Fencesitters get that a lot" in particular.

?

Do you think Ken Lay will do any serious prision time?
I hope he gets life in prison. Didn't expect THAT from a right leaner, did ya? :D

Sorry, I don't understand this post. "find hot to be gay" and "Fencesitters get that a lot" in particular.


Sorry.


Some gays who find a person attractive, will try to turn that person gay. A fencesitter is somebody who is not sure of their sexual identity, if your not sure if your gay,straight or bi, some gays may try to push you over. Not me and not the majority, just some.

Roughly half the US did vote for the "liberal" candidate, so I don't see how "Americans in general" hate "liberals"...
Maybe if the "liberal candidate" was an actual liberal candidate, then this statement would be true.

Hmmm,...we dont hate anything "Liberal". There are lots of liberals in the country that express their views freely and do have power to push thier ideals...its just that they tend to strike at things like religion. Christmas was killed because Liberals said it was offence to other religions.
Could you have possibly picked a less important political issue?

well republicans and democrats -- at least the vast majority of us -- are classical liberals.
Then why isn't there more agreement on separation of church and state and the usual liberal vs conservative social issues?

when I use the word "liberal" I'm talking about points left of center on the socialism/free enterprise continuum.
It makes more sense to call free market policies "liberal".

Sorry.


Some gays who find a person attractive, will try to turn that person gay. A fencesitter is somebody who is not sure of their sexual identity, if your not sure if your gay,straight or bi, some gays may try to push you over. Not me and not the majority, just some.
Oh, I get it. Well I stand by my statement. If an adult tries to convince a schoolkid to have sex with him he's a pedophile, not gay or straight.

If it's other schoolkids trying to convince each other to get it on, then it's not evil.

I hope he gets life in prison. Didn't expect THAT from a right leaner, did ya? :D

;)

Let me add that his cell mate be bubba whose grandma's pension plan was affected by Enron investments.

The reason why I said that Americans in general hate liberals is because of the many outcries against liberals we here in Europe (at least where I live) recieve. It appears to us that you guys all hate liberals. I appologize for my mistake.

Well maybe if you stopped watching so many european news shows that have an anti-american spin you would see that america is not so hard core conservative as you would think.

Well maybe if you stopped watching so many european news shows that have an anti-american spin you would see that america is not so hard core conservative as you would think.
Well pardon him for living in Norway.

Oh, I get it. Well I stand by my statement. If an adult tries to convince a schoolkid to have sex with him he's a pedophile, not gay or straight.

If it's other schoolkids trying to convince each other to get it on, then it's not evil.



would you be ok is some gay guy tried to get you to be gay?

Well maybe if you stopped watching so many european news shows that have an anti-american spin you would see that america is not so hard core conservative as you would think.
What am I to see then? There's no CNN or anything thanks to the crappy-ass cable company I'm forced to use...

[QUOTE=Kishijoten]Sorry.


Some gays who find a person attractive, will try to turn that person gay.

-Doink- Ah what?

How do you turn a person gay?

Some people you can tell which way they lean but the majority you can not.

The fact you proposition somebody is not an attempt to make them gay. The person simply thought they might be.

As a friend will tell you; he has the worst gaydar even though he is gay.

I don't know, to me it's like calling someone a wuss. "God your liberal, stop acting so gay."

*shrugs*

would you be ok is some gay guy tried to get you to be gay?

In my case yes it's ok. I have been approached a couple times and I am not gay.

I am "secure" in my sexuality to not be running down the street screaming because a gay man found me attractive.

Well maybe if you stopped watching so many european news shows that have an anti-american spin you would see that america is not so hard core conservative as you would think.

What should he be watching? Faux News?

It isn't that simple a question answer. Recently, liberals have reached a new depth in their treachery because they are out of power and losing what little they have left everyday. People, including quite a few Democrats, are fed up with their antics.
They are caught in a death spiral of their own making. They stake out positions and promote politicians that are out of the mainstream then lose the election. Instead of trying to move back into the mainstream, they say,"We didn't get our message out." and scream all the louder and stake out a position that is even further out of the mainstream than they already were, and on and on. They can't accept their defeats as their own making and instead call the people who vote for the opposition stupid for not agreeing with them.
All the while the self proclaimed peaceful, loving, and tolerant spew the most vile lies and spin about their political opponents. But they are blind to how the rest of the country views them. They are in a meltdown at the moment because the only tactic they have left is backfiring on them.
If you want to see what I mean, go read DailyKos or Democratic Underground. Those sites are the epicenter of the disaster that has become the Left in the US. Those people live in an alternative universe where the US has become a theocratic police state, the President is months away from impeachment for numerous and varied reasons that the denizens have concocted out of thin air in spite of any reasonable standard of evidence. Osama bin Laden and Chimpy Bushitler are moral equals. Halliburton controls foreign policy. It's not a very nice place they live in. But it's a world that they have made for themselves and they revel in it.
Meanwhile, this country is at war with terrorists and their ideology of theocratic totalitarianism. One would think that the Left could at the very least get behind that endeavor given the ostensible revulsion at theocracy and totalitarianism. It's quite mystifying really how they can ignore the reality of what this country stands for and try to hamstring the fight against their erstwhile enemy.
I am not alone in saying that when 9/11 occurred I never envisioned the Left in this country going to the extreme depth of depravity that they have reached thus far. I am bitterly disappointed in them for their actions over the past 4 years. And I am disappointed more and more every day to the point that I don't care what they say or do anymore. They have made themselves irrelevant to any serious debate on the important issues this country faces and I say good riddance to rubbish.

It isn't that simple a question answer. Recently, liberals have reached a new depth in their treachery *SNIP*

Are you for real?

Oh you are from Texas. Never mind.

would you be ok is some gay guy tried to get you to be gay?
He can hit on me and I'd just tell him I'm straight. If he got grabby or something I'd have to get violent, but as long as it's just words it's no problem.

If you want to see what I mean, go read DailyKos or Democratic Underground. Those sites are the epicenter of the disaster that has become the Left in the US. Those people live in an alternative universe where the US has become a theocratic police state, the President is months away from impeachment for numerous and varied reasons that the denizens have concocted out of thin air in spite of any reasonable standard of evidence. Osama bin Laden and Chimpy Bushitler are moral equals. Halliburton controls foreign policy. It's not a very nice place they live in. But it's a world that they have made for themselves and they revel in it.
But that's what it's like!;)

Why don't Americans like liberals? Because they're radical, idealistic, sheltered rich kids who've never had to deal with the harshness of reality. They calim to support civil rights and want to help the poor with government funding, but tax the hell outta the poor. What good is governent aid when we can't afford to pay the bills?!

Why don't Americans like liberals? Because they're radical, idealistic, sheltered rich kids who've never had to deal with the harshness of reality. They calim to support civil rights and want to help the poor with government funding, but tax the hell outta the poor. What good is governent aid when we can't afford to pay the bills?!

Where do you think the money for government funding comes from?

That's really one reason liberals aren't well recieved in America. To get money for social welfare programs, you need tax revenue, and to fund these programs without a deficit, you need higher taxes. The public hates to see taxes go up.

The current deficit is a result of that kind of spending without corresponding increases in taxes. In fact, taxes have been cut while expenses increase, and it isn't helping any.

Roughly half the US did vote for the "liberal" candidate, so I don't see how "Americans in general" hate "liberals"...

I can't indeed shake the impression that about half the Americans (and about all those I know) have been feeling lousy for the past five years or so.

As a generalization, American Conservatives (read: Republicans) are too up-tight. Also as a generalization, American Liberals (read: Democrats) are not up-tight enough.

It's as ludicrous to think we can legislate human morality as it is to think that wealth reallocation will somehow change human morality.

They all need their heads knocked together, more often than not.

Personally, I don't want the government in my wallet OR in my bedroom. Apart from ensuring life, liberty and the opportunity to pursue happiness, I basically want them all to shut up and go away.

OK, I don't know if this has been discussed earlier. If so, then sorry for posting this again, but I'm damned curious. It's aimed at you Americans out there. Why do Americans in general dislike/hate anything "liberal", what encompasses the term "liberal", and why is it so bad?

Please, keep it civil.
Liberal is a relative term, and to be honest I cant keep up with what it means day to day.
I am told by conservatives I am one of them, and by Liberals I am one of them, so I suppose I hate everybody.

I guess since your question addresses the unified opinion held by all Americans--because, you know all americans are in agreement on this subject--I cant really answer you.

I suppose we more hate mindless idiots who lump roughly 230 million people into one singal category of thought.

That millions of square miles, representation of every climate, every ethnicity, nearly every religion, very nearly every culture in world here in this nation is completely ignored because much like what Americans are accused of doing(their goes that damned genralization thing again) someone hears a sound bite off their biased media sources or even worse on the internet and presumes to have their finger on the pulse of the entire nation, I suppose that is who we all really hate...If youre asking.

Cotland, where did you get the idea that Americans hate liberals? I believe this is a popular myth propogated by conservative sources. In truth, I'm pretty sure that most americans are pretty socially liberal, or at least tolerant of socially liberal ideas. We may be bit more conservative socially (and definitely more conservative economically) then our European and Canadian breatheren, but we also have more cultural diversity and a larger set of resources to contend with.

I used to be more liberal, as in "left of center," but I find myself becomming more and more classically liberal, as in libertarian. I find that this view is nieve in some respects, particulalry in its notion of the near infallacy of the market and the complete sacrosanctity of the individual. I nevertheless believe that a minarchist, libertarian stance in local, national, and global politics represents the best possible outcome for human achievement. And yes, I am an American. :cool:

In the US the term liberalism has been taken out of its traditional meaning by the right and now serves as a catch-all phrase for everything that's perceived to be wrong with society. Pretty much like everything was blamed on the Jews before.

The philosophy of liberalism puts individual freedoms above those of the state, and claims that the state's purpose is to serve the individual's needs, not the other way around. Both left and right in the US agree on the basic liberal premise.

What they don't agree on is in exactly how far should the government go to serve the needs of the people, and how much individual freedom is too much.

Liberal in MHO just means "wants change". A lot of people like the word liberal cuz it scares people. I use it all the time... and then call myself an "Unpatriotic American Hater".


OK, I don't know if this has been discussed earlier. If so, then sorry for posting this again, but I'm damned curious. It's aimed at you Americans out there. Why do Americans in general dislike/hate anything "liberal", what encompasses the term "liberal", and why is it so bad?

Please, keep it civil.

Why don't Americans like liberals? Because they're radical, idealistic, sheltered rich kids who've never had to deal with the harshness of reality. They calim to support civil rights and want to help the poor with government funding, but tax the hell outta the poor. What good is governent aid when we can't afford to pay the bills?!
muahhahahahahahah! Was that supposed to be funny?


Anyway,
Americans in general don't hate liberals. The Americans in the blue states are better educated and less likely to follow the word of Pat Robertson like it was the word of Jesus Christ himself. The problem with America is our overwhelming number of radical Christians, "good ol' boys", cowboys, pigs lining thier pockets at the expense of the poor, and just plain white trash. These are the people who hate liberals. The problem with a lot of people around the world is they can't see that there are decent people here in the states who aren't driving a pickup truck, flying the confederate flag, or watching Jerry Springer.;)