[Vision2020] Liberal Agenda?

[Gier, Nicholas]

Greetings Visionaries:

I'm on a futile crusade to bring everyone back to the original meaning of the word "liberal," from the Latin word "liberalis," meaning "pertaining to a free person," the "liberi" as opposed to the "servi," the "serfs" who were not free.

The genius of the American and French Revolutions was the declaration that we are all free with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The "servi" no longer exist.

For more read my column "We Are All Liberals--Well, Almost All." (www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/liberalism.htm) The exceptions are people such as Doug Wilson and his sordid gang of Paleo-Conservatives.

May you all have a very Liberal Thanksgiving,

Nick Gier


-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com on behalf of Kenneth Marcy
Sent: Wed 11/25/2009 9:27 AM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Liberal Agenda?
 
On Tuesday 24 November 2009 18:43:03 John Pool wrote:
> I'm confused. Just what *is* a liberal agenda? Is it something that
> all liberals have to agree on, or just some? Does it have to be a
> majority, or can it be less than that? What happens if a moderate
> or centrist seeks the same end? Does that make her/him a liberal
> automatically? I'd like some clarification here.

When the phrase "liberal agenda" is used, usually it is a pejorative 
reference by someone talking against whatever is perceived to be 
undesirable about the matters to which they refer. The phrase has 
developed into a shorthand ad hominem argument against whatever 
policy the (conservative) speaker opposes.

Liberal is a relative term that needs a reference points in time and 
place, culture and subject, and policy status quo vis-à-vis someone 
observing. To use it without such referents may be diversionary and 
counterproductive toward effective discussion, which may be the 
desired effect.

I suspect actual liberals just dispense with using the term in favor 
of something more specific, such as legislative agenda or party 
platform. On the other hand, in the case of Thanksgiving, a well-set 
table and congenial guests make the agenda and the event the same. 
Happy Holiday.


Ken 

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