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• Friday, November 21, 2008 09:10 AM

  I call myself both, I'm more of a progressive

  The problem with "liberal" for me is that it implies, or used to imply, some views which I don't hold.

  For example, I'm against executions and punitive approaches to drug problems, and I believe that marijuana should be legal (not "recommended", but legal).

  But on the other hand, when it comes to violent crimes, theft, and fraud, I'm "tough on crime". Not to the point of endorsing brutality, obviously. But even though I realize that crime is partially fueled by lack of education, opportunity, and so on, until such time as we achieve a perfect world, people who choose to gain their living honestly and respect the rights of others deserve to be protected from those who make the opposite choices. Between authoritarian punitiveness on one extreme and submissive permissiveness on the other lies a middle ground.

  Likewise, I believe in moderate, local firearm control. I was annoyed that SCOTUS interfered with DC's local arrangement, but on the other hand, places like Montana and Vermont have many firearms and few violent crimes - why should they be interfered with?

  I also respect all expressions of romantic love and/or sexuality that occur between informed, consenting adults, according to their own ethical or spiritual standards, and not violating the rights of others. Yet moral outrage at any heterosexual relationship that violates some arbitrary standards of perfect matching on categories like age (I said adults), education, or income is sometimes associated with "liberalism".

  I am massively in favor of true, full equal rights and opportunities for women. I'm in favor of "women's lib", but I don't agree with some varieties of "feminism".

  I know I'm progressive because I'm in favor of full human rights (including marriage and military service) for everyone, strong protection of the environment, strong social programs, universal health care, universally accessible higher education, good work conditions, etc. And I'm against discrimination, executions, punitive drug laws, pollution, violence and war except in true self defense, etc.

  I'd like to think I'm liberal, too, but I'm afraid I may be a bit more tolerant and, well, progressive, on many issues, than a truly typical liberal.

  —h_lance Read h_lance's other letters
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