is it liberal?

When did liberal become a dirty word? Somehow the Righteous Right has managed to convince many people that to be a liberal is to be un-American. Frankly, I'm not sure what the word is supposed to stand for anymore. Liberal does not mean Socialist. It used to mean that people believed that they had a responsibility to help each other, that part of government's job was to level the playing field, that all Americans had a right to be regarded equally, that all Americans had a right to be treated with dignity.

Some people say that this has been carried too far. I may not disagree, entirely. Government actions are not necessarily the best route. Individuals also have a responsibility to help themselves and not simply sit back and expect government to do for them. But they must have equal chance, equal access to oportunities. People also have to do for themselves to have the qualifications to partake of that access. If one is not qualified for a position, then no government should force an agency to accept the person. Maybe we do need programs that help certain segments acquire what is needed but those programs should not be based on one person over another. Everybody deserves a chance for decent and safe shelter. Everybody deserves a chance for decent nutrition. Everybody deserves a chance to be the best he/she can be.

That is the point, "deserves a chance." Not that have it handed to one on a platter but the chance to access to opportunity. We are a stratified society. We will always be a stratified society. That is the nature of the beast. Some are born into better circumstances than others that lead to better opportunities. Even so, there are those who have risen from the bottom to the top, primarily through their own hard work.

To me "liberal" is more opportunities for more people with fewer restrictions. This country is not perfect. It needs to keep moving ahead. The Righteous Right wants to keep the status quo. A status quo from about a hundred years ago. That way lies stagnantion, the loss of vibrancy that this country has stood for for two hundred and thirty-three years. Is it un-American to want this country to keep forging ahead trying to bring about the ideals we were founded upon?