Why is “Liberal” a bad thing?

After reading one of Ann Coulter’s columns I was infuriated… Like many of those right-wingnuts, she uses the word ‘Liberals’ as a way of demonizing & chastising over half the people in this country. Why should I feel like I should distance myself from being a liberal? Just so her finger-pointing wouldn’t be pointing straight at me? What’s wrong with being liberal in my ideology? News flash for you Ann: Liberal=good, Conservative=not so good.

So here’s a taste of my ‘evil’ liberal ideology…

I support:

• Equal rights (for ALL)
  
• A woman’s right to chose what to do with her own body
  
• Allowing gay marriage (once again, equal rights for ALL)
  
• Gun control (but I still support of the 2nd amendment – gun ownership for
• responsible adults.)
  
• Raising the minimum wage (so working class people can do a little better)
  
• Fiscal responsibility
  
• Protecting/preserving our Constitution
  
• Protecting/preserving our environment
  
• Domestic and social programs over tax cuts, missile defense, & war mongering
  
• Raising fuel-emission standards to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, instead of drilling for oil in ANWR
  
• Complete separation of church-and-state (I would even go so far as to revoke non-profit status of any religious organization which espouses political themes)
  
• Taking care of our children, veterans, & elderly
  
• World peace (at the risk of sounding like a beauty pageant contestant)
  

And I’m against:

• World domination (can you say "PNAC"?)
  
• Corporate welfare
  
• Tax cuts for the rich as a way of “stimulating the economy” (Trickle-down economics never worked)
  
• Budget cuts on the needy (there goes your tax cuts)
  
• Conflicts of interest between big business and politicians
  
• Deregulation (Favors big business at the expense of people)
  
• Media consolidation
  
• Trillion-dollar debt/deficits
  
• Deceitful, corrupt politicians (hallmark of the Bush Administration)
  
• People who say it’s “un-American” or “un-patriotic” to criticize the government
  
• Nepotism
  
• Imposing the American culture & way of life on foreign countries
  
• Religion infused in the government
  
• War mongering/profiteering
  
• Arrogance & Ignorance
  

It’s not a coincidence that things I’m against are literally trademarks of the Bush Administration. His “Compassionate Conservatism”, “uniter not divider” rhetoric have bought & sold(out) the American people down a very dangerous path. One that we’ll not dig ourselves out of easily.

Liberal ideology has been a very powerful force in our society, and credited with most every advancement towards equality, while conservative ideology has repeatedly strived for inequality. In our country, under conservative Republican rule, the rich have gotten richer while the middle class continues to absorb a larger burden. In my book, ‘Liberal’ is a GOOD thing, and I'm proud to be one!