Reply #17: I agree and there were some great positive ideas pitched today& yest.

[bluedawg12]

there were quite a few really good positive thoughtful threads this weekend- here are a couple you might find of interest.

Peace-

..........


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2146715

Here's one I posted earlier today at that thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2146715

Being an American
By The New Millennium Democrat

American courage: the sentinel of liberty, sealed with American blood and self sacrifice.

American might: power balanced with integrity. A strong and capable military and gratitude to those who serve with honor so that this great and free nation may stand in pride and freedom.

American patriotism: love of country, respect for the flag- paid for by the blood of hero’s, and honoring our troops who serve today and vowing that veterans who have answered the call, will not be forgotten.

American ingenuity: taking us from outer space to energy independence. Rich ideas and novel solutions, born and nurtured in freedom, will prevail.

American fairness: preserving and promoting human rights and freedoms for all Americans. The strong protect the weak, the many will not trample on the few. Every American, every individual counts.

American values: stewardship of the environment, valuing education for our kids to raise them up through knowledge and discovery, elevating all Americans to prosperity with good jobs and trusted long term benefits, and ensuring access to great health care.

American support for the ideals of liberty, equality and opportunity. This is the land that many have chosen as their adopted home, and from the farms of the great plains to the steel mill cities, they came for the American Dream and have found a welcoming home and freedom from tyranny.

Now is the time.

Now is the time for American strength.
Now is the time to be secure in our homes and lives and jobs.
Now is the time to ensure for ourselves and for our families, that the ideals of democracy and freedom that we cherish and many have given so much for, will endure.

The New Millennium Democratic Party- together we are stronger than apart, Americans united for prosperity, opportunity, and strength.

And here is another positive thread I posted yesterday that got good replies and ideas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2143477

The next time some one calls you liberal tell ‘em that liberal and liberty derive from the same latin root: “free,” as in freedom.

Ask them if they have a problem with freedom?

‘a liberal is a man who believes in liberty’ (Cranston, 459). (3)

Tell them that:

>The fundamental principles of liberalism include these. That governments should rule with the consent of the governed; that individuals have a right to life, liberty and property; and that all citizens have equal rights under the law. (1)<

Is there a problem with law and order?

Is there a problem with individuals having rights with in the bounds of consent from the governed? Or should men live in a society ruled by a few who tell the many how to live, how to die, who to love, and when and what they should worship?

>‘he burden of proof is supposed to with those who are against liberty; who contend for any restriction or prohibition…. The a priori assumption is in favour of freedom…’(Mill, 1991 <1859>: 472). This might be called the Fundamental Liberal Principle (Gaus, 1996: 162-166): freedom is normatively basic, and so the onus of justification is on those who would limit freedom.< (3)

Are there those who prefer that men live with out the rule of law under the tyranny of a few, or in a society where the voices of individuals are silenced and with out recourse to public vote and public policy?

Would some prefer thinking in lock step and goose- marching to the same tune, or in alternate, if in resistence, to the gallows?

>Conservatism is a universal ideology or philosophy: conservatives consider their values to be valid for all persons, not just for themselves. Consequently, there is no great tradition of conservative separatism, and conservatism is a political force, seeking to implement policy. Since not everyone is a conservative, now or in the past, conservatism is historically associated with repression of non-conservatives. (2)<

Aren’t the same people who fear social engineering the same ones who have fallen prey to it?

>Conservatives often claim that their values are the 'national values' or 'community values', which are beyond political discussion and must be enforced. (2)<

Next time some one calls you a liberal ask them if they have a problem with liberty.


Of interest to anyone wanting to delve into what the conservative jurists think, check out the Federalist Society web site. Newly appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts is a member.

Here is a sample from Judge Bork, a former nominee to the USSC;

>Robert H. Bork, "Neutral Principles and Some First Amendment Problems," 47 Ind. L.J. 1 (1971). ..Judge Bork then attempts to derive some neutral principles in the free speech area, concluding that "onstitutional protection should be accorded only to speech that is explicitly political" and excepting speech that advocates the overthrow of government or other violations of the law.< (4)

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism
(2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative
(3)http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberalism /
(4)http://www.fed-soc.org/Publications/biblio/biblio.htm#t...


Main Entry: 1liberal
Etymology: Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free;

BROAD-MINDED; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
synonyms LIBERAL, GENEROUS, BOUNTIFUL, MUNIFICENT mean giving or given freely and unstintingly.

LIBERAL suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given <a teacher liberal with her praise>.
GENEROUS stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift <a generous offer of help>.
BOUNTIFUL suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing <children spoiled by bountiful presents>.
MUNIFICENT suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes <a munificent foundation grant>.

Main Entry: liberty
Etymology: Latin libertat-, libertas, from liber free -- more at LIBERAL
1 : the quality or state of being free: a : the power to do as one pleases b : freedom from physical restraint c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic control d : the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges e : the power of choice
2 a : a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant : PRIVILEGE b : permission especially to go freely within specified limits
synonym see FREEDOM
- at liberty 1 : FREE