[Speed Gibson,
Monday October 11, 2004 at 1:28pm]
Labels are Stubborn Things
Twice during debate #2, President George W. Bush noted Senator Kerry's ranking by the National Journal as the Senate's #1 liberal, i.e., had the most liberal voting record. Twice, Kerry huffed and scolded us that "labels don't mean anything." Senator Edward Kennedy said the same recently. Even the affable Senator Paul Wellstone bristled at being called an ultra-liberal. It's a common refrain among, um, well, liberals. But they have no trouble labeling most Republicans as conservatives, about 85% being ultra-conservative. I guess there are only conservatives and "normal" people, "progressives" if you will.
Labels DO mean things. Ann Coulter put it well in her book Slander by noting the terms "dog" and "cat" are very useful even though they are so generic. The very fact that liberals decry the liberal label indicates they do have a meaning, a very useful meaning. In the courts, for example, liberal and conservative generally equate to activist and constructionist. In the legislature, liberals generally do not fear big government as most conservatives do. In the executive branch, liberals press for more regulations, conservatives less.
Why can most conservatives admit, even proudly proclaim their identity, while liberals fidget and deny theirs? I'm reminded of the Richfield mayor who was part of the "urban renewal" that took land from one private party, Walser, and gave it to another, Best Buy. In an interview she said "it was really a tough decision..." I recall saying out loud, "It's tough because you're doing something wrong! You should feel guilty!"
Liberals are human. They have a conscience. And they're smart. They know where all that money came from. They know light rail won't relieve congestion. They personally know many of the smokers whose character and intelligence they impugn. They know the Public School concept is slowly but surely crumbling by following their recommendations. But they can't bring themselves to admit any of this.
Accountability would appear to be generally a conservative trait.
Labels DO mean things. Ann Coulter put it well in her book Slander by noting the terms "dog" and "cat" are very useful even though they are so generic. The very fact that liberals decry the liberal label indicates they do have a meaning, a very useful meaning. In the courts, for example, liberal and conservative generally equate to activist and constructionist. In the legislature, liberals generally do not fear big government as most conservatives do. In the executive branch, liberals press for more regulations, conservatives less.
Why can most conservatives admit, even proudly proclaim their identity, while liberals fidget and deny theirs? I'm reminded of the Richfield mayor who was part of the "urban renewal" that took land from one private party, Walser, and gave it to another, Best Buy. In an interview she said "it was really a tough decision..." I recall saying out loud, "It's tough because you're doing something wrong! You should feel guilty!"
Liberals are human. They have a conscience. And they're smart. They know where all that money came from. They know light rail won't relieve congestion. They personally know many of the smokers whose character and intelligence they impugn. They know the Public School concept is slowly but surely crumbling by following their recommendations. But they can't bring themselves to admit any of this.
Accountability would appear to be generally a conservative trait.