Liberal ideology
From Conservapedia
Generally speaking, liberal ideology in America outlines a system of government which emphasises intervening in the national economy in order to counter market forces. Liberals generally perceive taxation as a means of redistributing wealth and funding public works that could not be adequately supplied through the free market, such as roadbuilding and provision of police forces. Liberals say that they favor increased personal freedoms, but this applies only to sexual relationships: they oppose free speech and religious freedom.
The following are beliefs generally attributed to a liberal outlook. However, it should be noted that individuals will often dissent on one or more issues.
- Taxation as a means of supplying infrastructure and fostering cultural change
- Income redistribution through progressive taxation
- Aversion to privatization of national assets
- Government control of health care, public education and social welfare
- Decriminalization of psychoactive drugs as opposed to prohibition
- Decriminalization of prostitution
- The advancement of gay rights, including same-sex marriage and child-rearing
- Implementation of affirmative action
- Political correctness
- Separation of church and state
- Support for labor unions
- Sex education in schools, including emphasis on contraception as well as abstinence
- Legalization and/or governmental funding for abortion programs
- Interpretation of the Constitution in a contemporary context (see living Constitution)
- Upholding of First Amendment liberties, even in cases of pornography and national security
- Support for gun control, in opposition to the Second Amendment
- Abolition of the death penalty
- Penal reforms with an emphasis on rehabilitation over punishment
- Legislation and regulation favoring environmental protection over economic interests
- Support for nuclear disarmament treaties
- Use of dialogue as a means of stopping nuclear proliferation
- Opposition to ballistic missile defense systems including deployment of defensive weapons in space
- An aversion to interventionist foreign policy (Note: this is often a component of paleoconservative ideology also)
- Reinstatement of the Fairness doctrine
- Opposition to restriction of personal freedoms, such as those restrictions imposed under the Patriot Act
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