Liberalism

Original post here. All posts here.

I’m a liberal because I don’t think that the status quo can be defended on the merits of its own existence. It needs to be challenged on the grounds of its effectiveness.

I’m a liberal because I also believe that one needs to make ones’ case for change and I don’t believe in change for changes’ sake.

I’m a liberal because I believe that wealth creation via capitalism is fantastic but that doesn’t always translate to wealth distribution.

I’m a liberal because I believe that since we do have a State, it’s function should be for the public good.

I’m a liberal because I believe that State does have a role to play in the creation of public goods.

I’m a liberal because I believe the State should protect the weakest among us and work to raise them up and while I really don’t like paying taxes, I’m willing to fund those efforts.

I’m a liberal because I believe in politics that are informed and transformed with the arrival of information.

I’m a liberal because I believe religious liberty and secular Liberty should not stand against one another.

I’m a liberal because I believe in consequentialist arguments and not deontological ones.

I’m a liberal because sometimes the rules need to be challenged.

I’m a liberal because I reject State Socialism and Communism.

I’m a liberal because I reject the idea that the State is a church or anti-Church.

I’m a liberal because I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong and revise my policy prescriptions with new information.

I’m a liberal because I’m willing to change my mind.

I’m a liberal because I will change my mind.

I’m a liberal because I think leftist and right wingers have serious issues of logic and they need to be fleshed out fully.

I’m a liberal because sometimes there is more than one correct answer.

I’m a liberal because I strive to be free of dogma.

I’m a liberal because I seek to understand.

I’m a liberal because I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I know I don’t have all the answers. None of us do.

I’m a liberal because I recognize that the world is full of shades of gray.

I’m a liberal because I think it’s necessary.

I’m a liberal because choice isn’t always freedom.

I’m a liberal because I will learn from the past but I will not be held hostage by the ideas of dead men.

From these things comes an philosophy and from that comes a political philosophy and ideology.