2 weeks Ago
The United States and Nebraska have increasingly become more politically polarized, leaving voters in the middle without a political home. Words have been twisted over the decades. Let’s take the word “liberal” for example.
Some use it as an epithet, as we hear so often in political attack ads, equating it to socialism or communism. But that is almost the opposite of its true meaning. Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, separation of powers, political equality, right to private property and equality before the law.
Liberals value personal and economic freedom, respecting people to live their own version of the American Dream. The U.S.
was founded on liberalism. Despite their flaws, the Founders believed in liberty. They created a country that eventually recognized constitutional rights for everyone.
All humans are endowed with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty and property. People are also reading..
. The Enlightenment favored individual rights over authoritarianism, science over superstition and progress over brutal tradition. Through liberalism, these ideas have lifted people out of abject poverty, and freed most of the world from monarchies and dictatorship.
Liberalism is why you have a right to vote for representatives and to live your own good life. Liberalism is why you can worship, or not, as you choose. Liberalism protects you from the worst whims of those in government, no matter which party holds power.
I don’t feel like an extremist and don’t fit in with the left-right paradigm. I’m not a progressive or a conservative. I’m just a freedom-loving moderate, dare I say, a Liberal.
I’m reclaiming the word “liberal” for what it truly means and advocating with Nebraska Liberal Party and Liberal Party USA. I welcome anyone to join me. Schuyler Windham, Weeping Water Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!.
