Definitions of commonly used terms

[RightIsWrong]

GenX stated in another thread that:

Maybe we need a definition of a neocon from the resident liberals.

It got me to thinking that this is a great, great idea. I'm hoping to get from others their definitions/ideas of what some commonly, derogatorily and proudly used terms are that seem prevelant on the board. The list is:

Liberal
Leftist
Conservative
NeoCon
Socialist
Communist
Nazi
Libertarian
Constitutionalist
Activist Judge
Patriotism
Christian
Religious Right

Mine are:
Liberal - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should be treated equally and have equal opportunity. That govt's role is to provide assistance in the form of social programs that level the playing field some but still leave each person to make the most of that opportunity.

Leftist - those with an extremist view of the above definition

Conservative - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should fend for themselves and strive to make the most out of their life. That govt has no real role in that journey and is in place to provide solely for defense and creation and interpretation of laws.

NeoCon - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that the US is granted the privlege of being a superpower and, as such, is free to impose it's will upon others to mold the world in our image.

Socialism - a form of govt that adheres to the notion that its sole existence is to distribute the nation's resources evenly amongst the population.

Communism - a form of govt that adheres to the notion that its sole existence is to provide for the nation as a whole by dictating how resources will be spent and on whom. That each and every citizen and business exists to serve the govt.

Nazi - a person that believes in a socialistic form of govt that includes state sponsored racism and govt control over the economy

Libertarian - a republican pre-Reagan that believes in smaller govt with fiscal restraint and a completely open economy

Constitutionalist - a name that some libertarians attach to themselves

Activist Judge - any judge that delivers a decision that is inherently opposed to your viewpoint and infringes on your view of how the law should be interpretted

Patriotism - the label given to one's devotion to supporting their country. This term is often abused by those that claim you cannot be a patriot if you don't completely and blindly accept what your govt tells you to believe or accept.

Christian - a person that believes the Bible to be the word of God and Jesus to be the son of God. They try their best to follow the teachings and be good people

Religious Right - almost the same as above but with a twist. They try to force morality down the throats of others and blindly follow leaders that live their lives contrary to the teachings of tolerance and forgiveness that Jesus spoke of. Nothing short of becoming one of the flock is acceptable in their eyes or you will burn in hell like the heathen that you are.

 

[AntaresVI]

I like yours, but wish to amend your definition of "conservative."

I'd put it somethign like this:

Conservative - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should be treated equally and have equal opportunity to make what they want out of their life according to their individual wants, needs, and abilities.. That govt has no real role in that journey and is in place to provide solely for defense and creation and interpretation of laws.

edit for explanation: i suppose I just wanted to make sure that it was obvious that both sides believe in equality of opportunity from birth.

 

[piasabird]

I like this site for dictionary lookup: Ask Oxford

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/conservative

This has more to do than with the Government. It says a conservative is a person that holds to tradional values. A person who knows what he believes in and refuses to change his views for the sake of an immoral majority.

This is a bit of my opinoin. I dont have to agree with the majority if I consider them wrong.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong

Mine are:

You pretty much nailed all definitions very well. :thumbsup:

 

[Todd33]

I've never heard the term leftest used outside of a few people here. You might want to replace it with a more common term like progressive.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Historically 'Leftist', as I was growing up through the 50's through the 80's - was used to refer to Communist Sympathizers.

I resent the GOP's use of it when referring to the Democrats, or anything outside thier narrominded politics.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: AntaresVI
I like yours, but wish to amend your definition of "conservative."

I'd put it somethign like this:

Conservative - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should be treated equally and have equal opportunity to make what they want out of their life according to their individual wants, needs, and abilities.. That govt has no real role in that journey and is in place to provide solely for defense and creation and interpretation of laws.

edit for explanation: i suppose I just wanted to make sure that it was obvious that both sides believe in equality of opportunity from birth.

Bull. A conservative is a person born on third base that believe his position there is a matter of personal responsibility and merit and wants everything structured around him to maintain that illusion. To him equality is where others not so privileged are thus because they are useless. A conservative is a person hiding his self hate in the accidentally arrived at illusion of success. A conservative is a person who could be replaced by any one of millions of more talented Indians for pennies on the dollar.

 

[AntaresVI]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: AntaresVI
I like yours, but wish to amend your definition of "conservative."

I'd put it somethign like this:

Conservative - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should be treated equally and have equal opportunity to make what they want out of their life according to their individual wants, needs, and abilities.. That govt has no real role in that journey and is in place to provide solely for defense and creation and interpretation of laws.

edit for explanation: i suppose I just wanted to make sure that it was obvious that both sides believe in equality of opportunity from birth.

Bull. A conservative is a person born on third base that believe his position there is a matter of personal responsibility and merit and wants everything structured around him to maintain that illusion. To him equality is where others not so privileged are thus because they are useless. A conservative is a person hiding his self hate in the accidentally arrived at illusion of success. A conservative is a person who could be replaced by any one of millions of more talented Indians for pennies on the dollar.

Look, your posts usually make sense in a roundabout way, but this is completely false. How can you contend that conservative idealogy automatically implies self-hate and low worth? I contend that conservatism and liberalism differ mainly in the view of the role of self-reliance - you contend that conservatism is a self-defense mechanism designed to convince the rich that they deserve their wealth.

I, for one, am sick of your transparent loathing of anyone with more than you. Conservatism isn't about how much you have, or where you were born. Can you not accept that views unnatural to you may be natural to some, no matter what their economic and social standing?

Conservatism is about believing that one controls one's own destiny. I fall more on the libertarian side, but I see a small government and minimal invasion in people's lives as being the conservative ideal. The goal of our lives should be to work hard, earn what we have, and make each successive generation better than the last. Conservatism doesn't have anything to do with "beign born on third base." Yes, you can be born rich and hold conservative beliefs, but you can be born rich and a liberal also. Don't try to paint the side opposite you with a broad brush.

Everyone arrives at their own belief by their own way. Those who are honest in their evaluations of their beliefs can arrive at either side of the political spectrum. We shouldn't assume anything based on their political stance, nor should we consider them subhuman for it. You'll get more respect and have more success in everything you do if you recognize those that are honest in their beliefs, respect their beliefs, and are honest in arriving at your own.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: AntaresVI

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: AntaresVI
I like yours, but wish to amend your definition of "conservative."

I'd put it somethign like this:

Conservative - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should be treated equally and have equal opportunity to make what they want out of their life according to their individual wants, needs, and abilities.. That govt has no real role in that journey and is in place to provide solely for defense and creation and interpretation of laws.

edit for explanation: i suppose I just wanted to make sure that it was obvious that both sides believe in equality of opportunity from birth.

Bull. A conservative is a person born on third base that believe his position there is a matter of personal responsibility and merit and wants everything structured around him to maintain that illusion. To him equality is where others not so privileged are thus because they are useless. A conservative is a person hiding his self hate in the accidentally arrived at illusion of success. A conservative is a person who could be replaced by any one of millions of more talented Indians for pennies on the dollar.

Look, your posts usually make sense in a roundabout way, but this is completely false. How can you contend that conservative idealogy automatically implies self-hate and low worth? I contend that conservatism and liberalism differ mainly in the view of the role of self-reliance - you contend that conservatism is a self-defense mechanism designed to convince the rich that they deserve their wealth.

I, for one, am sick of your transparent loathing of anyone with more than you. Conservatism isn't about how much you have, or where you were born. Can you not accept that views unnatural to you may be natural to some, no matter what their economic and social standing?

Conservatism is about believing that one controls one's own destiny. I fall more on the libertarian side, but I see a small government and minimal invasion in people's lives as being the conservative ideal. The goal of our lives should be to work hard, earn what we have, and make each successive generation better than the last. Conservatism doesn't have anything to do with "beign born on third base." Yes, you can be born rich and hold conservative beliefs, but you can be born rich and a liberal also. Don't try to paint the side opposite you with a broad brush.

Everyone arrives at their own belief by their own way. Those who are honest in their evaluations of their beliefs can arrive at either side of the political spectrum. We shouldn't assume anything based on their political stance, nor should we consider them subhuman for it. You'll get more respect and have more success in everything you do if you recognize those that are honest in their beliefs, respect their beliefs, and are honest in arriving at your own.

Comparatively few people have more than me. I know nobody more honest. For my truth I paid everything I had. Try to see that people who have not analyzed themselves to the core are always motivated by feelings they do not know they have. If you do not know yourself you do not know your own motivation. Try also to understand that ignorance is dangerous and not always just to ones self.

 

[glenn1]

Liberal - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should be treated equally and have equal opportunity. That govt's role is to provide assistance in the form of social programs that level the playing field some but still leave each person to make the most of that opportunity.

Liberal - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should be treated equally and have equal opportunity, with "equal" being defined as what the person holding this viewpoint believes it to be. That govt's role is to provide assistance in the form of social programs that level the results as it is "unfair" that the choices and conduct of the participants should negatively influence their degree of success, or that these factors should play a role in the results.

Conservative - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should fend for themselves and strive to make the most out of their life. That govt has no real role in that journey and is in place to provide solely for defense and creation and interpretation of laws.

Conservative - a person that believes in the fundamental notion that everyone should fend for themselves and strive to make the most out of their life. That govt has no real role in that journey and is in place to provide solely for defense and creation and interpretation of laws, and that government indeed is an impediment to achieving self-fulfillment of the same. That govt's role is to provide assistance in the form of laws enforcing their idealized vision of moral conduct as a form of social leveling, as it is "unfair" that the sub-optimal moral choices and conduct of the participants do not always negatively influence their degree of success.

 

[Braznor]

Originally posted by: Todd33
I've never heard the term leftest used outside of a few people here. You might want to replace it with a more common term like progressive.

Nice try!!!!

 

[Braznor]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
A conservative is a person who could be replaced by any one of millions of more talented Indians for pennies on the dollar.

You insulted both Indians and Conservatives in that one sentence

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: Braznor

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
A conservative is a person who could be replaced by any one of millions of more talented Indians for pennies on the dollar.

You insulted both Indians and Conservatives in that one sentence

GOOOOOOOAAAAAALL !