Long time lurker... first time member

Greetings...

been lurking here a bit and it seems like an interesting place with a nice mix of varying views and people. I've been a member of some sites that have turned into echo chambers of one side or the other and they've become quite boring.

I am a liberal, but I am not the run of the mill liberal some might see on a day to day basis. Just don't lump me in with the authoritarians that say, or claim, that they are liberals.

I prefer personal freedoms and am a firm believer in the Bill of Rights as individual rights. I don't see them as collective rights as some of my fellow liberals in my life have claimed they are. To me that is a step towards authoritarianism. I believe in liberty and freedom for all and the right for all to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thank you for having me.

 

Welcome, glad to have you here. Enjoy posting. Look forward to reading your posts

 

What's your favorite gun, Liberal?

 

He is a libertarian claiming that he is a liberal, yiostheoy.

 

I have an old Browning over under 12 gauge, and a Ruger 9mm pistol. I prefer the pistol and use it more since there is an indoor range nearby. I don't get out as much as I used to and haven't fired the shotgun in almost a year, but I do keep it clean.

 

Excuse me? Do you have some sort of problem with me?

 

None, Frank, at all. Your description is that of a libertarian. Do you have a problem with that?

 

Then why say that I am claiming to be something that I don’t think I am? Your initial post stating I’m claiming to be something I’m not seems a bit hostile. You don’t know me or all of my core beliefs yet felt the need to say I am claiming to be something I’m not. Why say the above when you could have asked?

And yes, I do have a problem when anyone throws around wild accusations in the manner as you did above.

 

Wild accusation: "He is a libertarian claiming that he is a liberal, yiostheoy." Really?

You are being silly. You say you are liberal without any authoritarian streak.

That is a libertarian.

Why get mad? Take it elsewhere. Show me in your postings I am wrong, if you can.

 

Yes, that is a wild accusation. If I said you’re something you don’t think you are without knowing you at all, it would be a wild accusation.

I don’t think I’m being silly. Defensive, maybe. I feel you are mis labeling me just to do it for whatever reason. A liberal without an authoritarian streak does not necessarily make one a Libertarian.

I’m not mad, far from it. I just don’t like being mischaracterized by people I don’t even know, or even by people I do know. You’ve already made your mind up about me it seems. What is there to prove to you? Why should I have to prove myself to anyone that seems to already have their mind made up about me?

 

No, it is not a wild accusation.

I don't think you are mischaracterized.

Your posting history will show me if I am wrong.

So quarrel elsewhere. I am done with you. Let's see if he accuses me of stalking.

 

I think you have mischaracterized me. Some welcomer you are.

Seems I have a stalker now. Intersting...

No quarrel here as I don't go around mischaracterizing new forum members, but if that's your schtick, that's your schtick I guess.

Have a nice day, false accuser.

 

Why did you have to put down liberals. This is what liberals do..we eat our own!

 

Welcome Frank, Lurk no longer! Be freeeee!

 

Wasn't trying to cause offense or put anyone down, yet it seems I've done that a bit here unintentionally. I'm a liberal that doesn't like being lumped in with those that are actually authoritarians (it's happened on other forums), which there are lots of liberals out there in the world of the authoritarian stripe that, to me, have hijacked the word "liberal". Liberalism and authoritarianism don't really mix but there are lots of authoritarians claiming to be liberals. At least in my observations. Thanks for the... interesting welcome. That's three so far.

 

The super extreme lefties tend to forget about the other types of lefties. Much like the extreme right does with the other non-extreme righties.

Welcome once again.

 

Good points, I can see that. I don't really even consider myself that much of a leftie. I'm more centrist liberal than anything.

Thanks for the two time welcome, I can dig it.

 

Your centrist side of you is what the extreme lefties won't understand. That's okay though, we have a ton of moderate-lefties here that are great to chat with. They just never find themselves in the 'new member' section.

 

I wonder if others saw you as an authoritarian? I am a screaming liberal progressive feminist. How’s that?
I am trying to point out that that is something liberals progressive Democrats ,whatever you want to call us , tend to do. We criticize our own. An example right now is comeys book . He wrote one paragraph describing trumps eyebags and hands which was tacky and that’s what liberal media was talking about. Yes, we take the high ground and they take the low ground ...and it works for them!
By the way..welcome. I am one of the few “liberals here” I appreciate a liberal voice and hope you will post here. I’m not too popular

 

I think what has happened under Trump is the division. The right has moved way over to the right and the left has moved way over to the left. We have never had this kind of division in my lifetime and I’ve been around the block quite a bit

 

The division happened long before Trump was even a candidate for President.

 

Then you're not THAT liberal.

Liberals normally hate guns and want to ban all of them.

Like Nancy Pelosi does or Diane Feinstein.

 

There you go, trying to cram a reasonable, unique person into the little hole you've designated for all "liberals".

Can't you discuss political ideologies and issues without doing this? Can't people debate gun control and other issues without the constant "liberal" this and "conservative" that? Get out of the trenches and declare an armistice already.

 

Well there is arch-liberal, liberal, moderate, conservative, and arch-conservative.

And then there is also non-partisan -- which is moi.