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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us February 11, 2005 What 'liberal' is all about By Stan Rivlin Ashland Several months ago, in discussing political activism with the late Joanie McGowan, she suggested that in order to get one's facts and opinions listened to, one should not state them in a hostile, "in your face" manner. So, instead of saying, "Hey, stupid, how can you believe that?" I will simply ask those who believe "liberal" is a dirty word and "liberals" are a danger to humankind if they are aware of the following: 1.Unemployment Compensation Insurance was enacted by "liberals" over the ferocious opposition of the Republican party, which warned that the country would lose millions of jobs if it became law. 2. Minimum Wage Laws: strongly backed and enacted by "liberals" over the ferocious opposition of the Republican party, which warned that millions of jobs would be lost because of it. 3. Forty Hour Work Week, with time and a half for overtime: "Liberals" supported and enacted this law over the ferocious opposition of the Republican party, which warned that it would cost the country millions of jobs. 4. Medicare and Medicaid: "Liberals" led the way and enacted these programs over the ferocious opposition of the Republican party, which warned that it was "socialistic" and would cost us millions of jobs. Let us not forget our Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, our Child labor Laws, our Widows, Orphans and Disability Benefits, all enacted by "liberals." 5. Social Security Act: "Liberals" led the way and enacted this program over the ferocious opposition of the Republican party, which called it "socialistic" and warned that we would lose millions of jobs if it became law. (With the enormous job growth in the last decades, one might expect Republicans to change this tune.) Today, the present Republican administration wants to destroy the Social Security System by means of underfunding it and privatizing it for the benefit of Wall Street brokers who will make billions in fees over the next decades but not contribute anything at all to the financial stability of the system. It should be obvious that the Republican party represents the privileged - "the haves and the have mores," as George W. Bush so cutely put it. But what about the majority of Americans, "the have less and the have even less than that?" When you next hear complaints about "government being in your face," think about unemployment insurance; about worker health and safety laws; about the 40-hour week, about all the widows, orphans and disabled being helped by Social security - about 30 percent of Social Security outlays goes to these needful Americans. Think about Social Security itself, the biggest bone in the craw of those Republican ideologues who are so lacking in compassion that they would willingly see millions of elderly Americans cast into a life of poverty. And try to remember that it was "liberals" who mainly pushed for and enacted these programs. "There is no free lunch" has been the mantra of the Republican party as it castigated the "liberals" for enacting entitlements that benefit the great majority of Americans. But "liberals" understood that economic reality and so they did indeed tax the rich and the profitable corporations in order to provide help and security for that majority. Today, our nation is caught in an endless war and facing endless deficits. Please, don't let them blame it on the "liberals." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams