I find it a continual puzzle that those not so minded use the term “liberal” as an insult, as if we should slink away in shame. People may differ on the general directions government should take; that’s normal, and ideally the source of fruitful discussions. But in choosing the directions that I myself believe life should take if the body politic is behaving as it should, consider the following measures:

The abolition of slavery; the abolition of child labor; voting rights for women; voting rights for African Americans; Social Security; the abolition of segregation; The Civil Rights Act; The Voting Rights Act; minimum wage laws; Medicare; The Clean Air Act; The Clean Water Act.

Every one of these measures was originated by liberals and opposed by conservatives, often bitterly and sometimes even violently, usually on the grounds that such measures would destroy the economy and/or ruin civilization as we know it. (Yes, before you object: Lincoln was a Republican – but Republicans were the liberals of that time and only later shifted their position to the right.) Each time, not only were our economy and civilization not destroyed, but life became better. How many of the elderly today would be living in the worst poverty if FDR hadn’t brought Social Security into being? I certainly wouldn’t want to do without mine. Does anyone want to go back to the free pollution of water and air? It might make the work of manufacturers a teeny bit more profitable, but how about the environment for your great-grandchildren? A few on the extreme right have been lately heard to advocate reinstituting child labor, a suggestion so disgusting that I will say no more about it.

In short, as a citizen concerned for my society and the world, how could I possibly follow a conservative line of thought that often seems to work against the idea of a better life for everyone? I’m proud to wear the label of Liberal.

Sincerely,

Dr. Karen L. Black,

Indivisible Warren PA