Monday, March 21, 2005

How We Define Our Political Selves

These are our "three little piggies" of mainstream political life. They come straight from Merriam-Webster's Online Thesaurus. And just to be upfront, you'll choose one when you're finished reading...

conservative (adjective)
tending to resist or oppose change; Synonyms: die-hard, fogyish, old-line, orthodox, reactionary, right, tory, traditionalistic, controlled, discreet, moderate, reasonable, restrained, temperate, unexcessive, unextreme; Related Words: cautious, chary, wary, circumspect, politic, proper, prudent; Antonym: advanced.

liberal (adjective)
marked by generosity and openhandedness; Synonyms: bountiful, free, freehanded, generous, handsome, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, plentiful, abundant, ample, copious, not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms, advanced, broad, broad-minded, progressive, radical, tolerant, wide; Related Words: exuberant, lavish, prodigal, profuse; benevolent, charitable, eleemosynary, philanthropic, forbearing, indulgent, lenient; Antonym: authoritarian.

moderate (adjective)
Synonyms: sober, temperate, unimpassioned, not excessive in degree, amount, or intensity, modest, reasonable, medium, average, fair, fairish, indifferent, intermediate, mean, mediocre, middling, so-so, avoiding extreme political or social measures, middle-of-the-road, middle-road, soft-shell; Related Words: bland, gentle, mild, soft, inconsequential, inconsiderable, slight, small, paltry, piddling, trifling, trivial, constant, equable, even, steady; Antonym: immoderate.

Personally, it's a Hobson's choice. If I wanted one of these on my tombstone, "liberal" is the one I'd choose. Where does your legacy tend?

1 comment:

The Sovereign Editor said...

The definitions you give are very accurate. Indeed, they correspond with the definitions that I give in my own website. However, you have to remember that it is politicians who label themselves with such terms รข€“ and that nearly always involves some sort of deception. Most people who claim to be liberals are not even remotely similar to the classical liberals who wrote our Constitution (indeed, the 'progressive' label they have come to prefer is, in a way, more accurate). Likewise, many Conservatives are more like the traditional 'Tory' type Conservative than like the 'conservative classical-liberals' that they claim to be. Anyway, if you are at all interested in this topic, go to my website and read Deciphering US Political Terminology: What 'Liberal,' 'Conservative,' 'Progressive,' and 'Moderate' Really Mean in Common Usage.