[scottw]

"what separates us at the most fundamental level may be our different conceptions of liberty"

Liberty is a concept in political philosophy that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions.
which of these do liberal pet programs promote?


the professor has, probably unwittingly, made it clear that conservatives believe, as a primary ideaology, in the "negative vision of liberty" (if that is how he and his cohorts would like to characterize it) which are those guarantees which are actually enumerated in our founding documents...

liberals(progressives) however, as a primary ideaology (and whatever the ideaology, it is subordinate to "policy" judgements) quite the opposite.... as admitted by the professor

"it is because a central tenet of liberalism is that ideology should be eschewed in favor of the supposedly enlightened, pragmatic approach of making ad hoc judgments about issues"

they may "echew"(es·chew: to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid; sacrafice; renounce; abandon; abstain) from the founding principles..the "negative vision of liberty" if the "supposedly enlightened", pragmatic approach of making ad hoc judgments about issues.. is preferred or deemed necessary by the liberal

in other words... rules, laws, principles and ideaology..the CONSTITUTION may be cast aside at any time to accomodate the liberal "enlightened" whim....

the "positive view of liberty" does not exist except in the liberal mind...they make it up as they go along and are not bound by any specific written principles or ideals at any given time or on any given issue...purely policy driven, these may change with circumstances and the superior intellect and enlightened judgement of the liberal pragmatic will always light the way..????