What is the MOST important issue to you as a liberal? [View all]
I know we're not single-issue liberals, but my question is about how everyone seems to have that one most important thing. That's what I'd like to hear about from you.
As my screen name implies, mine is labor rights. It's not a self-serving stance because I view strong worker rights and high unionization levels as CRUCIAL to the functioning of our society and democracy as wages tend to make people participate in both the economy and elections. With strong labor rights and high unionization levels a person often just feels better, as minorities of any kind - and certainly women - are not only welcomed in our ranks, but they're paid exactly the same as everyone else. That's good for their pocketbook and their psyche inasmuch as they can actually feel like the FULL human beings that they are. When they feel complete they tend to want to involve themselves in the other things (politics, social advancement, etc) and that in turn makes us all better off.
I'm the proudest person owing directly to my union and what it does to treat ALL members equally. I already had my job, but there are two new females in our office (doing serious work, not some sexist assignment as a secretary), and my two best friends are other union reps, both black. So all of this equality has meant TONS for these folks, but it meant something even for me: I now have 4 terrific coworkers who get their jobs done well and who elevate the professionalism of our office. We all win. That's my plan for all offices everywhere; that's what liberalism does for me.
I can't say Democrats are markedly better on labor issues than Republicans; it's the difference between a slap on the face versus a fully-loaded M-16 emptied into my torso. But liberals in general are usually avid supporters of labor law modification, and for that I felt naturally aligned with them when I started considering myself to be one. Luckily for me almost 98% of my other issues also jive with the liberal movement, so I'm in luck!
What about you? What single issue is the most important to you, and why do you feel that your stance on it makes you a liberal?
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