Those interested in the history and philosophical differences of Socialist/Liberal/Conservative/Libertarian in the US should investigate the following books:

A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles by Thomas Sowell

Conservatism in America since 1930 by Gregory L. Schneider

Reclaiming the American Right: The Lost Legacy of the Conservative Movement by Justin Raimondo

The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America
by George H. Nash

The FUTURE AND ITS ENEMIES : The Growing Conflict Over Creativity, Enterprise, and Progress by Virginia Postre

Hmmmm. I read with some sympathy and responded to your remarks about not being appreciated by certain hateful liberals who subjected you to a litmus test and attacked you because you didn't like their graphics.

It seems to me that you are acting like they are by posting links to these rather unfair and unbalanced views. It's replacing their authoritarianism with your own style.

As I read further through your blog, I find myself saying "OK, he's against this and this and this, but what is he FOR?"

I suggest that you zip up your pants and think about that question.

Joel,

What am I for? Freedom. Democracy. Liberalism. Social justice. Human rights. And the expansion of all of these to every country in the world.

"Freedom. Democracy. Liberalism. Social justice. Human rights."

Funny. So is every Republican I know, given their definitions of these terms.

RC Dean> From what I've seen, both conservatives and liberals in this country have the same goals, but different methods of achieving them.

In some ways this makes America a very fortunate nation. Though our luck dates back for osme time. During the age of tyrants, when we have men liek Mussolinni, Hitler, and Huey Long taking power, we are led by Franklin Roosevelt, and while he did soem bad thinsg like the Fairness Doctrine and trying to increase the size of the Supreme Court, he genuienly loved America and cared for her people.

Today, the Republicans and Democrats have very similar goals for America (with a few exceptions), though each has their own method to achieve it. Both liberals and conservtaives have their human rights supporters and they work together for common causes.