Considering the documents you reference as a source of your philosophy--documents that most conservatives would enshrine in gold--why exactly do you call yourself a liberal?

That you seem to consider yourself one is apparent from the defensive reaction to my post. Yet I see little or nothing that you have in common with the far left academics and others that I routinely berate here, and I would think from our correspondence that you would certainly realize that I would never lump you in with the idiots at the Guardian.

I am honestly curious...I have known many people who have defined themselves in a particular political category when I can see that their beliefs are not the beliefs of the leaders of that political movement. There have been reasons for this inaccurate self-categorization (and I am not suggesting--since I don't know--that any of these reasons apply to you personally).

- Sometimes, it's just a matter of association. The word "conservative" raises images of Jesse Helms, George Wallace (a Democrat), and a number of other characters that one does not want to be associated with. To be conservative is to be the same as a far-right weirdo. This attitude is odd, considering the defensive reaction I get when I lump "liberals" in with leftists. How could I do such a thing? Don't I know any better?

- Often, there is a crucial issue that decides where the line is drawn. For example, someone who is pro-choice has a difficult time calling themselves "conservative," even if all of their other positions fall into that category (under these circumstances, maybe they should investigate Libertarianism)

- Sometimes where you work and who you hang out with makes a difference. To identify oneself as a conservative is a definite handicap in many areas of employment. The academic community, modern-day Hollywood, and the media are all areas where the label "conservative" is like an albatross around your neck. People in these fields--"closet conservatives"--have told me this personally. No one ever loses brownie points for identifying oneself as a liberal (except maybe here...;)...)

- Sometimes it's just habit. One's parents or friends were liberals, so you are too.

In any case, the more I hear from people like you and others, the more I realize that many so-called "liberals" have little in common with the far-left people that are trying to distort our culture. This is one of the reasons that I am more careful about tossing the word "liberal" around, and am using the more-accurate "leftist" to refer to people like the writers of the Guardian article. "Collectivist" would be still more accurate, and cover the whole political spectrum, but is a little off-the-wall for most people.

For the record, I share your concern about the anti-terrorism bills. I have seen far too many "temporary" government measures that somehow end up written in stone. At least the government ID thing seems to be stalled for now.

Thanks for the great references to great documents. If the Bill of Rights were actually implemented in this country, it would be a much better place. Amendment 10 in particular has pretty much been tossed out the window.

My favorite part of the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

No, not that part. Everybody knows that part. The following part is my favorite, the one that never gets quoted like the first part:

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Our founding document says that when a government gets abusive, it is an inherent human right to kick its sorry ass out the door and replace it. I like that.