I don’t know how many of you have the columnist Ron Hart in your local paper. If you haven’t, you haven’t missed much, if you do then maybe you saw his column on why liberals are liberals. Here’s a link if you are interested in reading the whole thing (warning: don’t eat first unless you like gagging.) or if you prefer I’ll sum it up for you: Liberals are liberals because we hate success and want to get something for nothing. And he can prove it, because the Mayors of Detroit, New Orleans, Oakland, Buffalo, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Memphis, Newark are all Dems and the cities suck.

No I am not kidding. What’s worse, I don’t think Ron Hart is kidding either. (if he is, he needs to learn how to write satire) He honestly has fallen hook, line and sinker for the old Liberals Just Want To Take Your Money and Give It to Lazy Poor (Minority) Folks line.

Ok, here’s my reply to Mr Hart.

Ronnie, are you kidding me?

I don’t hate success, I myself am fairly successful, I’ve worked hard for since I got out of school and, except for a few weeks on unemployment when I was laid–off, have not taken anything from anybody. The amount of money I got while unemployment was roughly equal to the amount I paid in taxes during a single month. I own my home, on a 30 year fixed mortgage, I own my cars. I have an excellent job with a good company and people consider me a role model.

Why am I am liberal? In a nutshell, because I give shit about my fellow humans, that’s why. I know it’s hard for you to grasp since you really don’t seem to care much about the rest of the human race, because you seem to have divided the world into the “Worthy, and Therefore Rich” and “Unworthy, and Therefore Not Rich”.

Remember that Golden Rule? I’m a liberal because I live it and I believe it. I don’t show up in church on Sunday and pay lip-service to the teachings of Jesus Christ then spend my week screwing over people. Ironic, since I’m pretty much an atheist. I do it because it’s the moral and right thing to do, not because some Cosmic Father Figure is going to spank me in the hereafter if I don’t.

I’m a liberal because I believe health care is a basic human right. I’m liberal because education and a chance to move up in the world is a basic human right. I believe I owe my fellow humans a certain standard of decency and dignity. I’m a liberal because I know that sometimes bad shit happens to good people, for no good reason. I don’t believe life begins at conception and ends at birth.

I’m a liberal because I believe that a society that lets the mentally ill wander the streets and live under a bush is sucky society. I’m a liberal because people deserve a chance, and I, as one of the “haves”, would be failing in my duties as a member of the human race if I didn’t give them that chance.

Are there people out there who don’t deserve that chance, they are poor because they are lazy and /or criminal? Sure, there are, no one is denying that, least of all me. But I’m not willing to throw out the entire apple barrel because of a few bad ones. I’ve actually known a lot of poor and lower-income people, and guess what, they work harder than you and I do, Ronnie.

I’m liberal because I know that unregulated capitalism results in Enrons and mortgage meltdowns and poisoned air and water. I’m a liberal because I know there are evil people who will exploit the weak for a few bucks, and I have a moral imperative to not stand idly by mouth clichés about what the market will bear.

I’m a liberal because I believe what happens in your bedroom between consenting adults is your own business and none of mine. Just don’t do it in the street and scare the houses and we will be fine.

I’m a liberal because I believe that science, real science, belongs in science class, and religion belongs in church, even if it is one of the suburban mega-churches where the pastor drives a Mercedes that’s worth more than all 3 of my family’s cars combined. I’m liberal because I can tell the difference between science and religion. Creationalism is not science.

I’m liberal because I think it’s a travesty that over half of all bankruptcies are caused by the high cost of health care. I think it’s a travesty the people with health insurance still can’t pay all the bills. I have seen firsthand how the successful people are brought down by a bought with cancer, and all of a sudden, they are not successful anymore, but just another scofflaw who’s trying to run out on paying their bills.

Which brings me to another point, I’m a liberal because I know how slippery my hold on success is. One bout with cancer, one bad accident, one lay off and there it goes. I’m a liberal because I recognize this and want the safety net to be around should I need it.

No Ronnie, I don’t hate success, I love success, I’m successful. I’m just willing to share that success.