A good friend forwarded this to me over 10 years ago. Ms. Hart pretty well nails it when it comes to debating matters with liberals. I could not have said it better and that is I why I give her the credit due.

Adios Amigos

D-squared

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Ahhh, the life of a liberal -- free of tough choices and value calls

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By Betsy Hart
Scripps Howard News Service

I HAVE BEEN a conservative for a long time now. But recently it's occurred to me that I've been doing things the hard way all these years. In fact, the thought came to me the other day that it would be really great to be a liberal. It would be so much easier!

Just think about it. I would never again have to use logic or rational argument to make my points. In fact, I would never again have to defend anything I said. It would suddenly all be accepted at face value by the establishment. I could just go around saying things like ''It takes a village to raise a child.'' The phrase means absolutely nothing -- except, I guess, that parents aren't specially designed to be part of the equation -- but it sounds so nice.

I could write about how men ''just don't get it'' and enjoy the feeling of superiority that ensued without ever having to explain what it is they ''don't get.'' (Menopause? Stretch marks?) I could throw around the word ''victim'' a lot, as in ''I'm a victim of men / society / hormones / fill-in-the-blank'' and be sure of producing instant empathy.

It would also get me out of ever having to take responsibility for any of my shortcomings. Now that would be fun. Or if I ''felt'' that Affirmative Action was good for women and minorities, why, that would just show how sensitive I was. All evidence to the contrary could be ignored.

And who wants to fight about the minimum wage, anyway? Why even mention the fact the higher wage will send more jobs to Mexico and put low-skilled teenagers out on the street? It's much more pleasant to get all warm and fuzzy inside and talk about a ''living wage'' instead.

And what a relief to be a liberal on taxes. I would never have to wade into the messy moral argument of whether one's earnings first and foremost belong to the individual or the government.

As a liberal, I could ridicule devout Christian conservatives while at the same time ignoring the intolerance of the left -- and be commended for my bravery in speaking out! What a kick that would be.

Or I might say with a straight face that college kids don't need to know anything about Shakespeare but do need to know how everybody -- except white males -- is horribly oppressed in America. And the establishment would duly note my courage and candor.

In essence, I could maintain that whatever anybody thinks about anything is equally valid -- except, of course, if they are a conservative.

Ahh, what a life that would be. So free of rational constraint, tough choices and important value judgments. So full of feelings and acceptance. Liberals just don't know how great they have it.

Published 26 April, 1996 Deseret News Publishing Co.