Classical liberalism

Classical liberalism is by definition almost the complete opposite of contemporary American liberalism. Classical liberal doctrine evolved during The Age of Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries. It stressed individual freedom, free markets, and limited government. The "classical" prefix was added later to distinguish this original form of liberalism from the modern social liberalism.
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Norma Rae

The 1979 film Norma Rae tells the story of Norma Rae Webster as she tries to organize the small textile factory in Alabama where she is employed. Norma Rae is guided by a dedicated labor organizer from New York. Norma Rae eventually leads a strike which leads to the successful formation of the their union.
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Daniel Patrick Moynihan

“Somehow liberals have been unable to acquire from birth what conservatives seem to be endowed with at birth: namely, a healthy skepticism of the powers of government to do good.”

-- Daniel Patrick Moynihan, United States Senator.
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Dennis Kucinich

"We have weapons of mass destruction we have to address here at home. Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction. Homelessness is a weapon of mass destruction. Unemployment is a weapon of mass destruction."

-- Dennis Kucinich, United States Congressman.
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Aristotle

"Of all the varieties of virtues, liberalism is the most beloved."

-- Aristotle, Greek Philosopher.
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Bond v. Floyd

The Supreme Court case of Bond v. Floyd voted 9-0 and ordered Georgia's legislature to seat the duly elected state senator, Julian Bond, a civil rights activist denied his seat for publicly supporting Vietnam War draft resisters. The Court stated that criticizing U.S. foreign policy does not violate a legislator's oath to uphold the Constitution.
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Chinese Proverb

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."

-- Chinese Proverb
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Indispensable Chomsky

"Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky" is previously unpublished discussions of sociopolitical analyst Noam Chomsky. The book contains a wide array of themes and critiques, especially of U.S. foreign policy. Chomsky cites the civil rights and the anti-Vietnam War movements as positive events that have made citizens more critical of the mass media.
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Will Durant

"Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance."

-- Will Durant, American author.
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Rosa Parks

Buses were desegregated in Montgomery, Alabama on this day in 1956. More than a year earlier, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat at the front of the "colored section" of a bus to a white passenger, prompting her arrest. In response, the Montgomery black community launched a bus boycott, which led to the desegregation of the bus system.
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Joe Klein

"Diversity has been written into the DNA of American life; any institution that lacks a rainbow array has come to seem diminished, if not diseased."

-- Joe Klein, American author and journalist.
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Jeff Bingaman

"I support concrete and progressive immigration reform based on three primary criteria: family reunification, economic contributions, and humanitarian concerns."

-- Jeff Bingaman, United States Senator.
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Oliver Stone

"I think experience will teach you a combination of liberalism and conservatism. We have to be progressive and at the same time we have to retain values. We have to hold onto the past as we explore the future."

-- Oliver Stone, American entertainer.
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Andrew Young

"President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. Ironically, he was considered weak because he didn't kill anybody and he didn't get anyone killed."

-- Andrew Young, United States Congressman.
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Jennifer Granholm

"If you are going to be progressive, then you have to make progress. And that sometimes depends on breaking a few legs."

-- Jennifer Granholm, Governor of Michigan.
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Wag the Dog

The 1997 film "Wag the Dog" stars Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman. Just days before the Presidential election, and being caught in a scandalous affair, a presidential advisor contacts a top Hollywood movie producer to concoct a war with Albania in order to divert attention of the voting public. The film is loosely based on the novel American Hero by Larry Beinhart.
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Jimmy Carter

"Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. People have the right to expect that these wants will be provided for by this wisdom."

-- Jimmy Carter, President of the United States.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt

"I propose a New Deal" - 1932 U.S. presidential campaign theme of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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Andrew Vachss

"Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change."

-- Andrew Vachss, American author.
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Andrea Dworkin

"All personal, psychological, social, and institutionalized domination on this earth can be traced back to its source: the phallic identities of men."

-- Andrea Dworkin, American social activist.
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Liberapedia

Liberapedia is a trustworthy resource for those seeking truthful and accurate information about liberal beliefs. The website gives the opinions of American Liberals and Progressives worldwide. It aims to entertain as well as educate. Some of the articles are serious, others are satirical and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. See liberapedia.wikia.com.
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Kate Millett

"Politics is repetition. It is not change. Change is something beyond what we call politics. Change is the essence politics is supposed to be the means to bring into being."

-- Kate Millett, American social activist.
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Upton Sinclair

Upton Sinclair is considered the father of journalistic muckraking. The Pulitzer Prize author wrote over ninety books, including his 1906 novel The Jungle, which caused a public uproar over the meat packing industry and led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act. His writing prompted Teddy Roosevelt to coin the term "muckraker".
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The Brady Campaign

The Brady Campaign works to pass and enforce sensible federal and state gun laws, regulations, and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support common sense gun laws, and increasing public awareness of gun violence. Former Reagan White House Press Secretary James Brady was nearly killed as a result of an assassination attempt on Reagan in 1981.
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John Dewey

"Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself."

-- John Dewey, American philosopher.
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General William Westmoreland

"War is fear cloaked in courage."

-- General William Westmoreland
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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a policy organization working on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals. CBPP helps shape public debate over budget and tax policies in terms of the needs of low-income families. It also examines the short- and long-term impacts of policies on the health of the economy. See cbpp.org.
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William E. Gladstone

"Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear."

-- William E. Gladstone, British Statesman.
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John Kerry

"When we walk away from global warming, Kyoto, when we are irresponsibly slow in moving toward AIDS in Africa, when we don't advance and live up to our own rhetoric and standards, we set a terrible message of duplicity and hypocrisy."

-- John Kerry, United States Senator.
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Media Matters

Media Matters for America is a progressive research and information center dedicated to monitoring conservative misinformation. Conservative misinformation is news or commentary that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that forwards the conservative agenda. MediaMatters.org was launched in May 2004.
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Reverend Amos Brown

"This is the first lesson that must be learned. If you don’t think for yourself, somebody else will do your thinking for you. And whoever does your thinking will be your master, and you their slave."

-- Reverend Amos Brown.
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John Conyers, Jr.

Democratic congressman John Conyers, Jr. has been serving Michigan's 14th district since 1965. Among other distinguished efforts during his three decades in office, Conyers established the Congressional Universal Health Care Task Force, whose mission is to pass universal health care legislation that would guarantee every American access to affordable, comprehensive, quality health care.
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Kofi Annan

"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family."

-- Kofi Annan, Secretary, General of the United Nations.
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Health care

The United States spends twice as much on health care per capita than any other country, according to National Center for Health Statistics. Meanwhile, life expectancy at birth in the United States is an average of 78.14 years, which ranks 47th in highest total life expectancy compared to other countries, according to the CIA Fact book.
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Reed v. Reed

A 1971 Supreme Court decision overruled an Idaho Probate Court judgment that "males must be preferred to females" in appointing administrators of estates. In Reed v. Reed, both parties sought to be named the administrator of their son's estate. The Court concluded in a unanimous decision that the law's dissimilar treatment of men and women was unconstitutional.
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Syriana

George Clooney won an Oscar for his role in the 2005 film Syriana. The film depicts several characters who are involved in the geo-political events of a shifting Middle East country and its oil industry. Clooney plays a CIA agent who untangles unscrupulous national and corporate interests in securing oil drilling rights in the midst of a planned regime change.
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Drum Major Instinct

The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank generating ideas that fuel the progressive movement. The foundation was founded in 1961 during Civil Rights Movement. Its name was inspired by Dr. King's often used phrase "drum major instinct" meaning the instinct to be a leader. See drummajorinstitute.org.
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Jon Stewart

"I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land."

-- Jon Stewart, American entertainer.
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Louis Farrakhan

"There really can be no peace without justice. There can be no justice without truth. And there can be no truth, unless someone rises up to tell you the truth."

-- Louis Farrakhan, Islamic Minister.
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2008 U.S. election data

According to the Census Bureau's 2008 U.S. election data, the state of Minnesota and the District of Columbia recorded the highest voter turnout, each with voting rates of about 75%. Hawaii and Utah were among the states with the lowest turnouts, each with approximately 52%. By sex, women had a higher voting rate (66%) than males (62%).
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Charles Rangel

Democratic congressman Charles Rangel has represented upper Manhattan, New York since 1971. Rangel's legislative history includes gun control, affordable housing, urban renewal, and economic prosperity. His legacy includes the "Rangel Amendment", a 1987 tax code law to deny foreign tax credits to U.S. companies investing in South Africa, dealing a crippling blow to South African apartheid.
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Louise Slaughter

"If ever we had proof that our nation's pollution laws aren't working, it's reading the list of industrial chemicals in the bodies of babies who have not yet lived outside the womb."

-- Louise Slaughter, United States Congresswoman.
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Geraldine Ferraro

New York democrat Geraldine Ferraro was the first female vice presidential candidate representing a major American political party. Ferraro was the running-mate of Walter Mondale on the democratic ticket in the 1984 presidential election. Ferraro rose to prominence in the house of representatives during the 1980s. She also served on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2008.
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E.J. Dionne

"For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the flight from family life, sexual permissiveness, the failure of individuals to work hard. For liberals, the gravest sins are intolerance, a lack of generosity toward the needy, narrow-mindedness toward social and racial minorities."

-- E.J. Dionne, Jr., American author and journalist.
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Tallulah Bankhead

“I read Shakespeare and the Bible, and I can shoot dice. That's what I call a liberal education.”

-- Tallulah Bankhead, American entertainer.
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Red vs Blue

The terms Red state and Blue state have come to differentiate between states voting conservative versus states voting liberal. Although color-coded maps had been used in previous elections, the terms were reportedly originated and coined by political journalist Tim Russert during the controversial 2000 Presidential election.
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Jeannette Rankin

"You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake."

-- Jeannette Rankin, United States Congresswoman.
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Robert Byrd

West Virginia democrat Robert Byrd was first elected to the Senate in January 1959 and held the record as the longest-serving member in the senate's history. Byrd held many leadership positions: Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip, Minority Leader and twice Majority Leader. Byrd died at age 92 on June 28, 2010.
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Robert Byrd

West Virginia democrat Robert Byrd was first elected to the Senate in January 1959 and holds the record as the longest-serving member in the senate's history. Byrd has held many leadership positions: Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip, Minority Leader and twice Majority Leader. He is currently President pro tempore of the United States Senate.
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Eleanor Clift

"Politics is so much about serendipity that we've got to have a bigger pool of women, so that when people drop out of the process, you've got others to turn to."

-- Eleanor Clift, American author and editor.
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Bill Clinton

"It's Time to Change America" - 1992 U.S. presidential campaign theme of Bill Clinton.
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Lyndon B. Johnson

"We must open the doors of opportunity. But we must also equip our people to walk through those doors."

-- Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States.
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The American Prospect

The American Prospect is a monthly political magazine dedicated to liberal ideals. The magazine was established in 1990 as a counter to the growth of intellectual conservatism during the 1980s. The American Prospect's mission: to rise to the momentous occasion that confronts all Americans who seek a just society built on our greatest traditions. See prospect.org.
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Harry S. Truman

"It is time that all Americans realized that the place of labor is side by side with the businessman and with the farmer, and not one-degree lower."

-- Harry S. Truman, President of the United States.
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Slate

Slate is a daily online magazine founded in 1996. Slate's liberal editorial focus offers analysis and commentary about politics, news and culture. Slate was initially owned by software giant Microsoft and later sold to the Washington Post. Slate features a variety of columnists, blogs, online communities, and the highly popular Doonesbury Cartoon. See slate.com.
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Thomas Hobbes

"The first and fundamental law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it."

-- Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt

The 1936 election victory of Franklin D. Roosevelt marked one of the largest electoral margins in modern presidential election history. With the backing of nearly every voting block in the nation, FDR's New Deal platform carried every state except Maine and Vermont over Republican candidate Alf Landon. The final landslide tally was 523 electoral votes to 8.
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Mario Cuomo

"There are few things more amusing in the world of politics than watching moderate Republicans charging to the right in pursuit of greater glory."

-- Mario Cuomo, Governor of New York.
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Woodrow Wilson

"He kept us out of war" - 1916 U.S. presidential campaign theme of Woodrow Wilson.
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Morris Raphael Cohen

"Liberalism is an attitude rather than a set of dogmas - an attitude that insists upon questioning all plausible and self-evident propositions, seeking not to reject them but to find out what evidence there is to support them rather than their possible alternatives."

-- Morris Raphael Cohen, Jewish philosopher.
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Mary Frances Berry

"If Rosa Parks had taken a poll before she sat down in the bus in Montgomery, she'd still be standing."

-- Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
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Eugene McCarthy

"As long as the differences and diversities of mankind exist, democracy must allow for compromise, for accommodation, and for the recognition of differences."

-- Eugene McCarthy, United States Senator.
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The Commonweal Institute

The Commonweal Institute is an alliance of independent thinkers leading conversations in media outlets and social networks about progressive approaches to solving problems. The Institute's core values are human rights, civil liberties, participatory democracy, justice, strong and caring communities, and responsible global capitalism. See commonwealinstitute.org.
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President Obama

In October 2009, the Norwegian Nobel Committee presented the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 to President Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. President Obama became the third sitting U.S. president to win the prize, following Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919.
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Bill Maher

"We have the Bill of Rights. What we need is a Bill of Responsibilities."

-- Bill Maher, American entertainer.
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The USA PATRIOT Act

The USA PATRIOT Act, signed in response to the 911 attacks, greatly expanded the power of law enforcement agencies. Critics of the law cite several constitutional issues: indefinite detentions of immigrants; search without consent; electronic searches without court order. Several legal challenges have been brought against the act. Federal courts have ruled that a number of provisions are unconstitutional.
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John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy is the only president to have won a Pulitzer Prize. His famous inaugural address statement was "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." As president, he created the Peace Corps and supported federal funding increases for education and Medicare. Many of his progressive policies were passed after his death.
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Al Sharpton

"If Charlton Heston can have a constitutional right carry a rifle, why can't grandma have a constitutional right to health care?"

-- Al Sharpton , American social activist.
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Capital punishment

In looking at capital punishment, the Supreme Court concluded in the 1972 case of Furman v. Georgia that the imposition of the death penalty in some cases constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. In this case, William Furman was sentenced to death. He tripped and fell while fleeing a burglary causing his gun to fire killing the resident of the home.
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Mary McGrory

"Baseball is what we were, and football is what we have become."

-- Mary McGrory, American journalist.
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Jay Leno

"The Bush administration said today there is a lot of support for us to attack Iraq. Exxon, Mobil, Texaco, Chevron, they're all lining up."

-- Jay Leno, American entertainer.
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The Clean Air Act of 1970

The Clean Air Act of 1970 established comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions and signaled a major shift in the U.S. government's role in air pollution control. Major amendments were added to the landmark act in 1977 and 1990. The Act was the first major environmental law in the U.S. to include a provision for citizen suits.
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David Letterman

"I know these jokes aren't great, ladies and gentlemen, see this is the problem you run into when you're between impeachments."

-- David Letterman, American entertainer.
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Salon

Salon is an online daily magazine devoted to progressive and liberal politics of America. In addition to politics, the site also features articles and reviews on culture, music, books, films, and technology. Salon also is a place for online discussion. Salon was first published in 1995 and is based in San Francisco. See salon.com.
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Harry Truman

"Give 'Em Hell, Harry!" - 1948 U.S. presidential campaign theme of Harry Truman.
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Michael Moore

"We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons."

-- Michael Moore, American entertainer.
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Sicko

The 2007 film Sicko is Michael Moore's documentary analysis of the American health care system as compared to national health care systems in Europe and Canada. Moore critically acclaimed film essay concludes that a nationalized health care system in the U.S. has merit based on historical data, interviews with patients and doctors, and questionable health care industry practices in the United States.
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Norman Mailer

"I don't think life is absurd. I think we are all here for a huge purpose. I think we shrink from the immensity of the purpose we are here for."

-- Norman Mailer, American author.
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Center for Economic and Policy Research

The Center for Economic and Policy Research is a progressive think tank established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. CEPR was founded on the belief citizens should be informed about the problems and choices that face in order to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy. See cepr.net.
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt

"The money-changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to ancient truths."

-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States.
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Al Gore

“George Bush taking credit for the Berlin Wall coming down is like the rooster taking credit for the sunrise.”

-- Al Gore's response during the Vice-presidential debate, October 13, 1992.
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Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the 1963 case of Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections that all state poll taxes were officially declared unconstitutional, because they violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The 24th Amendment prohibits both Congress and the states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or other types of tax.
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Abraham Lincoln

"Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived."

-- Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States.
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Norman Thomas

“I always get more applause than votes.”

-- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America.
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Albert Einstein

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."

-- Albert Einstein, physicist.
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Stanley Crouch

"Everybody has to be reminded that there's another way to be. Another more mysterious, unpredictable way to be that's not necessarily based upon contrivances."

-- Stanley Crouch, American music and culture author.
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Mort Sahl

"Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen."

-- Mort Sahl, American entertainer.
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Help America Vote Act

The Help America Vote Act was passed after the 2000 U.S. presidential election of George W. Bush over Al Gore. The election recorded almost two million disqualified ballots due to questionable vote-counting machines. The law mandated that all states and localities upgrade many aspects of their election procedures, including their voting machines, registration processes and poll worker training.
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Powell Clayton

"Let's trace the birth of an idea. It's born as rampant radicalism, then it becomes progressivism, then liberalism, then it becomes moderated conservative, outmoded, and gone."

-- Powell Clayton, Governor of Arkansas.
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The Century Foundation

The Century Foundation is a progressive policy research institution founded in New York in 1919. Century's specific policy challenges: the shift of financial risks from employers and government to individuals; the aging of the population; preventing and responding to terrorism while preserving civil liberties; and restoring America’s international credibility as an effective leader. See tcf.org.
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Ellen Willis

"On one level the sixties revolt was an impressive illustration of Lenin's remark that the capitalist will sell you the rope to hang him with."

-- Ellen Willis, American journalist.
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The United Nations

The United Nations was founded in 1945 by 51 countries. Besides peacekeeping, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, the UN works on a broad range of issues, from sustainable development, refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament, to promoting democracy, human rights, and economic and social development. The UN's latest annual budget was over $4 billion.
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Oprah Winfrey

"I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good."

-- Oprah Winfrey, American entertainer.
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Economic recessions

The fiscal measures first adopted by the federal government during the Great Depression have reduced the length and severity of recessions through the 20th century. Before the federal government began taking an active role during economic downturns, recessions routinely produced widespread joblessness, large populations of homeless people, human suffering from hunger and disease, and general despair.
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Al Gore

"Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it's a challenge to the moral imagination."

-- Al Gore, Vice President of the United States.
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Cultural Liberalism

Cultural Liberalism is one of many types of liberal thought. Grounded in the principles of liberal ideology, cultural liberalism is based the importance of personal freedom of choice along with very limited government intrusion. High profile examples are censorship, gambling, abortion and drugs. The Netherlands is the most often cited example of cultural liberalism.
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Barak Obama

"Change We Can Believe In" - 2008 U.S. presidential campaign theme of Barak Obama.
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Enron crash

The Enron Company crash in the aftermath of the bull market of the late 1990s spawned the 2004 documentary film "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room." The award-winning feature tells the history and lead up of the spectacular Enron collapse, which resulted in criminal trials for several of the company's top executives as well as the onset of the California electricity crisis.
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George Carlin

"I think people should be allowed to do anything they want. We haven't tried that for a while. Maybe this time it'll work."

-- George Carlin, American entertainer.
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Barbra Streisand

"How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination."

-- Barbra Streisand, American entertainer.
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Cimate change

The Earth is showing many signs of climate change: Average temperatures have climbed 0.8 degree Celsius around the world since 1880; the 20th century's last two decades were the hottest in 400 years; Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier. Courtesy of The National Geographic Website.
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Robert Kennedy

"Ultimately, America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired."

-- Robert Kennedy, United States Senator.
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Singapore's Healthcare system

Singapore has one of the most successful healthcare systems in the world, in terms of efficiency and results, according to a recent Watson Wyatt study. The key to Singapore’s system: the emphasis on the individual to assume responsibility towards their own health and their own health expenditure. The system is funded by a combination of government subsidies and individual contributions.
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Democracy Now!

Democracy Now!’s War and Peace Report provides perspectives from independent and international journalists, grassroots leaders, peace activists, academics, independent analysts, and ordinary people from around the world directly affected by U.S. foreign policy. Democracy Now! is broadcast on Pacifica, NPR, community, and college radio stations. See democracynow.org.
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European liberals

A "liberal" in the U.S. is the political equal to a "conservative" in Europe. In Europe, being considered liberal is roughly comparable to the economic outlook of American economic conservatives. In the U.S., being liberal is usually associated with a sense of social liberalism, which supports regulation of business and other economic interventionism which they believe to be in the public interest
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Robert Frost

"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel."

-- Robert Frost, American poet.
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Jimmy Carter

Former president Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter served as the nation's 39th president from 1977 to 1981. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Carter's decades of "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
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Leonard Pitts Jr.

"Not everyone has something to say. This will not stop them from saying it."

-- Leonard Pitts Jr., American author and commentator.
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Pell Grants

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to income-qualified undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to post-secondary education. The program, which as become a staple of college student aid, was launched in 1973 and is named for Claiborne Pell, a longtime Democratic senator from Rhode Island.
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Robert Jensen

“On Sept. 10 there was pain and suffering of a world manifested by power. There is nothing special about Sept. 11; there is nothing special about our pain in this country. It mattered no more or no less than the pain and suffering of the rest of the world that day. We cannot contribute to the lives lost by innocent civilians because of a corruption of power.”

-- Robert Jensen, American journalist.
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Alexis de Tocqueville

"All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it."

-- Alexis de Tocqueville, French historian
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Harold Meyerson

"The only unequivocally good policy option before the American people is to dump the president who got us into this mess, who had no trouble sending our young people to Iraq but who cannot steel himself to face the Sept. 11 commission alone."

-- Harold Meyerson, American author and journalist.
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John Kenneth Galbraith

"The complaints of the privileged are too often confused with the voice of the masses."

-- John Kenneth Galbraith, Economist.
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Eugene Debs

Eugene Debs was an American labor leader and founding member of the International Labor Union. Through his life, Debs was maligned, rebuffed, denounced and jailed for promoting world peace abroad and a living wage at home. The five-time U.S. Presidential candidate is celebrated for his belief in socialism without large state involvement. Debs died in 1926 at the age of 70.
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Adlai E. Stevenson

"If the Republicans will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them."

-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Vice President of the United States.
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Thurgood Marshall

"None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps." -- Thurgood Marshall, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
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H. L. Mencken

"In this world of sin and sorrow, there is always something to be thankful for. As for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican."

-- H. L. Mencken, American journalist
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Eric Hoffer

"The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness."

-- Eric Hoffer, American author.
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March on Washington

On this day in 1963, about 250,000 people joined the March on Washington. Participants included blacks, whites, actors, and about three hundred Congressional representatives. Congregating at the Lincoln Memorial, the day culminated with participants listening as Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
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Fahrenheit 9/11

The 2004 award-winning film "Fahrenheit 9/11" by Michael Moore documents the political and media events that took place in the wake of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Moore takes critical aim squarely at the Bush Administration, which produced the Patriot Act and the Iraqi War, as well as a nation caught-up in confusion, suspicion and fear.
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Howard Zinn

"Terrorism has replaced Communism as the rationale for the militarization of the country, for military adventures abroad, and for suppression of civil liberties at home. It serves the same purpose, serving to create hysteria."

-- Howard Zinn, American activist.
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Ted Kennedy

Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy died of cancer at age 77 on this day in 2009. Kennedy's distinguished political career spanned a broad landscape of policy, including civil rights, health care, education, voting rights and labor. A leading spokesman for liberal issues, Kennedy was remarkable in his efforts to work with allies from across the isle on important pieces of legislation.
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George Orwell

"Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

-- George Orwell, English author
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Roger Nash Baldwin

"I am for socialism, disarmament, and, ultimately, for abolishing the state itself… I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal."

-- Roger Nash Baldwin, American Civil Liberties Union.
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General Douglas MacArthur

"Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear."

-- General Douglas MacArthur
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Center for Defense Information

The Center for Defense Information produces research and publications, books, monographs and engaging conferences. CDI is dedicated to strengthening national security through various methods: international cooperation; reduced reliance on unilateral military power; reduced reliance on nuclear weapons; a transformed U.S. military establishment; and prudent oversight of defense programs.
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Mohandas K. Gandhi

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."

-- Mohandas K. Gandhi, Indian political and spiritual leader.
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Rosie O'Donnell

"The equality that we are all entitled to, as citizens of this democracy, can't be avoided by some religious dogma of a President who's is supposed to believe in the notion of separation of church and state. And he frankly doesn't."

-- Rosie O'Donnell, American entertainer.
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Katrina vanden Heuvel

"These are times when what used to be called liberal is now called radical; what used to be called radical is now called insane; what used to be called reactionary is now called moderate; and what used to be called insane is now called solid, neo-conservative thinking."

-- Katrina vanden Heuvel, American publisher.
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Jim Hightower

"But, as my mother used to tell me, two wrongs don't make a right. But I soon figured out that three left turns do."

-- Jim Hightower, American author and commentator.
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Alex Carey

"The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy."

-- Alex Carey, Australian author.
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Susan B. Anthony

"It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union…. Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less."

-- Susan B. Anthony, American activist.
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Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a research and public policy institution whose work focuses exclusively on issues of concern to African Americans and other people of color. For over three decades, the Center's research and information programs have influenced public opinion and national policy to benefit not only African Americans, but every American. See jointcenter.org.
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Civil Liberties Act of 1988

The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 granted reparations to Japanese-Americans who had been interned by the U.S. government during World War II. It specifically granted each surviving internee about $20,000 in compensation. The legislation stated that government actions were based on "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership".
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Voting Rights Act of 1965

On this day in 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Reasserting the 15th Amendment, the Act prohibited the practice of requiring voters to pass literacy tests in order to register to vote, a principal means by which Southern states had prevented African-Americans from voting.
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Sandra Day O'Connor

"Young women today often have very little appreciation for the real battles that took place to get women where they are today in this country. I don't know how much history young women today know about those battles."

-- Sandra Day O'Connor, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
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Anna Quindlen

"The problem is emblematic of what hasn't changed during the equal opportunity revolution of the last twenty years. Doors opened; opportunities evolved. Law, institutions, corporations moved forward. But many minds did not."

-- Anna Quindlen, American author and commentator.
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Thom Hartmann

Author and entrepreneur Thom Hartmann broadcasts his progressive radio talk show each day to millions of syndicated listeners across America. Hartmann's show, aptly titled Renaissance Thinking About the Issues of our Day, is the #1 progressive talk show on the radio. Listen online at thomhartmann.com/listenlive.php.
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Simone de Beauvoir

"Society cares for the individual only so far as he is profitable." -- Simone de Beauvoir, French author and philosopher.
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Holtzman v. Schlesinger

New York Representative Elizabeth Holtzman and several U.S. Air Force officers filed a 1973 law suit challenging the constitutional basis for U.S. combat in Cambodia, then a neutral country. Appealed to the Supreme Court, Holtzman won a temporary injunction on the bombing. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that military matters are the constitutional domain of the Executive and Legislature.
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Paul Krugman

"Can we break the machine that is imposing right-wing radicalism on the United States? The scariest part is that the media is part of that machine." -- Paul Krugman, American economist and commentator.
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Thomas Fuller

"A conservative believes nothing should be done for the first time." -- Thomas Fuller, English historian.
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The Progressive

Since its founding by Senator Robert La Follette in 1909, The Progressive magazine has opposed corporate power, reckless U.S. interventionism, and has championed peace, women's rights, civil rights, civil liberties, a preserved environment, an independent media, and real democracy. The editors of Progressive have opposed nuclear weapons from August 1945 to the present. See progressive.org.
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Simone de Beauvoir

"That's what I consider true generosity. You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing."

-- Simone de Beauvoir, French author.
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Susan Sontag

"Societies need to have one illness which becomes identified with evil, and attaches blame to its victims." -- Susan Sontag, American author and political activist.
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Civil Rights Act of 1964

The landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, outlawed racial segregation in schools, public places, and employment. The bill was conceived to help African Americans and was amended prior to passage to also protect women. The Act was also responsible for the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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Marie Curie

"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."

-- Marie Curie, Physicist.
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The Audacity of Hope

Barak Obama’s “The Audacity of Hope” speech delivered on this date at the 2004 Democratic National Convention set the stage for his amazing presidential victory four years later. The keynote speech was a coming out party for the less-known U.S. Senator candidate from Hawaii. The seminal event spawned what many political and media commentators would call the “Obama phenomenon.”
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President Truman

On this day in 1948, President Truman signed an Executive Order stating: "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." The order also created the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services.
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Edward Kennedy

"Thus, the controversy about the Moral Majority arises not only from its views, but from its name - which, in the minds of many, seems to imply that only one set of public policies is moral and only one majority can possibly be right."

-- Edward Kennedy, United States Senator.
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U.S. v. Nixon

The U.S. Supreme Court case of The U.S. v. Nixon centered on the President Richard Nixon's claim of executive privilege in denying recorded and written material as subpoenaed by the special prosecutor of the Watergate scandal. In a unanimous 8-0 ruling the court rejected Nixon's claim to an absolute, unqualified executive privilege from the judicial process under all circumstances.
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The Nation

"The Nation" is the self-described "flagship of the left" devoted to politics and culture. The Nation publication was founded in New York on July 6, 1865 during post Civil War America. It is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the U.S. today. The print and online magazine covers Washington, books, arts and culture. See thenation.com.
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Detroit, Michigan

A recent study conducted by the Bay Area Center for Voting Research ranked Detroit, Michigan as the most liberal of all American cities with populations of over 100,000. Detroit was followed by Gary, Indiana and Berkeley, California. The most liberal cities in the rankings were concentrated in the Northeast, Midwest and California, and had high rates of African-American population.
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Albert Camus

"I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice."

-- Albert Camus, French author.
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Demos

Demos is a public policy research organization founded in 2000. The New York-based group works with advocates and policymakers around the country in pursuit of four important goals: a more equitable economy; inclusive democracy with high levels of voting and civic engagement; an empowered public sector that works for the common good; and responsible U.S. global engagement. See demos.org.
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Emma Goldman

"The most violent element in society is ignorance."

-- Emma Goldman, Political activist.
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Ward Churchill

"If U.S. foreign policy results in massive death and destruction abroad, we cannot feign innocence when some of that destruction is returned."

-- Ward Churchill, American author and political activist.
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Aristotle

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

-- Aristotle, Greek Philosopher.
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Liberal places

Online community data provider ePdodunk has produced the list of America's most Liberal places as based upon votes, political contributions and demographics. According to the list, Boston was the most Liberal big city, Northampton, MA the most Liberal medium city, and Provincetown, MA is the most Liberal small city. The highest numbers of Liberal communities were found in New England and California.
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New Frontier

On this date in 1960, John F. Kennedy delivered his presidential candidate acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kennedy’s speech featured the theme “New Frontier”, which would be adopted and developed by his administration’s foreign and domestic agenda.
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David Friedman

"The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations."

-- David Friedman, American author.
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Vietnam War

The Case-Church Amendment passed by Congress in 1973 prohibited further U.S. military activity in Southeast Asia, thus ending direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. All told, 58,159 American soldiers died during the fifteen year campaign. On this day in 1995, President Bill Clinton announced the formal normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
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Political Liberalism

Political Liberalism is one of many types of liberal thought. Grounded in the principles of liberal ideology, political liberalism is based on the foundation of a limited and consensual government, the importance of civil and political rights of individuals, and toleration of religious and moral plurality. The ACLU best typifies this category of liberal thought.
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William Greider

"The burnt odor in Washington is from the disintegrating authority of the governing classes."

-- William Greider, American author and journalist.
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John Fritz

"The only real defense against terrorism is to have no enemies."

-- John Fritz
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Jonathan Chait

“Whenever I try to explain what’s happening in American politics I wind up sounding a bit like an unhinged conspiracy theorist. But honestly, I’m not.”

-- Jonathan Chait, American author and editor.
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Civil Rights Act

On this day in 1964, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The law also provides the federal government with the powers to enforce desegregation.
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Liberal

liberal [lib-er-uhl] –adjective: 1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs. 2. noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform. –noun: 1. a person of liberal principles or views, especially in politics or religion. 2. a member of a liberal party in politics, especially of the Liberal party in Great Britain. Source: Websters.com.
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Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced into Congress in 1923 by Alice Paul. The intention was to guarantee equal rights under any federal, state, or local law. The bill languished until 1972 when Congress passed the legislation with a seven-year deadline for ratification. The amendment fell three states short of ratification and expired on June 30, 1982.
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Political Quiz

Where do you lie on the political spectrum? Take the World's Smallest Political Quiz and instantly see where you fit on the political map. Find the quiz at theadvocates.org/quizp/. This two-dimensional political quiz was devised in 1969 by the political scientist David Nolan.
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Marquis de Sade

"Social order at the expense of liberty is hardly a bargain."

-- Marquis de Sade, French aristocrat.
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Left vs Right

Democrats and liberals are noted as being to the “left” while conservatives and republicans to the “right”. These legacy positions of the political spectrum originated over 200 years ago from the seating arrangement in 18th century French parliament. During parliament sessions, the aristocrats sat to the right of the Speaker while the commoners sat on the left.
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Nicholas D. Kristof

"You don't need to invade a place or install a new government to help bring about a positive change."

-- Nicholas D. Kristof, American author and journalist.
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Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic Party in 1792 as a congressional caucus to fight for the Bill of Rights and against the elitist Federalist Party. In 1798, the "party of the common man" was officially named the Democratic-Republican Party and in 1800 elected Jefferson as the first Democratic President of the United States.
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Daily Kos

Daily Kos is a leading online political community for liberal and democratic audiences. The site has hosted many posts from political luminaries, such as President Jimmy Carter, Senators Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and dozens of other senators, congressmen, and governors. Military veteran Markos Moulitsas (a.k.a. Kos) founded Kos in 2002.
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Democrats.org

The Democratic Party is committed to keeping our nation safe and expanding opportunity for every American. That commitment is reflected in an agenda that emphasizes the strong economic growth, affordable health care for all Americans, retirement security, open, honest and accountable government, and securing our nation while protecting our civil rights and liberties. Democrats.org.
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Fight With a Conservative

“How to Win a Fight With a Conservative”, by Daniel Kurtzman, is the ultimate survival guide to arguing politics, filled with irrefutable wisdom and damning facts guaranteed to bait and baffle right-wing blowhards everywhere. You'll also find pearls of political wisdom sprinkled throughout the book from the likes of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, and Dave Barry.
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AFL-CIO

The American Federation of Labor was one of the first organized labor unions in the U.S. The AFL was established in Columbus, Ohio in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. Growth and challenges led the Congress of Industrial Organizations to form and spin off from the AFL in the 1930s. The CIO later reunited with the resulting AFL-CIO in 1955. Union membership in the U.S. has steadily declined since the mid 1950s.
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Ted Rall

"Conservative humor is frankly harder than liberal humor. You get points for just being liberal. You can get more points if you make fun of your own side sometimes."

-- Ted Rall, American author and cartoonist.
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Mother Jones

Mother Jones is an award-winning progressive publication known for its investigative, political, and social justice reporting. The magazine was named after the radical reformed Mary "Mother" Jones. Based on circulation numbers, the publication is the most widely read liberal publication on America. See motherjones.com.
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Harvey Milk

The 2008 film "Milk" tells the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man in the U.S. elected to political office when he wins a San Francisco supervisor seat in 1977. Milk moves to San Francisco at age forty and organizes the city's gay community through business and political activism. The story culminates with his stand against a statewide initiative to bar gays from public school jobs.
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Lenny Bruce

"The liberals can understand everything but people who don't understand them."

-- Lenny Bruce, American entertainer.
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New Republic

The New Republic magazine has been reporting on American politics and foreign policy since 1914. The unique biweekly magazine leans liberal on fiscal, social and economic issues while supporting an aggressive stance on foreign policy. The magazine's editors were early supporter of the Iraqi war. See tnr.com.
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Gloria Steinem

"The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn."

-- Gloria Steinem, publisher and activist.
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Bowling for Columbine

The 2002 film "Bowling for Columbine" is Michael Moore's documentary essay of the violence, culture and politics in America set around the horrific events at Columbine High school in April, 1999. Moore seeks to explain the Columbine massacre as well as the high gun violence crime rate in the United States. The film earned several awards, including the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
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Ladue v. Gilleo

The Supreme Court upheld freedom of speech in the 1994 case of Ladue v. Gilleo. The court upheld a lower court ruling and voted unanimously in striking down a Missouri town's ordinance that had barred Margaret P. Gilleo, a Ladue homeowner, from posting a sign on her residence that said, "Say No to War in the Gulf -- Call Congress Now!"
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Herbert Prochnow

"A radical thinks two and two makes five. A liberal is more conservative. He knows two and two make four, but he's unhappy about it."

-- Herbert Prochnow, American author.
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A liberal education

“A liberal education… frees a man from the prison-house of his class, race, time, place, background, family and even his nation.”

-- Robert M. Hutchins, American educator.
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Richard Reeves

“A lot of history is just dirty politics cleaned up for the consumption of children and other innocents.”

-- Richard Reeves, American writer and commentator.
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President Bill Clinton

President Bill Clinton left office with an approval rating at 66%, the highest end of office rating of any president since World War II. The Clintons achieved several progressive initiatives, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and reduced taxes for low-income families. President Clinton was the first president to launch an official White House website.
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An Inconvenient Truth

"An Inconvenient Truth" was a hit of The Sundance Film Festival in 2006. The film offers a passionate and inspirational look at Vice President Al Gore's fervent crusade to halt global warming's progress by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it. Al Gore rededicated himself in 2000 to an all-out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change.
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Henry A. Wallace

"A liberal knows that the only certainty in this life is change but believes that the change can be directed toward a constructive end."

-- Henry A. Wallace, Vice President of the United States.
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Wallace v. Jaffree

The 1985 Supreme Court case of Wallace v. Jaffree ruled that the State of Alabama's requirement that all public school students offer a daily moment of silent meditation of voluntary prayer was in violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. The court found the law unconstitutional as being entirely motivated by a purpose of advancing religion.
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Stephen Colbert

"In order to be a top-tier candidate, I need 7.5 million dollars, and I currently have 0.0 million dollars."

-- Stephen Colbert, American entertainer.
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The Progressive Book Club

Proceeds from books purchased from The Progressive Book Club are donated to progressive causes. The Progressive Book Club offers each month the best of biography, history, politics, science, spirituality, and fiction. You will also find a forum for learning, meeting new friends, and engaging the essential issues of our time. See Progressivebookclup.com.
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Institute for Policy Studies

The Institute for Policy Studies was established in Washington in 1963 as the first progressive multi-issue think tank. The Institute for Policy Studies turns ideas into action for peace, justice and the environment. IPS delivers independent research, visionary thinking, and links to the grassroots, scholars and elected officials. See ips-dc.org.
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Gregory Nunn

“A liberal is a man who is right most of the time, but he's right too soon”

-- Gregory Nunn, American athlete
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Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking is a 1995 film that tells the story of Sister Helen Prejean's spiritual and consular relationship with death row inmates in Louisiana. The story is Prejean's commitment to social justice as well as her efforts to challenge the fairness and civility of the death penalty through marches, court appeals, and media events. The Oscar-winning film was directed by Tim Robbins.
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Willis Player

"A liberal is a person whose interests aren't at stake, at the moment."

-- Willis Player
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Social Liberalism

Social Liberalism is one of many types of liberal thought. Social liberalism is based on the foundation of higher levels of government regulation and taxation within a formal welfare state. Social liberals consider the accumulation of wealth and power by a small group as a threat to liberty. Most governments in Western Europe have adopted social liberal policies.
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William Ralph Inge

"There are two kinds of fools: one says, 'This is old, therefore it is good'; the other says, 'This is new, therefore it is better.'"

-- William Ralph Inge, English author.
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The Huffington Post

The Huffington Post was launched in May 2005 as a left-leaning online alternative. Started as liberal political commentary, HuffPost has expanded to cover politics, entertainment, media, living, business, and the green movement. The site was founded by Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer. See huffingtonpost.com.
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William E. Gladstone

"Liberalism is trust of the people, tempered by prudence; conservatism, distrust of people, tempered by fear."

-- William E. Gladstone, British statesman.
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Will Rogers

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat."

-- Will Rogers, American entertainer.
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Bob Herbert

"Mr. Obama is like a championship chess player, always several moves ahead of friend and foe alike."

-- Bob Herbert, American author and journalist.
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Wendy Kaminer

"A liberal is a conservative who's been arrested. A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged."

-- Wendy Kaminer, American author.
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Holtzman v. Schlesinger

New York Representative Elizabeth Holtzman and the ACLU filed a lawsuit in 1973 to halt the bombing of Cambodia, then a neutral country, during the Vietnam War. Holtzman argued that Congress did not authorize the military activity, which violates the Constitution. The Supreme Court concluded in Holtzman v. Schlesinger the constitution vests military matters in the Executive and Legislature.
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Jane Goodall

"Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right."

-- Jane Goodall, English anthropologist.
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"Good Night, and Good Luck"

The 2005 film "Good Night, and Good Luck" tells the 1950s era story of television news journalist Edward R. Murrow's stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy and the senate investigations on Communist activities. The movie takes its title from the line with which Murrow routinely closed his broadcasts. George Clooney co-wrote and directed this film.
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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

In a landmark decision, the 1954 Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka declared racially segregated schools unconstitutional and overruled the "separate but equal" doctrine announced in the Court's 1896 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson. In declaring that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, the Court carved a foundation for the civil rights movement.
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Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Reform is affirmative, conservatism negative; conservatism goes for comfort, reform for truth."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson, American author.
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Jane Fonda

"To be a revolutionary you have to be a human being. You have to care about people who have no power."

-- Jane Fonda, American entertainer.
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Peter C. Newman

"Conservatives usually prefer twin beds, which may contribute to the fact that Canada has more Liberals."

-- Peter C. Newman, Canadian journalist.
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Paulo Freire

"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world."

-- Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator.
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Dissent Magazine

Dissent Magazine has been published quarterly for over five decades. The magazine of the left is rooted in the traditions of democratic socialism, it's founders' opposition to both McCarthyism and Communism, and their desire to speak for the spirit of democratic utopianism. Dissent is available online at dissentmagazine.org.
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P. J. O'Rourke

"The Democrats are the party of government activism, the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, taller, and get the chickweed out of your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then get elected and prove it."

-- P. J. O'Rourke, American author.
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Jimmy Carter

Georgia Democrat Jimmy Carter served as President of the U.S. from 1977 to 1981. As president, Carter created the cabinet-level departments of the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. He established an national energy policy that included conservation, price control, and new technology, including solar panels installed on the White House.
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Common Cause

Founded in 1970, Common Cause has grown into a nationwide network of more than 400,000 members, with offices in 36 states. The advocacy group works toward the following objectives: increase public participation in government, ensure government for the common good, promote fair elections, protect civil liberties, and curb influence of money on government decisions. See commoncause.org.
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Seymour Hersh

"It's shades of Vietnam again, folks: body counts."

-- Seymour Hersh, American author and journalist.
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James Wolcott

"The lies the government and media tell are amplifications of the lies we tell ourselves. To stop being conned, stop conning yourself."

-- James Wolcott, American journalist.
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Ansel Adams

"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment."

-- Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist.
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Harry S. Truman

"I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!"

-- Harry S. Truman, President of the United States.
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Vice President Al Gore

Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. The Nobel Committee cited Gore and the group for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change. Al Gore served as vice president from 1993 to 2001.
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Jonathan Alter

“The only thing worse than a silly politician analyzing art is a silly artist analyzing politics”

-- Jonathan Alter, Newsweek.
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The Green Collar Economy

Noted environmental advocate Van Jones proposes a “Green New Deal” for America’s future in his book The Green Collar Economy. Americans can transform from a pollution-based “gray” economy to a healthy new green economy through a broad coalition of ordinary people, business, labor, and environmentalists. The benefits will cut energy prices and drive a new economy.
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Gloria Steinem

"Most American children suffer too much mother and too little father."

-- Gloria Steinem, American journalist and political activist.
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Claus Moser

"Education cost money, but then so does ignorance."

-- Claus Moser, British scientist
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Lyndon B. Johnson

President Lyndon B. Johnson's progressive programs made him one of the great liberal president's of our time. Moving forward on JFK's agenda, President Johnson's legacy includes the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, and "The Great Society" programs, which included urban renewal, health care, education, and anti-poverty legislation. Johnson's political services spanned almost thirty years.
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Economic Policy Institute

The Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit Washington D.C. think tank, was created in 1986 to broaden the discussion about economic policy to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers. Among other offerings, EPI publishes its comprehensive analysis of the U.S. labor market "State of Working America" every two years. See epi.org.
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Marian Wright Edelman

"My faith has been the driving thing of my life. I think it is important that people who are perceived as liberals not be afraid of talking about moral and community values."

-- Marian Wright Edelman, American activist.
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Harry Reid

"It's time that America's government lived by the same values as America's families. It's time we invested in America's future and made sure our people have the skills to compete and thrive in a 21st century economy. That's what Democrats believe."

-- Harry Reid, United States Senator.
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Margaret Mead

"The liberals have not softened their view of actuality to make themselves live closer to the dream, but instead sharpen their perceptions and fight to make the dream actuality or give up the battle in despair."

-- Margaret Mead, American cultural anthropologist
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Michael Kinsley

"The takings clause of the Fifth Amendment is for conservatives what the equal protection clause of the 14th is for liberals."

-- Michael Kinsley, American journalist and commentator.
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