The Liberal Manifesto- Part 1

There is a specter haunting America. The specter of diffidence.

I observe the political spectrum and have a choice between two parties, one of which has bad principles and one of which has no principles at all. I observe that across time several political parties in America have outlived their usefulness and withered away. The Federalists, the first Democrats, the Whigs. In Israel the two parties which founded the country, Labor and Likud have played to their narrower and narrower party bases leaving the majority with no home, and a most unlikely protagonist, Ariel Sharon, broke the molds, and prior to his stroke formed a new party of the Center. At this writing it appears that the party will survive Sharon’s departure from the scene.

Do we not have the same splintering in America? Certainly writers have noted that the party rules of both parties have tilted the nomination processes to the radical right for the Republicans and the radical left for the Democrats. There are no more "Rockefeller Republicans", and Joe Lieberman is out as a Democrat in favor of Ned Lamont who stands on primary night with Al Sharpton. Is there nothing between Dennis Hastert and Al Sharpton? How about a party for the 80% of Americans who are neither Hastert nor Sharpton?

What would such a party look like in America? First, we will be called the Liberals. Some people think that’s a bad thing, but it is a badge which summons our best spirit. We will probably sound a little like "neo-liberals", but that is mud-slinging. We are not Democrats and we are not Republicans. Some may be "Reagan Democrats" and some may have held their noses and voted for Kerry.

We have certain principles which we deem to be important.

1. We are Americans. We are proud of our past and optimistic about our future.

2. We have faith in our political system of democratically elected representatives. We have tolerance for decisions freely made, and will work to change decisions with which we disagree.

3. We believe in a social compact in which Americans have shared rights, but also shared responsibilities.

4. We believe that political freedom is intrinsically tied to economic freedom and cultural freedom.

5. We believe peace is our first and best foreign policy. We are a nation which can lead the world best by example. We will maintain the world’s most powerful military as an instrument of peace. We have defeated fascism and communism, and the energy and freedom of our people will defeat any future threat.

6. We believe in a positive domestic policy of compassion, planning, management and tax equity, balancing the budget and providing sufficient revenue to provide for national needs.