tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post5996542502240183097..comments2024-03-27T03:00:27.024-04:00Comments on Facts & other stubborn things: What is Arnold Kling thinking? Part 2Evanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12259004160963531720noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-27770634966851575272010-08-13T09:55:54.682-04:002010-08-13T09:55:54.682-04:00Daniel said: "And I should emphasize - "...Daniel said: "And I should emphasize - "it doesn't really matter - you are what you are" too. It's dumb to get obsessed with labels, even if you're applying them to yourself."<br /><br />That's, like, so liberal.<br /><br />:PLee Kellyhttp://www.criticalrationalism.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-21769767213035844042010-08-12T06:08:33.520-04:002010-08-12T06:08:33.520-04:00And I should emphasize - "it doesn't real...And I should emphasize - "it doesn't really matter - you are what you are" too. It's dumb to get obsessed with labels, even if you're applying them to yourself. They can only serve to limit you by tying your ideas to the ideas of other people. Unless you're running for office, what possible benefit could that have?dkuehnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136690886858186981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-41743766802015154132010-08-12T06:05:46.760-04:002010-08-12T06:05:46.760-04:00Biography can be pretty boring so I kept it out of...Biography can be pretty boring so I kept it out of the post itself, but I never really thought of myself as a "liberal" nor was I ever called a "liberal" until Obama got decently far in the campaign. He was, of course, branded a socialist and I suppose my considerable support of him got me identified as a liberal. It was pretty jarring at first, but no biggie. I used to fervently defend myself as a moderate in those cases.<br /><br />Then when the crisis really hit "liberal" often meant "not let us slip into a great depression". People were actually crying foul on the Fed. People were actually suggesting sitting on our hands when it came to fiscal stimulus (we ended up sitting on one hand, but that's better than both). In a situation like that, screw it - who cares what it's labeled. I'll be a liberal if that means doing the right thing.<br /><br />The health care debate actually offered something of a reassurance because there's a lot in the bill that I didn't like at all. Granted, it's stuff that the Heritage Foundation used to like but the point is it was being called "liberal" and I didn't like it, and I prefered a lot of the things that Republicans were talking about. So, "whew" - I'm not <i>really</i> a liberal.<br /><br />Now health care isn't talked about much anymore and I find I'm called a liberal more often again.<br /><br />Go figure.<br /><br />It honestly doesn't really matter. I am what I am - I don't feel like a liberal but I don't get concerned when people call me one. Some day they'll call me a conservative I'm sure. I wouldn't go as far as Bartlett in saying that "I hold the same views I always have". I think I'm too young for that - my views have changed over time. But I don't think they've changed in an opportunistic or flip-flopping way, and I'm not going to deny when they have changed.dkuehnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136690886858186981noreply@blogger.com