Modern liberalism
Modern liberalism is an ideology that is focused on individual rights. These rights are those outlined in the constitution, and affect every person within this established nation. Current liberalism focuses on controversial issues like abortion, gay marriage, and health care. These three issues are major factors in society, and political campaigns. In a nation that operates based on votes, an organized group of liberals hold the power to change current issues affecting society.
Abortion is an issue that has been controversial since forever. Modern liberalism protects a women’s right to chose whether or not she wants to abort a pregnancy. The problem comes when conservative thinkers, influence states and laws to prohibit this exact choice. That’s where current liberalism gets its voice from. Liberalism fights to change the governments hold on individual decisions. The checks and balances set up in this situation protect the woman from having to follow some set rule when it comes to decisions about her body. Modern liberalism incorporates the believe that a woman may have a certain amount of time to terminate a pregnancy. However, that decision should not be left up to the state legislature, but to the woman.
Gay marriage is a new issue in the realm of modern liberalism that is perhaps one of the most controversial issue to date. Many times conservatives will mix religion with politics and governing. Current liberalism supports the unity of two individuals and doesn’t define marriage as the unity of just a man and a woman. Liberal states like Massachusetts support this notion, and allow the unity of individuals of the same sex. A nation that gives freedoms for a number of different things, has no right to dictate peoples lives. Society is changing and new issues like this are forming, with much resistance from conservatives.
Health care reform is an issue that sparks much debate at the moment. Modern liberalism as well as conservative, are in great debate on whether to implement universal health care. According to current liberalism, people have a right to health care, and they also have the right to make money from it, meaning insurance companies have a right to create a business off it. This is where the debate comes in. Health care universally will drive down health care costs, and keep a larger majority of Americans healthy. Some believe that offering to pay for everyone will keep individuals responsible for keeping others healthy, by paying more taxes. These taxes will increase rapidly as more people reproduce and need more health care. States like Massachusetts who have roots in modern liberalism already incorporate universal health care for all its citizens, however the country as a whole does not.
Current liberalism is always changing, and incorporates organized attempts at changing current issues. Social change is inevitable, and needs innovative ideas to gear society toward success. Liberal ideas have changed government since the early nineteenth century , and will continue to do so. Modern Liberalism is a new version of what classic liberalism used to be, but it still protects natural rights for the individual.
