What it means to be liberal

It's so funny. When I was a kid, to be liberal meant to appreciate differences. To appreciate diversity. Different peoples' perspectives, religions, styles, forms of expression.

Today, to be a liberal means that everyone does everything the same or else.

How times change.

Creative uses of the term "force"

The more I hear the word "force" used in ways that play so fast and loose with the term to dillute any meaning - "I was forced to think," "You are forced to deal with the reality," or "I'm forced to use bad metaphors" - it becomes clearer and clearer to me just how much people will wallow in their own bullshit before they face up to their big lie.

Here's to a little honesty in the current democratic discussion: when you make no distinction between your idea and its alternatives - in this case, the freedom to choose - it's probably to cover for a bad idea.

Love,
Ben