[Will]

A major obstacle of engaging in any useful discourse is the slinging of meaningless labels at the opposition. "Liberal" and "Conservative" have long since lost any capacity to accurately identify a legitimate political or social philosophy. Rather, they have been forged into weapons to attack any specific point of view without the inconvenience of examining any of the underlying facts which support or refute that point of view.

Those who genuinely care about refining and illuminating policy issues through vigorous, civil, public debate don't seek to stifle opponents by tagging them with useless labels that have the effect of corrupting that debate. If your opinions are rooted in life experience, study, reflection, and a sincere concern for the health and safety of our republic and society rather than a golden opportunity to slam someone whose beliefs you detest, then I'm anxious to hear them. If you're simply parroting rhetoric you've heard on talk radio or down at the local pub, then it's going to be really hard to take you seriously.