Not liberal definition

I’ve now read two columns in your paper in as many days written by conservative academics seeking to define modern liberalism as something that recognizes no Second Amendment, endorses unchecked federalism, rejects due process, disavows the concept of private property and demands an all-out redistribution of wealth.

Excuse me, but where do they get their information—from within their irritable bowels?

I believe in just the opposite of all those corners they’ve tried to paint me into, but do believe that we ought to manage universal health care for all Americans and a few less loopholes available to corporations and the super-rich. Another place we can look is at our bloated military budget, which, face it, has developed into the world’s largest jobs program. At this point we spend more than the next highest-spending nine nations combined. Does that make me a modern liberal? Maybe, but not as defined by writers Bradley Gitz and Charles Kesler.

Most of us “liberals” are center-left, and there are a heck of a lot of us out there. I think if we’re not yet the majority, then we soon will be. We just want a little tweaking of a system that can be improved for the benefit of most Americans who work hard but are falling behind the way things are currently skewed.

By the way, I wonder what these academics’ attitude is about tenure? Think maybe they’re taking advantage of that very liberal perk? DANE BUXBAUM Little Rock