Why I am a liberal

An extraordinary essay by Kevin Baker, published in Harper's here: It's very long, but required reading.

Thinking.. how people reason.. what motivates them to believe the way they do. Is any of it their own, or does society give it to them? That is essentially my point in the post below, where I continue a long standing theme on my blog about the inability of most people to reason effectively.

The Harper's essay is direct, factual, and explains why people who put the yellow ribbons on their SUV's, and voted for Bush, believe the way they do. It explains, in no uncertain terms, why I am a liberal. The roots are traced back through mythology, and picks up in earnest at the turn of the 20th century.

Yesterday, the house of representatives defeated the "gay marriage" amendment. Why is it an issue in the first place? Why did it come to a vote when everyone knew it would be defeated anyway? The essay explains why. It explains why Bush will veto the stem cell bill. It explains Iraq, and if you understand the central point, you will know what is going to happen before it does.

Why is there a "culture war" in America at all? We're all just people living in a really great piece of the world's geography, yet the angst is out of control.

So, the short of it is, I'm very proud to be a liberal with a very libertarian streak. I was told what to believe just like everyone else. I didn't buy it, even if I wasn't aware why. The question that remains in my mind, and what I'm truly facinated by, is what a "conservative" takes from the essay? What is their response? If anybody can find any sort of "conservative" response to this essay, I really really want to see it. Post a link please.