I consider myself a Liberal in the sense of the traditional definition of the term.

(From Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

"Liberalism refers to a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal.[1] Modern liberalism has its roots in the Age of Enlightenment.

Broadly speaking, liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. Different forms of liberalism may propose very different policies, but they are generally united by their support for a number of principles, including extensive freedom of thought and speech, limitations on the power of governments, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market or mixed economy, and a transparent system of government.[2] All liberals — as well as some adherents of other political ideologies — support some variant of the form of government known as liberal democracy, with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law"

Unfortunately, the term has been hijacked by people with beliefs that are incompatible with actual Liberal values. One glaring example are Communists who consider themselves Liberal. Moreover, the term has become a blanket insult used by many Conservatives for anyone with whom they disagree.

I guess the bottom line is that you have to consider the person using the term and the context in which it is used when trying to figure out what that particular person means by the term "Liberal".

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"War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen and unsupposed circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end. It has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes." - Thomas Paine