Liberal is a good thing

An interesting advertisment I found in the Wathena Times, October 1947. A lot ot look at, but what caught my eye was "Liberal Trade-In Allowance."

That combined with some rather ridicoulous comments by a certain unnamed individual on the NPR boards has made me thing about the word liberal, and how often this is an attack or insult, and how silly this is as an attack.

• After all, would you rather your favorite store have a liberal return policy, or a conservative return policy?

• Many people get a liberal arts degree.

• Liberal and Liberty share the same root.

• We are supposed to apply some things liberally (shampoo or sunscreen for example)

• Wouldn't you rather have a boss liberal with bonuses.

• How about parent liberal with praise?