The word "liberal" used to, at least implicitly, refer to a person who believed in the protection of individual liberties.

Now it refers to those with a hard driving agenda to take it away.

The liberal camp is increasingly pushing for mandatory, universal oversight of parenting practices. In short, having a child and not allowing government inspectors into your home could be automatic grounds for removal of the child, and, quite possibly, criminal prosecution. The liberal camp further pushes regulations on businesses that could potentially drive mom and pop operations out of business, and, in the ultimate ironic twist, favors big businesses such as WalMart that it claims to loathe. Want to build a shed out behind your house? Not so fast. That "weed" that just grew in that spot is a federally protected species; you'll have to scrap those plans.

Now, the conservatives don't get off the hook for some of their intrusions on Constitutional rights. But this article isn't about them; and any response that attempts to steer criticism towards the conservative camp will meet with deletion as quickly as I see it (which may be a few days). Frankly, there are plenty of bloggers who are ready and willing to cover what they see as the Constitutional violations of the right. But as for the American left, which seems to be set about absolutely destroying the constitution in favor of a Stalinist America, not enough has been said. And this is despite the fact that MUCH has been said.

I want the word "liberal" returned to those who are inclined to PROTECT liberty, not destroy it. There are plenty of other, more appropriate terms for the American left.