that's probably because you said previously in this post that you don't do anything when I asked what you do..   Sorry for taking your own words as the truth.

If they aren't, then why are their platforms always involved around spending more money on social issues like welfare, healthcare, social security, medicare, etc.?

exactly!  I believe that people can be socially responsible and not need government intervention.  I think that the most progressive thing we could do is to stop having so much government involvement in our every day lives.  If we, as people, took care of our family, friends and neighbors, then we wouldn't need the government.  But, as it is currently going, liberalism is turning into socialism.  The liberals are pushing more social programs, like socialized medicine.  If more people donated (though Saint Ying will disagree) to free clinics, then there would already be a place for needy to get medical attention.  If, as individuals, we gave back to our communities, we wouldn't need the government as a safety net.  Just look at the difference habitat for humanity has done for the needy, and they aren't government sponsored.

I guess maybe we need a new term for people who are proactive on a local term causing change- let's call them "humanists" instead of liberals.  They are the people who make real changes in peoples lives *now*, not *if* they can get government to change something 4 years from now.

RC, you have been quite insightful!

Not really.  I don't think that anyone should be forced to give.  Of course, I also believe that everything that you do in life comes back to you.  Money can leave you as quickly as it found you.  If you help enough people who need help, if you need help, they will help you.  If we could get people just to do help those that they can, then we wouldn't even need to debate what the government can do for us.

As an example, though, people bash on Bill gates and all his money.  He contributes an amazing amount to charity.  People could say "he should!  That rich bastard!"  But, he already pays an enormous amount in taxes on his business, then gets taxed again on his income.  He doesn't *need* to donate, but he does because he actually cares about people.  He has donated more to give free immunizations to children than any one single contributor.  That makes a real difference in real lives *right now*.  That is the type of change that I see as helpful.  You can try and change government your entire life and not succeed.  Or, you could do something right now that will benefit a real person.