What is a Social Liberal anyways?
by Ben Cable (Citizen Ben)
Originally Posted on Substack Feb 22, 2025
You ever meet that one guy at the neighborhood barbecue who just won’t stop talking about how taxes are theft, but then five minutes later complains that his road hasn’t been repaved since Reagan was in office? Yeah, I’m the guy standing next to him, sipping my lemonade, and gently reminding him that maybe—just maybe—paying into the system isn’t the worst idea.
Photo by Nicholas Peloso on Unsplash
Hi, I’m your friendly neighborhood bleeding-heart liberal. I care about people. Not just my people, but all people. And I know that sounds radical, but hear me out.
What is a Social Liberal Anyway?
A social liberal is basically someone who believes that government should work for the people—not in some overbearing, Orwellian, “big brother is watching” way, but in a “let’s make sure everyone gets a fair shake” way. We like safety nets, but not because we want to trap anyone. We just think that when life drop-kicks you (as it inevitably will),
there should be something soft to land on. You know, like healthcare that won’t bankrupt you or a wage you can actually live on.
We’re the folks who push for civil rights, worker protections, and a little thing called human decency. We think kids shouldn’t go hungry, that billionaires don’t need more tax breaks, and that if your company can afford a rocket to space, it can probably afford to pay its workers a living wage. Radical, I know.
Why We’re Society’s Watchdogs
Think of social liberals like those dogs in the neighborhood that bark at shady business. We’re loud, sure, but mostly because we see things that aren’t right. When people are getting steamrolled by corporate greed, systemic injustice, or policies designed to benefit the few at the expense of the many, we’re the ones raising the alarm.
And yeah, some folks roll their eyes and say, “There go the bleeding hearts again.” But let’s be real—most of the progress society has made came from people who refused to accept the status quo. Civil rights? Fought for by people who were once called “radicals.” Children no longer in coal mines? Women voting? Same deal. Workers having weekends? Thank a union.
Being a Liberal Means Being Hopeful
At the end of the day, I’m a liberal because I believe in people. Not just in their ability to succeed but in their right to a fair shot. That means pushing for policies that help the many, not just the privileged few. It means advocating for justice, for dignity, and for a world where we look out for each other instead of just looking out for ourselves.
Does it get exhausting? Oh, absolutely. Sometimes I wish I could just sit back, ignore the news, watch YouTube pranks, and let the world do its thing. But then I remember that silence is exactly what lets bad things keep happening. And I wasn’t raised to sit on the sidelines.
So yeah, I’ll keep bleeding my heart out. Because at the end of the day, I’d rather care too much than not enough.
Now, can you flip my burger over before it burns?
