All men are created equal

People hold certain inalienable rights that are innate in all human beings, according to
the Constitutional Rights Foundation. John Lockes theory of natural rights believes that all
men are born equally free and independent and have certain inherent natural rights of which
they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the
enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and
pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. Locke believed that people had natural rights to
life, liberty, and property, and that the role of government was to preserve these rights. If a
government does not preserve these rights, then the people have a right to change their
government.
The political thought of Liberalism is founded on ideas of liberty and equality. It is a
political doctrine that protects and enhance the freedom of every individual, liberals generally
promote our basic rights as an individual and as a member of the society, and wants the
Government to represent everyone equally. It supports free and fair elections, civil rights,
freedom of the press, freedom of religion which means freedom for, or from, all religions, free
trade, and private property. A Liberal governments power is limited and justified by the
solemn pledge to treat individuals with respect, pass laws that more effectively guarantee
individual freedom and liberty, and avoid unreasonably infringing upon these liberties. A
Liberal government is one whose authority is justified by its respect for human rights. Liberal
democracies rely heavily on majority rule through elections and legislative decisions, but they
also limit majorities by protecting individual and minority rights.
I like to believe that I am a liberalist, I am for the belief that the government should act
as a safety net for our society. Our government should not only provide the infrastructure we

all use but also promote policies that protect those without a voice or who are vulnerable and
marginalized. Liberals typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals
from being harmed by others. We should all agree on the common good of services that
protect us all.
I am a liberal because I believe that people should be free to make their own choices
as long as they do not affect anyone else and I believe that meant no one is born to a different
order, above other men. We all deserve a fair shot at creating our lives. We all have a right to
basic human needs such as food, shelter, and a living wage. We all deserve a government that
considers itself employed by its citizens, not corporations.
Liberty is important in society, because when people feel that they can freely express
their frustrations and feel that they petition the government regarding their grievances, they
dont feel pushed to take matters into their own hands. Instead of taking up arms, heading
for the hills, and waging guerilla war against the central government, disaffected people can
take to the airwaves. They can take out ads, and they can participate in the political discourse.
When governments give a proper forum for dissenting voices, the society as a whole is more
stable because people and dissenting groups dont feel so disaffected, marginalized, or
suppressed that their only option in bringing about change is through violent revolution or
regime change brought about by military means. When people feel that they can express
themselves without being sued into silence or thrown in jail, they can take more risks
artistically. They can write books or build websites on philosophy, art, religion, and theory
without having to worry about the government stepping in to muzzle them. When people feel
they can freely express themselves, they feel more contented. They dont feel frustrated. They
dont feel bottled up. They dont feel held down. The sky is the limit in terms of artistic

expression. When people are exposed to the free artistic and cultural expression of their
fellow citizens, they feel at ease. They feel contented. They feel they truly have the
opportunity to focus on the finer things in life. They get the opportunity to focus on things
that go beyond and go higher than simple raw existence (Aprenderlalibertad, 2014.)
When the government guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of expression,
people have the raw materials they need to question, to seek, to challenge, and to truly come
to an understanding of the deep and profound mysteries of human existence. According to
Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs, the highest human need, after all the needs for sex,
shelter, food, ego, and other lower needs have been filled, is the need for transcendence. A
society can foster a higher level of personal transcendence when individual liberties are
protected and guaranteed. When dissenting opinions and dissenting lifestyles are are not just
tolerated but encouraged, a society can lay the groundwork for a rich ferment of spiritual
conceptualization and expressions that can result in a higher level of spiritual exploration,
philosophical adventures, and personal transcendence. Make no mistakes about it-high levels
of personal liberty can benefit any society. From increasing economic choices which can lift
countries out of poverty to increasing opportunities for cultural expression and artistic
excellence, political liberties lay important seeds that lift societies on many levels. The
biggest benefit of liberty, however, is truly personal. With the right political, cultural,
economic, and social framework rooted in liberty, societies can lay the groundwork for people
truly exploring and pursuing the highest levels of personal, spiritual, and philosophical
transcendence. Thus, through liberalism we would achieve our ideals for our country and
government.

De La Salle University - Dasmarias

College of Liberal Arts and
Communication

POLITICAL THOUGHT - LIBERALISM

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
POSC215 Filipino Political Thoughts

Submitted by:
Loren Dorothea N. Prado
PSC32

Submitted to:
Mr. Loreto Camiloza
Faculty, Social Sciences Department

December 12, 2016