Frequent intelligent use of the word "liberal" in political debate has produced and is producing a salutory effect on people who have espoused it. When the word appears in print, the true believers go into defensive mode, which is itself a good cure for their past hubris. In defensive mode they ask themselves healthy questions like "Why me? I'm the nice guy and he's the conservative shmuck." This line of thought causes the liberal person to reevaluate his premises, even to redefine them in a more coherent, practical, and rational way, in short to make them *REAL*. The result of this line of thought is a host of defections from the liberal ranks, which is of course a good thing for the world.