define liberal and conservative?
79658
To take a definition from Ambrose Bierce, creator of the first dictionary...\n\nConservative, n. A statesman enamored of existing evils, as opposed to a Liberal, who wants to replace them with new ones\n\n------\n\nThe question is too difficult to answer because both sides are going to skew it towards their own beliefs and ideas.\n\nSocial conservatives lean more towards tradition and personal responsibility, whereas social liberals are progressive in ideals and believe more in societal involvement.\n\nEconomic conservatives favor free markets, limited government and money to the people to use as they see necessary. Economic liberals like government fiscal control and money to the government to use as it deems necessary.\n\nThe most important thing is remembering that conservatives and liberals are political philosophies, whereas Democrats and Republicans are political parties.
417003
a conservative is someone who is pro military, religion, cops, war, racism, censorship. conservatives dont like paying taxes because they dont like benefiting anyone other than themselves. in general, the rich are more conservative than the poor. they are unable to accept new ideas or change. theyre against the environment, gays, immigrants, welfare, healthcare. conservatives are usually white.
915833
Liberal - More government intervention in economics, less in social issues\n\nConservative - Less government intervention in economics, contemporary Christian Right conservatives will say more in social issues, many will say less
105983
It's just a way of describing two opposites sides, as in wings of a building.\n\nTraditionally, the "left wing" or the "left" describes those who are liberal in philosophy and politics.  The "right wing" or "right" refers to those of a conservative bent.\n\nDuring the time of the Vietnam War, the left and right were known by their views on our involvement--"doves", or anti-war for the left, and "hawks", or pro-war for the right.\n\nHopefully you understand the liberal/conservative difference.  If not, post another question and we'll tackle that for you.
315652
There is nothing wrond with being liberal, its the opposite of conservative...  Liberal covers the entire left side of the political spectrum - it's generic for people who believe in individualism, freedom, equality, the social contract and rational evidence-based (as opposed to morality-based) public policy but often disagree on the application of these principles.
223170
The word Liberal and Conservative don't mean SHIT! The assholes that like to lable themselves conservatives are usually rich sons of bitches or the mindless minons that believe the bullshit they shovel.\n\nFor the most part the conservatives who label people liberal are usually a bunch of freaks and weridos who are equally rich political lap dogs of the wealthly who are using the equally blind for support to get elected. These people also don't do shit for the people. \n\nThe words liberal and conservative don't fit the true definition of the word(s). \n\nLiberate, to set free\nConservation, to protect, or not waste\n\nIt all a bunch of bull shit and if you use these words to label yourself or lable someone else you're an idiot and a minon of the mass media. \n\nFor the most part I agree with you that the so called "conservatives" seem to be are card carrying members of the NRA and enjoy NASCAR. (Right Wing minons)\n\nAnd the so called liberals are a bunch of wanabe hippies.
78395
A conservative usually tries to keep the system the same. A liberal tries to change things. Generally Republicans tend to be conservative and Democrats tend to be liberal.
23084
liberal is a very subjective term and can apply to any viewpoint fairly far to the left compared with the mainstream politics of the nation, every nation will therefore be different in its definition
920578
I'm an independent voter and have never belonged to either party - I guess I'm just not a joiner. I've tried to get a handle on liberal vs. conservative labels to see where I stand but there's so much overlap between the two, as well as differences within each label, that I'm not sure these generalizations have any distinct meaning. \n\nDescriptions for liberalism include classical American liberalism, modern American liberalism, and paleoliberalism. Conservatism can be classical, ideological, neoconservatism, paleoconservatism, social conservatism, fiscal conservatism, or libertarianism. Some of these labels, on either side of the semantic fence, seem to share pretty much the same beliefs so, outside of the generalizations made by political parties and the media, there's a good deal of commonality. In addition, it seems both Democrats and Republicans, as well as liberals and conservatives all seem to believe in individual rights, free enterprise, representative democracy, and the rule of law. I have my own issues but neither party nor nor any ideology satisfies me. I guess I'm too particular to let other people do my thinking for me.
52233
In America being a liberal means you think people should have a lot of personal freedoms (abortion, free speech, unions) and that the economy should be closely monitored and modified by the government.\n\nConservatives think that people's freedoms should be more closely monitored and controlled and that the economy should be free from government interference.\n\nNow, this is just what the trend is GENERALLY nowadays, because really the ideals change as time goes on for both types.
881605
Patriots are those who abide by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the given laws of the land.  They can be either liberals or conservatives.  It is the interpretation and application of those initial doctrines which separates people.  Both can be patriots.  Both see themselves as patriots although their perspectives differ.  I hope this clarifies and doesn't add to the confusion.
750959
Liberal - wants to tell your kid where he or she can eat a peanut butter sandwich (not school, someone may be allergic)\n\nConservative - wants your son to eat peanut butter anywhere
1177305
not likly\n\nStupid liberal
366579
Liberal and conservative are just labels.  In fact they are dualistic labels, like good/evil, right/wrong, smart/stupid, etc.  Frankly I am tired of dualistic thinking (not to say you are doing this), it is quite simpleminded.  Things are much more complicated than black/white.\n\nI am a Californian living in France.  Growing up I always thought of myself as leftwing to moderate.  Now that I live here in France I can see how complicated labels can be.\n\nLet me break it down:\n\nSocially I could be called liberal; I believe in equal rights and opportunities, against death penalty, separation between church and state, and I even think marijuana should be decriminalized.  We likely have much in common, not totally, but I imagine that we vote similarly.\n\nIn America I could be called liberal when referring to economic policies; I believe in universal health care, social security, unemployment benefits, worker rights, etc.\n\nOk here is the twist; in France they don't know what to call me.  I appear to be liberal for the reasons I described above, but then I believe in polices like affirmative action.  In France affirmative action is considered right wing!  And then there are my observations on the French social security policies, which I believe to be way too left wing (far too liberal).  \n\nFor example, if you are a worker in France, 1. you have major union protections, 2. you can't be fired/laid-off, 3. if your are fired/laid-off you can sue your employer and win a years salary, or even get your job back, 4. you get incredible unemployment insurance (85%) of your former salary, and 5. once that runs out after several years; you get what is called RMI.  RMI is a minimum stipend from the government that equals income from a minimum wage job!\n\nIt sound too good to be true!  But the reality is that all these protections make employers very cautious with hiring.  This means high unemployment rates.  And loads of people take advantage of the system.  People travel the world on these benefits.  Others just sit around and get drunk and (or) high.\n\nFor me to say this in France, I would be labeled "right-wing".  But on many other levels I am left.  I confuse the hell out of the French, but I also confuse the hell out of Americans, for example; I believe in mandatory military service for all 18 year olds.\n\nSo anyway, am I right or wrong, black or white, liberal or conservative?  These words are tools for communication, but mistakenly many people use them as identities.\n\nI don't like labels because it is always way more complicated then the label explains.\n\nHow about this for a label: Moderate?
470461
Liberals (Democrats) as they're called in the States are actually not followers of traditional liberalism. Classical liberalism is more closely followed by Libertarians and some factions of the Republican party. Extreme liberalism can be seen in some forms of anarcho-capitalism or anarchy. Just so you know.\n\nAnyway, conservatives are for the protection of a traditional way of life, of the status quo, of stability. Conservatives are therefore against any social upheaval or change. Conservatives feel that too much change is dangerous, destabilizing, and ultimately the death of a society, and that a strong government is needed to protect the people, even if it means restricting freedom somewhat.\n\nModerates see the value in both. They agree that change is necessary and that freedom is important and that both can be beneficial, but that full-blown anarchy is not desirable and that the government can actually help the protection of freedom.
940155
Actually, the difference between liberal and conservatives is perception. Conservatives see the world as it was, liberals see the world as they would like it to be.\n\nBy the way, yes I have a beard, but I cut my hair every 18 months and donate it to "Locks of Love", have never relied on government welfare (unlike the vast majority of "red states"), have never done coke (unlike our President), don't drink (unlike our President), and find flag burning deplorable (even though it is "free speech).
915299
Liberal is the abolition of  regulation so that a person could do what he wants.