There is a great deal of confusion as to liberal and conservative philosophy today. You have to go back to 1776 to understand what liberal and conservative actually represents.
A conservative political philosophy was at the time taxation and government control. The conservatives believed in the king and the king's rule.
The liberal philosophy believed in no taxation and no government control.
These positions flip flopped during the Civil War. Lincoln, a Republican, want more government control over the states and a stronger union. Since this was a change in the norm established after the Revolution, it became a liberal philosophy. Following the war, the elected party of choice in the south became Democratic. The southern Democrats were extreme right wingers and were called Dixiecrats. This block of Dixiecrats held together into the 1960s when another flip flop occurred with the civil rights movement pushed by JFK and LBJ. The civil rights movement was again a change in the norm established after the civil war. This change in the norm put the Democrats on the liberal side. During this time, the Dixiecrats jumped ship to the Republican party, which became the conservative side of the issue.
The current position of the Democratic party on the left and Republican party on the right has only existed for the past 40 years or so. Given historic trends, it's likely to flip flop in another 40 years or so.
2006-09-25 01:16:08
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answer #1
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answered by Overt Operative 6
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We were conservatives compared to the Whigs and anti-Feds. But then someone said, het, we need to be ever MORE ignorant and hateful. Let's create a super-conservative party.
AND.....the Republican National Convention was born.
2006-09-24 11:49:02
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answer #2
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answered by Tofu Jesus 5
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I didn't know we had ever been ultra conservative. Your daydreaming, I'm a strong Democrat I don't want my name to ever be conservative in anyway. that would be a low blow.
2006-09-24 11:35:14
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answer #3
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answered by Nicki 6
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Simple, the democrats are always on the wrong side of an issue, morally, politically, ethically, economically...
The democrats are the party of segregation, abortion, socialisim, supply-side economics, high taxes, terrorist rights, criminal rights, unions, atheism, unsound environmentalism, and voter fraud.
They are life's losers. And losers are always enraged with life's winners.
2006-09-24 11:33:43
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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well if they had a Harry Truman now I would vote Democrat!!but they aint got no players!!just the same bunch of whiners!!they even talk about Gore? coming back?
2006-09-24 11:36:48
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answer #5
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answered by richard c 4
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They didn't. The Democrats are a center-right party.
2006-09-24 11:31:40
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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They went from dem to lib with the exception of very view. It finally caught up with them. Except for slick Willie, they haven't won election since 1992.
2006-09-24 11:34:31
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answer #7
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answered by Jean R 3
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Interesting question, strange how things work isn't it? I think that's the real reason why lifelong dems think they are still right. They don't realize their parties have changed sides.
2006-09-24 11:35:21
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answer #8
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answered by r_k_winters 2
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I don't Know, How did the Republicans become the Wack jobs they are today, I could ask
2006-09-24 11:30:06
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answer #9
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answered by Belladonna 4
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Can I kiss Mr. Happy?
2006-09-24 11:29:48
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answer #10
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answered by Dr.Feelgood 2
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