Conservative or Liberal?

Question

Why would either one be any better than the other? Theyre both extremists. Shouldnt there be room for flexibility?

Im not talking about being a moderate,Im talking about the two extremes.

Answer 1

Not like I havent posted this 3 or 4 times before...but here you go:

"When I was growing up, the political labels "conservative" and "liberal" basically described fiscal philosophies.

Of course, there were exceptions. For instance, for much of the last 40 years, "conservative" denoted a more nationalistic, democracy-inclined outlook.

"Liberal" implied a much greater acceptance of competing worldviews like socialism and communism. But as a rule, the labels usually indicated a philosophic divide over the role of government and its claim on our tax dollars.

"Conservatives" generally favored allowing private initiative to flourish without overbearing governmental intrusion. In other words, the "keep the government's hands out of our wallets and we'll all be better off" kind of thinking.

"Liberals" usually felt that only the government could wield the kind of power needed to tackle society's biggest problems. And certainly only the government could solve those problems with fairness and impartiality. Their thinking was, "Don't trust big business. Only big government will bother to take care of the little guy."

But beyond those fiscal and political differences, many of the people of both stripes were remarkably similar. There were good, moral, spiritual people on both sides of the aisle. Though they usually disagreed on domestic issues, they often stood together on foreign issues.

Though they often disagreed on how many tax dollars to collect and how to spend those dollars, they frequently agreed on issues of moral consequence to the nation. It was not uncommon for a fiscal "liberal" to be spiritually and morally conservative.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE!

Of course, there are always exceptions on both sides. But by and large, the core beliefs of a "conservative" and a "liberal" in past decades are as I have outlined them above.

But these labels do not mean the same thing today. When you examine the fiscal philosophies of the two major political parties, they are now unfortunately similar.

Though the Republicans decry big government, Republican administrations usually do very little to downsize.

On the other hand, the Democrats are currently attempting to claim the mantel of "peacemaker" while charging the Republicans with "warmongering." They conveniently ignore the fact that in the last half-century, with just a couple of exceptions, America has entered into every conflict or war under Democratic leadership.

But the thing that concerns me most – and should concern all Christians – is this: The characteristics that used to define and divide conservatives and liberals – economics and government – now don't seem so defining. And the qualities that used to unite members of both major parties – morality and national pride – are now the arena of all-out warfare. It is the great divide.

Putting the issues succinctly into today's realities, it looks like this: If you are a "liberal," you favor abortion and you support homosexual marriage. You want to see prayer banned from public gatherings and you think all Scripture – including the Ten Commandments, which form the basis of our system of law – should be removed from the public square. You believe that condemning certain deviant behavior should be a crime.

If you are a "liberal," you think government can make better decisions and spend your money more wisely than you. You believe that legislation can dramatically improve the fortunes of all Americans. You think that taxpayers should foot the bill for many who either don't want to work or can't work as a result of their destructive lifestyles.

A "liberal" today takes comfort in the knowledge that even if America's citizens, legislators and Constitution get it wrong, somewhere there's an unelected judge that will make it right. Especially in the Supreme Court, which to the liberal exceeds the authority of the Constitution.

Furthermore, the majority of liberals think the United States is responsible for most of the conflict, poverty, pollution and hardship in the world. You believe America should place itself under the supervision and direction of the United Nations, functioning not as a sovereign nation, but as a member of the collective.

And most concerning of all, if you are a liberal, you are convinced that religion has caused most of our problems and should either be banned or tightly controlled.

Finally, if you are a "liberal," you probably don't believe there should be any restrictions on your moral or ethical behavior.

At the other end of the spectrum lie the "conservatives."

"Conservatives" predominantly believe that life is given by God and begins at conception. They believe it is therefore sacred and to be revered and preserved at all cost. You think that our basic rights are granted by God, Himself – not by governments of men or human courts – and therefore cannot be denied without penalty. "Conservatives" believe our nation was founded by Christians on Judeo-Christian principles – that those principles and values have enabled our nation to become strong and prosperous.

If you are a conservative, you probably are convinced that it is not only our right to worship without interference, but that it is our obligation to publicly remind ourselves from whence our strength and blessings flow.

As a conservative, you understand that marriage is a sacred institution designed by God to be the union of one man and one woman. You think that when society condones and sanctions deviant behavior, destructive lifestyles and moral depravity, it degrades and weakens our nation.

A "conservative" believes in the power and the rights of the individual, the family and the private sector to create and preserve wealth. You believe that our earned wealth is to enhance our lives. You are confident that government should play an important role in protecting the nation, supplying common essential services, and providing a safety net for the weaker and less fortunate in our midst. It should, however, be our servant and not our master.

Finally, if you are a conservative, you probably believe that God raised up the United States of America and continues to bless her because she honors Him. You believe that we owe our allegiance to her – not to a cartel of nations that are determined to see her humiliated and hobbled.

You believe America should stand for honor, equality, morality and righteousness, and that we should be prepared and willing to defend those virtues no matter the price.

Twelve years ago, the campaign slogan that propelled Bill Clinton to victory was: "It's the economy ... Stupid." But to the informed and critically thinking person today, there are much more important issues than just the economy.

We are facing an enemy that hides in the shadows, doesn't play by any of the rules, and is determined to use any means to bring about our literal annihilation.

And though this aptly describes the Islamic fanatics who seek our destruction, it also describes the enemy that lurks among us. The enemy that seeks to remake America from within.

Twelve years ago, you could vote for the liberal agenda and plausibly convince yourself that you were just calling for a change in fiscal philosophies. Today, you don't have that luxury. A vote for the conservative cause next week – in the national, state and local races – is a vote to continue the effort to reverse America's decline and restore her to a path of morality, conscience and strength of character. It's a vote to continue America's return to her rightful place as the strongest beacon of hope in a terrified world.

Please, make your voice heard. Be strong and stand by your convictions, not upon who makes the biggest claim of increasing your paycheck. Take this opportunity – it may be one of our last – to re-assert our claim to America's Judeo-Christian heritage.

Vote! Vote for the candidate whose biblical and moral outlook most closely resembles yours. Take someone with you to vote. Don't listen to the predictions of the mainstream media. They have already demonstrated that they are totally sold out to the "liberal cause." No matter what they say, vote anyway. Even if your candidate is losing, your voice will still be heard – but only if you cast a ballot on Nov. 2.

Answer 2

Yes, well this just demonstrates that most people end up being a contradiction in terms. Can you call that a paradox? Only if the opposite is true obviously. As to whether liberal conservatism can be embraced by those conservatives who are more liberal than actually conservative, I think, is something that should be debated liberally in a conservatory manner.

Answer 3

I am a Independent because I DO NOT like anyone telling me how to vote. I don't want the Democrates telling me to vote against tax breaks for the rich to give to the poor. I don't want the Republicans telling me that part D of medicare is a good thing because I know better. I can make up my own mind. I look at ALL the issues before I choose. All people should be independent not followers of a group just because they want to be in power.

Answer 4

It's ashame but the way politics are today there is no room for flexibility. It's the reason this country is having so many problems. Wouldn't it be great if our politicians did what was best for our country and not be ruled by political ideology.

Answer 5

Wrong. They are not opposites or necessarily extremist.

Check out the political quiz on Libertarian.org and see what you really are.

Being in the middle of the road is not a particular good or intelligent place to be. A good place to be run over.

“There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil. The man who is wrong still retains some respect for truth, if only by accepting the responsibility of choice. But the man in the middle is the knave who blanks out the truth in order to pretend that no choice or values exist, who is willing to sit out the course of any battle, willing to cash in on the blood of the innocent or to crawl on his belly to the guilty, who dispenses justice by condemning both the robber and the robbed to jail, who solves conflicts by ordering the thinker and the fool to meet each other halfway. In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit. In that transfusion of blood which drains the good to feed the evil, the compromiser is the transmitting rubber tube.”

There is no virtue claiming to be moderate. It is not a wise choice but a non-choice for a non-thinker.

Answer 6

Most intelligent people have flexibility to consider each individual issue on its merits. Identifying too closely with one label or the other is a sign of mental inflexibility. These people are generally come up with their answer first and then seek to justify it afterwards. Interesting people surprise you with their thought process and conclusion issue to issue.

Answer 7

Im a Liberal and im allways gonna be a liberal. But if there was a republican that was willing to raise minimum wage and stop the wars then i would vote for a Republican. Its weird though.. I dont think any republican would do that

Answer 8

well we do not need extremes in anything, but i'll ask you do you want somone who will try to help the poor or do you want someone that will give everything to the rich. how much tax break did you get when mr bush gave out the tax breaks for the rich people

Answer 9

You have hit the nail on the head. Read Dobb's book War on the Middle Class.

I'd say he develops your argument to a bulletproof masterpiece.

Answer 10

I am actually conservative. however there are things I go completely right wing on, so I consider myself a moderate conservative.

Dang it, thats it, I cant take you people anymore, dont ask freaking questions if you dont want people's honest opinions.

Answer 11

We need to elect people of either party who will state their position up front rather than bashing the other party.