what is CONSERVATIVISM VS. LIBERALISM?

Answer 1

Being a liberal is being a constitutionalists. Being a conservativist is more difficult to define precisely due to the different categories of conservatism. There is the so-called compassionate conservative, the fiscally conservative and lastly there is the socially conservative.

In an attempt to answer your question, I will elaborate on my personal liberal reasons for leaning far left.

I believe in freedom of speech, separation of church and state, a person's right to bear arms, in the Bill of Rights making all ppl equal and believe that minorities should not be discriminated against, etc... I believe in the constitution and fully support this great nation's Supreme Court's interpretation of it.

I do NOT believe in majority rule or changing the constitution just because the majority says so.

I believe this country CORE value is the right of the ONE!

In more detail, here is why I am a 'liberal' and a democrat:

- I believe in war as a last resort or unless we or an ally have been attacked. IEs, Gulf War and Pearl Harbor
- I believe in UN support and if the UN is corrupt, instead of bailing on them, fix it.
- I believe we have a duty to pay our elderly social security because they paid those funds when they were working. That is like robbing them if we do not pay it back.
- I do not believe trickle down economics of Reagan, Bush Sr, and Bush Jr works. It never works. I believe in Clinton's economic system that is commonly referred to as Pay-As-You-Go... I believe in fiscal responsibility to not burden our children with our large debts.
- I believe in FDR's New Deal that the republican party has been trying to destroy piece by piece.
- I believe our social programs that keep families from living under bridges prevent us from becoming a 3rd world country.
- I believe in welfare but I also believe in Clinton's welfare reform where it is limited to 2 to 3 years in a lifetime. This prevents ppl from living on it their entire life; thereby, prevents welfare abuse.
- I believe in universal healthcare because a healthy nation is a powerful nation and also the pharmcy/insurance companies are corrupt.
- I believe in government regulation of monopolies such as power/energy, cable and telephone companies. Everytime the government deregulates these industries, they promise the price will go down but it never does... it always increases thereby increases the cost of living.
- I do not believe in making laws that violate constiutional rights... such as the Patriot Act or even seatbelt laws.
- I do not believe in making new laws everytime a problem arises; but rather, to fix the problem.
- I believe in gay marriage because gay ppl pay taxes too and heteorsexual couples should not be given special rights by the states just because they are straight. Otherwise take away those special rights and don't allow the state to recognize anyone's marriage.
- I believe in a woman's right to choose because just as the Supreme Court has ruled, a woman has a constitutional right to privacy over what happens to her body.
- I believe in the right to own a gun because it is a constitutional right.
- I believe in the constitution 110% and the liberties it allows each citizen.
- I am anti-illegal immigration because simply, they break the law by entering illegally therefore are criminals.
- I believe in complete separation of church and state per the constitution and as interpreted by Thomas Jefferson who stated, "thus building a wall of separation between Church and State"
- I believe in SMALL GOVERNMENT in terms of big brother staying the hell out of my business. I've never participated in a census and refuse to. I am a LIBERAL and believe government has NO RIGHT to stick its nose in my business.

Answer 2

Conservatism is about taking care of yourself and helping others when they truly need help. It is about preserving what is right, not neccessarily what is cool or possible. It is not about wars or greed or big business. It is not about starving the poor, the black, and oppressing people.

Liberalism is about spreading the wealth. From each man is he is able, to each as he needs. It is about being "progressive" to new ideas and ways. It is not about peace, it is not the little man on the bottom nor is it about common sense per se.

Answer 3

In "The Federal Courts, Politics, and the Rule of Law," by John C. Hughes (published 1995), it says:

"In the contemporary political context, those who fear conformity have tended to describe themselves as liberal and have tended to applaud judicial 'protection' of human rights. Those who fear diversity have tended to call themselves conservatives and have been appalled by judicial 'usurpation' of the majority's discretion to form the kind of community it finds most conducive to its own happiness. The former tends to approve of the expansive theories of constitutional interpretation, while the latter tends to prefer the restrained theories of judicial review. These alignments are neither perfect nor inevitable, but the debate has surely been shrill."

Answer 4

Here is an excerpt from one of my articles:

In line with the English language and in alphabetical order, here are a few earmarks that may classify a “CONSERVATIVE:”

CAUTIOUS; CONFORMIST; CONVENTIONAL; CUSTOMARY; ESTABLISHED; FIXED; FOLLOWER; HABITUAL; HESITANT; PREDICTABLE; SHEEP; TIMID; TRADITIONAL OR TRADITIONALIST; OLD-FASHION; OLD-SCHOOL; OLD-STYLE; ORTHODOX; PURIST; SAFE; SHY; SQUARE; STRAIGHT; SUSPICIOUS; UNADVENTUROUS; USUAL; VIGILANT; WARY; WATCHFUL and more. This sample of epithets constitutes characteristics with which most, if not all, people are born. So, who said that the republicans have a monopoly on these innate qualities? But, we will get into the republican qualities some other time, not now.

Now, in the name of fairness and in alphabetical order again, let’s take a look into some of the synonyms that may describe a “MODERATE:”
ASTUTE; CAREFUL; CAUTIOUS; COMPOSED; DIFFIDENT; EFFACING; EVENHANDED; EQUITABLE; FAIR; IMPARTIAL; HUMBLE; JUDICIOUS; LEVELHEADED; LOGICAL; MEEK; MODEST; OPEN-MINDED; NON-DISCREMINATORY; PLEASANT; PRACTICAL; PRUDENT, RATIONAL; REALISTIC; REASONABLE; RESERVED; RESTRAINED; RETICENT; SAGACIOUS; SANE; SELF- SENSIBLE; SHREWD; SOUND; TEMPERATE; THOUGHTFUL; UNPRESUMPTUOUS; UNASSUMING; UNPRETENTIOUS; WISE and more. Doesn’t this sample of epithets suggest that we need a third political party for “MODERATE OR PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENTS?”

Trying to be fair once again, let’s see what may constitute a “LIBERAL:”
ACCOMMODATING; BROAD-MINDED; CHARITABLE; ENLIGHTENED; FLEXIBLE; FREE-THINKING; FORBEARING; FOREWORD-THINKING; HANDS-OFF; LA SSEZ-FAIRE; LAX; LENIENT; MODERN; NON-INTERVENTIONIST; NON-JUDGMENTAL; OPEN-MINDED; PERMISSIVE; PROGRESSIVE; TOLERANT; UNAUTOCRATIC; UNDERSTANDING; UNPREJUDICED; UNBIASED and more. So, based on these characteristics wouldn’t one rather be a free spirited liberal instead of a constipated conservative?

Answer 5

The difference between the RIGHT (conservatism) and the WRONG (liberalism). Haha. That's my opinion on it.

Answer 6

Not sure of the Percentages....... Personally....I switched from Democrat to Independent during the Clinton Yrs....I didnt like the road the party was going down.....

Answer 7

In the broadest sense, conservatism is "every man for himself" and liberalism is "help your neighbour".

Answer 8

conseratives would be your extreme replublicans...
and liberals would be your extreme democrats...

conseratives tend to be more closed minded in my opinion
and liberals more open minded

conseratives are generally against
abortion
gay marriage

they are often pro war

and liberals visa versa

Answer 9

One is an ******, the other is logical