Difference between Libs and Cons in States please?

Question

I live in England and it seems politically we have a different perception of a conservative and a liberal. Without it turning into a name calling cat fight can anybody tell me the differences between them in the States?

Answer 1

Conservatives are pro-business. Conservatives believe in lower taxes for the wealthiest (even if the result is government deficit spending) in the belief that the wealthy will invest that money in the stock market and businesses will hire more people with the additional investment. Conservatives do not believe in environmental regulations that can cause businesses to spend more money to keep pollutants out of the air. Conservatives believe in government regulation of peoples lives (such as abortion and laws against gay people).

Liberals believe in higher taxes for the wealthiest to redistribute the wealth in the form of government services such as welfare for those living in poverty. Until welfare reform in the 1990s, the welfare system in the United States was often abused by those who were not truly needy. Liberals believe in environmental regulation and a cleaner environment, even if businesses have to install equipment to release less pollutants into the atmosphere. Liberals believe in less government interference in peoples personal lives (such as laws allowing abortion and laws protecting people from discrimination).

Although most Americans are registered with the Conservative Republican Party or with the Liberal Democratic Party, many Americans do not always vote for the candidate of their party's choosing. These 'cross-over" voters combined with Independent voters result in federal elections that are often decided by slim margins.

Answer 2

OK, so, you're saying that someone like me has never suffered in their lives and could not understand the turmoil that life provides, and as a result becomes a liberal? Really? You say you're not sure if this is it, I can tell you quite definitively, it is not. Liberals don't have compassion for murderers and rapists, we realize that there are issues inherent to the way we currently deal with them that make that system not only wrong, but vastly outdated, and it allows for less ability for those people who are found guilty to be vindicated (as so many are). Nowhere in that statement am I trying to ensure that we're somehow less cruel to these people. Liberals and conservatives come from all walks of life. Many have experienced the same suffering in their lives, and come to different conclusions. Why is that wrong? Why is that bad? Who's to say which opinion is right or wrong without looking at the situation logically? Just because someone is a murderer or a rapist, for example, why should our system dole out only vengeance instead of justice? Why only search for the quickest end to that person's life instead of ensuring that justice is served in the case and done correctly? These are the questions that liberals like myself think on, and that doesn't mean we somehow lack in suffering or knowledge of what it is to lose a loved one.

Answer 3

Basic difference is, liberals believe the government should help their people when they need it, and tends to be associated with big government. Conservatives believe people should be completely self-reliant, and government should be as small as possible while maintaining order. However, in this day and age, the basic conservative view has been twisted into an ultra-religious set of rules about what is moral (anti-gay, anti-abortion, etc.). Which, ironically, leads to more goverment in peoples' lives. The true conservatives today often identify as libertarians.

Answer 4

In the USA liberals are pushing a bit harder toward socialism than conservatives. The destination appears to be the same, with the only difference being the speed with which we will get there.

Answer 5

Hi Bo. Been friends with a Brit for a lot of years, he and I used to discuss this same topic. Basically, leftists in the UK would be considered right wing conservatives here in the states and vice versa. Cheers!

Answer 6

I thought I was middle of the road until Bush became president. Now I am more to the left than ever. In slanted terms, Liberals want to give the man a fishing pole... Conservatives take away his fishing pole and blame him for not having one like they do. Bleeding heart liberals? Yes, we do want to help our fellow man and have confidence that we will receive help if a time of crisis and need arises.

Answer 7

Bo,Now that you read every body's definition of Libs and Cons,ask them if they would be willing to move to another country of there choice,believe it or not this is still the Greatest country on earth,they argue like hell,but that's just part of being an American.

Answer 8

The labels are all wrong, it should be Conservatives and Leftists, both groups contain a little of both.
The easy breakdown is this: Conservatives believe in small government, less taxes, less laws (restrictions) and they are for punishing criminals.
Leftists support the redistribution of wealth (aka socialism/communism), more laws with less punishment (sounds like a contradiction doesn't it?), Bigger government with more and more taxes.......

That pretty much sums it up.

Answer 9

conservatives seem to come mainly in two types...

1. very religious... bases politics on what the Bible says... anti-gay marriage, abortion... and thinks that God should be in government...

2. classic conservative... wants small government, low taxes, no government programs that help people... basically, all the government does is keep up the military and the roads...


liberals... well it depends on who you ask...

"liberals" seem to be more environmentally concerned... support social programs and education programs to help the poor... even if it means higher taxes... think that government should stay out of people's business unless people are hurting others... pro-choice, pro-gay marriage...

The Republican party is generally more conservative and the democrats are generally more liberal...

Answer 10

The two terms "migrate" around the political spectrum with time.
Right now, most liberals would tell you that they are opposed to the war in Iraq, opposed to most large industries, opposed to capitalism, and are advocates of diversity, equality, and environmental protection.
Most conservatives would tell you that they are opposed to abortion, opposed to excessive welfare, large government, and taxes. they are generally very supportive of the war or national defense, and are advocates of capitalism, personal liberty and responsibility. Most want our constitution to be interpreted with the goal of preserving 'original intent'.
Liberals tend to quickly introduce personal emotions or feelings into a debate, whereas conservatives present a much more fact and logic based or 'cold' argument.
I'm a conservative.