Is liberalism the same as socialism ?

Question

Can a conservative be a socialist or would that be a contradiction in terms?

Answer 1

Norman Thomas thought so: "The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of "liberalism" they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing what happened."
He also stated:
“The difference between Democrats and Republicans is: Democrats have accepted some ideas of Socialism cheerfully, while Republicans have accepted them reluctantly”

Answer 2

Liberalism is not socialism and you could not be conservative and socialist ...One is to the right the other is to the left !

Answer 3

liberalism means a belief in tolerance and gradual reform in moral, religious, or political matters. socialism is the political system of communal ownership. a conservative is little more than a traditionalist so one who comes from a socialist contry can be just as conservative as one from a communist or capitalist one.

Answer 4

You could consider liberalism to be a form of "socialism light," the same way conservatism is a form of "fascism light."

Liberalism is the philosophy of allowing the maximum freedom of thought, word, and deed in a society which does not however allow one group to unduly or unfairly exploit another group. It celebrates free speech but not hateful speech, economic opportunity but not exploitation, the creative use of resources but not to the point of destroying or depleting them.

It also values caring for those who need help so no one has to go without health care or live on the street (conservatives are always howling about the cost of "socialized medicine" but they never ask about the cost of *not* having it) just because they're poor; in the same way education ought to be free for anyone who qualifies intellectually and not necessarily economically, as universal education is about the best investment any society can make in its citizens.

There is economic liberalism and also social liberalism, and this is where conservatives can be liberal and vice versa. Barry Goldwater, for example, always said that marijuana should be legalized since it's just prohibition all over again. I myself tend to be liberal in most but not all areas, one exception being my firm belief in controlling illegal immigration.

Socialism is more coercive than liberalism, as government power is used to a greater extent to enforce its policies. To me, somewhere left of center has always seemed a far more humane way of treating ourselves, even if only in the sense of self-interest by preventing a violent revolution of desperately poor have-nots who have nothing to lose but their chains.

Answer 5

human beings do not understand socialism until eventually they stay in a socialist u . s .. i will inform you that I have. And that American liberalism is what's termed average in Europe. You get a very diverse attitude if you're outdoors u . s . a . searching in extremely than interior searching.

Answer 6

No.

Socialism is state ownership of the means for production and service. All citizens work for the government.

Liberalism uses tax dollars to smooth out the defects of capitalism (and capitalists) for the maximum benefit of all.

Republicans believe that any use of tax money, other than to kill foreigners, is socialism.

Answer 7

---Yes, you can be conservative and like socialism. But you would have to live in England (Great Britan). The terms are reversed over there.

Answer 8

Simply put
Hell No
Liberalism is for the rights of the individual---
Socialism is for the overall good of the whole at any expense OF the individual (or so it is SUPPOSED to work---which it very seldom if ever does)
So the two are diametrically opposed !!!

Answer 9

Most of the pure socialist nations in the world have also become fascist...Spain..Italy...ect and I relate fascism closer to conservatism than liberalism.

Answer 10

A good question for King George.