Why are people so divided between Liberal and Conservative?

Question

I for one don't take sides when it comes to politcs, I just pick whoever I think has the best ideas. Why is it that so many people go for their side based on whether or not they are Republican or Democrat? What do you think the difference between a Liberal and a Conservative is anyway?

I honestly don't pick sides, besides the anti-Bush side, because his policies have done nothing to protect us as a nation. Give me a President who has the right ideas, Republican or Democrat, and I will vote for them. Yes I did vote in the last election and the favor of leaving the country you speak of has not happened. Bush has not moved this country forward, and it doesn't matter which party you stand for. Even Republicans should realize the problems this President has gotten us in, so if you support him then YOU should do us the favor. Bush is not supporting any side but his own personal one. So to say that I should leave the country based on that is totally bogus. I think partisanship is destroying America because normally rational people are going for Bush because he is a Republican, and Democrats are voting on a nominee just because he is Democrat. When will YOU realize that just because you have a certain point of view doesn't make it good or the best possible strategy.

Answer 1

Being divided helps to keep things fair and balanced. Imagine how the world would be if everyone were a conservative?

Answer 2

People are divided because there is a basic philosophical, political, and economic difference between Conservatives and Liberals (Hence, the names---which, if you look them up, pretty much explain what the difference ARE!!)

I once voted for a Republican who I thought could do a better job than the Dem who was already in office. I liked what he said, and thought he'd make a big difference in the "state" of my state. Well, he won, and he DID (make BIG differences.) But, not in the way I had hoped. Because HE towed the party-line, he blocked every move the state legislature tried to make to improve conditions.

For me, being a Liberal is a fundamental description of who I am as a person--not the label, but the way of thinking, feeling and reacting to something; I am never satisfied with the status quo, I am always questioning things that many others take as truth, and I feel that morally it is important to care for everyone.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, the word "liberal" has been used in such negative contexts by spin masters in Washington D.C. that the word has lost its once positive feeling. Because of this, many politicians prefer to call themselves progressives.

Progressives are interested in making changes that will empower all people including minorities, less powerful individuals, and the disenfranchised. Some are interested in improving human rights. They tend to favor more spending on programs for the poor, education, and health care. Today they are more likely to favor stricter laws to protect the environment.

Conservatives have traditionally worked to support the establishment favoring large businesses and the wealthy. Over the past 30 years, religious fundamentalists have become strong supporters of the Republican party.

Unfortunately, both parties in congress seem more interested in getting re-elected than in working from principles. It seems that the difference is not all that great between the two parties because both conservatives and liberals have supported big business and fought to maintain the status quo. In reality, I think the differences are of degree.

One irony is the fact that progressives would enact legislation that favors the middle-class and poor, but many poor voters favor conservative candidate who echo their personal values.

Answer 4

We Americans tend to attack who-ever is in charge at the time.

I tend to do the opposite - I give our leaders much benefit of the doubt. Stupid people just don't become Presidents, despite what many people think. Presidents can APPEAR stupid, but that's usually the result of making decisions based on information WE don't have.

We might be nearing the end of our greatness as a nation and people need someone to blame, while supporting the side not in power in hopes they will save us someday.

Just some thoughts.

Answer 5

If you don't know the answer, please do the country a favor and don't vote. Don't give me the "I don't pick sides" thing. I goes to the core of an individual on who they vote for. If you can't see the differences between the two parties, then you are either naive or just plain clueless.

Answer 6

Because the most vocal of those who believe in each, believe their way is the only way, and if you don't believe their way, you're just wrong. The basic difference between a liberal and a conservative, I think, is that to a liberal, there are always different ways of looking at things, whereas to conservatives there are few, or even only one way of looking at a given topic.

Answer 7

It's a basic struggle of light and darkness good and evil.

The basic problem is both sides are so far from the truth neither knows which is God and which is Satan

Go big Red Go