What do "liberal" and "conservative" mean?

Question

Traditionally, the liberal was one concerned to protect the rights of the individual from the state, who sought to reform the state.

The conservative was one who sought to maintain the old ways resisting change. The conservative opposed using the armed forces to intervene in foreign affairs, and advocated sound money.

Today we see the term "liberal" applied where "leftist" may be intended, yet we have no actual socialist party in America.

"Conservative" now means those who want to extend government power over individuals' lives - running up the national debt, dictating to the Schiavo family what it should do, and telling people what the government approves in matters such as marriage and abortion. And the armed forces and the CIA are used like a personal tool of the president to go kill anyone he doesn't like.

Who is left today to represent those of us who want less government interference in our lives? Haven't both the liberals and the conservatives ababdoned us?

Answer 1

"Who is left today to represent those of us who want less government interference in our lives? Haven't both the liberals and the conservatives abandoned us?"

Simple answer to your question. Vote Libertarian. They are social liberals (keep the government out of my bedroom, and out of my private affairs period) and fiscal conservatives (smaller government, fewer taxes, armed forces only for self defense). They are for the 2nd amendment, which I support for the reason that the founding fathers originally put it in place, to defend ourselves against tyranny.

I disagree with them only on a few things like I think we should pay taxes for education (though I think it should be controlled by the states) and provide assistance to those who really need it, like the elderly and seriously ill, and we should take care of the environment.

In an ideal society, all of us would take care of the less fortunate, and protect the environment without government interference. Anyway the Libertarian party is the best system out there.

Republicans today are NOT conservatives. They are fascist (meaning controlled by the corporations) neocons.

They don't REALLY care about the religious right's crazy s*** but suck up to them to get votes. Besides, for them it's nice to have a theocratic state because it keeps the SHEEPLE under control.

Answer 2

You have sure mixed up things.

Liberal-they want to be nice, open and new. They don't want to do thing the old way, only the new way. Everyone is equal under there eyes and every ones option counts. And if someone thinks something different then you do...they are just as right as you.

Conservative-don't care about being nice, are closed off and like the old way of doing things. They think the country is just fine the way thing are. Sure there are problems, but you don't need to change everything. Everyone is not equal, you are judged by your actions. There is only one right and wrong...and if you don't think the right way you are wrong.

Note the liberals are the ones that want to extend governments power over peoples lives. How much 'freedom' you think there would be in national health care...where one guy somewhere makes health care rules for the whole country. They would take all of our money away if they could...they think a tax rate of 80% of your income is 'too low'.

Though it's safe to say they have both abandoned the people...

Answer 3

I can tell you what being a liberal means to me.

Being a liberal is being a constitutionalists. It is that simple.

We believe in freedom of speech, separation of church and state, a person's right to bear arms, etc...

We believe in the Bill of Rights making all ppl equal and we believe that minorities should not be discriminated against.

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

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

In more detail, here is why I am a 'liberal' 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 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.
- 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 4

What is really needed in this time of strife is people in the middle. Neither extreme has an answer to your question.

Answer 5

i was going to answer, but beachbum said it so well, i will just agree wholeheartedly. we dont need big brother in our bedroom.