Can someone define the term "Conservative" and also "Neo-con" and explain the differences?

Question

Honest folks...the term "conservative" has some meaning for me. But the term "neo-con" is a null term.

I sense that it is a derogatory terms used as epithet, but can anyone tell me what it really means?

If someone can answer this and tell me the differences between the two terms, I am willing to suffer the slings and arrows of those that would think me ignorant or stupid...which would be an error in observation on their part by the way.

Just tell me OK?

Thanks for your answers so far. It seems to me that the terms do have separate meanings, but for the most part I think it is true that most usages of the term neo-con here can be safely taken as an epithet.

I don't not sense the same degree of anger from users of the terms Liberal or Conservative.

Answer 1

I think it's used as a slur by some people who are not neo-cons, in the same way that "liberals" is used as a slur by "conservatives" or others. But, there a plenty of neo-cons out there that claim the label as their own.

I think Wikipedia is a good place to start when looking for information on various schools of political thought.

Rather than try to summarize the info, I direct you to the links below.

Answer 2

I found this for you maybe this will help!!

Are You a Neocon?
by Daniel McCarthy

Regular readers of LRC or other right-of-center sites are sure to have seen terms like "neoconservative" and "paleo-libertarian" from time to time. A quick Google search can explain what the words mean, but definitions don’t really answer the more interesting and important question – which one are you?

Naturally you might be neither "paleo" nor "neo." But for those who’d like to find out I devised a quick quiz during a spell of procrastination a few months back. Here it is. After answering twenty questions it’ll give you my impression of which of ten modern American ideologies is the best fit for you, along with links to sites representing the philosophy of each.

There’s no shortage of political quizzes on the ‘net, but how many others includes "paleoconservative" and "third way" as categories? Not many (or any) that I’ve seen. And to be thoroughly immodest, this quiz is less slanted than most too. I’m a pale-something myself though, so if you find bias that’s where I’m coming from. Other than that the major flaw is that I don’t know modern left-wing ideologies at all well, so the categories of "radical," "liberal" and "third-way" probably are not how leftists would classify themselves.

The quiz questions are mostly about public policy. An alternative method would have been to ask general philosophical questions, or even to ask for interpretations of historical events. I chose the policy-oriented approach because it seemed most straightforward and clear.

Here, in brief, are the ideologies that the quiz examines. You’ll probalby want to take the quiz first though. The sketches below aren’t an answer key, but you can probably deduce from the definitions how someone of a given ideology would answer a particular question. That’s the entire principle of the quiz, after all.

Centrist – Just what it sounds like. Someone who doesn’t have any particularly strong ideological leanings in any direction.

Conservative – Specifically a "fusionist" conservative of the National Review - Heritage Foundation mold. Someone who believes in traditional morality and capitalism, and the need for a limited government to allow both to flourish.

Left-libertarian – The quiz uses a mild definition of a left-libertarian, an anti-statist who is somewhat fearful of corporate and religious influence on public life.

Liberal – Supports economic regulation to promote social justice and takes a progressive stance toward moral or cultural issues.

Libertarian – A libertarian opposes most or all government activites. Does not favor much or any government support for either moral or economic systems.

Neoconservative – A "neocon" is more inclined than other conservatives toward vigorous government in the service of the goals of traditional morality and pro-business policies. Tends to favor a very strong foreign policy of America as well.

Paleoconservative – "Paleocons" want less US involvement in foeign affairs than other conservatives and oppose mass immigration. They are also more favorably disposed toward the South and the idea of secession, or at least decentralization, than neoconservatives.

Paleo-libertarian – Similar to other libertarians except for oppostion to mass immigration, and shares the paleocon appreciation of the South.

Radical – Critical of bouregois morality and strongly opposed to capitalism and willing to use state power to achieve desired ends.

Third-way – More supportive of foreign intervention than liberals and less supportive of economic regulation, coupled with more-or-less progressive social views. "Third-way" is to liberal what neoconservative is to conservative.


June 26, 2001

Daniel McCarthy [send him mail] is a graduate student in classics at Washington University in St. Louis.

Copyright © 2001 LewRockwell.com

Answer 3

I think neo-cons specifically refers to a small cabal within the Republican power base that wants to control the Middle East.

Conservative is the term that has lost any semblance of meaning.

Also, the term was not intended to be derogatory when it was coined. But then, neither was liberal.

Answer 4

I'm not sure you can get a clear cut definition of the two ideologies anymore, but you can look at it this way:

"Conservatives", in the true since of the word, should all be registered Libertarians and avoid the Cult of Rove like the plague.

"Neo-cons", (while at one point a real term applied to Zionist Jewish Conservatives) now is used to describe the Brooks Brothers wearing buffoons with American Ffag lapel pins, much like Sean Hannity or his inbred cousin, Michael Savage.

I think "neo-con" and "RINO" (Republican in name only) are one in the same in our contemporary social vernacular

Answer 5

Neo-con is a made up word by Liberal commissars to try to insult goo, God-Fearing, RED Blooded Americans, us, the minority, the other 75% of the country.