How did our system evolve from Democrats and Republicans to Conservatives and Liberals?

Question

I'm trying to figure out how we got so extremist in our party designations all of a sudden.

Answer 1

It really hasn't. Despite what you hear and read, most Americans are moderate middle-of-the-road voters. There is now a movement toward the center in both parties.

Answer 2

I think it is based on who is perceived as controlling the parties at this time. Republicans believe that the Democrats are completely controlled by the liberal agenda and vice verse. Therefore the majority of postings reflect this belief. The funny thing to me is that they also seem to believe that all Democrats are liberals and all Republicans are conservatives. Both of these assumptions are incorrect. Another inconsistency is the belief that you must possess a party affiliation to be conservative or liberal, thus ignoring all the independents out there. The fact is that there have always been political extremists, but the divide between ideologies is very wide at this time. At some point an event will occur which will bring us together again. In the meantime you just have to do your best to stick to the issues and stay above the fray as much as possible.

Answer 3

The simple answer would be votes. Everyone has a side on a given subject. You must also. But, if your an elected official, and want to stay that way, you have to "please" the people who would vote for you. If you look back over the past 20 years or so, republicans were always for smaller government and democrats were always for bigger governments that did more for the people. Now, it's the other way around. Why? votes. For example, if you look at George B., when he ran for governor of Texas, he was told that he didn't stand a chance against Ms. Richardson (I believe that was her name), so what did he do? He went to the democratically controlled state government and ask those leaders what they wanted to pass. Once he had that information, he ran on those issues and ended up winning. Clinton did the exact same thing when he ran for president, only he asked the republican congress. So, if you are a democrat, and have a certain number of people who vote a straight democratic ticket, and add to that the republicans who like your message, you stand a better chance of getting the office that you desire. Once in, then you want to please the people who got you there, and you have a tendency to take whatever issue you have and go to the extreme with it. Just look at today. During the Clinton years, they pushed for medical insurance for all, and it was voted down because the republicans were in charge of congress. They didn't want to see the democratic leader get the praise, and possibly have the next president also be a democrat. Now, the roles are reversed. We have a republican president and a democratic congress. I'll bet you anything that our current presidents goal of medical insurance for the masses also falls by the wayside...don't want the other side get all of the praise, regardless if it's good for the people or not. Votes count...

Answer 4

I'm pretty old and, as far back as I can remember there has always been a right and left. I believe it's just another way to describe the fringe groups in the parties. Somewhere in the late seventies or early eighties, the phrase extreme was attached or embraced.

I keep thinking of the McCarthy era. Politicos must have had a word to describe that communist hunter. Also, I wonder what the opposition party called Truman after he dropped the bomb? Or, Franklin Roosevelt when he introduced neo-Keynesian? I suspect there has always been a word to describe radical, Liberal or Conservative however, (in my mind) are only a means of describing a philosophical or political belief and have little to do with extremist.

Answer 5

Because both parties, at one time, had members that were extreme, middle of the road, and mild. The Democrats merged to the left and very few moderates. The Republicans merged to the right with some moderates, but not many. Look at what happened to Joe Lieberman in the Democratic party, if you doubt this analogy.

Answer 6

I don't know. It's really wierd how that happened considering Conservatives are not as far right as hard core Republicans. Conservatives can be both Republicans and Democrats while Liberals are hardcore/far left Democrats. I just find it funny when Liberals bag on Conservatives as a whole. This means they are bagging on some Democrats as well.

Answer 7

Part of the success of the conservative movement, though, talk is far easier then passing legislation that benefits the American people, is the more extreme and dismissive political chatter provided by the very popular neoconservative popular media, which has a staggering 25-30 million listeners a day. Sort of shock jock gone political "issues". Also, we as a society have become less informed, and, more acerbic in our manners and dialog with one another.

Answer 8

It hasn't been all of a sudden. This has gone on for years. The base for the Democrats is the Left and the base for the Republicans is the Right. This is where the work is done. These are the voter registration, political donations, writing platforms, worker bees. We shouldn't fear labels. It helps to know where people are coming from.

Answer 9

It didn't. Dem and Reps are political parties, conservatism and liberalism are philosophies.

The parties are made up of individuals who approach fiscal, social, security, etc. issues from either a conservative or liberal perspective.

In general, conservatives favor limited government (believing that individuals should be responsible for themselves first and Gov't is only there to help). Liberals favor more government involvement (believing that the Gov't is responsible for the individuals first).

Answer 10

When the left wing took over the democrat party and the religious right took over the Republican party. It is a way of further targeting the issue.