What do liberals think liberals stand for and why? What do liberals think conservatives stand for and why?

Question

Please serious and thoughtful answers only. I mean if you are a liberal try to understnad a conservstive in the best possible light fo ra moment and tell me what you think defines them. If it still comes out negative and that is what you honestly think well ok, but I do not intend for this to be a trashing or insulting opportunity.
I am a independent conservative Christian. I just want to understand better how liberals see themselves and others. But please give succinct and specific summaries.

What is the most significant difference between the two groups and are liberals able to sympathise with any of conservative concerns or see any truth in their views?

I see some people have found "The One's answer offensive. I don't , I actually find it interesting.

Answer 1

There are 4 group of conservatives

1. The rich liberals in the White House who know that the real conservatives can easily be fool

2. The greedy Americans who just don't want to support the USA = Fake Conservatives = greedy as..s holes

3. The Christian Conservatives = Real conservatives = waving the Bible is #1

4. KKK and Skin Head members

Answer 2

I know you want this to be the truth, but you really need to think about your positions logically. Most liberals favor government intervention on the economy, higher taxes on consumers and income earners to pay for entitlements that most who are paying won’t be able to actually benefit from for quite some time, some not at all, and continue to support unions that suppress the workers individual voice for the collective workers voice. Just recently, a liberal politician in my home state of CA wanted to ban certain video games he thought was “too violent.” What about any of that says freedom? Conservatives stand for the individual. For the individual to succeed, or fail. The important thing is to make sure the individual has the opportunity. Liberals want to create this world where nobody can actually fail since there will always be a safety net to save them. They just don’t understand that these safety nets often enable that individual to the point where success becomes impossible and the status quo becomes mandatory to maintain their livelihoods. Liberals also don’t understand what it means to fail, and how vital failure is to success. Virtually nobody who is successful had it easy. Many of them had failed venture after failed venture, until they found that right one that worked. It is within those failures is how they succeeded. Remember the words of Thomas Edison, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Failure is reserved for those that are content with receiving food stamps, medical and welfare as a means to sustain their livelihoods.

Answer 3

I see liberals as people who do not believe in the power and wonder of the human spirit. Who look to government to solve all of their problems. Who do not trust other people to make decisions for themselves. Who have no problem taking money from people who earn it and giving it to people with needs that they (liberals) define. I see liberals as a group of policital animals who purposefully oppress people and convince them that the only way they can thrive is if liberals give them hand outs.
The single most inhumane thing a person can do is convince another person that they cannot succeed on their own. That's what I see liberals doing every day in the name of their own personal position power.
I believe that we should care for each other. But we should do that individually, not as a form of government. I believe that nothing is as strong, as resourceful, as innovative, and independant as a human being. I believe that all human beings are born with natural freedom; freedom that can come only from God. It is only through formal government that freedoms are taken away.
I know I'm not a liberal. Am I a conservative?

Answer 4

Liberals see conservatives as filled with hate towards that which they can't control; conservatives are viewed as 'control-freaks'; they are seen as being inflexible. They are also seen as believing that wealth will eventually trickle down to the middle class and poor. Conservatives are seen as being against abortion, for gun ownership, against gay marriage, supporting our troops without question, and never criticizing a conservative president in office. Rich conservatives are seen as preying on the middle class and poor, even when the particular middle class and poor people involved are conservatives themselves.

Conservatives view liberals as caring for the poor even when the poor show no initiative to help themselves; liberals are seen as not respecting family values, not supporting the troops whether the particular war is right or wrong; conservatives feel that liberals are always questioning authority and 'rocking the boat'; rich liberals are seen as being hypocritical to the rest of the liberal movement by staying rich; liberals are seen as not putting business and economic interests first in environmental issues.

I believe that, though I consider myself more liberal than I used to be, our current political climate has become so polarized that we no longer make any attempt to communicate with the other side. There will always be liberals and there will always be conservatives. When we look into our very natures, we see that we have a liberal way of dealing with some issues, and a conservative way of dealing with other issues. We can let things continue this way until we have another civil war, or we can calm down and try to communicate with one another again. We can try to cooperate and compromise again, but we have to decide to make the effort.

Answer 5

Liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. A liberal society is characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy, free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of all citizens are protected.

All of that seems very ideal, attractive, and logical to me.
As regards individual freedoms and lifestyle, I think that people ought to feel free and innocent to pursue whatever customs or habits they like, as long as they pose no immediate threat to the safety and well-being of fellow Americans. That means, I don't care if they drink, don't drink, smoke, don't smoke, or like to have sex wearing clown costumes.

It's simply none of my business what consenting adults choose to do with their lives. It is not the business of religion or politicians or any combination thereof.

I believe in personal responsibility, but I also believe in a sense of benevolence and charity. I do not loose any sleep worrying about the difference between those who are truly "in need" and those that might be labeled "slackers." The world will always have both. The point is that I don't have that tight a fist on my money that I cannot afford to share some of it with those whose lifestyle is less affluent than mine. I also recognize the fact that the majority of us are NOT that far removed from living in a homeless shelter or a cardboard box. We delude ourselves if we think otherwise. Most of us are only a layoff and catastrophic illness away from abject poverty.

Answer 6

Liberals consider themselves intellectual free thinkers. They tend to feel compassionate about social ills. Liberals embrace big government and governmental programs funded by the collective transfer of money (taxes) from people that earn higher incomes (middle to upper class) to those that earn less or don't work (low middle to low class). Although liberals tend to hate the socialist label , socialism is the end result. Example: liberals think that the government should mandate the miles per gallon of your automobile. They blame republicans for the high cost of gasoline.
Conservatives rely on logic, history, the free market system and embrace the power of the individual. They hate big government as they believe it rewards the lower class at the expense of the those that earn the money. They see governmental manipulation in the free market as costly, intrusive and of no consequence other than to cause more problems. Example: the price of gasoline will dictate your choice of automobiles. Conservatives see the problems we face today as the results of government interference from the past. Examples: The high cost of energy is the direct result from past government bans on hydroelectric and nuclear power plants; the high cost of gasoline is the direct effect of excessive gasoline tax, and the ban on drilling for oil in much of America.

Answer 7

I used to think I was a liberal. Now, as I get a bit older, I realize that was idealism.
I still believe our basic rights should be defended and protected.
I'm a lot more conservative than I used to be.
I think abortion as a form of birth control is wrong. Here I'm more moderate. I couldn't tell a rape victim no, but I think it's
wrong in many circumstances. The demand should be reduced with education and alternatives.
I think our country's leaders need a big dose of common sense.
Freedom of religion. I guess I really departed with liberalism on this issue. I think that if atheists really didn't believe in God, they wouldn't be too scared to have it on TV. Pick up your remote and change the channel. I believe it's Christmas, not Winter Holidays. I believe everyone is entitled to celebrate their faith. Others are free to shut up and go about their own business. The Bill of Rights says Freedom OF Religion, not freedom FROM it.
I think people kill people. Some people just use guns to do it.
Others drink and drive and use their cars. Ban cars along with guns? No, I drive sober only and only use a gun to shoot game I intend to eat.
Immigration....is a wonderful thing. Only when done legally.
Guess my change of heart came from obtaining experience in life.
A liberal live and let live philosophy is allright for some, but when living and letting live brings harm to American citizens, damages our society, celebrates flaunting of our laws, then
my more conservative side is appalled.
Call me somewhere between conservative and moderate. I use try to utilize common sense.

Answer 8

I think that you have posed an excellent question, but I don't think that you will get a meaningful answer because the terms Liberal and Conservative don't really mean anything, except an opportunity to say stupid, cynical things about others.

Answer 9

They both think their ideology is best for America. And they both accuse each other of trying to limit freedom.

It really comes down to conservatives' traditional values vs liberals' vision for changes for the better. I think that's bare bone simplest way to look at it.

There are certain values we need to preserve, but there are certain values that need to be reexamined. Liberals and conservatives provide 2 opposing views on debates on issues that will impact our lives. That's kind of obvious, but people often over look that. Thinking one side is just pure evil or something.

Answer 10

Think of it this way:

A Liberal is someone who wants money and power but doesn't have much.

A Conservative is someone who has accumulated money and power and wants to keep it

When a Conservative loses his money and power, he becomes a Liberal trying to get it back.

When a Liberal gains money and power he becomes a Conservative and fights to keep it.

That should answer all your questions.

Answer 11

This is directed to "The One"

You really have been reading way to many liberal blogs if you think that is the truth.

To generalize groups of people based on your obvious limited knowledge of people, shows your ignorance.
That is why some Republicans feel as if they cannot communicate with far-left-leaning people, they seem to be filled with so much hate.