Liberal or Conservative?

[Anonymous]

can someone, in very simple terms, describe for me a true liberal vs. a conservative. I am not very political - and being new to this city - I am now swept up in the politics of this election. i apologize for being so naive - but there seem to be a lot of political savvy types on this board........

[Anonymous]

I don't get it either. I am anti racism, anti abortion, pro gay rights, pro welfare, ...I don't fit in any category.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it either. I am anti racism, anti abortion, pro gay rights, pro welfare, ...I don't fit in any category.

You sound like a liberal to me. While a pro-life position is often considered to be conservative, there are many pro-life liberals.

[Anonymous]

Start here...Do you believe in personal responsibility, or that government should help you live your life?

Republican positions...Smaller government, lower taxes, traditional definition of marriage, abstinence til marriage, pro-business (jobs), etc.

Democrat positions...Larger, more invasive government, tax everything at the highest rate possible, gay marriage, have sex whenever, this one is not exactly right, but close enough...pro-worker, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can someone, in very simple terms, describe for me a true liberal vs. a conservative. I am not very political - and being new to this city - I am now swept up in the politics of this election. i apologize for being so naive - but there seem to be a lot of political savvy types on this board........

Taking your question literally, the answer (IMHO) is simple: No, it can't be done in simple terms because the two words have changed so much over the years, and are understood differently by different people.

I hope others will give answers, though, and I may jump back in and make my own attempt after letting the question percolate in my own mind.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Republican positions...Smaller government, lower taxes, traditional definition of marriage, abstinence til marriage, pro-business (jobs), etc.

Just to translate to reality, Republican positions:

Smaller government, yet big enough to be in your bedroom, reading your email, and listening to your phone calls;

Lower taxes -- on the wealthy

Traditional definition of marriage -- tradition being multiple divorces

Abstinence til marriage -- at least for the women

Pro-business -- you bet, as long as the campaign contributions are flowing.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Republican positions...Smaller government, lower taxes, traditional definition of marriage, abstinence til marriage, pro-business (jobs), etc.

Just to translate to reality, Republican positions:

Smaller government, yet big enough to be in your bedroom, reading your email, and listening to your phone calls;

Lower taxes -- on the wealthy

Traditional definition of marriage -- tradition being multiple divorces

Abstinence til marriage -- at least for the women

Pro-business -- you bet, as long as the campaign contributions are flowing.

Wow, a response from the top! I know that this is a pro-lib site, especially being from DC, but you didn't get to the Democrat "realities!" I wonder why? I didn't say that these values were set in stone and that if you deviated from them, you were not a republican. That much is obvious. However, your vitriol is to be expected.

The government is not listening to your phone calls unless you regularly call, or are called from countries known to harbor terrorists...you know what those are, right? You must...your politicians protect them every chance they get.

My wife and I, in South Texas, make a grand-sum total of about $75000, and we both got a rebate from the government back in the early part of the administration. My inlaws, who make more than we do, did not. Tax cuts for the rich? Hmmm... I didn't know we were rich, but, ok. And as for my inlaws, they must be rich-ER. That's why they didn't get a check...tax cuts for the rich, not the richer!

Divorces? Yeah, ok, you got me there. People who just can't get along and should never have gotten married do it all the time. But they do it in both parties, and even no parties at all. The traditional marriage thing, as you know, means marriage between a man and a woman, not man and goat, or woman and a wine bottle.

Abstinence...again, a goal rather than a destination. You are saying that more women practice the abstinence thing than guys? Well, who are they screwing then? Forget it, I don't want to know. : (

Campaign contributions from business...ok, if you insist. Know who the politician was that was MOST contributed to from Fannie Mae? Chris Dodd, Democrat, CONnecticutt. Funny how the first three letters of his state spell...forget it. I know the prima donnas will scoff at the reference, but check his name under Wikipedia. The article is fully sourced.

Know who the second MOST contributed to politician was? BARRY HUSSEIN OBAMA!!! Wow, how did that happen. Why aren't these two being perp-walked in front of the TV came.r..as... Yeah, ok, my mistake. Those other big businesses (All Barack Channel, Nothing-but Barack Channel, etc.) that give Barry as much positive light, and as many glowing reviews as they can are also giving democrats in general as much cover and insulation from and for their misdeeds as anyone possibly could. Go ahead and mention Fox News...the ratio is 6 to 1 in the democrats favor.

I know you think you have more, so go ahead and bring it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can someone, in very simple terms, describe for me a true liberal vs. a conservative. I am not very political - and being new to this city - I am now swept up in the politics of this election. i apologize for being so naive - but there seem to be a lot of political savvy types on this board........

You may find yourself in the "other" category - libertarian, green, socialist (depending on your particular view for a specific topic).

And don't forget you can be a mix - conservative on social issues, but liberal on financial issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Republican positions...Smaller government, lower taxes, traditional definition of marriage, abstinence til marriage, pro-business (jobs), etc.

Just to translate to reality, Republican positions:

Smaller government, yet big enough to be in your bedroom, reading your email, and listening to your phone calls;

Lower taxes -- on the wealthy

Traditional definition of marriage -- tradition being multiple divorces

Abstinence til marriage -- at least for the women

Pro-business -- you bet, as long as the campaign contributions are flowing.

Wow, a response from the top! I know that this is a pro-lib site, especially being from DC, but you didn't get to the Democrat "realities!" I wonder why? I didn't say that these values were set in stone and that if you deviated from them, you were not a republican. That much is obvious. However, your vitriol is to be expected.

The government is not listening to your phone calls unless you regularly call, or are called from countries known to harbor terrorists...you know what those are, right? You must...your politicians protect them every chance they get.

My wife and I, in South Texas, make a grand-sum total of about $75000, and we both got a rebate from the government back in the early part of the administration. My inlaws, who make more than we do, did not. Tax cuts for the rich? Hmmm... I didn't know we were rich, but, ok. And as for my inlaws, they must be rich-ER. That's why they didn't get a check...tax cuts for the rich, not the richer!

Divorces? Yeah, ok, you got me there. People who just can't get along and should never have gotten married do it all the time. But they do it in both parties, and even no parties at all. The traditional marriage thing, as you know, means marriage between a man and a woman, not man and goat, or woman and a wine bottle.

Abstinence...again, a goal rather than a destination. You are saying that more women practice the abstinence thing than guys? Well, who are they screwing then? Forget it, I don't want to know. : (

Campaign contributions from business...ok, if you insist. Know who the politician was that was MOST contributed to from Fannie Mae? Chris Dodd, Democrat, CONnecticutt. Funny how the first three letters of his state spell...forget it. I know the prima donnas will scoff at the reference, but check his name under Wikipedia. The article is fully sourced.

Know who the second MOST contributed to politician was? BARRY HUSSEIN OBAMA!!! Wow, how did that happen. Why aren't these two being perp-walked in front of the TV came.r..as... Yeah, ok, my mistake. Those other big businesses (All Barack Channel, Nothing-but Barack Channel, etc.) that give Barry as much positive light, and as many glowing reviews as they can are also giving democrats in general as much cover and insulation from and for their misdeeds as anyone possibly could. Go ahead and mention Fox News...the ratio is 6 to 1 in the democrats favor.

I know you think you have more, so go ahead and bring it.

Thank goodness for another Rep. on this board. I always feel like the lone one on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can someone, in very simple terms, describe for me a true liberal vs. a conservative. I am not very political - and being new to this city - I am now swept up in the politics of this election. i apologize for being so naive - but there seem to be a lot of political savvy types on this board........

You may find yourself in the "other" category - libertarian, green, socialist (depending on your particular view for a specific topic).

And don't forget you can be a mix - conservative on social issues, but liberal on financial issues.

Very well put.

[Anonymous]

Thank goodness for another Rep. on this board. I always feel like the lone one on here.




I got here as soon as I could!!

[Anonymous]

It would be nice to have a civil discussion.

Here's my take..

Liberal comes from the concept of extending personal liberties through restrained government intervention or government protection whichever fosters more personal freedoms (pro choice, free press, civil rights etc). Liberals tend to believe that certain fundamnetal rights belong to all citizens and protections therefore should occur at the federal not the state level. It also extends the concept to support government interventions in the economy to promote more equal opportunities and provide a safety net. Core issues tend to be healthcare, education, and support for the individuals in the middle and lower working classes not businesses and the wealthy. This is not always through provision of a government funded program, it can include tax incentives toward a the lower or middle class, tax incentives for health or education. Liberals are not anti-business but they do not trust market forces alone or the trickle down effect.

Conservative comes from the concept of respecting tradition, religion, and authority over individual freedoms. Conservatives will support government intervention if it is in support of authority (search and seizure, wire tapping) or religion (pro life). On social issues some conservatives will take a "states rights position" leaving it to the state to decide to preclude a federal judgement. This is misleading because conservatives who value the core religion and authority elements will eagerly support federal law if some states enaxt more liberal laws.

Conservatives do not support government regulation of business. Conservative support for tax incentives targeted at the wealthy or businesses is based on the ide of trickle down economics. If a business get a better tax break and less regulation, it will be more profitable, employ more people who will habe money to buy things. If the wealthy receive better tax incentives they will buy more goods that will fuel the economy giving the lower and middle class jobs etc. This one isn't working too well now but it wasn't always crazy idea. Some economists are debated whether this crisis means an end to traditional conservative economic theories.