What’s the difference between liberals and conservatives?

There’s little difference between liberals and conservatives. The both want the government to control some parts of our lives and stay the hell out of other parts. They just disagree about what parts.

The words “liberal” and “conservative” each have quite a few meanings. Webster’s New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, tells us “conservative” means: ...1. conserving or tending to conserve; preservative, 2. tending to preserve established traditions or institutions and to resist or oppose any changes to these...

But wait. There are Democrats who want some traditions and institutions preserved, and plenty of Republicans who would like some traditions and institutions changed. And a common charge, at least from conservationists, is that conservatives don’t conserve and preserve.

The dictionary defines “liberal” as... 2. giving freely; generous 3. large or plentiful; ample, abundant ... 5. tolerant of the views differing from one’s own, broad minded; specif., not orthodox or conventional 6. of democratic or republican forms of government...as distinguished from from monarchies, aristocracies, etc. 7. favoring reform or progress, as in religion, education, etc.; specif., favoring political reforms tending toward democracy and personal freedom for the individual, progressive...

But there are people who label themselves “conservatives” who are both broad-minded and generous with their money and time to causes that help others. There are “liberals” who are intolerant of views differing from their own, and who give little private support to social causes. And the most conservative Americans support democracy and personal freedom.

So do the terms “liberal” and “conservative” mean anything today?

Conventional wisdom says that conservatives believe in people taking responsibility for their own lives and keeping government out of the way. Conventional wisdom says that liberals are concerned with social justice and believe that the government is a good tool to achieve it. But conventional wisdom has it wrong, for a couple of reasons.

First, conservatives like the idea of government involvement in some issues if it preserves traditions, and liberals hate government in people’s lives in some issues if it involves personal freedom. Fairness is an issue for both liberals and conservative.

Second, people taking responsibility for their own lives and the government protecting everyone’s rights are not opposite sides of a political spectrum. In fact, they work together quite nicely.

If you look at history, the far left - communism, and the far right - fascism, are not opposites. Hitler’s Germany, Musolini’s Italy, Franco’s Spain, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, Stalin’s Soviet Union; In theory they may have been different, but in practice the far left and far right looked very much alike. The vast majority of people in this country wouldn’t like either.

In fact I believe that the majority of people in this country share many beliefs and values. And finding common ground is the first step to really communicating. Yet we begin discussion of major issues by choosing up sides. Liberals vs. conservatives.

We have many issues to grapple with. We have decisions to make that will determine the kind of country we will have and the kind of lives our children will live. Yet we are framing our discussions of those issues in terms of liberal ideology vs. conservative ideology; a way that almost ensures we will not come to agreement.

There must be a better way. Do you have any suggestions?

I will share one next time.