Hello jchui6020,
Thank you for your question.
I find there are a number of sites with agendas that have tried to
define these terms. I have targeted my search to pages that seem to
define without judgement.
The following article seems excellent! Do read the entire document:
A Rational Advocate
Copyright by A Rational Advocate
http://www.arationaladvocate.com/areyouliberalorconservative.html
"ARE YOU LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE?
The answer to this question, as used in political connotation,
requires an understanding of the respective terms. This process
involves the semantics of their use in discourse...
...To further confuse the issue, we find in conversation the
interchange of the words liberal with being "to the left" and
conservative as being "to the right". This apparently arose from the
use of the terms in the parliaments of foreign countries; the parts of
the parliamentary chambers located to the right and left of the
presiding officers accordingly representing conservative and liberal
elements respectively. Adding additional complication we find, at
times, connotations used tying "to the far right" as tending towards
fascism and "to the far left" towards socialism or even communism...
...The term liberalism was coined in Europe somewhere in the late
17th or early 18th century to represent a political philosophy that
emphasized limited government with individual freedom and civil
liberties. It promoted representative government and property rights
along with freedom of religion In economic matters it favored
non-interference from government since the forces of the marketplace
would provide the best results for the nation’s people. Thus, at its
prime liberalism represented limited government with a separation of
powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and
economic free enterprise. Sounds like present day conservatism doesn’t
it?
The term conservatism was coined to represent beliefs that arose to
counter liberalism . Essentially, it supported the existing
distribution of power, wealth and attendant social status. These
beliefs included emphasizing faith and tradition ahead of freedom of
thought and speech, as well as, supporting the total interest of
society over those of its individual members. Sounds to a degree like
present day liberalism doesn’t it?...
...Entering into the 20th century Americans generally accepted these
principles that were to carry the conservative label. However, there
was a political movement evolving that could now be endowed with the
new label of liberalism, American style, that had beliefs that
government should be more involved in social issues and in controlling
the free market...
... The American liberal received another big boost with passage of a
package of social programs entitled “New Deal”. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt I introduced the New Deal in 1933 in an attempt to reverse
the economic downturn and provide for those in society having been
adversely affected economically by the great depression following the
stock market crash in 1929. This New Deal legislation placed
restraints on the free market activities, allowed government to
intervene in the economy, heavily increased taxes and increased the
size of government...
...During this period American conservatism developed adherents that
did not approve of the New Deal and promoted the resurgence of a
free-market economy. They continued in this pursuit and in the
presidential election of 1964 conservative Republicans supported Barry
Goldwater whose book “The Conscience of a Conservative” espoused the
principles of conservatism. Although he lost the election
conservative beliefs continued to be espoused and in 1980, Ronald
Reagan a strong supporter of Goldwater, took over the conservative
mantel, ran and won the Presidency. His call for patriotism,
religious and moral values, as well as, strong opposition to high
taxes, government controls, and federal spending was the motivation
for his support by the majority of Americans..."
The article goes on to provide these definitions:
"Conservatism...:
1. A free market and the personal acquisition of property by
individuals
2. Individual freedoms and property rights are representative of
attendant moral, religious, political, and civil rights.
3. In accordance with the Constitution, the federal government is
limited to acting in those areas wherein the states themselves do not
have that ability, in inter-state matters and in foreign relations.
4. There is great importance placed on separation of powers, judicial
review, and states' rights as opposed to federal power.
Simplified Definition: An ideal conservative believes in the
importance of the individual person, including the fetus, and the
family structure and that it is the responsibility for the individuals
within each family to do as much as they can for themselves before
asking for assistance. When assistance is needed the progressive
route taken is community, city, county, state and federal, in that
order, with the federal government the avenue of last resort. A
conservative believes in the least government possible.
Liberalism ...:
1. Government should correct economic deficiencies caused by an
unregulated free market economy
2. Government should provide social welfare
3. It is right for government to impose progressive income taxation
4. Government should impose a minimum wage
5. The social security system should remain a system where those
working support those who are receiving social security payments
6. Government should support only public education forcibly paid for
by taxpayers even though some object to some of the subject matter and
the manner in which it is taught .
7. Government should impose stringent safety and health regulations.
8. Government should impose stringent consumer protection and
environmental preservation laws.
Simplified definition: An ideal liberal takes the completely opposite
position to an ideal conservative, vying for a socialistic form of
government working from the top down wherein the freedom of the
individual is compromised for the supposed good of the collective
group.
I doubt you will find a more clear description, however, here are a
few more links to pages I found interesting:
“Liberal” or “Conservative?”
http://home.att.net/~kmpope/LiberalConservative.html
An interesting aritcle that discusses liberalism and conservatism as
pertains to Christianity.
conservative and liberal Temujin Felix MacAvity
http://www.dis.org/cassiel/conserve.htm
"As many keep trying to point out, in American politics in the late
20th century, there are more similarities than differences between the
Republican and Democratic parties. I mention this because of a more
genuine division within the parties, involving accusations, or
rallying cries, depending on the speaker's position, of "conservative"
and "liberal"..."
Political Glossary
This is a glossary of popular political terms and phrases and their
meanings to liberals and conservatives.
http://www.maitreg.com/politics/glossary.asp
Search Strategy:
liberal +conservative +definition
I trust my research has provided you with interesting reading and
workable definitions. If a link above should fail to work or anything
require further explanation or research, please do post a Request for
Clarification prior to rating the answer and closing the question and
I will be pleased to assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
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