A question of definition

LeoZ 2005-02-09 10:03:33 ET What's liberal and what's conservative?

Enamon 2005-02-09 10:11:42 ET I don't know. I don't speak Spanish.

Anomalous 2005-02-09 10:28:10 ET I will see what I can find out as far as reliable definitions. I would note that the popular vs dictionary defs will differ.

Arsenic 2005-02-09 10:34:43 ET conservative is when you hold in your farts-- and liberal is the opposite

Anomalous 2005-02-09 11:01:49 ET The best quick answer that I can come up with is to compare capitalism to socialism . And also you might begin to list attitudes and attributes espoused by persons who discribe themselves as one or the other and contrast then. As a secoundary study you might list seperatly attitudes and attributes that liberals ascribe to conservatives and vice versa.

SubSonik 2005-02-09 11:03:20 ET lib·er·al ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lbr-l, lbrl) adj. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded. Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism. Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States. Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor. Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of potatoes. Not strict or literal; loose or approximate: a liberal translation. Of, relating to, or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum: a liberal education. Archaic. Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman. Obsolete. Morally unrestrained; licentious. n. A person with liberal ideas or opinions. Liberal A member of a Liberal political party. con·ser·va·tive ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kn-sūrv-tv) adj. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources. n. One favoring traditional views and values. A supporter of political conservatism. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada. Archaic. A preservative agent or principle. (Populist is listed as a synonym of Democrat) pop·u·list ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ppy-lst) n. A supporter of the rights and power of the people. Populist A supporter of the Populist Party. adj. Of or relating to populism or its advocates: a populist aversion to business monopolies. Populist Of or relating to the Populist Party. re·pub·li·can ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-pbl-kn) adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a republic. Favoring a republic as the best form of government. Republican Of, relating to, characteristic of, or belonging to the Republican Party of the United States. n. One who favors a republic as the best form of government. Republican A member of the Republican Party of the United States. hmmm republican doesn't really have a good definition...

LeoZ 2005-02-09 11:03:38 ET Well, it's not as simple. Capitalism and socialism are quite clear in their differences. But the words "conservative"and "liberal" get tossed around somuch that I've ended up being totally confused.

SubSonik 2005-02-09 11:05:01 ET I think the dictionary pretty much sums it up.

LeoZ 2005-02-09 11:06:19 ET Yeah, those are good definitions. So then I guess the onlyproblem I have is with people using "conservative" as a label. The whole arguement would then be what're traditional values?

Anomalous 2005-02-09 11:07:39 ET Subsonic= excelent work. leoZ= As I said thedictionary def will be different from the popular application and thous more difficult to discribe. Both are labels applied to groups of people that have tendencies and attitudes in common.

SubSonik 2005-02-09 11:09:11 ET very valid point leo. I suppose in a REAL traditional sense all the important values are set forth in the ten commandments or the original, unamended constitution. which would mean it was a liberal idea for women to vote. or maybe we're all entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and it's that simple.

Anomalous 2005-02-09 11:11:21 ET Yes and No.

LeoZ 2005-02-09 11:19:15 ET I think my friend best explains it here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/leoz/421595.html

Anomalous 2005-02-09 11:37:25 ET LeoZ== very good, as good a grasp on a nebulous group as I have seen.

Enamon 2005-02-09 11:57:53 ET I'm staying out of this one. The only thing I'll say is that the two are cookie cutter terms used to pen people into certain categories and to stop people from reasoning out why certain things should be done or should not be done. When penned as liberal or conservative people usually tend to go along with the party line instead of using their powers of deduction and induction.

Anomalous 2005-02-09 12:42:35 ET Well spoken!

LeoZ 2005-02-09 13:19:37 ET "'m staying out of this one. The only thing I'll say is that the two are cookie cutter terms used to pen people into certain categories and to stop people from reasoning out why certain things should be done or should not be done. When penned as liberal or conservative people usually tend to go along with the party line instead of using their powers of deduction and induction." Damned hippie!

Anomalous 2005-02-09 13:50:18 ET I do tend to go along with people that I tend to agree with, yes. And yes I SHOULD be accutely aware of that which I am lending my assent to as well. But am I?

LeoZ 2005-02-09 13:51:22 ET Ascent? Do you mean consent?

Anomalous 2005-02-09 14:04:23 ET A misspell, assent was what I was looking for.

The Statutory Ape 2005-02-09 14:40:25 ET As far as government goes from what I understand it goes like this... Conservative: Less intrusion. Less spending. Less taxation. Less government control. Society only needs government for a frame work to help keep it running smoothely. People can and will grow and prosper more on their own than if their government is too involved. Liberal: More involvment. More spending. More taxes. More government control. Government needs to give to society and be there and be involved to make sure it grows and prospers. The stronger the presence of the governing force the more will be the drive towards progress. Obviously this isn't really the way it goes but this is what I understand the philosophies of Liberal Government and Conservative Government to be.

Anomalous 2005-02-09 15:05:08 ET Also very well said.

Enamon 2005-02-09 17:15:10 ET Phoenix: Exactly why they're all right bastards as none of that applies anymore (and it can be argued that it never did).

antony green 2005-02-09 19:02:32 ET Does it matter? They both oppresses opposite beliefs.

Anomalous 2005-02-11 19:40:09 ET Staten Island Hmmm I used to work there once apon a time, I was superintendant of Southshore Golf Course for a couple years.

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