Distinctives of Liberals and Conservatives

Conservatives might create a caricature of liberals as big-spending, soft-on-crime, whiny pursuers of big government. On the other hand, liberals might characterize conservatives as heartless bigots who favor big business and oppress free speech and the needy. Caricatures aside, based strictly on the definition of the words, let us establish the differences between liberal and conservative.

Before I define my terms, let me say up front that my definitions will not accurately describe every individual who identifies him or herself as conservative or liberal. That is for a couple of reasons. First, there are few truly pure liberals or conservatives—most liberals have some conservative traits and many conservatives have some liberal traits. Second, few people actually understand the rudimentary elements that form the basis for their label. That, in fact, is one of the reasons I have written this book. If, as you read, you struggle with my definitions, then I want to encourage you to have an open mind—this book may change your life.

Defining Terms

I researched more than a dozen dictionaries, and I believe it is accurate to say that to be politically liberal is to be freed from restraints, liberated from moorings; ever-changing, having an evolving basis for values, not bound by tradition or orthodoxy. In American politics, this means that pure liberals have an expanding view of the Constitution—a “living document” they call it—that should not be bound by the intent of its Framers. And because liberals have a progressive view of morals, they feel free to abandon the restrictive moral values prominently held by society at the time our nation was founded. Such liberation from outdated values, in fact, they view as merely an appropriation of the “freedom of expression” guaranteed by the Constitution.

A key tenet of liberalism is what liberals call “compassionate government.” They identify themselves as the champions of compassion. They profess special concern for the poor and oppressed. They strive to be guardian of the rights of those they perceive to be the downtrodden. Consequently, they want to guarantee entitlements for the disadvantaged, create housing and healthcare for the homeless, provide special care for children and grandchildren of those who historically suffered discrimination, secure protection for those hurt or offended by denigrating language, and grant special rights to victims of potential discrimination or abuse. They feel especially strong about protecting personal rights, particularly the right to unrestricted “self-expression.” All of this compassion and help can best be realized, they believe, through laws, judicial decisions, and properly administered government programs.

To be conservative means to be anchored by an unchangeable foundation; making present decisions on the basis of previously established absolutes, therefore, progressing with care and restraint. In American politics this means that conservatives not only accept, but submit themselves to the Constitution as a moral and civil anchor. They attempt to hold strictly to the Framers’ intents, because they view them as individuals who had an astute, if not superior grasp on the core principles of justice, liberty, and self-government.

Contrary to the caricature of conservatives as people only concerned about big business and personal wealth, a principal element of true conservatism is compassion. However, unlike the liberal approach to social problems, true conservatives seek to help people achieve success through emphasizing personal responsibility—a key tenet of conservatism. They will not unreservedly provide money or housing for the disadvantaged lest laziness, dependence, and an ungrateful outlook be cultivated. Instead, they will insist a capable person take responsibility for himself and labor for his own keep. Conservatives believe America’s greatness is rooted in the strength of character of each of its citizens. They, therefore, emphasize the individual’s need for self-government, self-reliance, and personal fortitude, which they believe makes it possible to limit the size and scope of government—a critical trait for a free society.

Conservatives and liberals share the belief that government’s job is to protect society from harmful influences. They disagree sharply, however, on what is harmful. A liberal believes strongly in the right to “free expression,” meaning the liberty to speak one’s mind and pursue personal pleasure, so long as no harm comes to others. Consequently, the liberal considers any threat to censor those expressions or restrain those liberties as harmful to society and will fight vehemently to protect them. A conservative also believes strongly in freedom of expression, but views pursuing passion without restraint as a character deficiency that is morally harmful to society. Both camps want society’s good, but they strongly disagree on how to define what is good.

Consider, for example, that many liberals believe government has a duty to give away condoms and fund AIDS research, because citizens should have freedom to pursue sexual passions without suffering fatal consequences. They stress that abortions must be legal, so that people can engage in sexual activity without risk of bringing a child into the world when recreation, not procreation, is their goal. It is the duty of our tax-funded government, they insist, to secure these protections.

Likewise, a conservative embraces the First Amendment’s protection of free expression, and boldly defends the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” However, he believes that freedom to pursue personal passions without restraint is neither prudent, nor morally responsible for individuals, and, therefore, damages society’s moral fiber. He is convinced that high crime rates and moral disintegration characterize any society populated by individuals ruled by their passions. Conservatives share the view of the Founding Fathers that true liberty in society is only possible when individuals are self-governing; that is, they have the capacity to not act out on their hedonistic and base desires. Consequently, conservatives emphasize personal moral restraint, while liberals passionately pursue laws that secure moral license. To the conservative, liberty is only possible when individuals are free from. To the liberal, liberty means being free to. Hence, liberals and conservatives have significantly conflicting views of government.

From the book
Born Liberal, Raised Right: How to Rescue America from Moral Decline -- One Family at a Time