Expert: Paul Edward Zukowski - 11/16/2004

Question
Paul,

I'm really confused, especially from all the presidential election rhetoric, over the terms "conservative" and "liberal".  These seem to me to be over-used labels.  Republicans always seem to bash democrats by saying "He's the most liberal person in Congress," or "He's too liberal to hold this office."  You never hear the reverse.  

I guess what my question comes down to is - what IS a conservative and what IS a liberal, and why is "liberal" portrayed as such a bad thing?

I consider myself, from dictionary definitions, to be a conservative, as I'm in favor of old-fashioned values, and I think that new ideas, whether political, social, or cultural, are ok, but need to be put under a close microscope and can't just be implemented without thinking of their consequences.  I also oppose abortion, favor the death penalty, favor small goverment, low taxes (and the low spending to match).  However, although I believe religion is ok, I'm an adimate believer in seperation of church and state, I support gay marraige, and belive that the government should intervene as little as possible in peoples' personal lives.

On the other hand, from the dictionary, I read that liberal means open to others' beliefs, and favoring progress.  How can that be a BAD thing??  Isn't "liberal" an over-used smear term in Republian politics?  To me, neither liberal or conservative is a bad thing, it's just a different point of view.  SO, why the fuss??

Answer
Hi,

I'm really confused, especially from all the presidential election rhetoric, over the terms "conservative" and "liberal". Theseseem to me to be over-used labels. Republicans always seem to bash democrats by saying "He's the most liberal person in Congress," or "He's too liberal to hold this office." You never hear the reverse.

>actually you do they use terms like "far right wing"

I guess what my question comes down to is - what IS a conservative and what IS a liberal, and why is "liberal" portrayed as such a bad thing?

>American liberalism is set of positions that follow a big government, socialism. On the world stage it Dovish weak forgien policy, and anti-military.

I consider myself, from dictionary definitions, to be a conservative, as I'm in favor of old-fashioned values, and I think that new ideas, whether political, social, or cultural, are ok, but need to be put under a close microscope and can't just be implemented without thinking of their consequences.

>The bad reputation of liberalism has to do with the unintended consequences of thier actions.
LBJ war on poverty was an utter failure, for example.

I also oppose abortion, favor the death penalty, favor small
goverment, low taxes (and the low spending to match). However, although I believe religion is ok, I'm an adimate believer in seperation of church and state,

>You are aware that concept doesn't actually appear
in the Constitution? What it says that is to be no offical state church, and that no laws are to be made restricting
anyones exersize of thier faith.


I support gay marraige, and belive that the government should intervene as little as possible in peoples' personal lives.

On the other hand, from the dictionary, I read that liberal means open to others' beliefs, and favoring progress. How can
that be a BAD thing?

>Its the inability to set any standards, make any judgements
anything and everything needs to be understood.
For example, USSR and USA were moral equals.

Isn't "liberal" an over-used smear term in Republian politics? To me, neither liberal or conservative is a bad thing, it's just a different point of view. SO, why the fuss?

>America rejected the liberal agenda when it was openly run on in 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 2000, and 2004 thats why its considered a smear. So liberals tried to change thier image
by changing thier name to progressive. They run away from the label.

feel free to ask follow ups