Quote:
Originally Posted by samurai007
Maybe "liberal" isn't the best word, perhaps "leftist" would be better. See, one of the things about conservatism is that it calls for self-sufficiency, being allowed to either succeed or fail, and reaping the benefits of success and the cost or punishment of failure or bad or stupid choices (like choosing to start using drugs, or choosing to have 14 kids with no means of support). The left is more about collectivism, everyone succeeding or failing together, group identities, taking from those who succeed to give to those who fail (which provides a disincentive to succeed because you'll simply have more taken away, and at the same time removes the sting of failure. Together, it destroys personal motivation and drive to succeed, instead creating dependency and apathy as people find it easier to take the handouts than work to succeed and have all their rewards taken away to give to others who either failed or didn't even try). Leftist teachers are indoctrinating students with this sense of entitlement for political reasons, it's not a random thing. There have been quite a few books written about this.
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Seriously... go to school or something.
Conservatism is about preserving tradition and establishing harmony, law and order via cultural norms.
Classical Liberalism emphasises freedom from. Namely freedom from government to pursue happiness and a Lassaiz fare approach to society.
Modern liberalism emphasises freedom to. Namely freedom to be able to pursue happiness.
Both types of liberalism are concerned with individual freedom.
Socialism is completely different and emphasises collectivism.
The American Republican party ideology is a mixture of Conservative ideology (Why they're obsessed with with God) and a type of liberalism which has a lot in common with classical liberalism which is named neo-liberalism. (Hence the term Neo-Conservative)
The American Democrat party ideology is modern liberalism.
What sets modern liberals apart from socialists is that modern liberals aren't out to make you dependent on the collective. Rather the aim is to provide the environment in which citizens can thrive according to liberal thought. This includes government intervention... but only so far as providing the bare necessities. i.e. health, education etc. (So you have the freedom TO get ahead if indeed you are willing to work hard for it)
I'll tell you one thing though... it's a typical Neo-Conservative tactic to paint things as so black and white like you've done.