Liberal vs Conservative: Battle for Turf of the Terms

IN THESE DAYS OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING, POLITICIANS throw around labels and broad generalizations to try and win over votes through making good sound bytes. The definitions of the terms "liberal" and "conservative" have been disputed for as long as they have existed. Accepted meanings of these labels have changed throughout time because of the changing in the values of American society. When it was proposed, Social Security was seen as a extremely liberal concept and was attacked by conservatives who saw it as socialistic trash. Today, the values of Americans are different, and Social Security is widely accepted. Perhaps privatizing the Social Security system will be seen as a moderate move in retrospect as well, although today there are those who see it as conservative gambling. As the culture of America changes, the ideological middle point will sway left and right relative to where it stands today, but there will always be liberals and conservatives. Comparing the two terms to what beliefs they represent today will help those who are trying to decide what side of the fence to fall on. But be warned, once one is firm on where they stand, the grass is almost never greener on the other side.

One thing that needs to be established is that both Democrats and Republicans want what is best for the country, but just have different ideas to go about it. There are heated battles in politics, but what could be better for the country than people vigorously fighting for what they believe is best for it?

Here is a look at the differing in belief systems. Keep in mind these are generalizations and may not all hold true for every person who would fit under these labels. The following analysis should be taken with a grain of salt.

Topic	Liberal View	Conservative View
Governmental preference	Communism: Decrease income disparity by curving taxes up on rich, therefore limiting individuals' incentive to work harder. Obsessed with getting government involved in people's lives and controlling big business.	Feudalism: Tax policy resembles the Magna Carta. (Contract between the king/president and the nobility/rich people) Nobility sit back in throne/lawn chair and let their serfs/Mexican immigrants harvest grapes off their land. Wish to permanently implement this feudal social structure based on class and have no compassion toward peasants/minorities.
Economy	Controlled	Uncontrolled
People's Morals/Values	Uncontrolled	Strictly and Hipocritcally Controlled
World View	Value and respect the global community while pretending everything is okay	Value and respect America or fellow conservatives will label you unpatriotic. You get angry and no longer go to church with them, but they find you by utilizing the Patriot Act and call you a heretic instead. Unlike liberals, conservatives pretend everything is not okay in the global community, particularly in random middle eastern countries.
Fiscal Policy	Raise taxes on wealthy people and spend like there's no tomorrow	Cut taxes for wealthy people and spend like there's a war tomorrow*

* = Historically, conservatives cut taxes and spend less, but in recent history they appear to have cut taxes and have spent record amounts resulting in historical budget deficits.--->Click here to learn more about these recent controversial fiscal polices