[PLUG-TALK] Liberal vs Conservative?

[Dylan Reinhardt]

> What is the definition of Liberal, and Conservative?
> Meant with regards to viewpoints, and with some examples.

I'll take a stab at that.  Finally, a chance to use my degree. :-)

You can find people within each camp (and several others besides) who will
argue you into a stupor explaining why this or that opinion is held by *true*
Conservatives, *true* Liberals, or *true* whatever.

Was Clinton "Liberal?"  Is Dubya a "Conservative?"  Many cases pro and con
could easily be made... after all, Clinton spearheaded the passage of NAFTA,
while Dubya's contribution to international trade has been to propose a
huge tarrif on steel.

It's a common (but worthless) trope that Republicans are Conservative and
that Democrats are Liberal.  Memebers of each party may exhibit identifiable
traits on certain issues, but it's hard to make the case that they do so
with any philosophical consistency.

What, for example, is the "Conservative" position on the drug war?  Market
conservatives (at least the honest ones) see government interfering in commerce
on the basis of misguided moralism.  Social conservatives see vice and evil
and want government to act to put a stop to it.  Two utterly irreconcilable
opinions and both of them vote Republican.

And Liberals?  Well, who the heck knows what they think about the drug war...
as far as I can tell, they're simply content to thank their personal higher
power that it didn't get rolling until after most of them graduated from
college.  Besides, it has nothing to do with choice, which is the only issue
Liberals agree about anyway.

While on the subject, I read an essay recently that plug-talk'ers might
enjoy... it's a fun rant on why the three major branches of American political
thought all suck.  (http://www.scalzi.com/w020322.htm).

Enjoy,

Dylan