Comparing Liberal and Conservative Socioeconomic Views in American Society

At their most basic forms, conservatism and liberalism in America are contrasting philosophies on several of the most fundamental principles of society and government.  Because political decisions affect society as a whole, it is the responsibility of citizens to make their opinions known to the government.   From this expression of opinion evolved two differing, but not necessarily mutually exclusive, schools of thought: conservatism and liberalism. 

To understand the differences between conservatism and liberalism, it is helpful to look at the root dictionary definitions of both terms.  According to Merriam-Webster (2009), the adjective conservative refers to a tendency to maintain existing conditions, a basis on historical norms, and an emphasis on traditional and social stability.  In contrast, liberal refers to open-mindedness, respect for civil liberties, and individual autonomy.  When used in everyday language, both words hold different meanings than when applied in politics.  In politics, people ranging from senators to ordinary citizens will branch off of these broad guidelines to find their own opinions.

But what does it really mean to identify as either a conservative or a liberal?  Both terms have been gaining negative reputations, largely thanks to the opposing efforts of each side to slander the other in the media (Alterman, 2004).  Conservatives are often regarded as outmoded, while liberals are seen as excessive spenders.  When the misconceptions accompanying the terms are overlooked, their actual viewpoints and stances can be critically compared. 

The principle difference between conservative and liberal beliefs is a contrasting view on what role government should hold in regulating society.  Conservatives conventionally believe in preserving traditional values and striving to maintain the status quo (Kirk, 2004).  Liberals generally accentuate the need for government assistance to achieve equality and maintain individual rights.  When these basic views are applied to public policy, it often appears that conservatives are opposed to excessive government intervention, while liberals believe such action is necessary to right societal wrongs.  In the words of staunch conservative President Reagan, “Government is not the solution to the problem.  Government is the problem” (Fleming, 2008).

While these generalizations are often true regarding the “big picture”, they fail to accurately describe views regarding specific economic and social issues.  Like any other group, people identifying as either conservative or liberal can have very different viewpoints among themselves.  It is impossible to create a perfect set of beliefs for either philosophy, and it is important to recognize that there are many different forms of both liberalism and conservatism.  People often compose their own beliefs from components of both, resulting in seemingly contradictorily forms such as liberal-conservatism.  Since both conservatism and liberalism are very broad ideas, it is difficult to label any particular viewpoint with certainty.