What’s the Difference Between a Conservative and a Liberal?
Posted on September 27, 2009
-By Warner Todd Huston
People often wonder what is the difference between a conservative and a liberal. The simple fact of the matter is that the major difference is that conservatives wonder first what it is they are responsible for while liberals wonder first what everyone else should be doing for them.
Here are some brief rules of thumb:
- If a conservative sees a U.S. flag, his heart swells with pride.
- If a liberal sees a U.S. flag, he feels shame.
- If a conservative doesn’t like guns, they don’t buy them.
- If a liberal doesn’t like guns, then no one else should have one either.
- If a conservative is a vegetarian, he won’t eat meat.
- If a liberal is, they want to ban all meat products for everyone.
- If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat it.
- If a liberal see an enemy he wonders what he can do to appease him.
- If a conservative is homosexual, he’ll quietly enjoy his life.
- If a liberal is homosexual, he’ll demand everyone get involved in his bedroom activities.
- If a successful conservative is black or Hispanic, he’ll see himself as having succeeded on his own merits.
- Successful liberal minorities still claim “racism” and want government to give them even more.
- If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to work to better his situation.
- A liberal wants someone else to take care of him.
- If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.
- If a liberal doesn’t like a radio show, he demands that the station be shut down or censored.
- If a conservative is a non-believer, he just doesn’t go to church.
- Non-believing liberals demand that everyone cease believing and demands churches be censored.
- If a conservative needs health care, he shops for it, or chooses a job that provides it.
- Liberals demand that everyone else provide him with healthcare for free.
- If a conservative sees a law, he thinks long and hard before suggesting a change.
- If a liberal sees a law he assumes it is just a suggestion and does what he wants anyway.
- Conservatives feel there is a right and wrong.
- Liberals feel that nothing is really wrong… unless it is believed by a conservative.
- Conservatives believe in freedom, responsibility, tradition, and self-reliance.
- Liberals believe in license, government restrictions, upending tradition, and collectives.
(Cross posted at PubliusForum.com)
» Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Conservatism, Constitution, Delusional Dupes and DUmmies, Democrats, Government, Government corruption, Government malfeasance/misfeasance, Liberal World, Moral Relativism, News, liberalism
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23 Responses to “What’s the Difference Between a Conservative and a Liberal?”
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A Conservative reads 1984 and sees it as a warning.
A Liberal reads 1984 and sees it as an instruction manual.
I know you guys aren’t exactly into “facts” or “evidence”, but I really want citations of some of these things. With proof of the following, I’d probably be able to see your side of things:
* Credible attempts to ban meat
* Attempts to censor radio stations via government intervention
* Liberal homosexuals getting people “involved” in their bedroom goings-on
Also I see some contradictions. You seem to think liberals do not uphold tradition, are un-American and break laws with which they disagree (typically called civil disobedience by more intelligent commentators)—was not the Boston tea party a patriotic, traditional instance of civil disobedience? I guess our founding fathers were liberals for standing up for what they believed in.
I think most liberals don’t think like this. It’s just the loudest ones that do. Unfortunately, they have made their arguments “liberal” arguments so that every liberal gets misrepresented by the loons. I’m in no way a liberal, but I think we do owe it to our liberal neighbors to be fair.
Most liberals don’t think like this because they don’t know how to think like this. The problem is they blindly vote and support other liberals who will gladly do it for them.
If a Conservative sees a soldier he calls him a hero, and shakes his hand.
If a Liberal sees a soldier he calls him a brain-washed murderer, and spits on him.
A conservative believes in equal opportunity for everyone.
A liberal believes in equal outcome for everyone.
I am a soldier, and I am also *gasp* a liberal. I am proud to see the flag. I am proud of the freedoms I help to defend. and I am sometimes ashamed by the people who use these hard-won freedoms. There are many profound discussions this nation should be having on the role of government in civil society; instead people waste time and energy shouting meaningless epithets.
A liberal sees the flag and wants to make the greatest country on earth BETTER!
A liberal respects anyones decision to have a gun
A liberal LOVES red meat and veggies!
A liberal sees a forgien threat as an opportunity to show the world again how great our country is
A liberal isnt a hypocrite about their lifestyle … in a bathroom stall
Equal opportunity will benefit everyone, the governments job is to insure the equality
A liberal understands America offers opportunity to everyone if you will try
A liberal will defend to the death the freedom of the press
A liberal will defend to the death the freedom of religon
A liberal understands that health care for profit benefits the wrong people and limits the choices
A liberal sees that NO one is above the law and the Constitution is a living document
A liberal will defend to the death the right to let God determine who is right and wrong
A liberal believes in America and respects the rights and liberties of everyone
Jason Petersen- All you had to do was *Ask*
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/F/htmlF/fairnessdoct/fairnessdoct.htm
http://jeremiaproject.com/trashingamerica/homosexeducate.html
http://mog.com/mollofire/blog/171823
http://vegetarianstar.com/2009/03/09/chrissie-hynde-banned-meat-at-phoenix-concert/
http://christianexaminer.com/Articles%20Apr07/Art_Apr07_01.html
I have DOZENS MORE, but you could find them yourself with a 5 minute search!!!!!!!!!!
ed- If liberals all respect anyones decision to own a gun, explain SENATOR Diana Fienstein saying that “If I had my way I would just tell everyone to TURN THEM ALL IN!”
Explain Sarah Brady and her gun banning organization.
Explain Morton Grove Illinois where it is ILLEGAL to own a firearm!
ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THERE ARE NO LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT WANT TO BAN ALL GUNS? If you are really trying to convince me of that, then there would seem to be little point in talking to you.
I also note your belief that the Constitution is a “Living Document.” By that, you mean it needs to be CHANGED to suit Liberals, right?
You want to “Make the greatest nation in the world better.” By that, you mean it needs to be CHANGED to suit Liberals, right?
ed, you are the very personification of what this article is saying!
Unfortunately, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been convoluted and extended far beyond is original and good intent by the Democratic Party who has controlled Congress for most of the time since.
Perhaps the most disastrous consequence of the Civil Rights Act are enactments that lower standards to accommodate those who cannot or do not measure up for what ever reason or how unfair.
Rather than focusing on attaining a skill or educational achievement, subsequent liberal inspired laws and directives have only encouraged the injured to NOT live up to their potential DESPITE all the advantages now offered!
When I graduated from college in 1966, I never expected to see what I now am sick about. Instead of having higher standards in education, in the work place, in business, in the media, in government and in our personal lives, we have dumbed down much of everything.
Unfortunately, many Americans only know what popular culture has taught them and haven’t a clue about where we have been as a nation. So, what’s the problem?
As the Democratic Party’s power is dependent on “woe is me” people buying into liberalism’s equal outcome for everyone absurdity, we can expect more of the same.
Equal opportunity and higher standards will make us a greater and better nation through achievements in all areas.
More of the same will only insure that we will become a third world country sooner than we could ever imagine.
BTW:
Voting for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Democratic Party: 153-91 (63%-37%)
Republican Party: 136-35 (80%-20%)
Stereotyping people based on a completely impractical labeling system. Sometimes I can’t believe the stupidity in this world.
People are not Liberal or Conservative. Retarded labeling does nothing but divide everyone. Everyone has a mix of views that can’t be lumped into one category or another. It’s not so black and white.
Think for yourselves. Don’t let Fox News think for you. Look into issues and don’t just shout because others who you believe are like-minded are shouting.
People lump themselves with others who they have given the same label. Then they follow each other like lemmings.
The masses are dumb.
First of all, anyone that thinks that they should be called “TheTruth” is a fool. Secondly, shall we laugh at this “TheTruth” who complains about all the labeling and incivility in the world but who does so calling people “retarded” and a “lemming” and insists that no one but himself is “thinking for himself”?
What a silly little fool “TheTruth” is.
Mr. Warner Todd Huston.
Please point out in my statements where I complained about all labeling. Where did I say that every type of labeling is wrong or bad? You can’t, because I never said that.
I said “retarded labeling” is bad. I pointed out pretty clearly that I was referring to the labels of “conservative” and “liberal”. Never once did I say calling someone a lemming or dumb was a retarded labeling system. I think some labels are good and necessary.
Also nowhere did I insist that I was the only one thinking for myself. I gave general advise to all, not making any claims that anyone already did or didn’t think for themselves.
I know this is probably an advanced concept for you. Clearly you’re a fox news watcher and fairly stupid. If you need for me to go over any of this with you in detail don’t hesitate to ask.
I am a liberal against big & more government, against gun control, I am pro-choice, for same sex marriage, separation of church & state, anti-environmentalist,anti-war, anti higher taxes, against property & employment taxes, food & water taxes, for taxes on goods, equal rights for everyone, against welfare that helps illegal aliens, against foreigners that are not citizens buying land or owning companies in the USA, against American companies that hire people in other countries to work for them, for health care, abiding by the Constitution, against seat belt laws, the government should stay out of our personal lives & our bedrooms, I am for capital punishment, against the parole system, against the separation of adult & juvenile on crimes & punishment,for high taxes on tobacco & alcoholic beverages, legalizing marijuana and making all hate speech & hate crimes a felony. To me this is liberalism.
Rubin, that makes you more of a classic liberal. In today’s terms you are no liberal.In today’s terms you have to be a Marxist to be a liberal.
Warner, just stumbled across your page. I wouldn’t call myself a conservative or a liberal-depending on the issue, I can side with either. However, the lack of thought/hypocrisy in most of your rules of thumb is astounding. Liberals may be more wimpy, malcontent, idealistic, “victims”, but when it comes to hypocritical talk and actions you conservatives are amazing.
Joe
Another left-winger pretending to be “moderate” speaks. Thanks Joey.
Whoa…the first time I just skimmed these statements. I just re-read them- did you put any thought into any of these?!?!?!?!?
Im not pretending anything at all. I have to problem admitting to my beliefs. If I was right winger I would say so proudly, if I was a left winger I would say that proudly as well. I am really neither…I stand up for what makes sense. This just caught my eye as something that doesn’t make any.
Say, Joey, does putting a half dozen question marks and exclamation marks make your childish taunts any smarter? Thanks for stopping by, but you really should stay with the porn and the DailysCuz sites that you normally visit on these wonderful Internet tubes that Algore invented for us all.
Well…I apologize for taunting you. If you honestly cant see how astoundingly hypocritical/thoughtless your posts are, what can I Say?
p.s. – doubtful the $10 billion porn industry’s client base is made up entirely of the left wing. Yeah so lefties are open about it while righties watch it behind closed doors and then say they dont.
Joe all you can do is come on here and whine about conservatives being hypocrites but you cant back up what you’re saying with any intelligent sort of rebuttal or facts. Typically liberal
Ok Dave here you go, and I saw this rules of thumb list on another page as well so I was wrong in taking Mr. Huston to task for writing these.
1. Based on what? Conservatives love to think they have patriotism on lockdown- sorry that’s just not true. Loving your country and wanting it to change for the better is patriotism. It’s because of progressive thought that blacks aren’t still slaves and women can vote. Conservatives remind me of parents saying to their obese child, “have another donut sweetie you look great” while liberals are the parents that say, “son, you are fat-put the cupcake down and go for a run”
2. If a liberal doesn’t like abortion, they won’t get one. If a conservative doesn’t like abortion, then no one else should have one either.
3. See above. Plus, I would be willing to bet that an overwhelming majority of liberals eat meat. If you’re thinking PETA, that’s a fringe group who no one takes seriously.
4. If a conservative sees a foreign threat (which his foreign policy most likely invited), he thinks about how to defeat it (bomb brown countries, they’re all the same). It takes a a more sophisticated political state to find a diplomatic solution to problems. And btw, do you think Canada or Japan have any of the stupid terror related problems that we have? NO. Conservatives are all about defense, but turn a blind eye to prevention. Stop pissing them off, get the hell out of their countries, and stop supporting Israel. They have stated publicly they will leave us alone if these things are done. Why is this so hard? If they want to bomb each other, why should we care? If we do these things and they still want to terrorize us, nuke them.
5. This one made me laugh…you can’t be serious. I’ll comment anyway. If a liberal is not a homosexual, he’ll quietly enjoy his life. If a conservative is not a homosexual (yet somehow still finds himself having fun in bathroom stalls at truck stops and airports), he fights very hard to outlaw “the atrocity” that is gay marriage….even though it doesn’t affect his life in the least.
6. Which successful liberal minority are you talking about?
7. In theory, I am not refuting this.
8. If a liberal doesn’t like porn, prostitution, drugs, “obscenity” in media, he won’t take part. If a conservative doesn’t like them, he wants them to be shut down or censored. For a group who screams personal and fiscal responsibility, throwing $1.5 trillion+ on the epic failure known as the war on drugs, simply because they don’t agree with that lifestyle choice, seems contradictory to both.
9. If a liberal is a believer, he just goes to church. If a conservative is a believer, he wants to integrate church and state and shove Jesus down everyone’s throat to the point they puke (abortion, gay rights, stem cell research, abstinence only education, teaching creation nonsense in public schools, all those a$$holes hanging around outside on main streets screaming “you’re all going to hell” while throwing stupid pamphlets in our faces). Also, school prayer – Why is this even an issue? I’m pretty sure school is a place you go to get educated. If you want to pray, go to f*#@&g church.
10. Perhaps you are right on this one. However, I would be willing to bet all the conservatives that currently have coverage and shouting “screw your health I don’t want to pay for it”, would be first in line begging for government care if they lost their job(benefits) tomorrow and had a sick child.
11. That’s fine. And if a liberal gets caught, he will be punished accordingly. Whoop di doo
12. Right and wrong is subjective. Something is only wrong to the extent it hurts somebody else. If I want to drop a few pills, snort a few lines and party with some hookers , who are you to tell me what I’m doing is wrong? I’m not hurting or bothering anybody. And looking at conservative politicians spewing their family values garbage and then using tax dollars to go visit their mistresses, conservatives really need to get off their moral high horse. I’m not saying liberal politicians behave any better but they don’t hide behind a cloak of self righteousness.
13. That seems to be a grossly over-simplified statement.
If Im wrong on any of these, I stand to be corrected.