Liberal on This, Conservative on That

[Phi for All]

I hate that we get labeled conservative OR liberal as people. It just allows other people to assume they know everything about you, and I think most people are a blend of perspectives, depending on the issue and the context.

 

First, I'd like to hear how you define liberal, and how you define conservative. It seems like these definitions are usually skewed, and that's why people don't seem to mind being labeled ("Conservatives are stable and consistent, not like those loony, reckless liberals", or "Liberals are forward-thinking intellectuals, not like those fearful, stuck-in-the-past conservatives").

 

Then, I'd like to hear about some issues where you're firmly left, and other issues where you're firmly right. Be honest, and remember your definitions.

 

This isn't so much a discussion about the merits of the individual issues or even your stance on them. I really don't want to get bogged down talking about abortion or gay marriage. What I want to discuss is how you can feel conservative about one issue, yet liberal about another.

 

I was going to start with mine but I need to dash. I'll chime in further down the page.

[studiot]

Well I Vote Contemptuous. !

[zapatos]

I believe you are liberal or conservative based on your position within a group. I may be liberal compared to US citizens but conservative compared to EU citizens.

 

Very (and maybe too) simply, I view liberalism as 'allowing' and conservatism as 'restricting'.

 

I consider myself socially liberal, especially when it comes to the rights of individuals. I lean toward giving individuals the right to do whatever they want within reason, whether it be abortion, gay marriage, smoking, sex with inanimate objects, or eating food that is bad for them.

 

I consider myself conservative (that is, more restrictive) regarding fiscal policy, business, and personal behavior. I tend to support the monitoring and restriction of business activities, do not support spending more than we earn, and things that I would allow others to do I might not do myself (e.g. abortion, eating bad food, and sex with most inanimate objects).

 

I find Democrats in the US to be generally socially liberal and business conservative, while I find Republicans to be generally socially conservative and business liberal. I find both parties to be fiscally irresponsible.

[Janus]

I hold to the Bertrand Russell idea of Liberal:

 

“The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.”

[imatfaal]

Unfortunately the label which suits me best is probably Hypocrite - I am very left of centre (even for Europe) both economically and socially and am an active campaigner for a few issues normally considered to be left-wing; but I work (and love my job) in one of the most cut-throat businesses around, an epitome of the "devil-take-the-hindmost" free market. Sexism, racism and homophobia are all implicitly/tacitly accepted, tax is something to avoid/evade and minimize, and fellowship or camaraderie is limited to the long and boozy lunch. my industry is the archtype of everything that I think is wrong with business; but it is so much fun and I am very good at it, so I really cannot see me leaving it. Conflicted might be a nicer label for my views vis a vis my actions - but Hypocrite is more honest and accurate.

 

My political social views are surprisingly well-ordered and harmonious - I am a Labour supporter pretty much down the line but not so much a New Labour supporter.

[tomgwyther]

I suppose I have a sort of taxation paradox. On the one hand, I believe that certain things should be socialised; available to all... almost sacred. I would include all emergency services, healthcare. Water, education to university level plus free libraries and the court system.

On the other hand, I am firmly against many forms of taxation, especially the income tax - more precisely - a direct tax on labour.

On occasion, I have sat in a cold house, eating donated cold soup from a can, by candle light, because money I would have spend on heating, lighting and food, has been taken from me by force so as councillors and members of parliament can pay them self's £80k salaries.

 

I want limited taxation and limited government, but free healthcare and education. I sometimes wonder if this position is untenable.

 

I have a few (Many) ideas on how this position could be made tenable, but that would require going drastically off-topic.

[Phi for All]

I define conservatism as a kind of timeless, traditional, substantial viewpoint that shrugs off what may be fleeting. It's investing in solid, dependable things that have stood the test of time. There is also an efficiency factor that favors thriftiness. You shouldn't waste anything, and being resourceful is a hallmark of conservatism.

 

I define liberal as progressive and generous. It's thinking in future terms and investing in things that will pay off long-term in multiple dividends. There is also an efficiency factor that favors practicality. Sometimes you need to use more to get a better result, like painting the house. If you're too stingy with the paint, it's not going to look good, it won't protect as well and you'll just have to re-do all that labor sooner. Better to apply three coats.

 

I'm conservative when it comes to clothing. I like garments well-tailored and somewhat modest, simply because I think clothes that show too much flesh aren't as sexy as clothes that conceal but suggest. I'm conservative about craftsmanship, and I prefer something well-made by someone with a traditional sense of quality to something that's manufactured to a low price point. I'm conservative when it comes to subsidies. There should be a number of great reasons why my taxes should help pay for anything commercial. Business gets my consumerism and the benefits of the free market, so it shouldn't need tax dollars that could be spent elsewhere. Business owners have an automatic economic benefit just by being the owners, so I don't feel they deserve that kind of welfare.

 

I'm liberal when it comes to education. I think we could eventually disband most of the military forces in the world if we spent half our defense budgets educating as many people as possible (starting with our own kids, since it's our tax dollars). Speaking of that, I'm very liberal about the military as well. I think we should cut the waste by having a single armed force that trains soldiers to fly, soldiers to run boats and ships, and soldiers to be infantry. One cohesive military force instead of having four different hands (and four enormous administrative machines) out reaching for every dollar in military appropriations. I'm liberal when it comes to welfare and healthcare, and I think they're something we should all be thankful to help fund simply to be a member of a great and growing society. I'd also like a complete overhaul of the system so the focus is to help people not to need welfare rather than come to depend on it. Healthcare insurance should be offered as a risk pool administered on the most successful business model by the federal government.