[silicon212]

I hear these labels thrown about a lot. What do they mean? Are there different types within each group?

Do they mean the same thing in different countries? Do they mean the same thing in the same country over several decades?

I consider myself to be (in USA terms) a classical liberal. This isn't the same as a US contemporary liberal, it's actually closer to conservative as it is understood in this country.

Discuss.

[Arcanist]

Originally Posted by silicon212 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I hear these labels thrown about a lot. What do they mean? Are there different types within each group? Do they mean the same thing in different countries? Do they mean the same thing in the same country over several decades? I consider myself to be (in USA terms) a classical liberal. This isn't the same as a US contemporary liberal, it's actually closer to conservative as it is understood in this country. Discuss.

US Conservative: Statist. Socially conservative and for big government.
US Liberal: Statist. Socially liberal and for big government.

Both support massive governments, but for different ends. Both are incredibly violent and brutish.

[silicon212]

In my understanding, neoconservatives are for big government, but 'classic' conservatives (think Ronald Reagan) actually want government small and non-burdening.

[dungeonguy88]

	Originally Posted by silicon212 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	In my understanding, neoconservatives are for big government, but 'classic' conservatives (think Ronald Reagan) actually want government small and non-burdening.

As I understand it, Reagan did a piss-poor job of following through on that thought.

[Arcanist]

	Originally Posted by silicon212 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	In my understanding, neoconservatives are for big government, but 'classic' conservatives (think Ronald Reagan) actually want government small and non-burdening.

Reagan wasn't small government. "Classic" conservatives, are known as libertarians (assuming they are also socially liberal) here. They have no voice, and no power. Irrelevant.

[Vagrant]

What they stand for and what they actually do are two entirely different things.

[RBM]

Originally Posted by silicon212 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I hear these labels thrown about a lot. What do they mean? Are there different types within each group? Do they mean the same thing in different countries? Do they mean the same thing in the same country over several decades? I consider myself to be (in USA terms) a classical liberal. This isn't the same as a US contemporary liberal, it's actually closer to conservative as it is understood in this country. Discuss.

A hallmark attribute of such a person is an
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According to a 2011 study[2] by cognitive neuroscientist Ryota Kanai's group[3] at University College London published in Current Biology, people with different political views have different brain structures.[4] The scientists performed MRI scans on 90 volunteer young adult people's brains.[5] The results of the study showed that conservatives had a larger amygdala,[6] a structure of the brain associated with greater sensitivity to fear and disgust emotional learning

You've heard of the
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? In the 21st Century it's an MRI instead ;-)

[The Dan Keizer]

Conservativism is when one supports the state regulation of ethical codes on personal matters, but thinks the state should not intervene into the economy.

Liberalism is the opposite. Liberals support state control and regulation of the economy, but would like the state to stay out of personal matters like abortion and drug use.

Libertarianism is when one wants the government to stay out of either type of issue, and operate only to protect basic rights.

Statists would have the government regulate both the economy and personal issues.

[Arcanist]

US liberals are plenty involved in trying to regulate personal issues. Just different ones than US conservatives try to meddle with.

"Unhealthy" food has been their most recent focus.

[TheObserver]

Conservatives are people that were programmed by their conservative families and religious figureheads.

Liberals are people that were programmed by the media and the public school system.

Libertarians are people that were programmed by books written by alternative "economists" and by Ron Paul.

Anarchists are butt hurt because the girl with the big tits didn't like them and they were made fun of as a child. The word statist is used by anarchists like the word conformist is used by emos. Oh and if they are a woman anarchist, they were convinced to be one by a man.



Sorry anarchists
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[curiousgeorge01]

I think people are confusing Republican and Democrat with conservative and liberal. They're not the same things. There's such a thing as a liberal Republican and a conservative Democrat.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by Dan Keizer To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Conservativism is when one supports the state regulation of ethical codes on personal matters, but thinks the state should not intervene into the economy. Liberalism is the opposite. Liberals support state control and regulation of the economy, but would like the state to stay out of personal matters like abortion and drug use. Libertarianism is when one wants the government to stay out of either type of issue, and operate only to protect basic rights. Statists would have the government regulate both the economy and personal issues.

This is exactly correct. At least, in contemporary US viewpoints. The reason I brought this up is because there seems to be a lot of label throwing these days.

[Arcanist]

	Originally Posted by curiousgeorge01 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think people are confusing Republican and Democrat with conservative and liberal. They're not the same things. There's such a thing as a liberal Republican and a conservative Democrat.

They're still trash, though.

[TheObserver]

	Originally Posted by silicon212 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	This is exactly correct. At least, in contemporary US viewpoints. The reason I brought this up is because there seems to be a lot of label throwing these days.

I guess social conservatives aren't real conservatives.

[Polymath20]

Classical, true conservatism can be summed up with the ideology "That government which governs least, governs best."

Truly, there are very few conservatives left in America. Republicans, on the other hand (the GOP) believes that government should NOT regulate business, but should protect and help business. They also believe that it is okay to legislate on social issues based on religious reasons (like banning abortion and certain types of research).

Liberal ideology believes that the government should be a primary service-provider (public services) rather than private services. Public services invariably infringe on the market share of private industry. Some public services would not exist if left entirely up to market forces, as there is little demand or the function does not generate revenue (think military). The classic example for liberalism is "Tax and spend"

[SirJac]

I find it curious how much conservative and liberal labels depend on which country your in. For example most conservatives in Canada would be quickly labeled liberals in the US. I think it's simply a matter of where the median lies along the political spectrum for a particular country, then left and right labels are assigned depending on where an individual lies relative to the national median.

This has led me to largely abandon the notion of labeling anyone except the most polarized individuals as being liberal or conservative since the center of the political spectrum is so poorly defined.

[Polymath20]

Originally Posted by SirJac To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I find it curious how much conservative and liberal labels depend on which country your in. For example most conservatives in Canada would be quickly labeled liberals in the US. I think it's simply a matter of where the median lies along the political spectrum for a particular country, then left and right labels are assigned depending on where an individual lies relative to the national median. This has led me to largely abandon the notion of labeling anyone except the most polarized individuals as being liberal or conservative since the center of the political spectrum is so poorly defined.

It also has to do with creeping normalcy. The parties change over time, but the name remains the same. At one point in time, the meanings and were probably more similar.