Liberal vs Conservative

I think we’ve lost an understanding of what the words “liberal” and “conservative” actually mean. So many different qualities have been added to these words to add a bias that the words don’t actual connote. 

According to Webster:

Liberal: Inclined to be open to ideas and ways of behaving that are not conventional or traditional. Marked by tolerance and freedom of the individual.

Conservative: Tending or inclined to maintain existing views, conditions or institutions. Traditional. Marked by moderation or caution. 

The power of this combination is formidable. It allows for both innovation and caution. The one pushing for change and new ideas while the other is calling for caution, careful evaluation and respect for traditional approaches. 

Usually these two ideologies work well together when the people involved know they must compromise to move forward. If either one takes a hard line and won’t move, the power of this combination is lost. 

The political world wants to hang all kinds of ideas on these words that don’t actually belong. Did you know you could be both conservative and affirm LGBTQ rights? Or that you can be a liberal and believe that unpermitted entrance into the country should be illegal? 

The religious world is particularly bad about labeling people holding certain ideas as one or the other, but in reality these word really define how we approach ideas, not which ones we hold on to.  “Fiscal conservative, Social Liberal” used to be the safe way to ride the fence, but it is usually a pretty artificial divide.  

The reality is that both approaches are found on both sides of the political debates and within all political parties. No party holds the ownership of either one, no matter what they want you to think!

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