# What is the difference between a Liberal and a Conservative? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919 "2004-10-29T20:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/21 "2004-10-29T22:35:42Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Similarly, conservatives\* often think the best solution to a problem is for an individual to solve it himself, while liberals often think the best solution to a problem is for a community to solve it together. \*You may be thinking more of libertarians or even anarchists here. The conservatives I know would define their philosophy more in terms of avoiding sweeping centralized attempts at solutions to social problems, while liberals would see a much wider scope for governmental intervention. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/22 "2004-10-29T23:03:11Z")
A conservative says, “I want this, is it right?” A liberal says, “I want this, therefore it’s right.” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/23 "2004-10-29T23:14:21Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > A conservative says, “I want this, is it right?” > > A liberal says, “I want this, therefore it’s right.” You’re joking, right? The Bush administration has been an exercise in “I want this, therefore it’s right.” Actually, _every_ administration works on that basis. Here’s another one: Conservatives: “It’s good for me, therefore it’s good for America.” Liberals: “It’s good for America, therefore it’s good for you.” Both are catastrophically wrong. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/24 "2004-10-29T23:22:19Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > I disagree with the OPs characterizations. To me, it’s really quite simple: > > A conservative is opposed to change. > > A liberal is an advocate of change, specifically the use of government as a tool to effect change. It’s not just about change. Change can be for the better, or for the worse. Would a conservative be opposed to a change for the better? Would a liberal advocate a change for the worse? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/25 "2004-10-29T23:23:43Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > A conservative says, “I want this, is it right?” > > A liberal says, “I want this, therefore it’s right.” No, that’s not it. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/26 "2004-10-29T23:28:01Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > You’re joking, right? The Bush administration has been an exercise in “I want this, therefore it’s right.” . Well, that’s debatable. I have a feeling that if the Bush administration did everything it thought was right it would be doing much more than it is doing now. But be that as it may, I was speaking ideology, not this or that individual. ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/27 "2004-10-29T23:30:01Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Well, _this_ Liberal thinks that every time he comes across this whole bullshit generalization of a Liberal and a Conservative, the the entire political spectrum is done a disservice. I’ve seen it repeatedly, here and right in my face, so often in the last month that I could honestly un-fucking-screw soemone’s head from their neck. > > So, really, the difference between Liberals and Conservatives is immaterial, because pinning down exactly what every Liberal and ever Conservative is is impossible at best, insulting at worst. > > Sam Why bother placing yourself in either category if you don’t actually belong in it? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/28 "2004-10-29T23:36:24Z")
As long as we’re tossing random speculation out here: _Liberal:_ “We must hang together, or we shall surely hang separately.” _Conservative:_ “I’ve got mine, so screw you!” ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/29 "2004-10-29T23:39:45Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > I was speaking ideology, not this or that individual. What aspects of conservativism and liberalism, either in theory or in practice, lead you to believe that conservatives are more given to reflection on their own values, or that liberals are less so? ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/30 "2004-10-29T23:44:57Z")
About fifty IQ points, I’d say. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/31 "2004-10-29T23:48:50Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > As long as we’re tossing random speculation out here: > > _Liberal:_ “We must hang together, or we shall surely hang separately.” > > _Conservative:_ “I’ve got mine, so screw you!” I think that when I originally posted this, it was in response to a similarly simplistic OP stereotyping Republicans and Democrats, but it is equally useful here. Conservatives: “I’ve got mine”. Liberals: “We want yours.” ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/32 "2004-10-29T23:52:31Z")
The problem I get with the Liberal/Conservative divide is Liberals don’t do much liberating and Conservatives don’t conserve much. The words are little more than flags on two very similar political parties in America, the Republicans and the Democrats. Having little meaning left of their own. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/33 "2004-10-29T23:53:23Z")
“Democrats are also the partyof government activism, the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, taller and get the chickweed out of your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work, and then they get elected and prove it.” Not quite Liberals vs Conservatives, but close enough for government work. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/34 "2004-10-29T23:58:08Z")
> [@laigle](#): > > About fifty IQ points, I’d say. In which direction? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/35 "2004-10-30T00:09:04Z")
I always liked Dave Barry’s explanation, which is: If you’re broken down by the side of the road, a Democrat (liberal) would stop to help you, but manage to set your car on fire. A Republican (conservative) would have all the know-how and tools to fix your car, but would ignore you because he was late for Ugly Pants Night at the country club. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/36 "2004-10-30T00:41:38Z")
Conseratives are dicks and Liberals are pussies. The pussies are needed to keep the dicks in line, and the dicks are needed to protect the pussies from assholes. Nevermind, I think I’m doing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/37 "2004-10-30T00:52:28Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Nevermind, I think I’m doing it wrong. You’re pretty close, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/38 "2004-10-30T01:48:07Z")
“Liberal” is a label that was invented as a shortcut to avoid the necessity of actual thought. Its synonym is “conservative.” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/39 "2004-10-30T01:58:05Z")
Thomas Szasz once made a pretty good case - at least to my young mind - that the conservative/liberal distinction was based on a paternalistic vs. maternalistic view of government. Liberals saw government as a nuturing, caring entity while conservatives saw it as more of an authoritarion figure that expected you to take care of yourself. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919/40 "2004-10-30T02:12:57Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Conseratives are dicks and Liberals are pussies. Might want to try reading the whole thread before posting in it… 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-liberal-and-a-conservative/271919.md?page=3)