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Politics : Mainstream Politics and Economics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: koan who wrote (8491)	2/7/2012 10:18:48 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 85487

No, that isn't a good way to understand either. Their are multiple dictionary definitions, and those are focused on non-political meanings more than politics, and when they are political they often don't tell us much. See dictionary.reference.com liberal "favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs." But people who call themselves liberal are very much against progress in improving and reforming entitlements. "noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform." Which then brings up the definition of progressive, which 1 - References liberalism, and 2 - Isn't well connected to those who call themselves progressives today. "favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties." Maximum freedom? Great idea, but the opposite of what many liberals argue for, or what the old time progressives tried to do. Instead its about government control for them, esp. if its in the sphere of economics and money. See dictionary.reference.com "disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change" There is something to that in some areas, but if you have to shoe horn almost everyone in to "liberal" or "conservative" (which we really shouldn't do, but traditionally it is done that way) then the conservatives are the ones promoting change. Entitlement reform, school choice, control over oversized government etc. Also even in the areas where conservatives do oppose changes, this is a rather simplistic definition that tells you little about them "cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate." non-political definition "traditional in style or manner; avoiding novelty or showiness: conservative suit. " again non-political "(often initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Conservative party." political, but partisan not ideological, and not American (unless your talking about the very small en.wikipedia.org, or even smaller ones in other states the rest are also non-political except "a supporter of conservative political policies." which refers back to word being defined. In political terms both liberal and conservatives cover a complex tradition, really multiple traditions, parts of the terms can conflict with each other, and the two terms overlap as well.