Liberal generally means more government involvement in the personal lives of people. Taxes are higher to support the social programs such as subsidies for food, housing, clothing, job training, education, etc. Government grows large to support the disbursement of funds associated with these programs. Waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars is rampant. Conservative generally means less government involvement in the personal lives of people. Reductions in welfare, food stamps, and credits for people who may or may not deserve them. Conservatives call these optional programs; liberals call them entitlements. Conservatives favor a strong defense, and defense spending rises. Waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars is rampant. From a "values" point of view, liberals are tolerant of varying degrees of belief and behavior, and are sometimes accused of being "soft on crime" because they do not see the detriment of selected social behaviors, and do not punish them. From the "values" point of view, conservatives are less tolerant of those people who don't espouse their values, less tolerant of radical and abnormal behavior. In a nutshell, liberals would like us to all earn the same salary, but each be unique in our own way as far as social development. Conservatives want each person to be able to earn as much as they want, but only if they belive in the same values as their neighbor. Conservatives would like us to be socially identical (using their values, of course).

I defer of Ambrose Bierce who I think summarized it most succinctly: CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. . . .

consercative are generally traditional while liberals are more progressive

A liberal is one that believes the people know what is best for themselves and should have the right to decide such, where as the conservatives beleive the people don't have what it takes to make the right the decisions for themselves and never should have that power to begin with!

This answers the question if it were asked 300 years ago. Classical liberals (e.g. Locke and Smith) were advocates of free market systems and limited government, as opposed to conservatives of the day who believed in the divine right of the Church to control public morals and the King (via feudal lords) to control the (largely agrarian) means of production. Although their laissez-faire, almost libertarian thinking resonates with much in contemporary conservatism, it would be an oversimplification to say that yesterday's liberals are today's conservatives; their deep suspicion of received authority and an openness to radical changes in society arguably are more to be seen in their contemporary namesakes.

Simply put: Liberals want a huge expensive government and lots of taxes. Conservatives USED to want SMALL government with low taxes. Conservatives no longer act this way. Now they are referred to as Neo-conservatives. there is no difference between Liberals and Neo-conservatives.

Actually both terms are misconceptions.Some like to categorize others,put them in boxes and label them.That way there is a delusionary separateness of each person's thinking,as if they have no right to their view of the world or society.It is like saying there is black and white and no colours in-between.The media and the government throw out to the public these useless and untrue terms.

You have to break it down into 3 catorgories: Fiscal: Liberal--higher taxes for more goverment programs -for welfare, earmarks etc. Conservative--lower taxes for smaller government Military: Liberal--small miltary (but send them everywhere) (the President who has deployed our troops most often was Pres Clinton) Conservative--Larger miltary but send them nowhere (yes we are at war under a "conservative" but we are in only one place) Social: Liberal--anything goes we are smart enough to make our own choices about our own life (pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, legalize drugs) (with the exception of gun rights we are not smart enough to protect ourselves) Conservative--Biblical values (Pro-Life, traditional marriage, keep drugs illegal, pro gun rights)

Conservative - believe in personal responsibility and problem solving, free markets and a strong national defense. Generally are opposed to: abortion - a fetus is alive affirmative action - no factors should be considered when looking for a job, other than skills global warming - our climate runs in cycles government run health care - keep the government out of my health decisions long term welfare - get people of government dependence taxes - low taxes create more job and encourage spending Liberals - the government is responsible for your well being and should be trusted to make decisions for you. Are generally for: abortion - a fetus is not a human life affirmative action - due to the sins of the past, you should hire a black man over a white man, skill is irrelevant global warming - man is responsible for the climate government run health care - the government knows what's best for your health,because alot of people don't have insurance long term welfare - people should be allowed to continue dependence on the government, generation after generation taxes - higher taxes allows the government to give more to other and generally spend more money