What is "Liberal"? What is "Conservative"?

[USS Utah]

The definitions keep changing. What was liberal in the 19th century is often considered conservative in the 21st.

So what do these terms really mean?

[NorthwestUteFan]

The definitions keep changing. What was liberal in the 19th century is often considered conservative in the 21st.

So what do these terms really mean?

These terms are almost completely useless any more and are entirely subjective. They are almost directional descriptors, and rely entirely upon a position on the political spectrum with respect to a particular frame of reference. The problem lies with the natural human belief that we are all neutrally balanced between this crazies to one side of us and the loonies to the other side.

The funny thing is when we look a a position on the spectrum with a global perspective we realize that the 'left-wing loonies' in American politics would be right of 'center' in most European countries.

On a more local scale Mitt Romney was seen by many Red-state Republicans as too liberal, while he was a moderate or even overly 'conservative' Republican on Massachusetts.

[DanielLaRusso]

The terms are generally meaningless, but I always beg people not to confuse liberals with Liberals and conservatives with Conservatives.