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Right. Quick and dirty version;

The first thing that must be acknowledged is the current, perverted uses of the words ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ and what they actually mean, vis-a-vis Classical Liberalism (which forms the bedrock of the American constitutional republic).

“Liberal”, which comes from the Latin root “Libere” (LEE-ber-RAY) means “to free”, in the case of political argument, to free the political process from the grip of the ‘Old Guard’ regimes which once exercised complete and total political, economic and social control over their subject peoples.

“Conservative”, from the Latin root “Conserve” (Con-ser-VAY), which means to save or presevre, in the case of the ancient political process means to maintain the status quo ante.

Going back in time, a conservative was one who would find absolutley no issues with maintaining any power structure, be it Spartan military rule, Athenian democracy, Roman Senatorial and Imperial rule, the authority of the Church, the Absolute Monarch or Despot, especially if he was a beneficiary or member of the ruling caste. Historically, a conservative is not interested in the advancement of the human condition (although there are notbale exceptions), he is interested in the preservation of a system, the current system, in perpetuity.

Historically, a liberal is someone interested in the complete opposite. In some cases, to the extent of complete anarchy. In terms of Western Civilization, the liberal instinct was arrested and harnessed by a variety of social, economic, religious and legal traditions, which tempered it’s more exuberant practitioners and theories. This, in a nutshell, is “Classical Liberalism”, a product of the Enlightenment.

Classical Liberalism espouses the primacy of the individual, individual rights, respect for the rule of law, incorporates the Judeo-Christian ethics of the universal brotherhood of man (and all that entails), but freely borrowed, expanded and improved upon that which had come before it (so that it was not an silly thing to refer to a ‘Constitutional Monarchy’, for example), and in the process, applied the lessons of trial and error, free religious and scientific inquiry, rampant capitalism, unfettered criticism and audit of authority, and the incorporation of scientific, social and economic improvements towards the betterment of society as a whole, rather than the betterment of society for a selected few.

The American Constitution is the ultimate example of Classicial Liberalism yet conceived. It recognizes the right of the individual, but tempers the exercise of those rights with corresponding responsibilities. It provides for equal protection for all citizens, regardless of class, race, economic condition or proximity to the seat of power (at least in theory).

This nation was founded upon Liberal prinicples as ultimately enumerated in the Constitution, and given their original voice in the Declaration of Independance, Tom Paine’s essays, the Federalist Papers and a host of the other writings and philosophical conventions that preeceded it. It is the end result of the prime force of Liberalism; the ability to postulate, question, audit, accept or decline, and compromise without the fear of retribution from higher authority. There IS no higher authority than the Constitution.

What this means to you, the Conservative, is that you seek to conserve (maintain the status quo) of that which was created by Liberal methodology. Conservatives and Republicans ARE Liberals in the historical and philosophical senses of that word.

What is now considered “liberal” is certainly nothing of the sort. Unless you consider affirmative action, abortion on demand, punitive taxation, government interferance in free markets or the arbitrary overturning of personal and property rights, to be “liberal” policies? I would consider it’s more frivilous ‘inventions’ “Libertine” rather than “Liberal”, when they aren’t more of the order of a dictatorial threat to decency and republicanism.

That should do to start.