The conservative understands the concept- "creation of wealth" and simply wants the gov't out of his life so he can get on with it.
The liberal cannot grasp "creation of wealth", the concept makes no sense to him. Economics is a zero sum game- wealth is static and must be appropriated in some form or another. Rich people by this logic must have seized their wealth from others and were it not for them hoarding it all to themselves- the rest of us might be enriched. Therefore their seized wealth must in turn be seized and "equitably redistributed". Then we will all be rich.
This is exactly what is happening in Zimbabwe. The lefties are getting their wish. Exactly the way they want it to happen- thus is it happening. In two years, since their theories must of course be correct- Zimbabwe will be a thriving society and laugher and singing will be heard from Mutare to Bulawayo.
Hold the lefties to it. When you argue with them about their political goals- the eventual seizure of wealth of the rich (or simply the slow extortion of taxation to fund social programs aka redistribution)- make them put their money where their mouth is. Have them place a bet on whether or not their system will work. If Zimbabwe succeeds they will get a nice sum, if Zimbabwe fails- they must give up liberalism and accept the facts of life, even if they don't properly understand them.
But they'll always go for their familiar "out"--- "Well, of course these types of fundamental changes could take generations to pay off. Of course this generation must view their hardships as a sacrifice for their grandchildren." They render (or hope to render) your argument moot by placing the bar of "mission accomplishment" to a point in time when this generation's critics will be in their graves. Capitalism enriches immediately. Freedom and the respect of private property produces gratification for today's people and puts food into the bellies of contemporary Africans- no need to wait for some future generation.
No excuses. Either their system works or it doesn't. If Mugabe can't deliver, I call on the liberals to admit that their philosophy is a farce and that if they can't grasp simple economic concepts to get the hell out of the policy making business. People should be uplifted by a philosophy- not enslaved forever by instilling a dependence on the government teat and certainly not run off their land and starved in the millions by it.