NationStates Jolt Archive

I understand that when people refer to conservatives in debate, they could mean a number of different things and some may be more extreme then others. I normally think of a conservative as someone who is usually center or center right socially and right ecenomically. Though I feel that most the time in NSG it is more usually refering to anyone who is right or far right both ecenomically and socially, or any member of the republicans or a similar party.

So what do you mean by 'conservative'?

I tend to think of small-c conservatives as centre-right types with an interest in the status quo and looking for a tax break. Large 'C' Conservatives, are hard core Conservative party supporters. In Canada, there's really not a large difference economically from the Liberals and Conservatives. It used to be that socially, there wasn't much difference, but the modern incarnation of the Conservatives definitely have a 'social conservative' image. Bleh.

Really, I think the only difference between a small-c 'conservative', and a small-l 'liberal', is usually just economic policy, and a resistance to change from the conservatives on social issues. Also, conservatives tend to be more 'law and order' types, whilst liberals less so.

A conservative is a person who cares about the environment, and conserves natural resources and energy.

A conservative is someone who resists or is opposed to change. A Conservative is a member of any number of countries' Conservative Parties. (Although in Britain, they are more commonly known as Tories.)

A conservative is someone who resists or is opposed to change. A Conservative is a member of any number of countries' Conservative Parties. (Although in Britain, they are more commonly known as Tories.)

Yes but those are literal meanings as opposed to intended meanings if you catch my drift...

Conservatives for me are right wingers with a homophobic touch. Probably gun nuts and of course religion is important for them since they want all people to share their beliefs.

But most right wingers I know I would call liberals.

I understand that when people refer to conservatives in debate, they could mean a number of different things and some may be more extreme then others. I normally think of a conservative as someone who is usually center or center right socially and right ecenomically. Though I feel that most the time in NSG it is more usually refering to anyone who is right or far right both ecenomically and socially, or any member of the republicans or a similar party.

So what do you mean by 'conservative'?

in the usian context, the only rational thing to mean by any of the 'mainstream' labels is what the bulk of those that self-identify with that label actually do. so conservatives are essentially those that strongly favor the policies of the bush administration - no matter what they previously said they believed and even when directly contradictory, as this is what they believe when given power.

When I hear the word conservative, the first thing I think of is "War monger." When I look at the definition of a conservative they seem downright adorable and spunky.

UK Conservative party.

I tend to think of small-c conservatives as centre-right types with an interest in the status quo and looking for a tax break. Large 'C' Conservatives, are hard core Conservative party supporters. In Canada, there's really not a large difference economically from the Liberals and Conservatives. It used to be that socially, there wasn't much difference, but the modern incarnation of the Conservatives definitely have a 'social conservative' image. Bleh.

Really, I think the only difference between a small-c 'conservative', and a small-l 'liberal', is usually just economic policy, and a resistance to change from the conservatives on social issues. Also, conservatives tend to be more 'law and order' types, whilst liberals less so.

What he said.

Conservatives are people who don't want to use up all the earth's resources, right?

Conservatives are people who don't want to use up all the earth's resources, right?

Correct.

I understand that when people refer to conservatives in debate, they could mean a number of different things and some may be more extreme then others. I normally think of a conservative as someone who is usually center or center right socially and right ecenomically. Though I feel that most the time in NSG it is more usually refering to anyone who is right or far right both ecenomically and socially, or any member of the republicans or a similar party.

So what do you mean by 'conservative'?

That's the most useless definition ever. "Right" is no more clear a meaning than "conservative." It's like George Bush's definition of "Tribal Sovereignty."

You have to actually say what the center is before saying "center" means anything. When we say "the West" we mean Europe and North America. When Monkey King said "the West," he meant India.

Describe the economic and social beliefs that you think constitutes "the center" so that the rest of us know what you think conservatives are to the right of.

Conservatives are people who don't want to use up all the earth's resources, right?

They were back in Teddy Roosevelt's day. Not so much anymore.

I don't rely on terms like "conservative," "liberal," "left," or "right."

everyone has their own definitions, and they all seem to mean pretty much one thing: Us versus Them. (Or Them versus Us.)

A conservative is a person who cares about the environment, and conserves natural resources and energy.

And irony means "composed chiefly of ferrous compounds."

I don't rely on terms like "conservative," "liberal," "left," or "right."

everyone has their own definitions, and they all seem to mean pretty much one thing: Us versus Them. (Or Them versus Us.)

Indeed. I prefer 'autobots' and 'decepticons'. It amounts to the same shit in the long run anyway. They're all ready to transform into something other than what they first appear to be in the first place anyway...

I believe the Liberals are conservative!

Ahh, to have a centre-right party called the Liberal Party...

When I talk about conservatives around here--and I do that a lot ;) --I'm talking about people in the US political system who self-identify as conservatives. What that often means is that they're not conservative in their actions (as in the comments above and environmentalism being conservative). The groups that tend to self-identify as conservative in the US are often fundamentalist christians (as opposed to evangelicals who are a bit more divided between the parties), anti-abortion activists, anti-gay activists, people who favor military intervention in other countries, and people who think taxes should be low no matter what damage that causes to the national infrastructure (starve the beasters).

Conservative, in my mind, equates to opposing change in some one. One may be politically conservative or artistically conservative, etc. However, the specific issues like gun control or gay rights are very much tied to the political landscape of the specific time. What was liberal 50 years ago is quite conservative today and what is liberal now will probably be considered anachronistically conservative in the future.

I took the political compass test and it said I was very far right leaning towards Libertarianism.

I'm a big fan of low taxes and small government, but even though I am a Protestant, I think abortion and gay marriage should be legal. I'm a fiscal conservative, but a social liberal, pretty much.

Conservative has become either a self-identification for some, or a term of derision for others. It really means next to nothing these days, as there are so many stripes of "conservatives" that it's rough to count.