POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

Q: Where do conservative and liberals stand on the issues?

Issue conservative liberal

Abortion

Pro life v.Pro choice

Oppose, except under certain rare circumstances

Believe that life begins at, or shortly after, the time of conception. Thus government can impose substantial restrictions on, or even outlaw abortion

Want to overturn Roe v. Wade (1973)

Believe women have the right to choose, especially in the 1st term.

Deny that there is life at the time of conception.

Want Roe v. Wade upheld in the Supreme Court

War in Iraq Initially, conservatives overwhelmingly supported the war.

As the war dragged on, conservatives became more divided on the wisdom of the war. Today, some say the war was a good idea but acknowledge that mistakes and miscalculations were made.

Other conservatives now say that, in hindsight, the reason for going to war were somewhat shaky. But they also say that the Bush administration should not be blamed, rather it was bad intelligence.

Initially, liberals were divided on the war.

Within the first year on liberals began to criticized the war.

Liberal views of the war range, on one extreme, from the argument that the war has been badly mismanaged, to the claim that the Bush administration lied outright about the reasons for going to war in the first place. Some even supported the impeachment of the president.

Issue conservative liberal

Illegal Immigration

This issue, more than any other in recent years, has split conservatives. On the extreme right: All illegal immigrants must be kicked out of the country ( in the mean time they should be denied welfare, healthcare, education and other government benefits since most do not pay taxes); Business owners who employ illegals should be steeply fined; the border should be secured, if necessary with a strong physical barrier on the U.S-Mexico border

Conservatives who are moderate on the issue believe that immigrants, illegal or not, contribute to the economy and that kicking them out would be impractical at best and inhumane at worst.

Moderates favor amnesty and eventual citizenship if certain requirements are met. President Bush proposed this plan during his administration but could not get it passed in the Republican congress.

Liberals have also been somewhat divided on the issue, but generally favor more rights for illegals.

Liberals would treat immigrants as humanely as possibly. Some advocate giving them rights and benefits equivalent to a citizens such as social security benefits, health insurance, and unemployment.

Gay Marriage

Opposed to. Believe the traditional family is the basis for society. Many states are proposing bans on gay marriage in 2004. The House has also proposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage

Support the right of gay couples to marry and have all the legal rights of a traditional marriage.

Issue conservative liberal

Death Penalty

Generally support the death penalty. Believe that justice must be served, and that some crimes deserve nothing less

More divided, but do not support the death penalty as much as conservatives

Some liberals believe we stoop to their level when we execute criminals.

Environment Believe in developing the land and using it’s resources.

Don’t buy into global warming theories, at least to the extent of liberals

Seek more regulations protecting the environment. Believe that lands should be set aside for protection

See global warming as a sign of man’s abuse of the environment

Gun control Support the rights to posses firearms. Believe there should be few restrictions on gun ownership

Believe that conceal and carry laws may prevent crime

Believe, at the very least, there should be restrictions to gun ownership

Conceal and carry laws do not deter crime and create a dangerous “gun culture”.

Crime & Punishment

Emphasize punishment over rehabilitation Emphasize rehabilitation over punishment

Issue conservative liberal

Size and Scope of Government

Conservatives want small government with a limited role in citizen’s lives

Conservative a believers in the free market system. They believe government is inefficient and wasteful.

Liberals generally support more government involvement, especially if it is working to solve some social ill.

Liberals support a government run, universalized health care system

Taxes As a rule, conservatives support tax cuts.

The two largest tax cuts in recent history: Regan and Bush. Bush pushed a $ 1.35 trillion tax cut in 2002.

Are willing to support higher levels of taxes.

There biggest complaint is that tax cut under the Republican conservatives favor the rich.

Budget Deficits

Many conservatives bemoan huge budget deficits.

Oddly though, budget deficits have risen the most under conservative presidents: Reagan and Bush. Conservatives are willing to spend enormous sums on national defense.

Liberals have recently blamed the soaring budget deficits on the War in Iraq

Criticize spending money on defense when the money could be spent dealing with social problems: Homelessness, poverty, health care for the poor, etc.

Increasingly, the difference between Democrats and Republicans is not so much the amount of money they spend (both parties are willing to spend enormous sums of money), but rather on WHAT they spend it on.

Some Republicans have criticized their own party for abandoning its traditional conservative roots on spending issues