Why do people use the words "liberal" and "conservative", when they have unfortunate implications?

Question

I am not talking about the actual political stances...

"Liberal' tends to imply a kind of foolhardiness or recklessness.
"Conservative" tends to imply boring or stodgy.

So why are these words people use proudly?

I find them both a bit embarrassing.

Answer 1

The negative connotations you associate with the terms are the result of one side stereotyping the other group. People spend a great deal of money and time making sure you think of that when you hear those words.

Answer 2

You are misinformed.



The term Liberalism has been historically associated with change

Conservatism has been historically associated with keeping the status quo.



Sometimes change is good, and sometimes is not



Extremists tend to be irrational and out of balance. So, changing what is wrong, and keeping what is good is a great balanced approach.



And by the way, I am a conservative proud of our core American values and way of life. Our founding fathers acted to "liberate" our people from England, and to "conserved' the essence of our nation.

Answer 3

Those words are more indicative of the posture of those parties than the terms Democrat and Republican, which have meaning only to those who have lived long enough to have experienced the governance of both of them. In the English-speaking world outside of the U.S., Liberal and Conservative are the actual names of the parties. Socialist parties are not so forthcoming. There are the "New Democrats" in Canada, and "Labour" parties in the UK and Australasia,

Answer 4

Nobody even thinks about what the words mean. It's nothing more than naming the enemy. It helps if the name has vile connotations.

Answer 5

They should be renamed for what they realy are



Republicans = the Free Enterprise Party

Democrats = the Communist Party

Answer 6

It is a means of classification, nothing more. Connotations are derived from socio-cultural environmental variables.

Answer 7

The 2nd answer said it best. Thats politics.

Answer 8

they're just words. the problem with any label is when you let it hinder your free thinking.



in other words, just believing something because it's popular opinion amongst people who share a certain label.

Answer 9

Because that explains politicians perfectly