Are liberals more open to new ideas while conservaitve generally want things to stay the same?

Question

I would say that liberals are more open to new experiences, change and fairly new ideas such as the stem cell research, abortion and gay marrige. Conservatives tend to want to keep things traditional and the same no stem cell research, no abortion and no gay marrige. Would you agree that conservatives are more rigid and want our society to stay the same while liberals are more flexible with our changing and developing world?

Answer 1

Yes and no. I think if you take the root word of "conservative" yes, you're right...conservatives want to conserve in the sense that they want to maintain the status quo. However, conservatives also want bans on abortion, same-sex marriage, etc. so you can't say they necessarily don't want society to change....these are very very radical reforms for which they are pushing. I think when you look at things like gay marriage, stem cell research, the liberals do appear more flexible with our changing world.

Answer 2

Change to Liberals always involves taking more money from hard working families. Conservatives cannot afford to pay more.

NY State spends near the top on Public Education, yet has some of the lowest test scores. The Liberal response? More money. The Conservative knows the State law which gives the union 80% of the education budget, and the generous retirement benefits (which are astronomical). Changing that structure is the problem. The Liberals here never mention that aspect in any forum.

Answer 3

No that would be a misrepresentation of the facts.



Me: Conservative, life long republican, Catholic and Pro-military. However I am also pro-gay marriage, pro-stem cell research (Adult stem cells, they have proven to be the only ones that work) and limited abortions (rape, or if the mother's life is truly in danger).



The only difference between a liberal and a conservative is that liberals want America to live in their world view, more social programs less personal responsibility. While conservatives want more individual responsibility and self reliance.



it has nothing to do with not wanting change, we want change to be one way while liberals want change to be another way. No one is saying we need to stay stuck in the 50's. quite the contrary, we know there is change but change needs to be tempered with responsibility.



Stem cells for example, in all the years of research only adult stem cells have proven viable, while we are still working on embryonic stem cells which have not worked. in 15 years of research not one result has come from embryonic research while in the last 5 years we have jumped light years with Adult stem cells. Liberals however still push for Embryonic research... While conservatives generally call for more adult stem cell research... why? does it have to do with the abortion issue? maybe...



in any case, your idea of what a Conservative is, is grossly misinformed. Just because we are not screaming "Abortions for everyone!" does not mean we do not want change. We want people to think and act responsible for them self's (even if they end up failing).

Answer 4

yes, by definition you have described liberals and conservatives, but it isn't as easy when it comes to abortion and gay marriage. These issues are important to many different people for different reasons. Also alot of people might register to vote as a liberal/democrat but then actually vote conservativly because they are scared. It isn't all black and white, some issues might be human right issues to some people but to others might be moral issues.

Answer 5

Well, that's what liberals want you to believe, but it's not really true. In a lot of cases, it is the liberals who want things to stay the same and don't want to change with the times or base their decisions on the latest technology and data available.



For instance, they refuse to look at technology that proves a baby is already human quite early on in the womb. They want to stick with the data available decades ago when Roe v. Wade was decided.



There are other areas where they don't want to look at the facts and the latest data and technology, as well, but I won't get into them on this forum.

Answer 6

From my personal experience I do not think they are very openminded because many of them when told the truth will put thier fingers in thier ears, scream obscenities . shout back at you like a spoiled brat, jump up and down, turn off the conservative radio station they run across and if they were patient, tolerant and openminded they would not exhibit this.

Answer 7

Conservatives are more of a If it ain't broke don't fix it type of people and they have their place too. I am not either I just dont care that much.

Answer 8

i wouldn't say that but most people who consider themselves to be conservative lean towards "traditional" values more than liberals do...liberals on the other hand seem to always want to change the statusquo...they're more alike than they'd care to admit

Answer 9

Okay how about this. Maybe you should look up the definition of conservative and liberal. Plus just because something is new doesn't mean that it is good. Ever hear of the Eugenics movement. Plus the conservative view of those things is more based on what they view as the sanctity of life.

Answer 10

No, I think liberals have always been the same.

Answer 11

"In general" I'd say you are correct. Liberal idealism comes from thinking outside of the box (abstract/conceptual thinking) while Conservative pragmatism comes from thinking from inside of the box (rational/concrete thinking); thus liberals will naturally be non-traditional and non-conforming (free-spirited) while Conservatives will be traditional and conforming (authoritative).

Answer 12

conservatives believe in strong ethics and logic in all aspects of life. change to make oneself feel better about doing something wrong or unnatural is not progress or liberalism.

Answer 13

That is the classical distinction.



However, Conservatives are always advocating they want less government intrusion; yet, the Conservatives want the government to ban gay marriages, stem cell research and abortions.



Their philosophy appears to be contradictory...

Answer 14

Liberals want to progress into an immoral lifestyle, while us Conservatives want to keep our values and our morals alive. None of the examples you listed are good changes, they are changes for the worse.



No lion, you're living in a fantasy world if you believe that. You people are in denial. Go kill some more babies.

Answer 15

I tend to think liberals want more socialist change like universal health care. Republicans want change to like harsher panalties for criminals and private bank accounts for social security. Democrats blocked those things so does that mean they oppose change?

Answer 16

not neccesarily.



And, abortion isn't open mindedness...it's murder.



And, if Conservatives want things to stay the same...it's for the best. Not having abortions is a great thing to keep in our society.



♥ xoxo

Answer 17

Obviously you are new to Politics on Y/A. Neither side is open to the other side.. Stick around. You will see.....

Answer 18

I think you're painting to narrow a picture of both groups...

Answer 19

The diff between a Lib and a Con. Here goes, a Lib would give a sidewalk bum a dollar and tell them to get yourself a snack and have a nice day.

A Con would give that same Bum a dollar, get his name and address, and make him sign a loan note for repayment at 15% intrest.

Answer 20

Basically yes. Cons are uncomfortable with change, and can't seem to live effectively outside some sort of structured society. Needing an enemy is one of the hallmarks of building that traditional structure.

Answer 21

New ideas are great....until the involve MURDERING a Baby. All the other stuff is dwarfed by the killing of the innocent Children.

Answer 22

Maybe because they're more 'open-minded' supposedly

Answer 23

Yes, hence why the descriptive term liberal and conservative.

Answer 24

I would agree that liberalism has been the downfall of many traditional nations. Conservatism is what keep countries in the realm of greatness!