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Conservatism — from the foregoing we find that this term conveys the following:

1. A free market and the personal acquisition of property by individuals.
2. Individual freedoms and property rights are representative of attendant moral, religious, political, and civil rights.
3. In accordance with the Constitution, the federal government is limited to acting in those areas wherein the states themselves do not have that ability, in inter-state matters and in foreign relations.
4. There is great importance placed on separation of powers, judicial review, and states' rights as opposed to federal power.

Simplified Definition:
An ideal conservative believes in the importance of the individual person, including the fetus, and the family structure and that it is the responsibility for the individuals within each family to do as much as they can for themselves before asking for assistance. When assistance is needed the progressive route taken is community, city, county, state and federal, in that order, with the federal government the avenue of last resort. A conservative believes in the least government possible.

Liberalism – from the foregoing we find that this term conveys the following:

1. Government should correct economic deficiencies caused by an unregulated free market economy. Government should provide social welfare.
2. It is right for government to impose progressive income taxation.
3. Government should impose a minimum wage.
4. The social security system should remain a system where those working support those who are receiving social security payments.
5. Government should support only public education forcibly paid for by taxpayers even though some object to some of the subject matter and the manner in which it is taught.
6. Government should impose stringent safety and health regulations.
7. Government should impose stringent consumer protection and environmental preservation laws.

Simplified definition:
An ideal liberal takes the completely opposite position to an ideal conservative, vying for a socialistic form of government working from the top down wherein the freedom of the individual is compromised for the anticipated good of the collective group.

Pretty decent definitions, IMHO...MUD