Wide World of Wisdom: Fred Barnes- Interviewing Thomas Sowell: 'The Difference Between Liberal & Conservative'

Source:Wide World of Wisdom- conservative writer Thomas Sowell, being interviewed by FOX News's Fred Barnes, in 2006.

"Thomas Sowell discusses characteristics that define liberals and conservatives, and his own personal transition from Marxism to libertarianism. From: "Thomas Sowell: In the Right Direction"

Fox News (2005)" 

From Wide World of Wisdom

If you look at what actual classical liberalism is ( which I just view as liberalism ) and you look at what classical conservatism, ( which I just view as conservatism is ) actual liberalism and conservatism, they are actually not that different. They both believe in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, they both believe in protecting and defending those rights.

Both Liberals and Conservatives, believe in individual liberty and individualism, they are both internationalist on foreign policy, they both believe in a strong national defense, they both believe in American capitalism, they both believe in limited government.

Liberals and Conservatives,  actually have a lot in common, perhaps more than they don't have in common. They both believe in self-governance, that people have the right to live their own lives as they see fit as long as they are not hurting anyone else with their freedom. That government should protect innocent people from being harmed by others, but not try to protect adults from themselves. And not try to regulate how adults live their own lives.

The differences come in how these things are carried out. They have differences when it comes to interpreting the U.S. Constitution, they are both internationalists, but in different forms. Liberal Internationalists tend to be more willing to negotiate and Conservative Internationalists tend to be more willing to use military force.

Liberals tend to be more in favor regulation in the economy to prevent people from abusing other people. Conservatives tend to believe that regulation isn't always needed and that the private market can work these abuses out on its own.

Liberals and Conservatives, both believe in limited government, but again in different forms and I'll use the economy as an example. Liberals tend to believe that government can be used to help people who are down help themselves to become self-sufficient. Conservatives tend to believe that a lot of these social services should be privatized and let the market empower these people instead.

See, liberalism and conservatism are both centered around the U.S. Constitution and individual liberty. Protecting individual rights and letting people live their own lives. Liberal comes from the word liberty and conservative meaning someone who wants to conserve. And when it comes to politics and government, that means conserving constitutional rights for individuals. 

Liberals and Conservatives might have more in common than they don't and why they are the two leading political ideology's in the country right now. With democratic socialism and authoritarianism, whether it's theocratic or or secular being on the outside looking in. Instead of being considered part of the mainstream of American politics.