When you deconstruct and closely analyze the details in their rhetoric, one quickly realizes the major philosophical and principle divide between liberals and conservatives.  Put simply, conservatives like us believe in equality of opportunity and unfettered freedom.  Liberals on the other hand, want a world where the outcomes are equal – almost guaranteed - even if it requires less societal income/ wealth and lesser freedoms.

In the real world, most Americans are neither completely liberal nor conservative in their overall views.  Views and opinions change, based on one’s own station in life and through differing circumstances.  That’s why we have laws, based on fundamental principles of what’s just.  Because if left to the devices and whims of populists, so-called principles would change in an instant, and freedoms would suffer.  That’s why conservatives look back to the Founders – they approached the building of this nation with the freshest of views – chief among them was the unfailing pursuit toward more, not less, freedom.

Conservatives will never be able to cogently persuade a true liberal who is more than willing to sacrifice his freedom and income so that there is absolute perceived equality.  Likewise, liberals will never persuade conservatives to sacrifice individual freedom and hard earned wealth to be redistributed by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington, DC. For this reason alone, the Left and Right will never meet.  It’s probably good that they don’t, for conflict is at the heart of democracy.  I’m just glad I and my conservative colleagues are on the side of liberty!