What Does It Mean To Be A Liberal?
You are concerned with individual rights & liberties. You are often in favor of government intervention and government programs (pro-regulation). You lean toward anti-business. You get excited by new government initiatives like sending man to Mars.
A left of center or "liberal" individual tends to philosophically believe in a majority of these political positions:
* Abolition of the death penalty
* Believe in affirmative action
* Belief in reinstating the Fairness Doctrine
* Disapprove of teacher-lead prayer in classrooms & school sponsored religious events
* Equal opportunities for men and women in the military
* Favor equal opportunity & denial of gender differences
* Government-rationed & taxpayer-funded medical care (example: Universal Health Care Coverage)
* Government spends big on social programs (also higher taxes to fund these programs)

2. ....cont.
* Income redistribution (through progressive taxation)
* Legalizing abortion & pro-choice
* Legalizing same-sex marriages
* Oppose an American foreign policy of continuous intervention
* Oppose domestic wire-tapping & other intrusive acts (as authorized in the Patriot Act)
* Oppose full private property rights
* Support protection of our environment
* Support of labor unions
* Support Globalism ("one world government")
* Support obscenity and pornography as our First Amendment right
* Support teaching comprehensive sexual education programs in schools (as opposed to abstinence-only programs)
* Support a "Living Constitution" reinterpreted for modern times (not how it was originally written & intended)
* Support disarmament treaties
* Support gun control laws
* Support government programs to rehabilitate criminals in society
* Taxpayer-funded public education system
***********.uselections.com/ideology/left-liberal.shtml

What Does It Mean To Be A Conservative?
You resist change simply for the sake of change. You are cautious and pro-status quo. You Invoke a "good steward" mentality and are careful with management of resources. You tend to be pro-business, anti-tax and anti-regulation.
A right of center or "conservative" individual tends to philosophically believe in a majority of these political positions:
* Actively support a return of prayer in schools
* Believe in our Second Amendment 'Right to Keep and Bear Arms'
* Believe that parents (not schools or teachers) should educate children about sex
* Believe in a strong national defense
* Economic allocative efficiency (as opposed to popular equity)
* Endorse choice in education
* Endorse lower taxes & tax cuts (favoring the upper class)
* Favor the death penalty
* Favor stronger law enforcement and anti-crime laws

2. ....cont.
* Generally don't care much for the United Nations
* Oppose same-sex marriages
* Staunchly pro-life and want to stop abortions
* Support free enterprise
* Support limited government
* Support strong public morality
* Support laws against pornography & obscenities
* Support enforcement of current immigration laws
* Support private medical care & retirement plans
* Support tightening of our border security
* Want to open foreign markets to products made in the USA
* Want to weaken or eliminate failed social support programs
***********.uselections.com/ideology/right-conservative.shtml

"You lean toward anti-business"
-(md) (md) (md) - this is so far from reality... look at what Clinton adm was doing and what was happening in the business world during those 8 years.
I think this whole "gradation" does not take into account various "fractions" - far-left ( pro-union, anti-business - crazy kind) is probably very EMOTIONALLY close to protectionist -in different aspects - values of far-right ( intolerance to immigrants, religious fervor) ..... In fact, most reasonably thinking people are neither "far" anything. They understand that you look at the world with different eyes at different moments:
- you can see a world as a consumer, or as an investor- shareholder, or as a humanitarian, or as a citizen, or as business owner -in different circumstances and this nuanced approach helps you develop an outlook that is not black or white, but real.

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Happy New Year to all! Virtual hugs!

I also think that the definitions that Slavik "надыбал" are too simplistic and misleading. What's alarming is that politicians use these stereotypes to appeal to masses.

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Хочу лето (или нормальную зиму)

Of course it's too simplistic. The key is majority of these political positions

this is ultra-ultra left vs ultra-ultra right i guess...
i really don't know anyone who is anti-business no matter how liberal they are for example

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Человек, который почувствовал ветер перемен, должен построить не щит от ветра, а ветряную мельницу

For Mike:Anti-business does not mean that someone sits around and says "Boy, I hate business" it's when they want to build a factory and a person says, "Boy, what will that do to the environment ?", or if they want to open a Walmart and the same person says...you got the idea.

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Хочу лето (или нормальную зиму)

Oleg, I agree with your point a couple of posts below. (Y)

Also:

"* Want to open foreign markets to products made in the USA"

How is that even related to conservative/liberal???