Conservatives, Liberals, Socialists, and Communists

by Jack Le Moine

So, what is the difference between them? –Very short, easy-to-remember explanation.

Conservatives: Smaller government. Primacy of the individual meaning emphasizing success based on merit.

Liberals: Bigger government. Expanding government programs to benefit people. Success based on group identity.

Socialists: Liberals + government ownership and control of industries.

Communists: Socialists + elimination of government.

Comments

Descriptions of the differences between Fascists, Nazis, and Communists tend to devolve into mere propaganda. Those tend to inform more about the teacher making the explanation instead of the political philosophies themselves. This is my attempt at an objective and practical very short, easy-to-remember explanation.

While Fascists, Nazis, and Communists are characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and strong regimentation of society and of the economy, Communists differ from the other two by viewing dictatorship as temporary, as a means to an end. Communists believe in a two-stage revolution. They believe dictatorship is necessary in order to remake civilization so that government can be eventually done away with. Fascists and Nazis believe in government control as an end in itself. Dictatorship (Hitler called it “The Fuhrer Principle) was the form government all three practiced.

While the left (liberalism, socialism, communism) has been gradually becoming ever more hostile to organized religion, Communism is outright opposed to it because organized religion (any religion) is, either actually or potentially an alternative power structure to Communist control.

Margaret Thatcher once said that other countries were founded on nationalism; the United States was founded on philosophy.

In the United States as of this writing, the two most prominent Socialists, Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, have blurred the difference between liberals and socialist. To the extent that they both insist on being known as Socialists, they are best understood as being either very left-wing liberals or very right-wing socialists. Their Green New Deal would result in an ultra-government-controlled economy which stopped short of the out-right nationalization of industries.

What of Conservativism under Donald Trump? The three biggest Conservative critiques of Trump are:

• • Indifference to Constitutional law
  • Excessive Presidential Power
  • Protectionism

Conservatives have believed in Free Trade; Liberals have not so much. Donald Trump is best described as “a Retaliator” since he views tariffs as a negotiating lever. His stated goal is elimination to trade barriers, both by and against the United States.

Conservative and Liberal opinion have changed over the years. For example, during the first half of the twentieth century, Liberals supported Free Trade and Conservatives opposed it. Some of the differences between the two groups may be more due to tribalism than philosophy. Opposing the other side for political advantage instead of philosophical disagreement has poisoned government.

For more information:
Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism, Communism
The article on Liberalism incorrectly states that Liberals support limited government.