Liberal vs Democrat

Both words are used to refer to members of political parties, but their ideologies and positions can vary greatly. This is especially true of designations like Democrat and Republican, which are often more fluid than they appear to be at any given time or in any particular election cycle.

The Democratic Party

The Democratic Party embodies a philosophy of modern liberalism that promotes economic and social equality, a welfare bases state, governmental regulations to help the public, and support for organized labor and environmental protection. It also advocates affordable college education, equal opportunities, and consumer rights.

Racial injustice remains a divisive issue in American politics, and Democrats differ widely over whether systemic change is needed to combat racial bias. A vast majority of any Democratic-oriented typology group says a lot more needs to be done to ensure equal rights for all Americans, while no more than about a quarter of any Republican-oriented groups say the same thing.

This divide can stem from different values, beliefs, and preferred policies, which may be shaped by long-standing personal characteristics or biological predispositions. For example, conservatives tend to desire security, predictability and authority over novelty, nuance and complexity, whereas liberals are more willing to accept risk and uncertainty. The volume of gray matter in the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala are larger in conservatives than in liberals, which can make people more likely to perceive threats or react to them.