When discussing politics, the terms liberal and Democrat are often used interchangeably. This is a mistake because they refer to different things. Liberal is a political ideology and Democrat is a political party. In the United States, Democrats are associated with liberalism (a political philosophy based on beliefs in progress) and Republicans are associated with conservatism (a belief in tradition and social stability).

Those who hold liberal views believe that government should uphold equality in economic and social affairs. They support progressive policies like universal healthcare and income redistribution. They also tend to favor civil rights for ethnic and religious minorities and are concerned about environmental protection. Additionally, they are open-minded to new ideas and tolerant of those who hold different viewpoints.

However, it is important to note that not all individuals who hold liberal views belong to the Democratic Party. They may identify as independent or support a third party. Also, the political positions of individuals can change over time, which makes it difficult to assign people to rigid categories.

Despite the fluidity of political ideologies, there are clear differences between liberals and conservatives. For example, liberals are more likely than conservatives to oppose military spending increases. In addition, they typically endorse same-sex marriage and support equal rights for gay and lesbian couples. Meanwhile, conservatives are more skeptical of immigration and oppose abortion. These differences are reflected in the Pew Research Center Political Typology. The typology looks beyond the Red vs Blue divisions of American politics to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the ideological makeup of the country.