The debate over the two parties’ political ideologies has often been defined by a few key features. Liberals value liberty above all other values. Their last core philosophy paper, It’s About Freedom, stressed the right of all Americans to pursue their passions, develop their talents, and live their lives as they choose. Conservatives, on the other hand, are more likely to support the status quo. The following is a brief discussion of the liberal versus Democrat differences.

While most Republicans and congressional leaders fall somewhere in between, there are some differences in their positions on social policy and foreign policy. They are split on issues like raising taxes on the wealthy, social policy, and foreign policy. They differ on abortion and same-sex marriage, and government policies reflecting religious beliefs. They also disagree on foreign policy and election security. And, as a result, the current polarization between the Democrats and the Republicans is not a surprise.

Conservatives and liberals often disagree on the way the government should govern the country. In theory, both parties would be in favor of reducing inequality, but they disagree on how to achieve it. Conservatives, for example, would like to close tax loopholes for the rich, while liberals would like to keep the status quo as it exists. However, a more accurate description of the differences between conservatives and liberals would be a more comprehensive discussion of the issues that matter most to voters.