Conservatives tend to follow laissez-faire beliefs and tend to support lower tax burdens. Liberals often support regulation of industries and support regulatory agencies. They tend to believe that the government must play a role in the distribution of wealth and must provide social programs and a safety net to protect citizens who are the most vulnerable. A conservative political ideology is a coherent and consistent set of beliefs including more limited and local government, less government regulation of markets, more social conformity to traditional norms and values, and tougher policies towards criminals. A liberal political ideology is a coherent consistent set of beliefs including a more active federal government for regulating business, supporting social welfare, and protecting minority rights.
Liberals also tend to prefer less regulation of private social conduct.
Response Sheet Use the Political Ideologies Reading above to complete the following tasks. Reread Paragraph One. Explain in your own words what an ideology is. List three factors that distinguish between the political ideologies of communism, socialism and capitalism. Reread Paragraph Two .