Liberalism is a practical, problem-solving orientation.
It is based on the belief that it is more effective in both financial cost and impact on society for government to proactively prevent problems from occurring or getting worse, than to ignore or deny them. It respects objective analysis, truthful communications and clear statements of assumptions and intentions. It believes that the freedoms of markets and society must be protected from the powerful and unscrupulous. On the other hand, modern conservatism is a reactive, cost-reduction orientation. Since taxes are a chronic concern of America s wealthy and powerful, conservatives believe that no governmental funds should be spent until problems get so bad that they can no longer be ignored or denied.