The View | Opinion: How to test whether you’re Liberal or Conservative
Election victories have done nothing to close the gap between liberals and conservatives – not helped by the Brexiteers and Trump’s attitude of ‘I won, you lost; now suck it up’
The single biggest ideological split in the world today is not communism versus capitalism, right versus left, Britain versus Europe, Protestant versus Catholic, Shia versus Shiite, carnivore versus vegan, or even Ronaldo versus Messi. It is Conservatism versus Liberalism.
All of a sudden, I am being called a “Liberal”. It comes as a bit of a shock to a former UK Conservative Party Parliamentary hopeful. My views on immigrants, welfare, religion, capital punishment, abortion, same sex marriage, defence, voting, business, terrorists, and reality television shows are still (in my view) doctrinally sound and have not changed.
Admittedly, the wisdom of age is marginally softening them in some areas and hardening in others.
Liberals are hated and Conservatives are despised. Recently, the world has shifted well to the conservative side. Strong conservative ties curiously bind the US Religious Right and the Russian leadership.
When I last looked, China is not looking to change anytime soon. Africa and much of Asia lean towards the conservative. Brexit was fought on an anti-foreigner stance while President Trump decried Muslims, Mexicans and Liberal Hillary.
In the current British election campaign, the left-leaning Labour Party looks no closer to the liberal camp than their conservative Conservative Party opponents.