Liberilism vs Conservatism
When one thinks of liberals and conservatives it tends to be a comparison of entirely different views concerning every issue. Conservative thinking is regularly associated with the Republican Party while liberal thinking is regularly associated with the Democratic Party. Two such figures that come to mind whose views tend to put them on opposite sides of the political spectrum are presidents Herbert C. Hoover and Harry S. Truman. For example, Hoover's failure to intervene in the private sector of the economy during the infant stages of the Great Depression agrees with the conservative idea of a free market economy. In contrast, Truman continued Roosevelt's liberally supported reform measures. One important factor that influences a political figure's decision making is his/her morals and beliefs. Conservatives usually have great influence from traditional institutions such as church. As a child, Hoover was raised in a rural Quaker community with a strict belief in the church and the traditional family. This led to his conservative beliefs and actions. During his presidency, Hoover promised to uphold the prohibition amendment, since drinking was seen as an evil in the Quakers (Encarta). Furthermore, he promised t
o enforce national laws. This went about with the conservative that that authority is needed to make man resistant to evil. Hoover became a millionaire by the time he was forty with great effort. His conservatism and respect for authority earned him that position. On the other hand, liberalism preached that belief that man has a natural ability to reason out right and wrong. Truman did not introduce any major crime legislation, nor did he believe that much authority was needed for man to reason out right and wrong (Bernstein 93). The philosophy of how to acquire and spend money has changed in many ways throughout the years in liberal and conservative minds. Liberals use tax money to finance social programs, and make sure the economy is going smoothly. Conservatives, however, believe that the economy will flourish if it is the government does not tax too heavily, and the revenues that would have gone to the government go back into the economy. This goes back to Hoover's "trickle-down" system. Truman did finance great welfare programs, military expansion, and intelligence expansion. Conservatives believe mostly spending tax money on the expansion of the armed forces and law enforcement. Liberalism in the 20th century has been very active against inequality. The Truman administration started the battle continuing to later generations. Truman, being a southern man, saw the racial discrimination in the South and saw a need for social change. Truman felt that African-Americans wanted to end inequality, but not segregation. As stated above, Truman took many measures to ensure equality for the African-Americans. He also took measures to create the Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC). This would create equal opportunity in the workplace for everyone. Truman went by the liberal thought that equal opportunity should be guaranteed by law; therefore, he strived to create the most equal society possible at that time (Bernstein 78). Hoover, on the other hand, never took any measures to ensure equality. He was a self-made millionaire and believed that rights are earned, not given. Even during the Great Depression he believed that only loans should be given out, he didn't believe in "pork barrel" bills, which would give out money
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Approximate Word count = 1526
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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