A Perfect Definition of Conservatism and Liberalism

George Will has posted today a near-perfect discussion of the modern schools of Conservatism and Liberalism, and what divides them. While it comes down eventually on the side of Conservatism - as that is what animates Will - it does not disparage the other side nor is it filled with animosity toward Liberalism. Definitely worth a read if you are unclear what Conservative, Liberal, and Moderate mean.

Today's political argument involves perennial themes that give it more seriousness than many participants understand. The argument, like Western political philosophy generally, is about the meaning of, and the proper adjustment of the tension between, two important political goals -- freedom and equality.

Today, conservatives tend to favor freedom, and consequently are inclined to be somewhat sanguine about inequalities of outcomes. Liberals are more concerned with equality, understood, they insist, primarily as equality of opportunity, not of outcome.

Moderates, I would argue are those who try to find the best balance between liberty and equality - neither as trusting of the market as Conservatives nor trusting of the government as Liberals.