What is the main beliefs and differences between Liberals and Conservatives?

Conservatives: - Belief in a smaller government, particularly at the federal level. Statism is leftism, an all powerful, centralized government. Conservatives oppose this, embracing state's rights and a smaller, less centralized federal government. This is a fundamental cornerstone of conservatism. - Belief in national sovereignty isolationism. Conservatives do not believe in foreign aid or foreign entaglements. They believe in a strong national defense, but national defense as mandated by the constitution. - Belief in the Rule of Law, beginning with the constitution. The Bill of Rights is essentially sacrosanct. A conservative does not believe in a living constitution. - Belief in traditional values. It is here that politics such as the ten commandments come into play. However, traditional values by their very nature are regressive. Real conservatives, being strict constitutionalists, would protect the religious rights of the individual without exploiting Christianity for siezure of power. - Belief in adherenece to principle. The stubborn instinct to stand firm on issues, rejecting political expediency, in other words. Conservatism cannot exist without an ideological backbone, because one of the most basic philosophies behind conservatism is the preservation of tradition. Liberal: - Believes in the emphasis of individual rights. It seeks a society characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations of power, especially of governments and religion. - Belief in the rule of law, free exchange of ideas, market economy that supports free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of all citizens are protected. - Many new liberals advocate a greater degree of government intereference in the free market, often in the form of anti-discrimination laws, civil service examinations, universal education and progressive taxation. This philosophy frequently extends to the belief that the government should provide for a degree of general welfare, including benefits for the unemployed, housing for the homeless, and medical care for the sick.