Why is the American classification of political ideology so different from the rest of the world?

[Call of the Wilde]

In most of the world, you have three kinds of parties:
Liberal = limited government, free markets, pro-business, more social rights (abortion, gay marriage)
Conservative = traditional, favors ultra-rich, religious themes, supports landholders
Socialist= big government, large social welfare programs, working class support

In the U.S., we called the Democrats liberal and the Republicans conservative. But by these definitions, aren't BOTH of our parties liberal? They just happen to focus on different kinds of liberalism (economic or social.)

Eh?

[Quan]

We like to do our own...thing.

[Casey Forrest]

you are confusing political parties with ideoligy.

[Squilliam Fancyson]

No.

We created the current political ideologies, which in their definitions mean nothing.

The other countries copied us because we were the first truly Free Nation.

[iris054]

No, both our main Parties are actually quite far to the right. Check out the charts here:

http://politicalcompass.org/uselection2008

You can also take a test there to see where you place. It's quite an interesting site with a lot of good reading there.

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[straightpark626]

No, its because the USA began with classical liberalism. Even the American colonies favored limited government, free markets, freedom, etc. However as time goes on, they're considered to be outdated ideas because after all, they are old in America.

Conservatives don't want change. We want the USA to hold on to the values in which it was founded upon, i.e., classical liberalism.

Liberals want change. They want bigger government, large social welfare programs, favors corporations, etc. They want change that makes us lose our original values.

[A Voice of Reason]

Not really. If anything, the Democrats are not that far left from Conservatives in many other countries.

[NDMA]

The US just has to be different!

In the US a fag is a homosexual, In England a fag is a cigarette

In England you go the lavatory, in the US they go to a restroom.

It is not unusual for there to be language differences between countries...
However over time, based on actions, the differences between the Democrats and Republicans have evaporated, both expand the Federal Government, Support Big Business at the expense of the public, hot-button social issues are used to lock in voting blocks so no progress is made either way on abortion, gay marriage, integration, immigration etc. If a hot button issue goes away, that voting block can no longer be counted on to deliver the vote so both parties want to keep these hot button issues simmering so they can lock in those votes (thereby locking out any third party).

The titles LIberal, Conservative, Socialist are just perjoratives used by one side to attack the other side and stifle fair debate and discussion, the really don't mean anything in american politics anymore.

[Michael Stone]

Americans take the normal three political ideologies, cut off socialism, skew the other two to the right and then make half the supposedly liberal party conservatives anyway. Simple.