The terms "liberal" and "conservative" get thrown around pretty loosely. Many people are one by name, but don’t actually know what a true liberal or conservative is! Below, I've made a list of topics with the stances of liberals and conservatives. I'm hoping for three things: One, you actually know what you support, two, get to see issues from both sides, and three, hopefully find out you're not a true liberal or conservative. Most people are mixed, with some lean towards the right or left.

Government Spending:

Conservative: If you're conservative, this is the epitome of governmental inefficiency. Why? Because the government spends beyond its means, adding to debt and borrowing from other countries, which may become a controlling influence, such as the case with China. Inflation gets worse, governments often have to shut down, and taxes spike, because where else would they get the money?

Liberal: Government spending can be an issue, but it’s often exaggerated. The U.S. runs on debt: It always has, and the only economical problems come from the falling of the economy based on the cycle. Debt borrowing is something everybody does, and it hasn’t affected the U.S. basely and nor will it. China will never demand money back in a way to hurt the U.S., because it would be like killing your biggest customer. Inflation is due to more economical factors, and governments shut down because of misspending, not overspending. The U.S. tax rate is actually among the lowest in the world. The country is able to provide essential services while keeping taxes reasonable. Countries that offer similar services in Europe often have around a 50% tax rate.

Obamacare:

Conservative: Obamacare is a waste of taxpayer money. Not only has it not covered everybody like it said it would, but the rising costs of income taxes, now along with Medicare and Obamacare, makes it so citizens are paying plethora of taxes, killing economic development, economic spending and investment. The example of Europe is fine, but it’s a system that would not work over here. It’s a system that would require a new government. It would raise taxes to a high level, and would be unacceptable in a capitalistic society. Private healthcare is the way to go, as seen through examples like the Cleveland Clinic. There is a truly affordable way to get everyone healthcare and solve the problem of the expense in the health industry. Private healthcare is the future in a democratic and capitalistic society. Only a socialist society like the ones in Europe could support universal healthcare. Until the Constitution is overwritten, it isn’t feasible.

Liberal: Obamacare exists because everybody is supposed to be able to receive adequate healthcare, regardless of their economic standing. Healthcare often turns away patients who have preexisting conditions, which means patients either have care or don’t have any at all, due to astronomical medical costs. Countries in Europe, which are healthier than the U.S., can help attribute this to universal healthcare and the subsidizing of medical costs. It's the way of the future. The system of personal and private health care is a flawed system. It's expensive and only does a disservice to U.S. citizens.

Military:

Conservative: The military is the backbone of the U.S., not only in its economy but also its safety. The U.S. is at a constant national threat with rising levels of terrorism, and an increased military is the only way we can deter this. It also helps keep our borders safe. Military presence abroad helps ensure safety of our allies, our embassies, and no matter how much we deny it, the U.S. is the world leader in military, and thus requires a large army. Having a large military also allows for job creation and the right allocation of taxes.

Liberal: You aren’t necessarily against the military, you just believe rising military costs are a waste. It's often said that America needs to be the biggest super power, but without logic behind it. Military spending continues to increase, with a lot of equipment just stationed and rotting away, along with stationary posts all across the world. Asking for cuts to the military is asking to necessarily cut military spending, and it’s asking for cuts to how fast it's growing. Money being spent on the military can be reallocated to helping veterans after war, reducing taxes, or other options.

Now that you see the arguments laid out by both sides, you can see what exactly you support. If you're a Republican, understand you'll support a large and expanding military, privatized health care, and reduction of government spending. Most people are not going from one extreme to another: Most people would believe in a compromise.

People often ask things like, "What would you do if your brother needed help and there was no welfare for him?" It’s a tough question to answer, but you can have it both ways, in a way. You can't want to reduce healthcare, yet still be able to help out those in need at the same time, if you're a full liberal or conservative. It's likely you're probably very mixed on your political ideology. Labeling yourself a liberal or conservative is a very broad and generalized. Sure, it’s a nice shortcut to political identification, but calling yourself a liberal or conservative is different from having all of the ideals.