Why Do Liberals & Conservatives Betray Their Ideals?

Why do both liberals and conservatives initially identify with narrower bases of issues than they end up championing?

Liberals begin with concern for the poor and defenseless. They claim to want a safety net for all in society. In time, however, they move from providing means for them to simply making them dependent upon the state. And, once liberals succeed in making the poor, and others, wards of the state, they suddenly become concerned with how state funds are spent, and begin to control the lives of those they once wished to simply defend.


Genuine compassion for someone's poor lot in life morphs into controlling that life.


Conservatives likewise morph into something frightening.


They begin wanting individual liberty and freedom. They value economic freedom and the "freedom to fail." Often, they are willing to provide means to the poor, but not a free ride.


Somehow, along the way, they begin to equate liberty and freedom with a sort of old-timey libertarian desire for moral purity. They begin to preach against social change, and, in time, begin to legislate morality and values.

A movement initially dedicated to individual freedom begins to pass laws regulating personal freedoms and behaviors. They allege to be the arbiters of "family values."


Liberals, who initially desire more means for the poor and weak to live life, shift to controlling them and society at large


Conservatives, who initially desire freedom and liberty for all, along with consequences to each for his choices, in time, legislate private morality as social good, and also try to control people's lives.


They both betray their initial ideological purity by straying too far from their limited focus.

How are citizens to act if they truly desire freedom, and these two political movements are their only broad choices for government?