In the U.S., the self-perception of Right or Left and conservative or liberal, as well as the perception of your opposite ideology has a very real problem.

This:

A true Conservative views himself as this only as it applies to constituional interpretation.

A Liberal would view themselves as open to change and eager to change what they see as tradition.

This is an important distinction because each side also views the other side through their oen frame.

For example, A Conservative sees liberals as constituionally liberal. A conservative would be horrified at the broad interpretation that liberal judges apply to the constitution. Ashcroft Vc. Raich and the City of New London Supreme Court cases are good examples of Liberal judges expanding the power of government and reducing individual and state's rights because of liberal interpretation.

On the other hand, A liberal would not view a conservative through the constitutional frame, instead viewing the conservative through a social frame. A liberal would be horrified by Conservative reluctance to change certain established social structures, and consequently views conservatives as only "socially conservative". Drug laws, homosexuality, minority privelege over whites, etc.

The result is that folks incorrectly view conservatives as fascist falsely believeing that conservatives want to tell other people how to live. This is completely incorrect, but unfortunatley the religious influence on the Republican party has greatly contributed towards this becoming truth.

A true conservative believes that the Constitution of the United States is the foundation for American society and culture. Therefore, society must obey the law in order to preserve the constitution. Afer all, without the Constitution, kiss the U.S. goodbye. A liberal believes that the constituion must be made to fit the current social percpetion and that the law must bend to the people, not the people to the law.

Because of this difference in perception, both sides view the other as attempting to usurp power. The truth is only that liberal interpretation can genuinely eliminate our rights, while a conservative interpretation can protect our rights.