LH:

I think the main diferentiation between a Liberal and a Conservative is that A liberal thinks government should do everything people won't do for themselves. A conservative thinks people should be in charge of their own life and bear the responsiblities of their actions.

The problem enters when other people seek to prey on people who are not wise enough to keep from being preyed upon. Then the system of lawyers, courts, lobbyists and politicans selling out their morals to be elected, allow this to continue.

I think the solution lies in education people up to the level that they can take care of themselves. Where they can resist the miracle diet pills, the get rich quick adds, the internet and phone fraud, the credit card traps and the appeals to buy the latest gizmo. Something most parents used to do but too few do today. I often tell my wife, a teacher, that schools should put personal finance, parenting and such things of a practical nature right in there with english, math, science etc.

You can look right in the schools and see who will succeed and who will not by looking at their grades. Some of the poorest are encouraged by their parents, disciplined and do great. Others of the middle class are not encouraged or disciplined and do poorly.

It is not necessarily the wealth of the family but proper parenting that is the determining factor. After 22 years as an educator, my wife can cite numerous examples. She is even teaching the children of the children she taught earlier and the grandchildren of some of her fellow educators.

I also think everyone should be required to do some sort of public service in their late teens, even the sons and daughters of the politicians and rich folks but you know how far that would get in congress.