Conservatism and Liberalism

Krauthammer’s column confuses what I always thought was a fairly straightforward, though implicit, definition of “conservative,” as used by newspapers:

Conservative: to favor policies that enhance the power and wealth of those who already have the most power and wealth.

In the 20th-Century Soviet Union, those who have had power and wealth are government officials and Communist Party leaders.

In 20th-Century America, those who have had power and wealth are the controllers of our large corporations and financial institutions (just compare their net worth and incomes with those of legislators and government executives).

Hence, while (former Soviet leader) Leonid Brezhnev was conservative for favoring the interests of a political elite, Ronald Reagan was conservative for favoring the interests of a plutocratic elite.

WILLIAM M. KAULA

Los Angeles