One of the most fundamental differences between liberals and conservatives is how they view government. For conservatives, government is an external force that imposes restrictions on a free people. For liberals, government is the embodiment of the collective will of a free people.
Liberals believe that society works best with a strong central government that levies relatively high taxes but provides more services such as universal education and healthcare. Conservatives believe that society works best with limited government that levies relatively low taxes and leaves services such as education and healthcare to the free market. I believe the evidence is on the side of the liberals.