Just when I was thinking of selling my T-34

[kandrathe]

... Whenever a conservative utters the word "freedom", he means freedom for himself, AND FOR NO ONE ELSE. ...

No. Actually, beyond your clarion call to the contrary, words have meaning.

free /frē/ Adjective
Not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes.

From your sentence above, "he means freedom for himself" couldn't possibly describe someone like Condi Rice, a woman whose friends died in the 1963 Birmingham, Alabama church bombing during civil rights struggle in the US.

Yes, people act in their own self interest. Even those who philosophically claim, such as socialists or communists, to be acting for the good of all, end up day to day acting selfishly. This results in the types of tyranny and corruption expressed in the Soviet Union, or Cuba -- all done in the name of social selflessness.

I think the word use of yours which you might find more confusing than "freedom", would be "conservative".

con·serv·a·tive /kənˈsərvətiv/
A person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in politics.

A conservative is interested in not changing the status quo, and so if they are in a state of tyranny would be seeking to maintain it. A conservative ideology isn't one seeking greater freedom -- it is one seeking stability and maintaining the status quo. I think we try to label people or ideas as "conservative" or "progressive" because they are seemingly juxtaposing ideas. And, why if given the choice between "stay the same" versus "make progress" -- the progressive ideology on the face of it seems more vibrant and active.

However, it also explains why neither side represent "freedom" when both Conservatives and Progressives, Republicans and Democrats are willing to misuse the power of government (for their own selfish interests done in the name of social selflessness).