I think what you say is true (although I would argue that Liberals also give back in non-monitary ways such as working in the helping professions-teaching, social workers, academics etc). I am unappologetically liberal, but I don't think that real conservatives are bad people. As you argue, liberals and conservatives have different theories about how to get to the same place.

I recently saw George Will (a conservative that I admire and frequently disagree with) on the Colbert Report. Colbert asked him what the fundamental difference was between conservative and liberal ideology. Will said that it came down to two competing values: Personal Freedom vs. Fairness. According to Will, Liberals are willing to sacrifice personal fredom in the service of equality/fairness. Conservatives are willing to sacrifice fairness to preserve personal liberty. Although I am not sure you can sum it up as neatly as this, I do think there is truth his analysis.