I feel we’re playing different games, or using different terms.

You are correct, you are using different terms because in the US liberal is used to talk about the Democrats. Everyone else in the world, including here on Lemmy, uses liberal as in Liberalism. Both Democrats and Republicans are liberals, both defend the status quo and wants capitalism to continue.

Conservative: Republican party, wants to consolidate power and wealth in the hands of a few.

Both Republicans and Democrats wants that. They are both funded by US's billionairies, they both attend to their interests and want this system to continue. I'm not gonna deny that the Democrats are to the left of the Republicans, but they are both still right wing parties in a two-party system.