Conservative Vs. Liberal Counter-Culture In Easy Rider

Billy and Wyatt are heroes on a quest searching for something missing in their lives, performing a spiritual deed. In the case of Easy Rider, the “something” they are looking is not just a good time, but also freedom from a conventional life. Although they are heroes, Billy and Wyatt are not your traditional heroes. Liberal counter-culture in the United States was very prominent in the 1960s, and both main characters personify that culture. Some would argue that the hippies were the enemy back in that time, so to say that they were truly representative of being in the moral right like most heroes would be ill-advised.
Along the way, the two encounter people on both sides of the ideological spectrum of conservative and liberal. For instance,

Clearly the hippies have good intentions, but they do not have any concept as to how living freely can be accomplished. What it really boils down to is structure vs freedom to me. Billy and Wyatt see this firsthand. They identify more with the hippies, but the farmer was the one who really seemed to have thing figured out. If the farmer were to see what the hippies were trying to do on their commune, he would stand there, head pointed down, and either laugh quietly to himself or shake his head (maybe even both).
This is seen in different ways later on in their journey, specifically towards the end when the two arrive at the restaurant with George in Louisiana. Even though the group are not menacing towards the rednecks in any way, they became targets immediately upon arrival. Their lack of structure (though in this case, it is more about how their outward appearances display that rather than their actions) was appalling to the rednecks. Later, they travel out in the woods and beat the living crap out of them, killing George. Eventually, both Billy and Wyatt are gunned down by very similar people in