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,

the first group they run into a farmstead to repair their bikes and are invited to enjoy a meal with the farmer and his family. You could tell by the things Wyatt says to the farmer that he admires his approach to the life that he leads in its simplicity and structure. This farmer knows what he is doing; how to provide for the family, how to create his own food, etc.. Though it feels boring to see, it is clear that this man has a plan and feels comfortable in his bubble of tradition.
Following their stop at the farm and giving a ride to the first hitchhiker, Billy and Wyatt arrive at the free-spirited hippie commune. This stop on the journey is the most significant in my mind. In many ways, the hippies’ commune is very similar to that of the farmer’s land; however, the biggest difference is a lack of understanding in regards to making that way of life work. The hippies that are trying to grow their own crops are kids from the city that have no real concept of how to effectively do so, and resort to praying over the ground in hopes of growth. The prayer will make little difference, especially when you consider how infertile the soil is that they are attempting to grow crops in is. What the group is trying to do is admirable, but they are all collectively in way over their heads
Regardless of the fact that this is a miniscule example of the conservative vs liberal mindset, it highlights what separates the two groups.

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

Florida.
What I believes the two heroes found on their adventure was a lack of structure, the negative effects that a lack of structure has, and a fierce opposition towards those who do not have any. All of these things ended up being what killed them in the end, so I am unsure as to whether or not Billy and Wyatt were successful in their adventure or not.