Interesting observations. Yes, Marxism and modern 'social democrats' pander to the "Mommy" state while real conservatism demands grown-up individual responsibility, a much harder thing to sell. While Republicans have bent much too far toward the "mommies," the Democrat Party is premised on hatred, envy, equal outcomes independent of effort or ability: all things that exploit immature human impulses.
One sad fact is what dedicated socialist George Orwell pointed out so well: such political systems are almost predetermined to become totalitarian. The real test in the current world, begining with Iraq, is whether liberty based on principles of individualism can survive. Ironically there's a great longing in the mass of people to be 'protected' and told what to do by a czar, monarch, dictator or commisar. The despotically-minded, like Hillary, are only too happy to fill that role.
Right you are. I always listen to ex-Marxists on the issue because they've put forth the skull sweat to master the topic and it's always interesting to find out what the key event was that tore it for them. Orwell, for one. Hitchens, Amis, and of course Sidney Hook and Whittaker Chambers. And a fellow named Thomas Sowell as well. His book on Marxism is simply the best short treatment of that topic I've run into in a long time.