Think of it this way. Complex topics (like economics or politics) can be organized by varying levels of specificity. In the big picture, you have the general principles such as individual liberty and limited government. More specific ideas for example include things like the individual mandate of Obamacare.
General concepts are for the most part simple to explain. This is what I meant.
What needs to be pointed out is that the general principles are always the most important, in that they are the starting point and the foundation. Palin’s unique strength is that her consistent advocacy of the general principles of conservatism are backed up by the specifics of her successful record as Mayor, Commissioner and Governor.
As for the claim about Freepers, it seems as though the premise of your argument is that all people ultimately want handouts so we shouldn’t even bother with conservatism.
There are a lot of Freepers (not a majority, but I would guess at least 20-30 percent) who think that somehow we have to find and refund "their money" that they "paid in" to SS and Medicare.
They don't understand that the money's gone, and only by a massive tax hike on the next two generations will they ever get their "return".
They also don't understand that these programs do not have any guaranteed payback - Congress (Dem or GOP) can cut them by any amount, any time.
It's not like I have despaired of conservatism.
Rather, it's that with so many people on this hard core conservative forum who have self-deluded themselves about what they are "entitled to receive" I do despair of convincing a majority of the public at large, who are even more deluded by far.