The liberal mind misses the salient point: with big government, into every aspect of our lives, we will have politics dominate our lives by definition. Thus, the divide will grow necessarily as government grows. Well said. Unfortunately, there is a growing contingent of so-called conservatives who're also quite comfortable with large intrusive government. The only difference between them and your tax and spend liberal is the focus of the intrusion. Conservative culture war types were content advocating that government promote their values, however their successors are more comfortable with government dictating those same values. I've seen more calls for unnecessary constitutional amendments in the last 4 years than I have seen in my entire life.
Unfortunately, there is a growing contingent of so-called conservatives who're also quite comfortable with large intrusive government. The only difference between them and your tax and spend liberal is the focus of the intrusion. Conservative culture war types were content advocating that government promote their values, however their successors are more comfortable with government dictating those same values. I respectfully disagree somewhat - most of the conservative culture warriors fight a liberal attempt to have an activist government change the culture. While we may disagree on whether that's a worthy battle - a legitimate disagreement - I refuse to acknowledge that its the same thing as being pro government by conservatives.
Big Government "Conservatives," might make sense in a Monarchy, but it is an oxymoron in an American Republic. Our fundamental ethos is dependent upon individual responsibility, strong local communities (remember the Committees of Correspondence in the Revolution) & absolutely no Federal role in dictating cultural or social norms. The Constitution carefully defines the Federal functions--and none of those functions relate to dictating cultural values to the States & local communities.
For an effort to address the cultural divide, Alternative Views.
William Flax [Romney/Ryan--Next Tuesday]