The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. --John 10:10, NIV
Does this Bible verse summarize many of the differences between conservative and liberal values? I think it might. Consider the following:
When conservatives talk about "limited government," part of what they mean is that our government should only take and endorse actions that are inherently violent.* Having the world's largest prison population and incarceration rate does not bother them. Neither does killing innocent civilians via drone strikes. Heck, many of them are still beating the drums of war against Iran.
* - As long as they never target rich, white, straight males.
When liberals claim that "we're all in this together," that includes the government. They want to see the government at all levels engage in policies that benefit the many, not just a lucky few. These policies include affordable health care, civil rights, progressive taxation, collective bargaining rights, LGBT rights, access to women's health care, getting smart on crime, etc. These are all policies that are proven to help people enjoy freer, more prosperous lives.
Contrast that against the massive pushback from the Right against Obama's policies, both proposed and enacted, that are even remotely progressive: Every one of them, every single one, has been met with vicious, disgusting, hate-filled pushback. Consider how much the Right despises the Affordable Care Act, Obama's pulling out of Iraq, the stimulus bill in early 2009, Elizabeth Warren's standing up to Wall Street, etc. Where is this kind of hatred against the drone strikes in Pakistan? Or the War on Drugs? Or Obama's "drill, baby, drill" policy? Why are Obama's enemies passing on such free, and actually legitimate, opportunities to criticize him? Is it because they like policies that steal, kill, and destroy, and hate the ones that improve the quality of life? I wonder.