Political discrepancies

There is a fundamental discrepancy in the ideologies of the Democrat and Republican parties. Republicans, and more specifically, Conservatives, claim to stand behind the principle of limited government; whereas Democrats, and more specifically, Liberals, tend to believe that a more intrusive, paternalistic government can and should solve the ills of society. The discrepancy? Issues of morality. Conservatives believe in individual liberties until it comes to the government protecting the rights that they do not agree with on a moral or spiritual level. However, the very idea of individual rights becomes meaningless if the limit is changed from infringing upon the rights of another to adhering to the beliefs of a moral majority. Rights are meant to protect the individual, something that the Republican party once held as sacred. Conversely, most big government Democrats ardently believe in removing the government from such matters as the definition of marriage and abortion. Although I believe they are correct in this evaluation of the government's role in the lives of its citizens, it does not rectify the irreconcilable contradiction found within this party that will not hesitate to infringe upon the property rights of individuals for the benefit of some vaguely defined society via eminent domain, for example. This discrepancy found at the core of America's two major parties is an issue that has been too often ignored amidst all of the partisan squabbling of the past several years.