I have a little time here (lunch), so let me explain a little better...
I think the stereotypes of conservatives and liberals are to a great extent true.
Conservatives are generally pro-business, fend-for-yourself type people. They are not big on race or sexual orientation laws. They tend to be religious, or more to the religious end. They tend to want to keep what they feel they have earned, and resent what they feel is a redistribution of wealth. They tend to fight against sweeping social laws that impact everyone irrespective of the need for such laws for the bulk of people.
Liberals tend to want the government to make decisions for us. They want sharper regulations on business. They want to ensure equality for everyone. Some honestly feel some people have too much money and it should be redistributed. Their view of government is government is here to protect us, and to help us when we are down-and-out. Liberals tend to be more secular, shunning religion and religious values. Liberals tend to continue to fight for race, gender, and sexual orientation equality. Liberals tend to believe that certain programs are entitlements, and tend to create more entitlements all the time- at the taxpayers' expense.
Unions were originated in response to business total disdain for the workforce. Unions discovered business couldn't be in business without workers, and a walkout turned out to be a pretty powerful tool. And work it did- and still does, to a point. However, with the trend of business relocating overseas because of the high cost of production in America, unions are greatly reduced in strength. This forces them to create alliances with some pretty unsavory groups to maintain a modicum of lobbying power. Taking the teachers' union (NEA) as an example, we've wound up allied with organizations that support or promote activities such as abortion. I am firmly against abortion, therefore I cannot support my union. Oh sure, there are other reasons I choose not to be a member, but let me tell you, this one alone would be enough for me to withhold my membership.
Government interference in all walks of life have made life harder, not easier, to live. California is going down the tubes quickly and visibly, and it is largely due to the government's actions in industry and social life. Beat business to death with restrictions, beat taxpayers to death with referendum legislation funded on the taxpayers' dime (and is nearly impossible to reverse once in place) and what do you get? People and business moving the heck out of California as fast as they can. Add to that inane liberal law such as the California drivers' license for illegals fiasco and yeah... what a screwed up mess it is. It would be hard to argue less government in California would be worse than what they have now, wouldn't it? The tax base is leaving... once it is gone, who's going to pick up the tab on the social programs?
When you think about it, California serves as a pretty good case study as to what happens when the government gets too involved.
