Borrowing from Arnold Kling's "three axes", generally speaking:
- Libertarians evaluate things on a freedom/tyranny axis.
- Republicans evaluate things on a civilization/savagery axis.
- Democrats evaluate things on a fair/unfair axis.
I think that explains Republican voting behavior here fairly well. They're not for small government because they're libertarian; they're for small government because the US is historically connected with libertarian philosophies.
Republicans seem to care less about civilization than "family", more precisely "conserving [Christian] family values". That's why it's linked to all the nonsensical, irrational thinking about gay marriage and abortion; they think it violates the ideals of the traditional Christian family. It cannot be equated with "civilization" unless you somehow believe that those things are uncivilized, which makes the entire axis analysis tautological.
There are certainly Republicans who are all for family values for other reasons besides Christian morals. They equate this with civilization not in contrast with uncivilization, the question for them isn't "civilization vs. savagery" exactly, it's more nearly "civilization vs. decadence." Open homosexuality and abortion call to mind the Roman Empire in its decline, not the Dark Ages.
A really powerful argument in this vein comes from the Nixon tapes. It's very much worth listening to, no matter what your views on the matter are, because I think it really crystallizes why conservatism and the religious right have so much common ground.
Not sure about this. If I think it is savagery to have lots of people dying without healthcare, that's a pretty Democrat sentiment isn't it? Or are we talking about the parties as they were decades ago rather than today?
So that's clearly "unfair" on the Democrat axis. Old school Republicans should be for some measure of properly financed universal healthcare (oh, hi there, Mitt), but there is also the financial end to consider: overspending is moving away from civilization, and towards savagery.
You're using the figurative version of "savagery". I think what republicans are opposed to is the older form of the word "savage" i.e. "the way of life of those people less evolved than I".
- Libertarians evaluate things on a freedom/tyranny axis.
- Republicans evaluate things on a civilization/savagery axis.
- Democrats evaluate things on a fair/unfair axis.
I think that explains Republican voting behavior here fairly well. They're not for small government because they're libertarian; they're for small government because the US is historically connected with libertarian philosophies.