“In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” Yogi Berra

It is a common and comfortable construct to view the political debate as a continuum between Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservative, Capitalists and Socialists, Anarchists and Authoritarians, Short Term and Long Term, or even Pragmatists and Principled.  But the core of our political arguments that encompasses so much of the previously stated continuums is the emphasis or belief in the moral supremacy of the individual and his rights verses the consideration of the community or the collective.

It is in this view of the debate that will emphasize whether we seek a limited government that serves the growth and development of an individual’s right to create himself as he sees fit, or a collective centrally controlled mindset that believes the individual has value to a society only to the extent that he serves the larger group.

Between the ends of this continuum is a point where growth and progress flourish and social stability is maintained. Ideologues may stray to the extremes of this debate, and we may end up at a point dictated more by compromise than effectiveness.  While every side wishes to believe that they are guided by their rational powers or their moral supremacy, the reality of political decisions and political power is an appeal to a constituency that is far less concerned with either.

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