That touches on a good point. In America, the Republican Party in particular focuses a great deal of emphasis on what we in the UK at least would call 'non-issues.' Abortion for instance is in the mainstream unchallenged in the UK. If you personally disagree with it (such as PM Tony Blair),then that is a personal issue, freedom of choice allows the freedom to say no as well as yes and has around 70-80% backing in the UK. One reason why we are an international centre for stem-cell research. Evolution is a NON (emphasis on the non!) issue, in fact it doesn't even cross my mind, it's just taken as 'go.' Luckily we have no second amendment, but the gun consensus is that they should be banned for personal use, even if it took us the Dunblane massacre in 1996 to realise it. Prayer in Public schools funnily enough is part of the curriculum in schools here, children of all faiths and none take part in Christian prayer (more often if you went to a state Catholic school like me) as well as learning about other faiths. The reason for this is that the issue has not been taken over by evangelical nuts. And as for gay rights in the UK? Well Civil Partnerships are on the legislatory schedule for this session of parliament...
The Republican Party is heavily commited to ideological, moral 'right and wrong' issues. I think this is almost unique in the world. For example Republicans support free markets not so much because they work well as because low taxes and private enterprise are *right*. The social issues are definitely subject to disagreement depending on the wing of the party, but crucially those who are social conservatives are so because of moral imperatives they believe in regardless of practicality. For example it is highly impractical to bann abortion or stem cell research, but believers don't care. The GOP is a weird institution in the modern world - its based on principle, not practicality.. one reason I love it.
