The Republicans eschew anything that enhances the role of the federal government, unless they consider it to be essential to national security (the party of personal liberty supports warrantless wiretapping, for example). The Democrats, by contrast, support a more active federal role in setting national standards and ensuring that the benefits of public programs are distributed fairly.
共和党和民主党之间的意识形态差异从未如此之深。共和党拒绝任何可能加强联邦政府角色的措施，除非他们认为这是国家安全之必须（比如，这一个人自由党支持不正当窃听）。相反，民主党支持联邦政府在制定国家标准、确保公共项目利益公平分配方面扮演更积极地角色。