I don't mean this in an insulting way, just in an "I'm genuinely confused because I don't know many Republicans" way. All I'm getting is stuff from the news, so I don't know too many people at the individual level who share their conservative beliefs with me. So republicans like not having a big evil controlling government--but doesn't that set the path for big evil controlling companies to abuse lack of laws? If republicans are in support of small businesses, wouldn't more government regulation actually support that, rather than letting Walmart do whatever they want wherever they want? And how is it so evil to pay taxes for necessary services like education? I understand that maybe IRL not all the money goes in the right hands, but that doesn't mean propositions in support of education--with no real financial impact on an individual--should get vetoed. There seems to be this mentality of "individual responsibility"--but that overlooks how necessary it is to actually have a functioning government that provides security for its citizens. They don't want big evil governments, except to stop others from being entitled to the same individual freedoms everyone should have (marriage, some instances of immigration, a woman's right to her own body). How can lawmakers actually say mindblowingly stupid shit like, "a woman's body has defense mechanisms against rape", but people like that still have political power? If republicans are in support of small businesses, wouldn't more government regulation actually support that, rather than letting Walmart do whatever they want wherever they want? They don't want big governments, but big fat military spending is A-Ok. This last part must be a polarizing issue for republicans--I remember vaguely as a teen during the Bush admin, a lot of republicans were vocally in support of a "listening" government to prevent terrorism; but beefed national security doesn't necessarily go hand-in-hand with 'evil big brother is listening'--so where do a lot of republicans lie on that matter?

I guess what it boils down to is, republicans don't necessarily trust the government to do the right thing, and don't believe democratic policies that are generally good (more taxes for essential social services) will go to the right places?