Hail Reagan! Hail Truman!...

Outstanding writing. Before I read "Hail Reagan! Hail Truman!... I wrote my comment to your comment on my blog.(If that makes any sense)
Patrick, I agree with the persuasive arguments that you have made between liberalism and conservatism. Both sides need each other to form a more perfect union. However, we are in the battle over principles that form the basis of this democracy. When one side clearly ignores the constitution and leads us in a direction that will create a federal bureaucracy that will dictate all aspects of our lives, I can understand the "stubborness", as you put it, of some on the right. That is why I put President Kennedy's Inaugural address on my post. The Democrats in 1960's as represented by President Kennedy (President Reagan was a democrat, as you know) do not resemble the democrats today, and it is beyond troubling.
You are an outstanding writer. I will look forward to more posts in the future.

And I do see why intransigence, or stubborn entrenchment can and does occur by either the right or left at any given era, or period of time, during a free democracy in active progress. It is to counter the superfluity of the opposing ideology as it makes unhealthy inroads into established legislation. And that is good! Reagan is a good example of someone who moved to the right because of what he perceived as a dangerous shift -politically and culturally- to the left. Many of the "Old School" democrats of JFK's time have also moved over to the right. And some went to the far left. Your point is clear and well taken. It is a totally different democratic party now, and it is understandable why there is a measure of digging in on the conservative side. It is the unhealthy consequence of liberal extremes infected with special interests that is causing this conservative reaction. So, I really was not referring to conservatives as being extreme in their effort to counter the activism of special interests on the left, as much as I was trying to point out the dangers of extremes - left or right- which are harmful to everyone.

There really isn't any easy solution. We will just all have to pray for wisdom and help, and do the best we can as a Higher Power corrects, purges, and adjusts, this "One Nation Under God" in his own way.