Reading the title had me wondering how people can confuse the two. It boils down to a "me first" or "you first" approach, I guess. I think that's the two main political movements in the US: Democrats = Fear. Republicans = Love. Except, most people would think its the other way around. The democrats started out more libertarian, but have moved right across. They say one thing and do another. The Republicans are traditionally more strict and less libertarian, but with the Democrats being even worse, it's pushed them more to the libertarian side, plus they say what they mean and mean what they say, honest and straight.