I'm confused about the American Republican party

[Archon_Wing]

It's for this reason that conservative and Republican no longer equate since both sides want bigger government in different areas. Neo-con is a BS term; the true conservatives are Libertarians and I am afraid that label isn't gonna hold either.

The government has been expanding for a very long time, regardless of whoever's been in charge.

Someone who wants the smallest possible government is a minarchist. This is not, and never has been, synonymous with conservative or Republican. That's just a kind of marketing pitch from the Reagan years.

-Jester

Powerful marketing campaign that was. Perhaps Reagan being an actor had to do with it.