Having availed myself of news/opinion sources like National Review, The Weekly Standard, Dennis, Michael, Hugh, Rush, and others, I have come to the conclusion that the essential difference between the right, or conservatives, and the left, or liberals, or progressives, is valuing freedom vs. equality (Dennis has posited this within the context of other topics on a number of occasions; others may have as well). This needs to be the calling card of conservatives, and we need to get the message out (more) that the left is willing to sacrifice freedom for the cause of forced equality in every arena. Speech codes, progressive tax rates, unions,  the welfare state, feminism, the gay agenda, sympathy for criminals and terrorists, abortion, anti-faith campaigns, and essentially every issue are vehicles the left uses to force equality economically, socially, "spiritually," gendrically, sexually, and so on. Leftists will frame the issue and put us on the defensive by suggesting they seek equality of opportunity or of the "playing field." What they really want, of course, is equality of outcome. Freedom and equality are like oil and water, they cannot both exist within the same political/economic system. In a free society people will achieve at different levels and make different decisions. This affects not only each's own situation, but that of their offspring as well ("Progressives" love the estate tax precisely because it effects this inequality of opportunity). Leftists wish to erode the influence of Judeo-Christian faith in society because God makes clear distinctions and administers clear consequences for those whose actions are not in line with his will (he may send you to hell; he helps those who help themselves, etc.). God is not a big fan of equality. Unions ensure that that all are workers are compensated equally, regardless of productivity. The gay agenda is, of course, about making gay relationships the equals of marriages. The abortion agenda is about equalizing us economically by removing the burden of child rearing from the poor, and equalizing male and female by removing the obligation of motherhood from females. Make no mistake about it: the left wishes to "equalize" us (while they, the ruling elite, remain above, of course). We as conservatives must be willing to say that outside of equal treatment under the law, equality is overrated as a value. After all, with freedom comes diversity of achievement and contribution, and isn't diversity important? Freedom beats equality -- every time.