Nice to have a reasoned response, although I suspect any argument with a conservative entrenches them further, facts be damned (or altered, or carefully selected). I highly recommend the link to the "damning study"--Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition (thanks Mr. Saletan). Interesting stuff, and helps me to explain and have more empathy for the more conservative members of my extended family and coworkers. Were our country to swing further towards an authoritarian regime, there will always be a segment of the society who will be comfortable with the structure and social conformity.