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“Keeping social issues out of the hands of the federal government government is NOT “the road to the guillotine.”

That's a strawman. That's not what I said. In fact, I said just the opposite. If the people refuse to enforce a strong moral code in society independent of government, then we compel the government to enforce its own version of morality. That's the environment that produces long lines of Christians, Jews, Muslims, the rich, radio talk show hosts, libertarians, etc. waiting for their turn with the headsman. The tyranny of the mob.

This is why we must remain engaged on enforcing a strong, common Judeo Cristian moral code in society - not government. That is the necessary, not optional, corollary of small government.

Let me try to guess the next straw man. I am not saying everyone needs to be a Christian. That's not what I just said. Religious tolerance, however, is a Christian concept and part of that moral code I'm talking about. Those who think atheism is a tolerant religion have never attempted to be a Christian or a Jew in a atheistic state. Even agnosticism often tends to be thinly veiled atheism and thus becomes hostile to other forms of religion. A tolerant secular government is not possible without this moral code I'm talking about.

The bottom line is that if we all can't converge on some basic civilized moral principles, regardless of our religion, then we're doomed to become subjects, not citizens. These include, but are not limited to:

1) Childbirth out of wedlock is bad and should be shunned (notice I didn't say outlawed),

2) Able bodied adults living off the fruits of other peoples labor is bad a should be shunned

3) Charity for those in need, however, is good and should be encouraged,

4) Marriage exists to serve the needs of children by assuring as many as possible have both a Mom and a Dad raising them. It does not exist to serve the selfish or sexual needs of the people getting married. Thus, the definition of marriage that best serves society is one man, one woman in a lifelong contract.

5) Honesty is good and liars should be shunned (notice I didn't say outlawed outside of perjury of course),

6) Adultery is bad and should be shunned (notice I didn't say outlawed)

7) selfishness and brazenly flaunting your wealth is bad and should be shunned (notice I didn't say outlawed)

We can and do haggle over that list all day long, but that's not my point. The point is if we don't make morality part of small government conservatism, then we're failing to learn from history.