Some people see life in terms of "father knows best". They want a powerful male authority figure to lay down the law and run a tight ship. It is those people who instinctively support Big Government every time.

Other people do not see life in those terms. They are suspicious of powerful male authority figures. It is those people who question Big Government and don't trust it.

The Republicans have traditionally tended to appeal to the former group, and the Democrats to the latter, but it's a very subliminal kind of thing.

And it's amusing, in a sad sort of way, because BOTH the Republicans AND the Democrats, once they are in office become...Big Government!

And they are equally untrustworthy.