Everyone in America can identify as being part of one of two groups. These two groups are at the heart of our nation and impact all of our lives. On November 6, 2012, voters from these two groups went to the poles and made their decisions. After all the votes were counted, one thing became abundantly clear: our nation was divided. Barak Obama was re-elected by a slim margin, in an almost perfect 50/50 split. The division of our country's political views has been caused by the polarization of political views of liberals and conservatives. Conservatives and liberals have different beliefs on almost everything. At the most fundamental level, liberals are seen as open to change, while conservatives hold traditional views and prefer the status quo. These differences in core beliefs have a huge effect on their ideas about the role of government. Liberals believe that government should provide for and help people. By providing for the needs of the people, they believe it will create a level of equality between all classes. Liberals also believe that it is the government's job to get involved in the country's social problems and guide change. For liberals, this all culminates in the belief in larger, more involved government. Conservatives, on the other hand, believe in a government that focuses on individual responsibility and the freedom of citizens. In doing so, they believe that people will work to improve themselves and provide for themselves. Conservatives also believe in a whitewashed government that only provides basic functions to the people. For conservatives, this all amounts to the principle of smaller, less involved government. The basic big versus small government mentality is evident in many of the differing opinions between liberals and conservatives. They again follow traditional and religious beliefs that an unborn child is alive and has its own rights as a human being. Again, it comes down to their core beliefs. The only difference is that social values ​​can be based on religious and moral foundations rather than pure political ideals like the size and function of government or the economy. Although there are endless examples that can be used to show the fundamental differences between liberals and conservatives. they can all be summarized quite simply. Liberals prefer a larger, more involved government based on equality and change, while conservatives prefer a smaller, less involved government based on individual responsibility and personal freedom. These differences in our country's political views have caused government polarization and divided the nation..