Do Democrats and Republicans have strongly conflicting values and policies?

Social and Moral Policy:
Conflicting views:
Democrats more liberal on social and moral policy
Significant conflict over racial minority, gender and transgender rights, illegal drugs, immigration and police power (Culture Wars)
Republicans emphasises need to maintain strong authority via police power. Democrats promote rights and power of the individual to a greater extent
Similar Views:
Protection of certain rights viewed as fundamental- Civil Rights Act 1964- prevent racial discrimination
Legal equality on grounds of race, growing consensus support gay marriage
Overlap between centre ground Democrats and Republicans-pro-gun Democrats, pro-choice Republicans

National Economy:
Conflicting Views:
Republicans- restricted government in economy, need for individual freedom, and free market economy most efficient.
Democrats-greater federal expenditure and increased taxes on the wealthy- overcome socio-economic equality
Democrats more critical of free market economists than Republicans
Similarities:
Favour free market capitalist economies
Left wing critics see both as protectors of corporate interests
Democrat and Republicans in Congress have supported similar policies in times of crisis-e.g. global banking crisis in 2000 and COVID-19- think of PAC’s and Super-PAC’s

Social Welfare:
Conflicting Views:
Emphasise unfairness of socio-economic inequality, whereas Republicans focus on individual responsibility and self-reliance
Democrats have introduced many federal welfare programmes- healthcare reform and food stamps. Republicans typically opposed or attempted to reduced such initiatives.
Similar Views:
Both parties favour some form of welfare provision, especially in the form of welfare for the elderly
There is some overlap, with moderate Republicans seeking to protect Democrat welfare initiatives
In times of crisis, both parties support provision of welfare