I think you guys are failing to mention a big issue here in the united states has been the shifting demographic, particularly the increase in Hispanic voters. The recent shift towards dems has more to do with that than a dramatic cultural shift among whites. On average, white voters are still more right of center, and had the racial demographic remained the same as it was say 50 years ago, repubs would still be largely in power. The big issue has been the increasing minority populations voting for dems for totally different reasons than the white libs. There has not been some "cultural enlightenment" as white libs are claiming. Minorities vote for dems because they want free shit; it has nothing to do with abortion, global warming, evolution, gay rights, and all the other issues important to white, urban dems. Hell, the minorities voting for obama are certainly more anti-gay, scientifically illiterate, and at least claim to be more religious than the repub-voting whites.