I suspect (a) conservative-leaning people tend to marry and stay married in part because they’re supposed to, and (b) liberal women demand more sexual and professional freedom, and have higher standards for a spouse. That would lead to Republicans marrying sooner, having more kids, and being less likely to divorce.
A lot of this likely has a religious component: almost all Republicans are Christians. (The GOP is mindbogglingly monolithic - in a nation of all colors and religions, almost all Republicans are Christians and almost all are white. 75% are both.)
The Republicans-being-generous thing is a nice talking point, but it’s only true in a narrow sense.
Yes, Republicans give more to charity - thereby directing their giving only to causes they approve of. Democrats are more likely to favor higher tax rates so as to help everyone. (You can argue whether that’s a good way to do it, but it's the intent that matters in this context.) The liberal mind wants a rising tide to lift all boats. Conservative generosity appears to be concerned with who and what they consider to be worthy.
Both of these are legit ways to think, mind you. But it puts a caveat on the talking point - Republicans are generous to their friends and penurious to the rest.
In fact, it goes to what I see as selfishness as a defining aspect of conservatism. For instance, the college tuition example is interesting. Given the high cost of an education, especially at the best schools, the Democratic ideal would be to make education affordable. Then anyone could go to the school of their choice, regardless of income. In the Republican model, the top schools are reserved for the wealthy, the middle has to “work their asses off,” and the poorest are shut out entirely.
Money and status are life’s report card: those with it and their children deserve more, those without it and their children are punished.
Overall, I’m always taken aback by how the conservative mindset is very charitable and forgiving to those they accept but disinterested, even hostile, toward the rest.
And that leads to my thoughts at the end of another Pride Month. Democrats are frustrating and a pain in the ass. Liberalism means caring about everyone all the time, regardless of whether you want to, and that’s exhausting. It would be nice to just become a grumpy old Republican and only care about me and my concerns. I can’t, since I’m constantly reminded of what to me is the corrosive bigotry of the GOP. It’s such that I couldn’t join that party and still look at my face in the mirror. We all have our dealbreakers. I'm a "straight white guy" but feel obligated to be concerned about people who aren't those things. Politically, that only gives me one option.
