Social/Cultural Conservatives

The Republican Party appears to be heading towards some internal power struggles, as discussed in these two pieces. Reading them reminded me how very much I hate the labels "social conservatism" and "cultural conservatism." There are liberals/progressives who think that cultural conservatism has something to do with flower arranging and museum visit. Oh, and gay marriages. Oh, and abortion. But can we please stay serious and discuss the real issues which are of interest to all lefties.

Likewise, social conservatism sounds as if it's about just keeping things the same, whereas in actual fact it is about changing things (such as Roe v. Wade) and it is also very much about, say, the subordination of women within families and in the wider society. That some people find all this a special interest topic is of special interest in itself.