It seems to me that the crux of the difference between contemporary Democratic and Republican philosophies regarding regulation can be described as follows: Republicans fret over sacrifices in optimal efficiency; Democratics work to avoid catastrophe.  The reason, then, that I can defend my choice of the Democratic party (in addition to being a radical egalitarian on social issues) is that catastrophe precludes the ability to adjust to conditions without widespread human suffering.  The sacrifice of optimal efficiency, on the other hand, goes virtually unnoticed in people's daily lives, except in the imaginations of megalomaniacal mediocraties and swindlers who believe that the only barrier to thier ascendence into the ranks of heroes is some pain-in-the-ass trying to keep them from poisoning their neighbors' water and food supply.