What is the difference between Republican and Democrat ideologies in th US?

The general difference between these two parties is that
the Republican Party is a conservative party and the Democratic Party is a liberal
party.  Of course, there are variations within each party, but this is an accurate
generalization.

Republicans generally believe in having the
government stay out of the economic sphere.  They believe that economies function best
when markets are left to function on their own.  On the other hand, they believe in
greater government intervention in people's personal lives.  They are in favor of things
like government efforts to promote abstinence or to encourage
religion.

Democrats are generally the opposite of this. 
They tend to believe in leaving people alone in their personal lives, but they believe
in government regulation of the economy.