I have spoken about the three challenges to living in a democratic republic: understanding government; debating taxes; and engaging in civil discourse. Paying attention to these challenges is important. Understanding them is even more so.In recent years, right-wing conservatives have given a very dramatic, anti-government twist to our country. It's more than just disagreeing with a policy or two. It has to do with believing most government is too big, or too invasive or too expensive and, in the end, irrelevant and unnecessary. I've heard both local and national commentators engage in blatant revisionism. They generate ideas that suggest our …