For me, I think the apt shock comparison would be if I were gay and a state was putting new sodomy laws on the the books. Of course government overreach is more eye opening when you realize you are the receiving end of it.

I think the criticism can be leveled at both parties for different issues. That said, I think it is defeatist to simply say all politicians are the same. Parties perform differently on different issues, and some politicians perform better across multiple issues.