That’s because “conservative” isn’t an ideology, and it never has been. Conservativism has two core beliefs: “conservatives” refers to a specific group of people defined by common traits, and those are the good people. Each tranche of conservatives defines their own identity, and then they define whatever they want as “conservative values.”

This German guy on the train probably is very conservative. He is not more progressive than an American conservative. He has simply defined his group of conservatives to include the people who benefit from universal healthcare. He sees the value to his own group, and so he supports it.

USA as a whole is much more conservative than most advanced democracy, thats why our govt is more right wing than most of EU, even if we have a DEM in power.
USA is more narcissistic than most advanced democracy, that’s why our government is more corrupt than most of the EU, even if we have a democrat in power. That’s why there’s no UBS or universal healthcare or human rights. Class warfare is over, and the uppermost class won. They rule and the lower classes accept it because we assume that people deserve their lot in life. Because of the narcissism.
they bought into the assumption that “it wont go too far, or dems will reverse it somehow”
Honestly, it all comes back to narcissism. American exceptionalism, manifest destiny, Free market capitalism, the root is always “I’m great so I deserve what I want.”