What's the difference between a Republican and a Democrat?

[mrbitterness]

I mean, in what way are they different? A totally different set of ideas? I'm sorry, but I don't live in the US. Will someone please enlighten me? Thanks.

 

[Avatar4321]

the main is big vs small government.

 

[acludem]

Actually, the main difference is what part of the government do you want large? Of course, both parties have factions. The Republicans have a strong religious conservative base that wants to expand the government to promote religion and to promote their personal moral agendas. That's bigger government. Some other Republicans (a minority, I think) are primarily interested in business and economic issues.

Within the Democratic Party, you have a spectrum ranging from near-socialists who support federalizing the health care system, etc. Then you have what I call the main middle. These people are center-left (this is where I fit in). Not socialist, but supportive of social programs that help to give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed. Then you have the more conservative democrats (these tend to be more common in the south).

There are some major differences between the parties. First, a strong majority of Republicans are anti-abortion, while a strong majority of Democrats are pro-choice. Also, most Democrats support public education and oppose vouchers. Republicans tend to be more skeptical of public education and support vouchers. There are other issues like this as well.

Hope this helps!

BTW, where are you from?

 

[007]

Originally posted by mrbitterness
I mean, in what way are they different? A totally different set of ideas? I'm sorry, but I don't live in the US. Will someone please enlighten me? Thanks.

Why don't you enlighten us as to where you are first?

So we know you're not just another polester driven lib out fishing for ideas.

 

[fuzzykitten99]

Originally posted by acludem
The Republicans have a strong religious conservative base that wants to expand the government to promote religion and to promote their personal moral agendas. That's bigger government. Some other Republicans (a minority, I think) are primarily interested in business and economic issues.

Ok, this is a biased OPINION, not a fact. Facts can be PROVEN. You think that you would have learned the difference between FACT and OPINION in school. Where are the conservatives promoting religion? I am conservative, and I do not promote religion. Even so, if it WERE being promoted, and you didn't want to join up, then don't. Get over yourself and move on. NO ONE is FORCING you to think a different way. It's the Liberals/DemocRATS that do that. This is called Diversity Training. They try to force you to think the same way they do, and if you don't, you are racist. I can think any way I want. There is nothing you can do about it.

MOST Republicans ARE interested in business and economic issues, because it is more important than what a group of gay people want. We have more to do in life than accuse someone of being racist to get our way. Race isn't an issue with us, because we don't make it one. People are judged upon their character, and we typically don't worry about what another guy is doing unless it is committing a crime.

DemocRATS make race an issue, because they tell minorities that they cannot succeed in life without government help. This is called Affirmative Action.

Liberals/DemocRATS claim to want to help the poor. They do this by HANDING them money that they did not earn, and tell them that they are entitled to it, because there are too many rich people in the country and it is their JOB to pay for everyone else in life.

Liberals/DemocRATS are for the murder of innocent babies, by claiming it is the woman's body, it's HER choice, even though if the pregnancy was created through consensual sex, the woman or man CHOSE not to use birth control. In the past, the taking of an innocent, defenseless life that has committed no crime was called murder. Now it's called abortion.

You say that conservatives try to push their morals on others. Well, isn't that what you do when you hold pro-choice/anti-life marches? Isn't that what you do when you FORCE companies to hold diversity training? It's as if you are SO terrified that people have negative thoughts about another person of another race.

Liberals/DemocRATS also think that any murder or other heinous crime committed BY a white person, on another person of a different race, it is a hate crime. But if a person of a minority commits murder on a white person, it is just a tragic homicide. Same if a minority acts on another minority. They basically say that white people are the only ones that can commit hate crimes. to a conservative, a crime is a crime, and punishment should stand, no matter what the motive was. Who cares WHY this person committed the crime? The fact that it occurred is more important.

Liberals like to give a slap on the wrist, and some counseling to murderers and rapists who repeat the crimes, like Alfonso Rodriguez. He kidnapped a college student from a mall parking lot, raped her, then killed her. He raped other women, yet all he got was a few years in jail, and counseling, only to be released, and he kidnapped Dru Sjodin.

At least people with morals such as Conservatives are least likely to do these types of things.

 

[Bullypulpit]

Originally posted by mrbitterness
I mean, in what way are they different? A totally different set of ideas? I'm sorry, but I don't live in the US. Will someone please enlighten me? Thanks.

Republicans suck...Democrats blow.

 

[nycflasher]

Originally posted by Bullypulpit
Republicans suck...Democrats blow.

:teeth:

 

[5stringJeff]

Originally posted by acludem
Actually, the main difference is what part of the government do you want large? Of course, both parties have factions. The Republicans have a strong religious conservative base that wants to expand the government to promote religion and to promote their personal moral agendas. That's bigger government. Some other Republicans (a minority, I think) are primarily interested in business and economic issues.

Actually, it's the opposite. The majority of Republicans are more concerned with business/economic issues, mostly getting rid of regulations that they (we) feel unduly restrict a company's ability to do business. Some of these restrictions are labor related, some are environmental issues, etc.

While the social conservative (or Christian Conservative) movement is vocal, it is not as big a part of the GOP base as it was in the 90's. And even these people don't want a Christian theocracy in America. They simply feel that our laws should reflect the sanctity of life that is held dear by them - and towards that end, they are pro-life, anti-cloning, anti-euthanasia, anti-gay marriage, etc. I would hardly call that bigger government - it's not like there's going to be a Deptartment of Moral Standards with thousands of federal employees doling out money.

Lastly, the GOP stands for a strong defense, so naturally the GOP tends to vote for larger military spending, as we feel that national defense is the primary function of the federal government. Some, but not all Republicans (known as neo-conservatives) want to aggressively pursue foreign policy goals through the use of military force; however, in my dealings with Republicans, that is a minority view in the party. While most Republicans support the GWOT, we are not up for invading countries without just cause.

 

[acludem]

Fuzzy: You lecture me about "facts" and then go on a huge diatribe about how Democrats support "murdering babies"? Here's a fact, I at least attempted to be unbiased (I admit, my views of the GOP are a bit biased by the fact I'm a Democrat), you however did nothing but throw out a bunch of inflammatory rhetoric, most of which doesn't even approach the truth. Where in my original post did I even mention race? Fact is, I'm right. Both parties want a bigger government. Most Republicans will admit they want a much bigger defense department. Some in the party, like John Poindexter want to create a big-brother style government whereby every move you make will be monitored.

acludem

 

[Palestinian Jew]

mr.bitterness, I know their wit at coming up with something so clever might trick you, but ignore every post that calls democrats demoRATS.

 

[dilloduck]

Something a universty gov prof of mine said is beginning to haunt me and it goes something like this---- The way a democracy maintains and sustains power is to promote minority rights. Since there are so many minorities one can place himself in, we all can identify with one somewhere. Minority groups are ultimately checked be the fact that the larger the minority group becomes the more likely it is to split due to argument among themselves about other minority issues.

Basically no one gets ultimate control. I just wonder if 2 groups have made so many minority allies at this point in time that the fissure is particularly large. I now define the two groups as the one who faces reality and one that prefers fantasy. I can see why both sides hate each other for pushing ideologies.

I personally fantasize that someday the news organizations will report everything completely and fairly but understand that the big money people will not allow this to happen and will not allow thier political servants from swaying from the main objective which is to gain more power by gaining more money.

They let the people with more "lofty" ideals argue amongst themselves about who is holier than thou and laugh from thier place of material security.

thats a tough question to ask members of both parties

most impotantly one side ALWAYS thinks that they are better than the other but its fun and I'm glad we have the freedom to do it

 

[Avatar4321]

Originally posted by acludem
Fuzzy: You lecture me about "facts" and then go on a huge diatribe about how Democrats support "murdering babies"? Here's a fact, I at least attempted to be unbiased (I admit, my views of the GOP are a bit biased by the fact I'm a Democrat), you however did nothing but throw out a bunch of inflammatory rhetoric, most of which doesn't even approach the truth. Where in my original post did I even mention race? Fact is, I'm right. Both parties want a bigger government. Most Republicans will admit they want a much bigger defense department. Some in the party, like John Poindexter want to create a big-brother style government whereby every move you make will be monitored.

acludem

First, Democrats do support murdering babies. You may be outraged and Republicans pointing that out but its a fact nonetheless. anyone who is pro life in the Democrat party will be ostrisized. So much the party of tolerance huh? So unless the Democrat party in the past week has become pro life i cant see how you can deny that charge.

Yeah Republicans support defense. That doesnt mean we support big government. Defense is the main responsibility of the government. Contrary to your assertion growing defense doesnt create big government.

Big government is a phrased used to describe the out of control growth of the social programs which are created simply to make people dependent so politicians can get reelected. We are against that.

 

[Merlin1047]

Originally posted by Bullypulpit
Republicans suck...Democrats blow.

I thought that was "Democrats INHALE".
:funnyface

 

[mattskramer]

Where are the conservatives promoting religion?"

Two words for you: CHRISTIAN COALITION . My number 1 disliked pseudo political religious organization in America.

 

[5stringJeff]

Originally posted by mattskramer
Two words for you: CHRISTIAN COALITION . My number 1 disliked pseudo political religious organization in America.

The Christian Coalition's influence on the GOP has seriously waned since 1996. But I am not a big fan of them in the first place either.

 

[007]

Originally posted by mattskramer
Two words for you: CHRISTIAN COALITION . My number 1 disliked pseudo political religious organization in America.

So what is it you "hate"? Christians as people, or the power the wield as a group?

 

[DKSuddeth]

I didn't see the word 'hate' in his post.

 

[nycflasher]

Right, I think he said he dislikes the Christian Coalition. And from that one extrapolates: he hates Christians?

Do you share a brain with RWA?:

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Originally posted by nycflasher


Do you share a brain with RWA?:

Please cease and desist with these libelous, actionable, and wholly tortous libels against me and my intellectual property, up to and more inclusive than, but definitely including my thoughts and writing on this board and elsewhere in cyberspace, and the persona I embody and/or are just merely projecting. Thank you. RWA Holdings Management, LLC


Good Day, Sir!

 

[mattskramer]

Originally posted by Pale Rider
So what is it you "hate"? Christians as people, or the power the wield as a group?

I don't hate Christians. Nor do I hate the power the they yield as a group. I strongly disagree with their position on political issues.