Republican versus Democrat - Boil it Down, Please.

Before I ask my question, let me just say that I’m asking what I’m asking because I’m admittedly ignorant of many things political. I think I can hold my own (somewhat) in a political discussion, but there are quite a few posters here who are so well-versed in politics, that I rarely put my two cents in for fear of appearing, well, ignorant!! Political discussions are just not subjects I tend to gravitate towards, so it’s more of a I-don’t-bother rather than a I-don’t-understand attitude.

I do NOT want this thread to become a bashing thread. This is merely an information-gathering thread. I could spend hours looking up websites on the internet, or I could save time and put it here, and hope that some of the posters whose opinion I respect will weigh in. I know when people are passionate about something, remaining unbiased is hard, but if you post, try to be as factual as possible. Or, if giving your own opinion, state that it’s an opinion.

I’ve seen a lot of Republican bashing on here of late, and some of it for good reason. But I’m frustrated to see all the hating too. I am a registered Republican, and I am so because I went with what I knew. Having grown up with a conservative, religious background, it was a no-brainer that I would follow the herd and register that way. However, in recent years, I’ve begun to pay more attention to the issues and I now consider myself leaning more middle-of-the-road rather than strict conservative. There are two issues that I’m pretty firm on and will not likely change how I believe about those subjects. BUT, I have learned to be open-minded enough to hear and consider the other side, and I understand why others believe differently.

I have to admit that I am not really sure of the true agenda of either political party. Is there a way to simplify things and list the basic tenets of each party? What is the overall goal of the party? In an ideal world, how would life be for the average Joe if each party could operate without restriction? If you were to persuade me to stay with my own party affiliation or switch, what would you say to persuade me? If there is a Politics for Dummies link, by all means share. Thanks in advance to anyone who posts sincerely.

 

Hmmm will have to think on it a bit.

But your comment on going with what you know. My parents were both die hard dems and I do think the way you are raised forms your values and political beliefs, therefore.

 

Here you go...hope this helps!

http://www.gop.com/2012-republican-platform_home/

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

 

Quiz that clarifies one parties beliefs from the other and where you fit....as much as it can because the parties sometimes go to the middle or change and you may not.

Political typology quiz:

http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/

And me from the quiz ........but I knew I was quite liberal without a quiz.

 

Simply put the Republican party is divisive and doesnt seem to have the best interest of the entire country at heart. Dont take my word for it just watch the RNC. Theyre just a hateful bunch of people who refuse to see facts

 

So whose interests does the Republican party have at heart?

 

These quiz questions are seriously leading. I literally laughed reading them. Here are a few they left out.

1. Do you believe in pro choice? Or do you believe women should be raped daily?

2. Do you think the economy could be better? Or do you wake up and say "screw those poor people...I'm rich"?

3. Do you believe we should protect the environment? Or do you believe trees are only good for one thing- making money for millionaires?

Results: Democrat

 

I think Republicans and Democrats both have the country's interest at heart, they just view things differently in terms of the government's role. I think in general Republicans typically look at things through a fiscal lens and Democrats look through a social lens.

 

For the most part big business. Their entire mantra is let the free markets decide and just have no regulations and businessed shouldnt pay any taxes so that corps can hire more people. They leave out that the people being hired are in China and India.

 

That was true maybe 40 years ago lol.

 

I don't think so. I think election campaigns have changed in the last 40 years and its forced candidates to make the other look like the scum of the earth in attack ads. But I think Romney and Obama are both good guys with two different views of how to run the country.

 

I apologize that you are embarrassed by your parties values as of late. I can only associate with the party that meets my values and ideas closely. I am not embarrassed. :smt102

 

I know I come off as fiercely democratic, and I was raised with a liberal parent.
For what it's worth tho, I don't have a gun toting, (I think) NRA card carrying father, and I love him to bits and pieces.

My only wish is that, no matter the party affiliation, republican, democratic, independent, Martians...

I wish both parties could come together to help America thrive. We are being left behind on so many levels that at this point it will be hard to catch up.
And honestly, when I see the sheer ignorance coming from the right, it's a total turn off. I would no more want these people in charge of a whole nation than I would want to put nails through my pinky toes. I don't know if they really are just that dumb, or if they use it to side track from the important issues.
But the smoke screen is effective. Everyone is caught up in these little manini issues while the larger ones get pushed aside.

Not that the left are complete genius.

I think if we could somehow change or limit this career politician stance, things would change. If you have a limited term then the things you work for will be beneficial to you and everyone else because when you leave office, you have to live in the real world like the rest of us. IMO, too many politicians (on both sides) work for short sighted goals that don't take the larger issues in.
In 40 years time..it will be our children and our grandchildren that will still be trying to straighten out whatever mess we leave behind now.
And religion needs to be taken completely out of politics and the way laws are written. Again, just my opinion, but it needs to work for everyone, which means it needs to be based on logic AND compromise.

But I'm just this little lowly citizen that has no faith in the way our government works, really.

There are very little facts in this post. But I've seen the facts debated a kazillion times and it never gets anywhere.

Bottom line:
Not everyone will get everything they want. But things should work in favor of every one getting at least some of the things they want. And it shouldn't be impossible for an everyday person to provide for the things they absolutely need.
So many people in our country are going without basic necessities that it's embarrassing.

Did you know that a family of baboons is called a congress?
Somehow, that explains a lot.
At least to me.

 

Why I certainly understand this problem in people I dare you to step outside the box and look at everything from another prospective. It is very important to remember this philosophy is the very reason racism is passed down from generation to generation. You should ALWAYS question everything. Why do YOU feel the way you do about something. Was it something you were taught. A child is not born to hate, be bigots, discriminate, etc... A child is taught that and most do things without even understanding why other than been convinced that it's just right b/c Mommy and Daddy and others they respect believe it.

You mentioned you have a religious background. So do I. Born raised and still practicing Pentecostal. One of the biggest issues with many people with religious backgrounds is they are steadfast on requiring all others to follow their religion. I'm not saying that is you but if it is I dare you to question yourself. Is it really ok to pass laws based on what YOU personally feel your God thinks is ok and doesn't? Uproot yourself and imagine yourself in another country that is controlled by a religion that is not your own. If your government was forcing you to do things you don't believe in are not allowing you to do things you do believe in when you are victimizing no one would you honestly accept that? Would honestly think that it was ok for them to demand you to practice their religious belief? Being privileged regardless if its' male privilege, white privilege, a religious privilege like Christian in America and Islam in the middle east, etc... tends to alter your ability to see the pain and harm done into others, it alters your ability to consider others when making decisions about others, it alters your ability to be compassionate about others outside of that privileged box. We so easily look at another country and call out the problems the privileged bestowing down to the unprivileged like womens rights for example but we reject that we are no different. We ARE no different. The best thing you can do for yourself is compare your stands with all other stand that DO disagree with and see they are no different.

I live in GA and I'm surrounded by white republican. They too tend to vote republican (the ones who aren't threatened by a biracial man being in office) b/c they are raised that way. But do they understand WHY they were raised that way. Probably not. Fact is Georgia was Democratic state and believed that way as long as they didn't support blacks. So our very recent white ancestors were no doubt most likely democratic. However they changed during the 1900's ESPECIALLY during Civil Rights. As soon as democratic started supporting the rights of black men, white Georgia men ran as fast as they could to the Rep. position. If that is not a clear distinct reason for changing parties I don't know what is. Now you have newer generations voting for rep. b/c their parents and grandparents taught them to do just as yours did. However while their convinced it has nothing to do with race for themselves it has EVERYTHING to do with race for their family (for the majority). If Rep. principles were so important to my peers families that they feel so strongly about continuing them today then why wasn't those Rep. principles so important prior to the civil right?

With all that said I'm happy to report my grandparents who were born in 40's (making them eligible to vote only in the 60's) were and still are Democrats. Having a biracial black man in office did not change my grandfathers stance on his choice of party. But sadly it did change the party of many others in my family including my mother. She voted for McCain 4 years ago and I have no doubt it was b/c she was scared of having Obama in office and it wasn't b/c of his politics. This year she said she isn't even voting.

 

It's not really a matter of political parties as much as the ideologies which are dominant in one wing or the other.

Liberal ideology vs. Conservative ideology (for the sake of simplicity's sake).

Granted, today's Democratic party are generally the Republicans of yesteryear, which were deemed conservative decades ago, but now pushed out as moderates, with a tad slant to practicality. The current Republican party could very well be considered the Draconian party with quasi-libertarian philosophies.

Though the platforms are clearer as to where the party takes on fiscal and social issues, they are not too different in other areas, namely foreign policy. However, I'd argue that one party would rather restore diplomatic relations as opposed to playing the strong arm and living in the dark ages.

 

Pretty good summation here Ches..

http://thesquabble.com/politics/democrats-vs-republicans/#.UEjcjFT-fV0

 

I don't shy away from being Republican. I laugh at how Democrats paint the picture of Republicans because they can't stand on their own policies and ideals. That "quiz" was literally laughable.

 

This is another left leaning article masquerading as a bi-partisan comparison. If you want their true detailed philosophies, she needs to read each of their party platforms that I listed before.

http://www.gop.com/2012-republican-platform_home/

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

 

Political Party Quiz

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2012/quiz/