REPUBLICANS Vs. DEMOCRATS....is this true?

[Grimstoned]

Democrats - a short summary
Democrats generally support government policies that benefit working class families, seek more corporate regulation, and less government influence over the individual. Democrats favor a government that supports lower and middle-income families and workers through higher taxes for corporations and the wealthy. They strongly support government entitlement programs such as social security and healthcare. In social matters, Democrats emphasize personal choice, privacy, and liberty. They believe that it is the responsibility of the family to promote morals and values in society and not the government's responsibility (this is usually labeled as socially liberal).

Republicans - a short summary
Republicans generally support government policies that benefit large corporations, seek less corporate regulation, and more government influence over the individual. Republicans favor a government that supports corporate America and the wealthy by reducing taxes and regulations on corporations. Republicans believe that reducing corporate taxes and regulations will translate into lower unemployment rates. They would prefer to out-source government entitlement programs such as social security and healthcare to the private sector. In social matters, Republicans believe that the government should make certain moral decisions for us and sometimes see privacy and liberty as a risk to security. They believe that the government should be actively involved with promoting morals and values in society (this is usually labeled as socially conservative).

If you disagree how so?

[Martin N]

Sigh...There both the same behind closed doors, its a two-party dictatorship, it is just like WWF wrestling, onscreen there enemies, and fight each other, and hate each other, and compete for titles, but offscreen there best buddies and really just cooperate.

[Legionem Insanis]

Sigh...There both the same behind closed doors, its a two-party dictatorship, it is just like WWF wrestling, onscreen there enemies, and fight each other, and hate each other, and compete for titles, but offscreen there best buddies and really just cooperate.

And its certainly gotten more like the WWF in the US media these days. Civil debates with a variety of points of view? Not good enough for ratings apparently. So the networks give us trash talking pundits made from cookie cutter Left and Right molds and expect us to believe this circus is "fair and balanced" coverage.

Behind the whole "Left vs. Right" facade these parties are ultimately beholden to lobbyists and special interests. Even if that means the USA becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the People's Republic of China.

[Thanatos]

Behind the whole "Left vs. Right" facade these parties are ultimately beholden to lobbyists and special interests. Even if that means the USA becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the People's Republic of China.

... which we practically are, for all intents and purposes.

[Chaigidel]

that is what the loser always puts forward as an idea, the republicans and libertarian ideals are pretty much entirely responsible for this economic crisis.

[Nietzsche]

that is what the loser always puts forward as an idea, the republicans and libertarian ideals are pretty much entirely responsible for this economic crisis.

I'm now convinced you don't know what you are talking about. You have routinely advocated expansive federal power. That you would even have the audacity to blame it on libertarian ideology, which has been completely ignored in this country for over 20 years, displays your deep and profound ignorance in politics and economics. You are the type of person the powercrats count on when they have an agenda that is at odds with liberty.

OP: Your definitions are correct for both. You can exchange the word republican and democrat and they would still be true. In other words, there is no difference any more. Only vehement radicals like Chai seem to hold fast to the illusion that there is one. Anyone who believes there is a real fundamental philosophical difference between the two parties is delusional.

[Martin N]

Yeah...Sure chai, the roots of the problem, same as the roots of the great depression, go back to the federal reserve, you cannot point one finger at the other political group and blame one crisis thats been in the making for decades at them, you just cant, when you have mounting debt, and mounting inflation, you get alot of ****, period.

And when you add to the fact that your increasing taxes AND the size of the government at the time when your getting all that **** ? well then your in for an extremeley rough ride, now thats a fact.

We should of let the system die and rebuild, instead of making us poor in the meantime while delaying the inevitable.

[GeneralChaos]

I prefer Bill's take on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bcs0eH5PLs

Both violate even those general ideas. Republicans tend to go against government intervention in business or gun ownership, then demand it on abortion and gay rights. Democrats tend toward poorly designed social programs, with an accompanying increase in taxation.

Lately, I've been thinking the greatest difference is "Are you your brother's keeper?" Democrats try to help, but bog themselves in legislation, Republicans want people to stand of fall on their own. This is opinion, of course, and I'm fairly liberal so take it as you will.

[Robertclive]

I'm a liberal which is funny cause I live in Tennessee

[The Good]

I'm a liberal which is funny cause I live in Tennessee

I'm a Californian conservative... not that there are too many of them, or at least not in the state offices.

[Quadratus]

I'm a Californian conservative... not that there are too many of them, or at least not in the state offices.

I'm from California and am a Conservative.


Too bad California is hard core liberal, just look at Hollywood.

[Martin N]

I'm from California and am a NEOConservative.


Too bad California is hard core liberal, just look at Hollywood.

We had enough of bush masquerading as a conservative.

[Quadratus]

We had enough of bush masquerading as a conservative.

Please, don't get me started...

[Admiral Piett]

Democrats - a short summary
Democrats generally support government policies that benefit working class families, seek more corporate regulation, and less government influence over the individual. Democrats favor a government that supports lower and middle-income families and workers through higher taxes for corporations and the wealthy. They strongly support government entitlement programs such as social security and healthcare. In social matters, Democrats emphasize personal choice, privacy, and liberty. They believe that it is the responsibility of the family to promote morals and values in society and not the government's responsibility (this is usually labeled as socially liberal).

Republicans - a short summary
Republicans generally support government policies that benefit large corporations, seek less corporate regulation, and more government influence over the individual. Republicans favor a government that supports corporate America and the wealthy by reducing taxes and regulations on corporations. Republicans believe that reducing corporate taxes and regulations will translate into lower unemployment rates. They would prefer to out-source government entitlement programs such as social security and healthcare to the private sector. In social matters, Republicans believe that the government should make certain moral decisions for us and sometimes see privacy and liberty as a risk to security. They believe that the government should be actively involved with promoting morals and values in society (this is usually labeled as socially conservative).

If you disagree how so?

I laugh at this short summary, tbh.

Democrats in no way generally support more personal liberty, not any more so than Republicans. If Democrats really cared about personal liberties, things like homosexual rights and the Patriot Act wouldn't be an issue. They would've been taken care of under Carter or Clinton. Democrats continuously support bills that limit the personal freedoms of people for the sake of some benefit. Both parties believe in a certain morality and both parties are lobbied by competing special interest groups to pass certain agendas. In the same way Republicans tend to force anti-abortion into policy and anti-homosexuality, Democrats tend to force pro-abortion and force homosexuality into daily life. Whether or not you support either, the key word in this is the use of "force".

Also Democrats have always favored tax increases across the board to support the expansion of social programs to help out the poor. The middle-class does not receive much help from the government at all, thus the middle-class are taxed for benefits they do not receive. The pension is disappearing and social security is all but gone. Also the tax benefits always favor certain professions while discriminating others, it just depends on which ideology the author of the bill follows.

What you don't say in the summary is that Democrats favor more centralized control over the economy where Republicans favor a more de-centralized role, but working hand and hand with business. So the Republicans really don't support a laissez-faire economic policy.

Republicans and Democrats are both in favor of increasing the government at the expense of the individual. They both will sacrifice personal liberty for the sake of safety. They both believe that the government has solutions to all problems.

[Quadratus]

Democrats - a short summary
Democrats generally support government policies that benefit working class families, seek more corporate regulation, and less government influence over the individual. Democrats favor a government that supports lower and middle-income families and workers through higher taxes for corporations and the wealthy. They strongly support government entitlement programs such as social security and healthcare. In social matters, Democrats emphasize personal choice, privacy, and liberty. They believe that it is the responsibility of the family to promote morals and values in society and not the government's responsibility (this is usually labeled as socially liberal).

Republicans - a short summary
Republicans generally support government policies that benefit large corporations, seek less corporate regulation, and more government influence over the individual. Republicans favor a government that supports corporate America and the wealthy by reducing taxes and regulations on corporations. Republicans believe that reducing corporate taxes and regulations will translate into lower unemployment rates. They would prefer to out-source government entitlement programs such as social security and healthcare to the private sector. In social matters, Republicans believe that the government should make certain moral decisions for us and sometimes see privacy and liberty as a risk to security. They believe that the government should be actively involved with promoting morals and values in society (this is usually labeled as socially conservative).

If you disagree how so?

Bias much?

[BNS]

Republicans and Democrats are both in favor of increasing the government at the expense of the individual. They both will sacrifice personal liberty for the sake of safety. They both believe that the government has solutions to all problems.

QFT.

[Da Skinna]

As a rule, politicians deviate from the "why" of government when they realize there's so much more to be gained from playing politics with money that ain't theirs.

[Barry Goldwater]

Meh, to me they're two sides of the same coin...a rusty coin I'd like to melt!

[Martin N]

Look there is a world of difference between a conservative, and a neoconservative, you even have neoconservative in your political profile. And yes bush did pose as a conservative, he got elected on conservative values, and turned out be a shill and a warmongerer.

[Captain Blackadder]

Here is a bit more of an accurate quote about them from nearly a century ago

“What is a democrat? One who believes that the republicans have ruined the country. What is a republican? One who believes that the democrats would ruin the country.”