Democratics vs Republicans vs Liberterians?

[Captain Jack]

This is a simple question. While surfing Wikipedia and studying radiation I came across the Arizona shooting and Gabrielle Giffords who was shot. I found out she represented the democrats. But there is one thing that I don't understand. What is the difference between the Democrats, Republicans and Liberterians? I mean democracy means that the people rule and a Republic is a form of government in which anyone can rule.

So, what is the difference between the Demos,Repubs and Liberterians?

[Enemy of the State]

Between the Republicans and Democrats? Nothing really. Both steal your money and poke their noses into your personal life. The Libertarian Party will never get to power so they don't really matter.

[Dr. Croccer]

Don't take them too literal. The former two names for parties, but the names are a bit misleading and vague, mostly because they come from the 18th and 19th centuries when many parties had rather vague or obvious names. The Democrats are the American Left, and are Progressivist Liberals, as opposed to the Republicans, who are more classically Liberal (Neoliberal or ''fiscally conservative'' in American politically terminology) when it comes to economics and often conservative socially. Libertarians advocate classical Liberalism and are generally socially liberal as well.

[Matthias]

They have no real definition and on many issues no clear stance (among Democrats and Republicans).

That's because since there are only two political parties basically, they are very big tent, meaning they have many different interests (some of them competing) that make up the coalition of Republicans and Democrats.

This is how the parties are broken up (generally of course)

Republicans - Corporations, social conservatives, older, more homogenous

Democrats - Corporations, unions, social liberals, younger, more diverse

It should be noted that corporations actually have a huge amount of influence in both parties. Corporations will often donate to both parties before the election, so that whoever wins, they have an "in" so to speak. Almost every politican that makes it into political office has accepted corporate money. Corporations also have much more power and money than unions. Unions in the US are not at all powerful, especially anymore, compared to Europe. The Healthcare debate was a perfect example of corporate power, as they spent billions of dollars to help "shape" the debate and put commercials on air in favor of their position. Europeans would probably see Democrats as just moderate conservatives, which is what many of them are. There are some "socialists" or "progressives" that could be said to be on the moderate left of the European spectrum, but they are the minority of the Democratic Party. The Republican Party has been going farther right lately, with the far right gaining more control of the party. Moderate Republicans generally are for some government regulation, whereas some of the new teapartiers are pretty extreme (some want to repeal the 14th Amendment or make it legal for private businesses to discriminate based on race again).

Also it should be noted that the Republicans are much farther to the right than most "moderate" rightist European parties. And Democrats in many cases are farther to the right than moderate rightist European parties. So the whole political slant is much more to the right than in Europe.

Libertarians are one of those third parties in a political system where it is practically impossible to have a successful third party. As far as I can tell, Libertarians are mainly made up of these groups:

Libertarians - Orginalists, State's rightists, Isolationists, Semi-anarchists etc. They really don't have corporate donors as they are not worth donating to as they don't have political power. But their platform would be seen as pro-corporate, at it is generally anti-regulation. Whatever their moral beliefs, they don't want government deciding morality (such as gay marriage). This doesn't make them personally socially liberal though, but they could be said to fit into that category. In my experience, many libertarians simply vote Republican or are Republican because there is no real Libertarian option, though some do vote Democrat, depending on their priorities.

So there is a very broad, general overview from my experience of some American political parites.

[razor-]

They have no real definition and on many issues no clear stance (among Democrats and Republicans).

That's because since there are only two political parties basically, they are very big tent, meaning they have many different interests (some of them competing) that make up the coalition of Republicans and Democrats.

This is how the parties are broken up (generally of course)

Republicans - Corporations, social conservatives, older, more homogenous

Democrats - Corporations, unions, social liberals, younger, more diverse

It should be noted that corporations actually have a huge amount of influence in both parties. Corporations will often donate to both parties before the election, so that whoever wins, they have an "in" so to speak. Almost every politican that makes it into political office has accepted corporate money. Corporations also have much more power and money than unions. Unions in the US are not at all powerful, especially anymore, compared to Europe. The Healthcare debate was a perfect example of corporate power, as they spent billions of dollars to help "shape" the debate and put commercials on air in favor of their position. Europeans would probably see Democrats as just moderate conservatives, which is what many of them are. There are some "socialists" or "progressives" that could be said to be on the moderate left of the European spectrum, but they are the minority of the Democratic Party. The Republican Party has been going farther right lately, with the far right gaining more control of the party. Moderate Republicans generally are for some government regulation, whereas some of the new teapartiers are pretty extreme (some want to repeal the 14th Amendment or make it legal for private businesses to discriminate based on race again).

Also it should be noted that the Republicans are much farther to the right than most "moderate" rightist European parties. And Democrats in many cases are farther to the right than moderate rightist European parties. So the whole political slant is much more to the right than in Europe.

Libertarians are one of those third parties in a political system where it is practically impossible to have a successful third party. As far as I can tell, Libertarians are mainly made up of these groups:

Libertarians - Orginalists, State's rightists, Isolationists, Semi-anarchists etc. They really don't have corporate donors as they are not worth donating to as they don't have political power. But their platform would be seen as pro-corporate, at it is generally anti-regulation. Whatever their moral beliefs, they don't want government deciding morality (such as gay marriage). This doesn't make them personally socially liberal though, but they could be said to fit into that category. In my experience, many libertarians simply vote Republican or are Republican because there is no real Libertarian option, though some do vote Democrat, depending on their priorities.

So there is a very broad, general overview from my experience of some American political parites.

Most Democrats would be classified as progressive liberals in European terminolgy, they are often at the political center. And I would not really say Republicans are that much more to the right than European conservative parties save for economic and moral questions. For on an issue like immigration and cultural assimilation Republicans are actually quite far left from a Danish perspective.

[city17citizen]

At least in US we have two meanings associated with word Democracy/Democratic and Republic/Republican.

First, republic is an idea or form of state based on constitution or constitutions, direct or indirect participation of citizens in choice of political representatives and so on. Democracy is a political doctrine often more or less implemented into idea of republic itself. This is general meaning and similar explanation you can find in every dictionary of political science.

Second, there are Republican and Democratic political parties, and these terms are reduced to particular political systems, like in US. Expect the fact, that these political parties function often within Republic(as general term), they have nothing to do with abstract idea of Republic or Democracy. For example, American Republic Party represent US version of Conservatism, while Democrats represent American Liberal principles. I'm not well informed about Libertarian political movement in US, since US political system is bilateral and Libertarian party is probably marginal or somewhat attached to Democratic Party. Libertarianism is definitely on far left.

Both categories of terms, as doctrines or political parties, may be understood differently in many countries though.

[MathiasOfAthens]

Libertarians are more conservative economically. They are only socially liberal but like Paul said Libertarians are extremely diverse with many different opinions.

[Viking Prince]

Also remember that there is not a single Democrat or Republican party. The individual state parties will mean that perhaps a typical Democrat in Aizona might be more conservative on some issues than a typical Republican from New Jersey. Regional issues can unite various groups as well as national issues. A good example of this would be the recent events and gun control legislation.

[Col. Tartleton]

The Democrats are moderates who have a tendency to cater to ethnic and cultural minority interests instead of American interests.
The Republicans are conservatives who have a tendency to cater to the economic upper class minority and "moral" majority instead of American interests.
The Libertarians are classical liberals who have a tendency to not get elected. However their platform is probably in the best interest of the American people.

Basically if you're Gay, Catholic, Hispanic, Black, Jewish, or "Poor" you're probably a Democrat.
If you aren't you're probably a Republican.
What's certain is you probably aren't a Libertarian...

[Viking Prince]

The Democrats are moderates who have a tendency to cater to ethnic and cultural minority interests instead of American interests.
The Republicans are conservatives who have a tendency to cater to the economic upper class minority and "moral" majority instead of American interests.
The Libertarians are classical liberals who have a tendency to not get elected. However their platform is probably in the best interest of the American people.

Basically if you're Gay, Catholic, Hispanic, Black, Jewish, or "Poor" you're probably a Democrat.
If you aren't you're probably a Republican.
What's certain is you probably aren't a Libertarian...

I suspect that you are speaking more from the left than the right with this comment. Why put people into such groups?

[Col. Tartleton]

I suspect that you are speaking more from the left than the right with this comment. Why put people into such groups?

Because that's how the politicians look at it. The fact of the matter is the Republicans don't dislike minorities but they aren't going to spend a lot of money trying to win them over. They for some reason have decided that it's a lost cause.

Basically I get the impression the Democrats actively court different segments of the population while the Republicans have a broader message. It's always struck me as racist at some level the way that people are divided into groups this way. Like when the news reports that say "93% of African Americans Support Barack Obama" (made up number) why is that relevant. That's intentionally capitalizing on the idea that blacks are something different. That's racism. I think it's fair to use geography. You could certainly say that "75% of Urban Americans support Barrack Obama" because that's not implying anything. I just don't like how they make an issue of things. It's distasteful. Don't bring Race, or Religion into politics. Things go terribly wrong when that happens.

[Matthias]

Because that's how the politicians look at it. The fact of the matter is the Republicans don't dislike minorities but they aren't going to spend a lot of money trying to win them over. They for some reason have decided that it's a lost cause.

Basically I get the impression the Democrats actively court different segments of the population while the Republicans have a broader message. It's always struck me as racist at some level the way that people are divided into groups this way. Like when the news reports that say "93% of African Americans Support Barack Obama" (made up number) why is that relevant. That's intentionally capitalizing on the idea that blacks are something different. That's racism. I think it's fair to use geography. You could certainly say that "75% of Urban Americans support Barrack Obama" because that's not implying anything. I just don't like how they make an issue of things. It's distasteful. Don't bring Race, or Religion into politics. Things go terribly wrong when that happens.

I think ignoring it and pretending that there isn't a religious/racial/class divide is wishful thinking and ultimately destructive. There is a reason there are such divides in this nation. Might as well admit it and try to understand the reasoning to better understand the nation. The unwillingness of many on the right to even acknowledge that the US isn't perfect, that it is still divided, that there still is quite a lot of injustice out there, is a big part of their problem with connecting with "minorities" or anyone really who isn't doing hunky dory and experiences the unfairness present in American life.

[Captain Jack]

The Democrats are moderates who have a tendency to cater to ethnic and cultural minority interests instead of American interests.
The Republicans are conservatives who have a tendency to cater to the economic upper class minority and "moral" majority instead of American interests.
The Libertarians are classical liberals who have a tendency to not get elected. However their platform is probably in the best interest of the American people.

Basically if you're Gay, Catholic, Hispanic, Black, Jewish, or "Poor" you're probably a Democrat.
If you aren't you're probably a Republican.
What's certain is you probably aren't a Libertarian...

Thanks, that was a simple answer! +Rep

[Border Patrol]

Thanks, that was a simple answer! +Rep

It was the simplest answer because it was wrong...

[Panzerbear]

Democrats - socially and economically liberal (i.e. increase role of govt to make things "fair").
Republicans - socially and economically conservative (i.e. decrease role of govt to make things "free", even though they abandoned their roots and do grow govt nevertheless).
Libertarians - economically conservative and socially liberal (small government as a necessery evil, more freedoms for everyone).

Democrat voting base - the poor, the blue collar, the minorities, the intellectual elite.
Republican voting base - the middle class, the religious right, the business elite.
Libertarian voting base - almost uniformly white, educated and very self-sufficient.

[chilon]

Democrat voting base - the poor, the blue collar, the minorities, the intellectual elite.
Republican voting base - the middle class, the religious right, the business elite.
Libertarian voting base - almost uniformly white, educated and very self-sufficient.

This is a bit biased and misleading.

Blue collar is going to be split pretty evenly between both parties as is the "middle class" however you want to arbitrarily define that term.

I am not sure who the 'intellectual elite' are but if you mean professors at the best academic universities you are probably right but the Republicans certainly sponsor a lot of 'intellectually elite' think tanks.

The "business elite" cannot all be called Republicans even if the majority are just look at Bill Gates and Warren Buffet for counter examples. Some business interests are clearly more connected to the Republicans (Oil) but other sectors are not so clear (High Tech).

Also you can't lump all "minorities" together either as certain minorities tend to vote very Republican (some Asians and some latino country immigrants in California for instance).

[Border Patrol]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s

[Col. Tartleton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s

Exactly. The only reason to mention the word "Black", "Negro" or "African American" is in a historical context or when compiling the symptoms of sickle cell anemia.

There is no "Black Culture," Just like there is no "White Culture" in America. Can you really limit Jazz, Blues, Funk, Soul, R&B, or Hip Hop to Blacks? Can I limit poverty to blacks? Violence to blacks? Drug culture to blacks? Certainly not. What is black? Black is knowing that no matter what you do some people will only ever see your skin. Black is knowing that your ancestors accepted slavery for centuries and were freed not by their own power or by public outcry, but by sideline politics. There is nothing good about "Black." There has been a huge contribution to the culture by the African and Afro Caribbean community. But they didn't need to be "Black" to do that. Black is a stigma that doesn't need to apply. They're people, not Black people. Just people. Individuals.

When I look at a "Black" person I need only see what he looks like. Just like when I look at two white people. I don't need to think "He's black" any more than "She has dark hair." But I do, and that worries me somewhat because it means that I've already lost. It means my brain thinks the way people for generations have. It's not like I look at two "white" people and say "He's Italian" or "She's Polish." I mean it's funny. I can tell them by their surnames most of the time of course, but African Americans have Scotch-Irish sounding names most of the time. But I know they're African American and I think about them as African Americans because their skin absorbs different amounts of light and the media has put it in my head that they are different. I live in New Hampshire, we probably just barely have 1% African American at my school. When I look at blacks I mentally alienate them instinctively the way I alienate Goths or Emos or something.

I don't like that. That should stop. Thoughtcrime

[Imperial]

^^^^Morgan Freeman owns.