Where does the perception of the Republican party being the "party of the rich" come from?

Question

Not being facetious, it's just something I'm curious what people will answer. I would assume this has to do with business connections, but aren't there similar connections with democrat parties as well? (as well as big names in Hollywood). So where does this come from, and is it a fair estimation of the republican party universally?

References/resources would be appreciated.

Answer 1

The Republicans' official party platform has consistently been pro-business and pro-investment.

Their official position has also always been that taxation has a stultifying effect on business and competition, so they tend to be for cutting taxes whenever possible. They've also historically been in favor of giving tax breaks to various businesses, on the theory that this will help the overall economy in the long run by making businesses more profitable, and therefore better able to compete and grow. Investments are taxed at a lower rate than regular income for the folks in the top income tax brackets; this encourages investment, which CAN have the effect of helping rich folks to increase their wealth. (Poor people barely have enough money to scrape by, so they can't take advantage of long-term capital gains tax breaks.)

When it comes to what's known as "human capital," however, it's been the Democrats who have historically been interested in investing in social programs by directly helping people (instead of assuming--as the Republicans tend to do--that a healthy business climate will have a "trickle down" effect that helps out individual people--including the economically-disadvantaged ones--in the long run). The Democrats have used taxation as a means to attempt to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor and to directly assist economically-disadvantaged people (they do this by charging wealthy people the highest percentage-of-income on their taxes and charging poor people either very little, nothing at all, or even giving them a sort of income tax rebate [you could call it a "negative tax," since they receive money, instead of having to pay it out]).

Both sides tend to look upon one another's means of stimulating the economy with contempt. The Republicans will rail against the fostering of a state of "dependency," as well as a lack of motivation toward self-sufficiency in "the welfare state." But they don't apply the same principle to giving handouts to businesses--even when businesses seem to return the favor by sending jobs overseas, giving huge bonuses to their executives instead of reinvesting in and growing the business, etc.

*I* say that "Welfare is welfare, and what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander." Both sides, I feel, have valid points. And both sides tend to go about achieving their long-term goals using some very short-sighted methods. If they'd both stop with the rhetoric and the spin-doctoring and work together on some realistic, long-term solutions to our problems, we'd probably see some real progress.

Answer 2

It is not a fair estimate of the Republican Party as a whole, but some of the core Republican beliefs do aid it.

The main reason is that among core Republican beliefs is a strong support for a fully free trade - i.e. little to no government regulation of business (this can be contrasted with the Democratic ideals that tend more towards a Keynesian economic approach, which is free trade with a regulatory body keeping things reasonable, or the more extremist pure socialism). Further along the lines of "smaller government", Republicans also tend to oppose big government. Of course, among the more critical and controversial areas being discussed are those which benefit the poor at the expense of the rich - health care, social security, welfare, and other public services. The reasoning behind this is that by giving corporations more money to work with, they will in turn pass this extra money down the lines to their workers. this is known as "trickle-down economics".

The reason they get the label of being the "party of the rich" is that in many cases, this does not happen or at least not in equal portions. The wealthy executive takes another hundred million dollars, while the assembly line worker gets a nice 5 cent raise. This can be easily seen by the historical ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor.

In short, Republicans cut taxes for the rich, believing that it will give more money to everyone and a stronger economy. Democrats raise taxes in order to fund programs largely benefitting the poor. It isn't so much a matter of the politicians themselves being wealthy, but a matter of who benefits most from the party's policies.

Oh, and just last week Senate Republicans voted down a $2.10 increase to the minimum wage over three years. The current minimum wage is a paltry $5.15 per hour.

Answer 3

Republicans do everyting in their power to accomidate the rich
ust take an objective look at what they've done since they've been in power the poor and middle class lose more and more ground and the rich have double digit gains every year, there is only so much money available so where are the wealthy getting those gains from?the poor and middle class that's where, if that's not the case then tell me how does someone end up with a $400,000,000 retirement package, and that's on top of the millions he made when he was working, and at they say they cant fund retirement plans for employees and all the outsourcing, and illegal immigration and over and over and over
again, that's where the perception comes from and it's a correct
perception.

Answer 4

I want someone to answer with statistics how much Big companies who employ Americans are actually paing after their "loopholes" in taxes.

80+% of gov't income comes from what liberals call the rich. The lower incomes get back more than they ever paid (More Federal Welfare) The middle income pays like 10% when all is said and done. Large companies and the wealthy have to fight not to pay 30%

I am not saying do not help less fortunate but quit blaming successful people and buisinesses for problems and think about what they give.

By the way Liberals, if it wasn't for the hardworking Mr Gates you wouldn't be here on your home PC.

THINK, as you drive your cars paying less for gas than the world does (try 6-7 for 4 liters in Germany example), enjoying all the entertainment and freedoms, .....think where it came from.

Answer 5

It is as others have said something the Democrats came up with to make the republicans look as bad as possible. Yeah we have some rich people here and I say god bless them for their hard work and perseverance. Nothing wrong with being rich if you work hard for it honestly. If it wern't for the rich we little people would be stuck with more of the taxes. the top 1% of our population pay over 50% of all taxes and that's a fact. And Booboo did you ever get a job from a poor person?

Answer 6

It is an outdated perception. Beginning in the 1980's the Republicans, recast themselves to appeal to more people. Prior to that the Democrats were more a party of the workers. The Republicans were hugely successful at deceiving the "masses" that they had their best interests at heart. It almost became a status symbol for people to become Republican. And here we are today. The Republicans have all three branches of government. Their giving people exactly what they deserve. Here's the scoop for the right wingers: In 1962 American spy planes took actual photographs of armed nuclear missiles stationed 90 miles from the coast of the great state of Florida. Guess where they were aimed. Without the loss of a single life, the island hell with a ruthless dictator and the support of a superpower, with nuclear weapons and missiles on a par with us; backed down. Compare that leadership to 2003. A president invades a third world dictatorship thousands of miles away, thinking that they have WMD. With much more advanced technology this son of a president is mistaken. He is duped. Even if there were WMD, so what? Where is the capability to deliver them thousands of miles? When did we become such fearful cowards that we have to invade a country based on such sloppy intelligence?The threat in Iraq, was minuscule compared to threats we've defeated in the past without a bullet being fired. What ever happened to having balls enough to not let fear rule your actions? But, the right wingers are happy because they got everything they voted for: 2500 lost soldiers, thousands of amputees, 300 Billion plus deficits, global warming, inept Federal Agencies like FEMA, a president on vacation while an American city is destroyed, on and on and on. They have it all - Congress, The Supreme Court and the President. Fellow liberals let them have their fun, sleep with a clear conscious for we are not to blame! Republicans, I love you!

Answer 7

It's always been true. Rich people support republicans because they know republicans will vote on their behalf on certain issues. Large corporations, farmers, etc get fat subsidies as well as having their congressman vote in their favor if they are emitting something harmful into the environment and don't want to quit doing it even though it may kill people. You know the story. The other thing that helps republicans are the rich TV 'religious' leaders and personalities. Day after day, they preach to people that democrats are evil and republicans are saints...all the while conveyor belts are running, stockpiling the money these preachers beg for from elderly people, shut ins, poor Christians, etc.

Answer 8

I wasn't going to respond to this, because I think it has been fairly well covered, but then I read "Jimmy the Saint" little diatribe, which was free of any facts. So let me give you the real facts Mr. The Saint.

The top 50% of wage earners pay more than 96% of the taxes in the US. The top 1% of wage earners pay 34.27% of taxes. In the 2002 election cycle, donations of $1million or more given to the Republican part was $3 million, and the Democratic party was $36 million. Nine of the twelve richest US Senators are democrats.

And if you want to know my source...

Answer 9

The Democrats have done a better sales job. When one looks at welfare the "trap" isn't obvious. As one attempts to work themselves off it, they trip over a earning line that another dollar earned cost them many dollars in benefits for themselves & their family.

Democrats actions imply the only good comes out of big government. The main group that does well is the bureaucrats. The conservitives believe the individual will do the best for both himself & the country if left alone.

Answer 10

Since everyone who is a registed republican has a job and every registered democrat is on welfare or unemployed, the nasty class warfare tactic that DEMONcrats use is very easy easy to understand and defeating for them.
Now if only DIMS would get jobs maybe they could be part of the "party of the rich" or better put "party of the employed."