Can somebody explain the difference of views between Democrats and Republicans?

Question

Concerning:
- war in iraq
- war against terrorism
- foreign policy
- education
- business and employment

... please remain factual

Answer 1

Here are the basic positions-

War in Iraq:

Republicans - Necessary to free the Iraqi people from a brutal dictator and prevent prolilferation of weapons which might end up in the hands of terrorists. The removal of Saddam, the establishment of a democratic Iraqi government, the dismantling of terror networks and the killing of insurgents is keeping us safer.

Democrats - Misguided and economically crippling miltary blunder. Saddam was no worse than many other dictators, Iraq is worse now than ever, civil war is inevitable whether we pull out in a month or a year & the good will that America had immediately followijng 9./11 has been destroyed by our waging this illegal war, and the scandals like Abu Ghraib & Haditha. Our credibility and image in the world has been irreparably harmed.


War on Terrorism:

Republican- Military action against terrorists is working. It's a war of civilizations between Islamic fascism and the western world and democrats just don't "get it". In time of war, some civil liberties must be reigned in to ensure national security and we need every tool to get the bad people who are trying to kill us.

Democrats- Terrorism will always be around, and our tactics are creating more terrorist than we kill. It's self-defeating to fan the anti-American hysteria in the Arab Muslim world and alienate the moderate Muslim political and religiopus leaders who are ultimately our most important allies in the fight against global terrorism. They are more familiar with the Islamic radicals which live in & threaten their regimes, so we should be listening when they tell us our approach is wrong. We cannot abandon the rule of law in our efforts to fight terrorists.

Foreign policy:

This doesn't really split on party lines, varies by candidate.


Education:

Republicans- Apply the principles of the free market. If schools don't perform, parents should have the option (i.e. vouchers) to move their kids into those that do. Competition breeds competence.

Democrats- Public schools that don't have the necessary resources or staffing cannot compete. Use federal money to upgrade the buildings that are falling apart, buy books for those schools whose budget hasn't allowed for it, and stop pretending that prestigious schools in private nieghborhoods attract the same caliber of instructors as inner-city schools in poor communities.


Business and employment:

In general, Republicans want to cut taxes while democrats want to use taxes to fund services. Specifics...

Republicans- The economy is doing great. Look at the employment numbers. The tax cuts are working, the average salaries of Americans are higher than ever. Putting money in the pockets of small business owners does more for growth than putting it in government coffers.The policies of George Bush are the reason America is rolling along.

Democrats- The economy is in bad shape. The employment numbers don't reflect the poor quality of jobs which are available, and the large numbers of people who've given up attempting to find a job and therefore aren't counted. Our budget and trade deficits are at record highs compared to the surpluses of the Clinton era, and more Americans are deep in debt than ever before. The primary beneficiaries of Bush's tax cuts were the wealthy minority, not the low-to-middle income majority of Americans.

Answer 2

War in Iraq - Republicans want to throw another six billion dollars down that rat hole. Democrats will spend half that and get out.

Terrorism - Republicans want to take away all your civil rights and ignore the Bill of Rights in the name of catching criminals. Democrats still believe in these rights.

Foreigh Policy - Republicans believe world war three is inevitable. Democrats would rather negotiate first before blowing up everybody.

Education - Republicans want those who have a lot of money to be better educated. Democrats think subsidizing poor people to get an education is smart.

Business and Employment - Republicans like to keep the current tax breaks for closing USA factories and businesses and sending the work to India or China or other countries. Democrats think this does not make sense.

Answer 3

Add my 2 cents worth to this...
Iraq
Rep - Not only throw money down the rat hole, but enrich the industrial military complex along the way.
Dem - Reduce forces, pull back but be ready in case the place goes berserk. Redeploy to the real battlefront, Afghanistan.
Terrorism
Rep - Complete the transition from our democracy to what's slowing becoming a fascist state. Reduction and or elimination of constitutional rights and safeguards.
Dem - Stop creating terrorists by getting back to the bargaining table. Stop making completely unilateral decisions. Spend dollars on real safeguards...ie securing our ports, not worrying about hair gel.
Foreign Policy
Rep - See above....Unilateral decisions....Bellicose statements....backing out of established treaties.
Dem - See above...Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy, with a strong defense in reserve.
Education
Rep - Seem to be showing that an ignorant population is one that can be easily manipulated. If you can't afford to pay for education, too bad for you.
Dem - Realize that an educated populace can ensure a strong and vibrant economy and a lessening of crime. Seek to reduce student loan rates.
Business and Employment
Rep - Big business rules. Elimination of the middle class. Tax breaks for the wealthy. Poor and middle class carry the burden of financing government.
Dem - Believe in fair taxation, welfare to those that need, but not hand-outs, believe in a living wage.

Answer 4

Bush is loosing his invasion of Iraq war
Bush is faltering on the war in Afghanistan
Bush has no diplomacy or gravitas
Bush has left many children behind in education
Bush has made himself and his cronies, billions
Bush wants illegal immigrants to get the jobs that lazy Americans don't want,,, he says it's just a matter of fact.. so the president wants to give 30,000 illegals amnesty
oh,, and he wants to torture GITMO prisoners

Answer 5

Just what the one before me said. I would like to add that the Republicans want the working class people to pay for everything. The democrats want business to pay their fair share.

Answer 6

Sure, De ms cut and run on every issue even here in this country, Dems believe in taking my money and giving it to those to lazy to work and those illegals crossing the border. Republicans want to have a limited federal govt and want citizens to be more responsible for themselves. Me i vote independant because I am independant.

Answer 7

Answerer #2 is dead on. Give him the 10 points.