What is the difference between democrat and republican?

Question

Serious answers only please

Answer 1

"Democracy/Republic"

In contemporary usage, the term "democracy" refers to a government chosen by the people, whether it is direct or representative.The term "republic" has many different meanings but today often refers to a representative democracy with an elected head of state, such as a President, serving for a limited term, in contrast to states with a hereditary monarch as a head of state, even if these states also are representative democracies with an elected head of government such as a Prime Minister.

In historical usages and especially when considering the works of the Founding Fathers of the United States, the word "democracy" refers solely to direct democracy, while a representative democracy where representatives of the people govern in accordance with laws and usually also a constitution is referred to as a republic. Using the term "democracy" to refer solely to direct democracy retains some popularity in United States conservative and libertarian circles.

Answer 2

Democrats today tend to believe in programs which benefit primarily the lower classes by asking the wealthy to pay for them.

Republicans today tend to believe in programs which are more inclusive of all classes and expect costs to be spread a bit more evenly.

Take, for example, health care. Democrats are currently pushing a universal health care plan which would be paid for primarily by taxes on the top five percent of earners. Those same earners would then receive little or no benefit from their contributions, which would then be given to the lower classes.

Note that I said "today" in my descriptions above. This wasn't always the case. Social security, a program originated by Democrats, has a flat percent which is paid by all who contribute. It highlights the difference in thinking today.

That is the philosophic difference between the two parties. Then there are the 'issues' differences. These have little or nothing to do with the parties themselves, and have simply attached themselves to the parties via special interest groups and lobbyists. Some examples of these:

Abortion, Gun Control, Labor Rights, Religious Freedoms, Gay Marriage, etc.

For example, abortion has nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat. Yet it has been a hot button topic to both for decades. Why? Arguments would usually point to the religious conservatives who make up a large portion of the Republican voting demographic - which is completely disingenuous and utterly false. Historically - and here I'm talking about less than twenty years ago - Democrats were a stronghold of those of religious faith. Ever been to a black church? And blacks vote overwhelmingly Democrat. Heard of the Southern Democrats? Dixiecrats? All card-carrying Bible-belters.

So both sides of the aisle have strongly religious factions within them, or at least have been in very recent times. Why the difference then? This issue, on face, has nothing to do with either party's core beliefs. The answer has to do with the vocal minorities within each party. Sometimes a party can be characterized (incorrectly) as a whole by a vocal minority within it. In this case, the Republicans have a small group of far Right members who are very openly and vocally opposed to abortion under all circumstances and who show up at photo ops to embarrass themselves and decry the dissolution of the family and morality. The Democrats have the same small group of far Left members who are opposed to even such basic laws as parental notification for a minor child (a notification which would be required for something as insignificant as a school field trip).

In the above case, the parties themselves aren't really different, it is merely by inclusion of a vocal minority that the majority voices of the moderates are drowned out. So on the issues, the parties really aren't that much different (which is why it can seem confusingly homogenous at times). It is only on their core philosophy of who should pay for things and how evenly that payment should fall on the shoulders of each taxpayer that Democrats and Republicans truly vary.

Answer 3

I am glad you asked this. I have always wondered the same. I have tried researching it on the net. Only to be confused and left without an answer.

I was told this by a person one is for the war and one is against it.

I know this is really not helping you any. But I look forward to reading what others have to say.

Thanks for asking a great question that I never got around to asking myself.

Answer 4

Seriously absolutely nothing. Most politicians are millionaires or over. Many are attorneys. They are take bribes in one form or another to push through favorable legislation for whomever pays them. None of them care about their constituents.

If they actually cared, we would have nationalized health care.
We would have a livable minimum wage. (They never have a problem giving themselves raises and in fact regularly get cost of living allowance raises as well.)
How many Americans are out of work because jobs were allowed off shore while their owners live in the US enjoying all of it's benefits?

Answer 5

Not a whole lot.Republicans tend to spend money on government program (defense, etc.) while Democrats tend to spend money on government services (welfare, etc.). The end result is they spend a whole lot of money that they really don't have.

Answer 6

Democrats pull more towards democracy, and Republicans pull more towards republic,

OK, Democracy, is mainly a form of government of which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them or elective agents

Republicans is the form of government of which the supreme power is vested in the whole voting community which elects Representatives to exercise the power.

in lamond's terms democrats listen to your votes and ideas. where republicans choose the best ideas to their knowledge

Answer 7

What difference does it make what a person calls himself? It's the moral fiber of the person that counts. I've been registered as one or the other all my life, and I still vote for whomever I think is the right person for the job, not what his party affiliation is.

Answer 8

Democrats are kind, benevolent people who are genuinely concerned about the welfare of ALL Americans. Republicans only think about themselves and how they can make slaves out of the people they do not like---Democrats and the poor.

Answer 9

It seems to me that the Dem's want to give people money ( like welfare) were the rep's want people to work for there money and do better in life. I like to work for mine and not be handed money like those on the Dem side.