what are the different political parties and how do they differ from one another?

Question

just wondering

my brother, whoes a republican, yells at me all the time for not knowing the difference, i dont really care all that much, but i just wanna know

Answer 1

I'm going to attempt to answer this question from a non-partisan standpoint (as most have failed to do), since you are asking this from an educational standpoint. I'm sure that you have plenty of people in your life (like your teachers) who will gladly indoctrinate you to their beliefs, as so many on here are trying to do. So here's my attempt at impartiality.

Disclaimer: I'm speaking generically, as each person differs greatly in his or her beliefs and doesn't always tow the party line.

Admist many smaller parties (green, libertarian, etc...) your two main parties are Republican and Democrat.

Republicans generally go hand in hand with conservatism--fiscally conservative (frugal with spending), socially conservative (focus on family and traditional family values, anti-gay marriage, anti-abortion, etc...), big on the military and defense, and smaller government (more state rights, less federal control, less government control, private health care, etc...)

Democrats are typically thought of as being for more social programs (universal healthcare, welfare, etc...), which goes hand in hand with the reputation for larger spending and larger government. They are typically stronger on environmental issues and socially liberal (pro-choice, pro gay rights, pro gun-control, etc...).

Keep in mind of course that no person fits completely into these molds, and these ideas don't even necessarily represent current leadership on either side. You have liberal Republicans like Rudy Giulianni (2008 Pres. candidate) who is pro-choice and pro-gun control. And on the flip side you have more conservative democrats, like Joe Liberman, a Conneticut senator who was defeated in his primary for his controversal stance on the war in Iraq, but ran as an independant candidate (affiliated with no party) and won his senate seat back in the general election in Conn. The previous poster who suggested seriously looking at each individual candidate when voting was right on the money. I firmly believe that no one should use that straight ticket option when voting. When you're old enough, it is very important that you research individuals and don't blindly follow the party line.

Answer 2

Republicans are selfish people that get richer at the expense of the poor. They have no regard for the environment as long as they get rich off it. They believe violence is the answer to everything. They believe in cramming Christianity down everybody's throats even though their actions contradict the religion. They believe in controlling people's personal lives.

Democrats on the other hand are the middle class folks that just want to earn an income and not have Neo-Cons meddle and throw roadblocks in the way of living a legitimate life and career. They are more compassionate and believe in dialouge and violence as a last resort. They protect the environment.

Hope this was of help!

Answer 3

Republicans campaign on issues like smaller government, less taxes, less interference in the affairs of other nations, a strong military, anti-abortion, less spending. Yet, when they were in control of all three branches of governement, what did they do?

They invaded a nation that never attacked us.
They lowered taxes on the top 1% during a time of war...unheard of in previous conflicts.
The government has become larger and more intrusive under repubs then at any time in history.
They support pro-life to get the evangelicals vote, then do nothing to stop abortion once they gain power.
They have spent more money then all other presidents combined in the history of our nation.
They hide child abuse within their own party for political reasons.
Every republican voted against an act that would've outlawed war profiteering. In previous wars, corporations supported the war effort by making items for the military "at cost!" It was considered an act of treason and unpatriotic to make money on the war effort... but not when repubs were in power. They have made money on the blood of our soldiers, and accuse those of us who question this practice, of not supporting the troops.

Everything I have posted here is the truth. The republican party was once a proud organization, but these new neo-cons have betrayed the conservative movement.

Answer 4

The two main parties, Republican and Democrat, are for the most part overrun with corruption and practically owned by rich corporations who use their large donations to sway the parties to what they want. There are other, smaller parties, like the Green party and Libertarians, but they are generally unable to come up with funding needed to be in the public eye.

If you want to know the voting differences, *generally* Republicans are against raising taxes, for the 2nd amendment, more socially conservative (often against abortion, gay marriage, etc.)
Democrats are usually better on the environment, more socially liberal (opposite of above but they generally call for civil unions and not gay marriage outright,) more interested in gun control, etc.
Again, MANY individual politicians have ideas that can go either way on all issues. It's much better to look at the candidate themselves...

Answer 5

The republicans want to limit the government.they believe that individual citizens can do better.They want the rich to invest their money put the rest to work,[witch is a good thing].Democrats want more government and believes the average person is to ignorant to take care of themselves.Therefore they want to tax the rich so much that they invest in other countries to escape the theft of the money , unfair taxation.The result is more poor and less jobs.

Answer 6

There are two parties that have a monopoly of power in our government. The Democrats and Republicans.

Most democrats are liberal, however there are such things and conservative democrats (Lieberman). Most republicans are supposed to be conservative, but the party is being steered by Neo-Conservatives.

Answer 7

Democrats wants the poor and rich to have the same amount of money, and the republicans want the rich to get richer. Myself I am democrat and I cant see any reason besides being rich not to be.

Answer 8

I'll put it this way: If your parents were conservatives you would of been educated about this long ago and not left wondering the difference.

Answer 9

well in nazi germany you had two choices: communist, or nazi.
my grandfather chose nazi. he said "hell nobody wanted to be a communist and those were the only two choices"

in the united states you have republican or democrat. there's not much difference from nazi germany.

Answer 10

There are a bunch. The rich two..
Democratic party believes we are all in this together.
Republican party believes every man for himself.