Aren't most republicans actually Democrats?

Question

Very simple diffinition: Republicans support the form of government called a republic. Democrats support the form of government called democracy.

If you ask republicans what form of government is best most of them will say democracy. Doesn't that make them democrats? Perhaps conservative democrats but democrats none the less. Doesn't the fact that most of them don't even no the difference between the two suggest that perhaps they aren't very bright? I mean come on, the diffinition is right there in the name.

Look. If you look up the definitions of the word republican it says one who supports republicanism. If you look up democrat it says one who supports democracy. But if you ask a republican which is better they say democracy is better. I just think thats kinda funny. By the way, I don't much support one party or the other (I've got my own opinions) but I am just amazed by the ignorance of some republicans.

craig c's answer had me interested for a second until I realized that his facts are off. the whigs actually formed sometime after the collapse of the federalists and the republicans formed sometime after that. The Democratic party is the direct descendant of the Democratic-Republican Party and is the oldest existing political party in the world.

Austin W..........even if a democracy is a form of republic, that doesn't change the fact that it is a specific form and therefore my aurgument still stands that any republican who says that Democracy is the best form of government is really a democrat.

Answer 1

You make a good argument, but I'm thinking a better, clearer definition of Republican vs. Democrat would be found by looking at the definition of a liberal and the definition of a conservative. A liberal is a person whose political views include support of civil liberties, democratic reforms, and the use of government power to promote social progress. A conservative is a person whose political views include favoring traditional views or values, very limited government power, and emphasis on the responsibility of the individual. These definitions are a lot closer to the true meaning of Republican and Democrat.

Answer 2

Democracy is the political ideology that this government is based on. The names of the actual parties don't mean anything. The original parties in the United States founded a democratic, theory not party, form of government. Those parties were called the Federalists and the Whigs and over time evolved into the Republican and Democratic party. Believing in democratic theory and being part of the Democratic party have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

Answer 3

Technically our form of government is not a democracy, but a constitutional republic.

Although, what it means to be a Republican or Democrat now has changed in the last 40+ years or so.

Answer 4

The bottom line is this: Most younger republicans are very liberal minded so while they hold onto a few core beliefs of the Republican party - they dabble on the Democrat side as well. I still wouldn't suggest that they are Democrats though because the "core" beliefs that I speak of - are pretty big ones.

My favorite part is that most Republicans are really for capital punishment and most Democrats are all for abortion - both people agree that killing is fine - they just can't agree on the timing of it...please spell definition correctly next time - thanks.

Answer 5

we live in a Democratic Republic. Both parties know that.

I do think Republicans are Democrats only because I think there is no difference between the two parties. They both just want power and don't really represent their constituents any more.

Answer 6

The two words have lost their meaning politically speaking.....they have more social implications than anything else.

Even the words Liberal and Conservative are constantly being used as nouns, when they are actually intended to be used as adjectives. (ie. liberal republican / conservative democrat)

Regardless of what your voter registration card says...most people have mixed views on all sorts of issues, though it is in the best interest of politicians to polarize us into two neat little groups and bash anyone who is on the fence. Politicians will hop the fence when it is politically beneficial to them regardless of their true feelings on the issues.....we saw that in the last election where 8 republicans suddenly decided to run as democrats....and several of them won.

We are a democratic republic.

Answer 7

That is one of the greatest successes of the Democratic party.

However, now, when you ask our Democratic party leaders what they favor, it's socialism.

That's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard from an American.

Don't call the Republicans dumb (political bigotry is alive and well, on both sides) for accepting and adopting something I fought for for years.

Answer 8

In essence, yes. What most republicans don't support is abortion, gun control or gay marriage. Instead of looking at definitions and voting down party lines, most conservatives, such as myself, look a what the person running for office stands for. If I have trouble with what they stand for, I look to other candidates and vote for the best one to represent me.
If you vote straight democrat or republican, you aren't so bright either.
Stop voting down party lines and vote for who best represents you. Political parties is what is wrong in America. . amongst other things. . .

Answer 9

You raise an interesting point. Today's republicans are politically in line with those who were democrats in the 1960's.
Here's a puzzle for you:
In 1965, I was being called a 'left wing, commie, pinko, hippie, radical'. I disliked large government, was pro-life, anti-taxes, pro ecology (one of the first of the tree-huggers I was), fought against the war in 'Nam then volunteered for USNavy service, etc....you get the picture.
I have not changed but now
I am being called a 'fascist, right-wing nut, radical, neo-con'.
I dislike large government, am pro-life, anti-taxes, pro-ecology (I am still a tree-hugger but don't buy into the AlGore globalwarmingcarboncreditcrap), fight against the war (but we still need to stay long enough for their gov't to stabilize).

So....I'm now a republican but I was a democrat 40 years ago. Has the political spectrum shifted -that- far left??

Answer 10

Why can't we all just get along? After all, not one among us is totally blameless. Yet we're all in this mess together. The past is in the past. It's time to put egos aside, grow up, take responsibility, pool our resources and clean it up. Our children deserve better.