Republican vs. democrat?

Question

My teen needs a clear and percise explanation explaining the beliefs and differences of both parties. Because my husband and I support one party, I am trying to give her information about both sides so she can choose which party is good for her. It would be wonderful if posters could explain WHY they are afflited with one party NOT why they hate the other party. Thanks guys!

Answer 1

The best way to explain the Parties is to base that explanation on the worldview of its members rather than those who represent that Party at the political level. Because politics is a business of compromise and pragmatism, principles and ideology can get lost in the milieu of current events.

The Democratic Party is America’s de facto Socialist Party. But don’t make the mistake, a many do, defining Socialism by the ideology of a particular form thereof (i.e. Communism or Solidarism). There are many different and often conflicting forms of Socialism and each has a tendency to accuse the others of being untrue to the cause. Much like in Christianity with the different sects such as Catholicism and Protestantism. Socialism, be it Fabians, Solidarism, Democratic Socialist or Communists (not an exhaustive list of course) can be a veritable hodgepodge of conflicting views all stemming from the same root and ostensibly with the same goal. Many of the current leadership of the DNC grew their political teeth in the radical Utopian Socialist movements of the 1960’s such as SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). Utopian Socialism by the way is just another way of saying Communist but unlike Stalinism/Leninism, Utopians are almost blindingly pacifist. Oddly enough the closest thing to Marxism (Scientific Socialism) is Fabianism. Basically Democrats favour individual freedom (limited by social concerns) and social responsibility for the individual.

Republicans on the other hand are a Classical Liberal (“conservative”) political Party. The party was formed out of the remnants of the Whig Party which was a group of Enlightenment Liberals, and the militant slavery abolitionist movement. The catalyst for its development was the Dred Scott decision of 1830. However the Party did not succeed in winning a national election until the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency. They continued to be referred to as Liberals much like their British ideological brethren, until the early 20th century when the Socialist movement co-opted the label and began referring to all anti-Communist (anti-Progressives) as “conservatives.” People tend to confuse “conservatives” with “Christian conservatives” but this is a grave error. Christians are socially conservative like most Republicans but tend to be more Socialist/Collectivist in their economics. Classical Liberals are also “conservative” in economic matters. The split between Libertarians and Republicans is largely rooted in the fact that the old Trotskyite Socialist movement (Neoconservatives) migrated to the Republican Party and allegedly watered down its Classical Liberal ideals. Libertarians profess to be the true representatives of Classical Liberalism today. Basically Republicans favour unequivocal individual freedom and unequivocal individual responsibility.

A better understanding of these differences will require a more detailed review of the intellectual movements that spawned them. But for simplicity’s sake I recommend “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair (Socialism) and “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand (Liberalism). Each is a masterpiece of fiction effectively cheerleading for the author’s ideological worldview.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

The simplest and best answer I ever got to that question growing up is the Republican party (for the most part) believes an individual has what they need to make a better life for themselves. If a person needs more money, they can work more, if they need a better job they should get a better education, etc.

The Democratic party tends to follow the rule that government's role is to help the underdog. If a person needs more money, maybe there's a factor that's hurting those chances and a social program can help them.

That's as concise as I can get because the lines have shifted a bit since Reagan and Carter were examples of the party stances. Things like military action, moral issues, and personal freedoms have swayed back and forth every 2 years depending on the election needs.

Answer 3

The real problem today is that both parties are the same. They get their funding from the same places, and money is so important in elections these days that neither of the parties works for the people anymore but for their big contributors. Both parties are almost irretrievably corrupt.

Because they are so close together in philosophy and results, the parties spend most of their time trying to differentiate themselves in the marketplace, just like advertisers of any two 'products' that are nearly identical.

Traditionally, though, the Republicans represent capital and the Democrats represent labor. The classic definition of capitalism is that it is a partnership between capital and labor, each needing the other, each equally powerful. Capital wants the government to support business, thinking that if business does well, -everyone- does well. This is the 'trickle down' approach. Labor wants government to work primarily for people, raising their standard of living, so they can spend more money, and business will do well as a result, rather than a cause.

Traditionally, Republicans have wanted to run the government like a business, planning for the future, investing in infrastructure, balancing the budget, while Democrats have wanted the government to meet peoples' needs, investing in social programs like education and social security, and going into debt where necessary to keep up employment and standard of living.

In the real world, however, both parties want to SPEND SPEND SPEND because this is how politicians and parties derive their political power. They just want to spend on different things. In the last few decades the Republicans have abdicated their title of 'fiscally responsible party' and have acted as if debt just doesn't matter, while Democrats have pushed for reduced spending and towards eventually balancing the budget.

I am an independent. I vote for the man, not the party.

Answer 4

The formation of the Republican party, ~1854, was intended for it to be a 'business party'. In 1980 a large volume of conservative 'new deal/fair deal' Democrats defected to the Republican party forming the 'Reagan Democrats' or what we call today the 'Neo-Cons' (new conservatives) effectively polarizing the Republican Party into liberal Republicans and conservative Republicans or Neo-Cons and Paleo-Conservatives depending upon your political view. This defection of conservative Democrats into the Republican Party was because of the New Left infiltration of the Democratic Party during the entire Vietnam Era after the assassination of JFK. Today the Democratic Party is a socialist party; a collection of competing and conflicting liberal special interest groups such as PETA and the ACLU. My example is that if the conservative Republicans had their way, the entire world would work in a factory for minimum wage; and if the liberal Democrats had their way, the entire world would work on a collective farm for nothing. Forced busing (collectivization); Judicial activists; Affirmative action; Minority quotas; and absurd homosexual marriage are all supported and enforced by the Democratic party; and opposed by the Republican party.

Answer 5

Republicans have more of a moral and religous background and they belive in sticking to our country's constitution.And it is believed that they can make better decisions with that kind of influence. They also believe that when it comes to things like taxes that it should all be shared equally- not just to poor people who might not of earned it( For example- someone who doesnt work, who smoke and have multiple children, and complain about the rich people getting all of the money).

Democrats believe in the seperation between church and state, thinking that having a religion could possibly get in the way of decision making. They also believe in no war changing the constitution. They believe tax money should go to poor people whether they have earned it or not. And they also believe in stricter gun control.

Answer 6

I support views from both sides, so I guess I am a moderate that leans a bit left, only becasue I cannot get over the fact that, while the Republicans claim to be the Christian party, they do not beleive in helping the elderly and the derserving poor.

Answer 7

I don't believe it's possible. That would be like explaining the beliefs and differences between two individuals. You can generalize, but even that will be more inaccurate than accurate. And the thing is, like individuals, they're constantly changing. Many wouldn't apply the word 'conservative' to Republicans any more although they 'tend' to be 'more' conservative.

You've got a tough assignment.

Answer 8

You should teach your child to think for themselves, and not follow a specific party. I am a political science major, but I do not claim a party. I am a liberal minded individual, but I have agreed with some conservative view points on things. Teach your child to respect both sides, and people for thinking for themselves. Let them listen to both sides of the issues and let them come to their own conclusions about thigns. This is what my parents did for me and I believe that I am a better person politically for it.

Answer 9

There is not a nickles difference between the two. And all of our major wars have taken place when a democrat was in office. It is a one sided coin and both are in arms with eachother

Answer 10

The main political parties are Republican and Democrat. The main political philosophies are conservative and liberal. You can be a member of either party, regardless of your political philosophy.
Conservatives advocate less government, less spending, less intrusion into personal lives by government.
Liberals want the government to run everything. Liberals want to run the government.