How do I know if I am a Republican or Democrat?

Answer 1

Here is the easiest way to tell, if you are smart then you are Republican, if you are dumb you are democrat.

Here is the bad news, you not knowing which party you belong to, well , thats not looking so good to you being a Republican...j/k.

Answer 2

Republicans believe that a free market can provide almost everything that a civilization needs in the most efficient manner possible, and the government should stay out of its way. Many republicans also believe in Social Darwinism, in which the poor, ill, and elderly should suffer the consequences of their condition without assistance as a way of strengthening society and serving as a example for others.

Democrats believe that unrestrained capitalism has caused great harm on society in the past and business needs to be held to responsibility by laws, much the same as people. They believe that because the disparity of power between a corporation, or great wealth, and an individual worker is so great, the government must protect the interests of the individual.

A current strategy of Republicans is to decry social safety nets such as children's health care, Medicaid, or Social Security as Communism or Socialism - although true socialist countries take over industries such as airlines when they get in trouble, instead of bailing them out .

A current Democrat strategy is to pass legislation for services that most Americans want, such as poor children's health care -and that they know will cause a Bush Veto.

Answer 3

If you believe that what you earn should be yours to keep and it is your decision on where to spend it, you are a Republican.

If you believe in limiting larger government control over most aspects of your life, you are a Republican.

If you can make rational choices that benefit you AND those around you without needing to take away from your fellow citizen, you are a Republican.

If you believe in stealing from someone to give to someone else (welfare) you are a Democrat.

If you believe in a Socialistic society where nobody has any motivation to excell in their efforts to be better at whatever their goal is, you are a Democrat.

If you are incabable of any rational thought and believe that we can achieve a sort of UTOPIA where everyone is completely equal, you are a Democrat.


Oh yeah, and to counter silbecl's comment about civil liberties… Actually, most Democrats would gladly take away any and all of your civil liberties. They are very good at taking away individual freedoms that do not involve abortion, birth control, and social programs.

Civil Liberties:1.) Fundamental individual rights, such as freedom of speech and religion, protected by law against unwarranted governmental or other interference.

2.) Those freedoms which are, or should be, guaranteed to persons to protect an area of non-interference from others, particularly power holders and legal authorities. Civil liberties are especially invoked to limit the justifiable coercive power of the state: for example, freedom from arbitrary arrest, or detention, and habeas corpus; freedom of speech; freedom of lawful assembly; freedom of association and of movement; and the right not to incriminate oneself. Some civil liberties are seen as implications of respect for the rule of law; for example, the right to a fair trial. The importance of civil liberties has been reflected in attempts to provide constitutional guarantees for them.
3.) In general, the rights to freedom of thought, expression, and action, and the protection of these rights from government interference or restriction. Civil liberties are the hallmark of liberal, democratic “free” societies. In the United States, the Bill of Rights guarantees a variety of civil liberties, most notably freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech, expressed in the First Amendment. (See civil rights.)

Now, don't get confused by definition 3's inclusion of the word liberal as equating to freedom. Liberal in the political sense means anything BUT freedom. In fact, the left side of the political spectrum has repeatedly taken away some of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans. Also, don't forget that the United States is not a DEMOCRACY, we are a Representative Republic (controlled by it's citizens) [at least is was supposed to be] The word DEMOCRACY is not mentioned even once in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.

Also remember that these 2 parties vary greatly from within. You have the far lefty Liberals similar to Michael "I can make any lie seem like the truth" Moore and Hillary Clinton. You also have the far righty Conservatives similar to Rush Limbaugh. The only difference is those on the far left have lost any sense of rational, while those on the far right are just trying to balance things out.

Answer 4

A better question would be whether you are a liberal or a conservative.

Liberals generally vote democrat
Conservatives generally vote republican

Something you must keep in mind though is that, there are PLENTY of republicans who are not conservatives.

Generally speaking:
Conservatives believe in a strong military, equality of opportunity, small government, are typically adherents to Judeo-Christian religion or value system and are pro-life

Liberals (or “progressives” as many of them call themselves) believe in a small military, equality of distribution, big government that takes care of everyone (and eventually controls them as well), are typically secular or atheist and are pro-abortion.

You should vote for the candidates who's records are most aligned with what you believe. Research their own voting records and speeches. Hear what they have to say. To vote for one party or another on that basis alone is a big mistake.
........
Read this:
What Conservatives Believe
Conservatism is not an ideology or a program—its programmatic content varies with place and time—but a set of values and an attitude toward changes in the established social order. Its opposite is not any particular dogmatic secular religion—such as communism or socialism—but dogmatic secular religion itself.

Peter Viereck once defined conservatism as "the political secularization of the doctrine of original sin." Eric Voegelin defined its opposite as the political secularization of the heresy of gnosticism.
http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=1983&month=07

Answer 5

If you earn your own money and pay taxes you are a Republican. If you don't work and get paid by the government you are a Democrat.

Answer 6

It's possible you have a brain, and are neither. Intelligent people pick candidates and positions based on issues and facts, and may side with either party from time to time.

If you believe in low taxes, a strong military, and want everyone to practice your religion, then you're a republican.

If you want to protect the environment and civil liberties, and believe everyone is entitled to health care and education, then you're a democrat.

Answer 7

This changes constantly. 60 years ago democrats were rounding up japanese americans and placing them in concentration camps. Also democrats puposely bombed civilians in japan and european theatre. Then the atomic bombs in Japan. Now democrats cry over civil liberties for US listening to terrorists phone calls.
Currently if you are optimistic you are republican and if you are pessimistic you are democrat.

Answer 8

If you think bush is the greatest thing on this planet earth you most likely a republican,

Answer 9

it is wrong to assume that you must ascribe to one or the other... I'm certainly not. they are not very different and have very specific views that most people would not agree with. If you're not sure where you would fall politically and it is important for you to know personally I would suggest using the political compass.

Answer 10

Well, if you have any sort of rationale thought and/or can debate without using the phrase "not fair" then you're not a democrat.





Seriously though: www.politicalcompass.org is a start