What really IS the difference between Democrats & Republicans?  Please, no elephant/donkey answers....thanks.
211374
I've never met a republican who taught anyone to do anything... they cut funds to education?\n\nSo, here is the correct annalogy... \n\nA Democrat teaches the man to fish, maybe even gives him a fish for today, while a Republican tells him to get off his lazy butt and get a job and walks away while the man dies in the gutter...
164376
Democrats tend to think about what is best for the average citizen, Republicans favor corporations and the wealthy who can buy influence.   Also Republicans like wars.
624636
You're making invalid assumptions. The middle ground for both major parties are moderates, with very few going far afield.\n\nOne end of one spectrum is conservative republican. The other ends of that spectrum are moderate republican and federalist.\n\nOne of the a different spectrum is liberal democrat. The other ends of that spectrum are moderate democrat and libertarian.\n\nBasically, there are two scales of values. One is big government versus small government (Republican -- Libertarian). The other spectrum is group rights ("traditional" values) versus individual/personal rights (Federalist -- Democrats).\n\nRepublicans (nowadays) want  group rights (conformity with "traditional" values) and a large government to ensure domestic tranquility (by enforcing those conservative majority beliefs). Moderate republicans (originally called fiscal conservatives) want a small government, just large enough to provide for the common defense. The republican party does not really have a liberal wing, and usually treat the goal of individual liberties (being liberal) as a dirty word.\n\n\n\nDemocrats want individual rights and a large government to promote the general welfare.  Moderate democrats don't want a lot of wasteful spending., and want to achieve their goals without causing too many problems. Democrats do have a Conservative wing, which focuses on better ethical leadership and greater protection for both groups and individuals. The main difference is that conservative democrats still don't believe in enforcing their views on the minority, even if their own personal choices would be the same as what conservative republicans would make.\n\nLibertarians want a small government (no wasteful spending, and very little welfare/entitlements), but lots of protection for individual liberties. They are moderate about most issues, except for being adamant that the majority should not impose its beliefs on the minority.
596361
They do, but one should take a very careful look at the two major parties.  Most people here would unfortunately, see the Republicans as mean, uncaring, even downright evil but what is their major theme?  Get the Government out of peoples lives, and let them make success for themselves.\n\nWhat is the Democrats major theme?  You are completely worthless and useless, and the only way you can make it is with Government hand outs.\n\nTalk about 'talking down to us'
121553
Liberal is a way of thinking and not related to a specific poltical agenda or party. Democrat is an actual political party that one registers to be a part of..Yes many liberals are Democrats but many arent as well.. I consider myself liberal but am closer to a Libertarian than anything else yet I remain registered 'non-partisan' so I dont have to be stuck in the dogmatic agenda of a specific party..Plus I can vote for whoever I want and actually vote on the issues and not just the party..Hope this helped..
648777
And I see horribly close-minded Democrats. It's your perspective. When a Democrat says something narrow-minded and it's something you agree with, you're not as likely to notice that what they're saying is narrowminded. When a Republican says something you don't agree with, your radar picks up on it. It's not them- it's you.\n\nAnd honestly, have you not come across the user Hitler_is_Bush? Tell me that's not narrow-minded. Right.
10578
In a brief nutshell, today's Republicans (the Good Old Party, GOP) are characterised by a want for 'smaller' government, a more agile (not necissarily bigger) military, and a connection with (usually religious) blue-color 'everyman' workers.  They believe in a government that is reflective of overarching, 'home grown' family values, as can be best seen in their "Contract With America". Democrats are more for creating a social welfare society, and believe that goverment should play a more active role in daily life (though not necissarily intrusive).  Many people brand this party as being 'liberal', which is actually a fairly new designation considering many Democrats (also known then as Dixiecrats) were opposed to 'liberal' civil rights reforms in the 1960s.  Further, whereas Republicans target typically older citizens, Democrats tend to lean towards younger, educated professionals (for example yuppies) and are a favorite on college campuses.  Unfortunately, in today's America politics has become frieghteningly divisive.  We can't even have a hurricane (I cite Katrina) without people pulling out 'Repbulican this' or 'Democrat that'.  Further, the two parties aren't helping the matter either.  Whenever someone does something wrong (For example a Republican President or Democratic governor), it is suddenly the fault of the entire party, and not just that one person.  You seem educated enough to visit each party's website and read their platform.  Skip over anything with the word 'Iraq' or 'terror' in it (because these are in the spotlight, and are likely to be uselessly full of propogand) and instead read your opinions on issues that effect your daily life, such as public education, health care and taxes.  I think you (and many other people) would be surprised at how much the two parties actually agree on, but with different routes.
516480
Republicans typically believe in smaller government with more control allotted to the states. They believe in promoting business and lower taxes. They favor less government spending (although you wouldn't know it given the current crop). They believe in self reliance and do not support large social programs.\n\nDemocrats favor more centralized control in the form of a larger federal government with less power to the states. They traditionally sponsor more social programs and do not believe in lower taxes. \n\nThese are generalized positions and do not properly reflect the parties, but are rather intended as an overview. If you want real information I suggest visiting their party websites and reviewing their platforms.\n\nRNC http://www.gop.com\nDNC http://democrats.org
301197
democrats are not the democrats they once were when the WW2 generation grew up. they now stand for nothing (collectively). they operate on a spur of the moment "oppose whatever the president does and says". it is a joke (sorry democrats..i never said some of you weren't nice).\n\nanyways...the far left has taken over the democratic party. they don't even realize that some of the things they despise and protest were favored and exercised by many older democrats.\n\never hearthe phrase..i didn't leave the democratic party. the democratic party left me." ???
80989
The way I was explained that is that Democrats believe in welfare and other government aid but are usually more open-minded to towards social issues (like gay marriages). Republicans are more about people working hard for themselves without government aid (Capitalism, laissez faire, basically allowing companies to do what they want) but are less open to social issues.
398248
There are very few differences between the Dems and Reps, just a couple of policy issues. But basically they are the small percentage of the rich and powerful who will do anything to keep it that way. They are working together more then the public likes the believe and they want it that way, it keeps us divided rather then seeing the truth; that they are one party working for one goal.
125853
Democrat or Republican, what is the difference? None really. \n\nAs for a Democrat winning. As badly out of touch with the people as the Republicans are the Democrats are even worse. They will try to run somebody so abomible like Hitlerly Clinton that the public will puke in response. Think about it, against Bush the first they they ran Gore who could not even bother to remove the price tag from his ear. The same guy who's wife attempted to get Rap and Metal music banned in the US. Entire forms of music banned! Gore led a group that passed a law which could have gotten you a prison term if you said a cuss word on the internet. Gore is the biggest proponent of censorship we have EVER had. He makes McCarthy look like a timid easy going fellow when it comes to attacking the rights of people. Not only did they attack freedom of speech the Clinton/Gore administration wrote the laws which made the Patriot act possible. \n\nThen you have Kerry who could not make up his mind on anything. Who would want such a wishy washy do nothing leading the nation? \n\nCompared to these clutzs the Republicans could run Mickey Mouse and win. Bush barely bothered to campaign either election and still won. Not quite sure where all those campaign contributions went but I doubt even half of that went to campaign activities. As represive as the Patriot act is it is nothing new. Clinton's administration not only passed laws that were only milder versions, they were openly caught using the IRS and FBI to go after personal enemies. The blatent misuse of power while dusted over by the press stuck in quite a few people's craws. How would YOU feel if you had the IRS and FBI breathing down your neck because 10 years ago you offended a nobody politicion?  \n\nSo as fed up with Bush as so many are unless the Democrats learn quite a bit in a short time they will sabatage themselves again in the next election. Ineptitude and Democrat are fast becoming synomyns. \n\nI suggest looking into independent cantidates. People who might actually believe in half of what they say. Who might make it through a term without trampling all over the Constitution and abusing the office.
553084
The Democrat party has come back with Conservative Democrats as I am. Corruption of the GOP has ruined their chances for quite some time with the immoral values and scandals that will have to be sorted out to bring back any trust in them. That is why the bi-partisanship vote came out November 7th, and Congress is now majority Democrat. Ultimate power corrupts, and those you have named are the victimizers of the corruption.
490786
It started as the Federalist party versus the Democratic Republicans.  Once the federalists dwindled into nothingness, the Democratic Republicans were left as a single party and it wasn't long until the liberals and conservatives within the group caused it to splinter into what is now known as the Democrats and the Republicans.  The names are arbitrary, its the ideology behind each (Reps = Cons, Dems = Libs)
532721
"What are your views on the Republican party?"\n\nThey are on my "least favorite" list right now, considering they've spent the past 6 years flushing America down the toilet.  The Republican Party is the whore and it's pimps are greedy corporate conglomerates, self-serving special interest groups, and the wealthy elite.  The sad thing is that the Democrats are almost (but not quite) as bad.  The 2 main parties have become a sad joke, full of corrupt politicians bought and owned by the corporate lobbyists, and serving the almighty dollar instead of the American people.\n\n"List your party as well (if any)."\n\nAs I mentioned above, I'm fed up with the 2 main parties.  And there is no party that best represents my beliefs, so I guess I'd consider myself an independent.  I love the Green Party's stance on social justice issues, environmental issues, consumer rights, and regulating corporations but some other parts of their platform are too liberal for me.  The Libertarian Party's views regarding the preservation of our civil liberties, privacy, freedoms, etc are awesome.  Their economic views are pretty warped though.  Once in a great while the Democrats do something I see as productive and worthwhile.  However, it will be a long, long, long time before a Republican gets another one of my votes; no confidence left in them.
555284
Why is it that Republicans give one line insulting answers and Democrats give thoughtful responses?\n\nCould it be that our president is operating with the same limited mentality?
87303
One of the most major differences (speaking more officially/ideologically, and leaving out de facto differences which are obvious enough today) is with respect to what the role of the state, and in particular the relationship of the state to individual liberty, should be. In general, republicans want as little government 'interference' as possible, and tend to be anti-taxation (to take one obvious example), on the grounds that 'It's my money and I should be free to do what I want with it; I know how to spend it better than the government does.' Democrats, on the other hand, tend to be more open to a system in which we all pay in, in the form of taxes, to fund social services like health care, education, and welfare.\n\nIf it clarifies things for you (or perhaps simply as a suggestion for further reading), I'd say that Robert Nozick, a libertarian, is a very good example of republican-style thought, whereas John Rawls would be much more of a democratic-style thinker -- major contrast between the two of them.