What is a republican? What is a democrat?
825806
Republicans believe that poor people have too much money, and rich people do not have enough.  So they support cutting taxes, as well as cutting benefits for poor people.  \n\nDemocrats believe the opposite.  So they support raising taxes, and raising benefits for poor people.
1080032
There really isn't a political affiliation calculated for Democrats and Republicans. You can have a Democrats that's conservative or a Republican that's liberal. It depends on the person's politics. These days though, Republicans are branded conservative and Democrats liberal. If you look at history, there are points of time when the affliation for Democrats and Republicans were reversed.
248987
Republican.  I do vote for the best candidate or issue based on their own merit.  I am not a "Party Line" guy.
908037
The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn.  The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it. \n\nSeriously though, the Democrats are the party that believes: The national government has a central and positive role to play in bettering the lives of all Americans.\n\nWhereas the Republicans believe that business, if left alone, will govern the market, control the people, and reach a natural balance between the haves and needs of society.\n\nIt's the balance between these two that makes our country strong.  Too much of either one and you have the government growing in size (Democrats, historically) or completely ignoring problems that are directly caused by business (Republicans, historically).\n\nThe last few years have been very different for the Republicans.  They've moved from a conservative base to one not quite comfortable to most Americans.  Whereas the Democrats, who were historically liberal, moved closer to the middle.\n\nThe problem with this is that a liberal is always an ideologist and a conservative is not.\n\nA conservative with an ideology is either on the way to being a liberal or a neoconservative, depending on whether that ideology favors isolationism or greater inclusion.\n\nThe neoconservative who is successful in pushing their ideology will eventually become an authoritarian.  They will then immediately feel the recoil from a public who is, by nature, ideological. \n\nThat is what happened this week.\n\nI believe that the Republicans will once again start being conservative and that the Democrats will start to move back towards their historical liberal ideology.\n\nHope that helps!
37196
Democracy is a form of government where the people make the decisions. People mistake the US for a democracy, but we are not. We select the people that make the decisions, and this is what a republic is about.
804810
I am a Republican.\nI am for family values, a more moral society, standing up to our enemies, against abortion, and lower taxes.
1150496
you forgot Democrats.\nLiberals is the Republican "slang" for anyone that is not one of them.
906676
Democrat\nBig brother.  The average American needs the gov'ts help to obtain insurance, invest for retirement, determine what to teach our children, even what you should and shouldn't eat.  They believe in income redistribution, ie taking money from successful people and giving it to those who haven't earned it.  They are the party of choice for product liabilty attorneys.  Disproportionately higher taxes for people who earn above the median.  Taxation for those who have the gall to actually save money during their lives and die with that money still in their name.  Yes that is double taxation.  Restriction on private usage of land.  They emphasize diplomacy and global agreement in foreign relations.  They value the opinion of the U N and would have to be sorely provoked to act unilaterally against our enemies.  They believe in a womans "right to choose" is sacrosanct.  The right of the baby never enters the equation.  They will appoint supreme court judges who will legislate from the bench in order to implement laws they know they could never pass.\n\nRepublican\n\nLower overall taxation with a more proportionate percentage to each tax bracket.  Less restriction on big business with the idea that big business is what employs most of our middle class.  Minimal social safety net programs.  Republicans believe that the most effective social programs are administered by private organizations.  In general they promote a stronger military as America's shield.  The agreement of the world body is never scorned but it isn't needed if our national interests are sufficiently threatened.  Most repubs feel abortion should be regulated in some fashion.  They also feel that judges should determine if trials are held in accordance with the law and leave the making of those laws to legislatures who are elected by the voters.\n\nBelieve it or not, they are the same on most issues, the items I've hi-lighted are the major exceptions, not the rule.  Neither Democrat or Republican is inherently a monster or wrong.  They have polarized opinions on how our country should move forward.  It's the beauty and the beast all wrapped up in our political process.
272617
Democrats are generally Liberals, they voted for Kerry. Republicans are generally conservative, they voted for Bush. Thats the difference.
942589
Democrats are people who like to help all people, especially the working class and poor.  Republicans like to cater to big business and extremely wealthy people and drop programs to help the needy.
871642
Article 4 Section 4 of the US Constitution states: The United States shall guarantee to every State in the Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.\n\nA republican form of government refers to government by representatives.  We are often referred to as a democratic republic because we elect representatives though a democratic process.  In a true democracy, they are no representatives, every action of government is voted on by the people.
1032202
Republican\n\nthe Democratic party has taken on too many "fringe" organizations and has alienated people who used to vote independently.\n\nIndependents can't raise the money needed
474390
A democracy is a form of government where decisions are made by the people.\n\nIn a "direct democracy" every citizen votes for every decision.  This includes who will occupy each office and each government job, and every law and rule, as well as enforcement of laws.\n\nIn a "republic," the citizens elect representatives to offices and the elected representatives make decisions on hiring employees and passing and enforcing laws.\n\nFor a country the size of the U.S., a direct democracy would be infeasible.  Both the Republican and Democratic parties favor a republican form of government.\n\nThe Republican Party generally sides with the interests of wealthy people.  Although they claim to favor conservative financial practices and smaller government, they do not follow those beliefs when in office.\n\nThe Democratic Party generally favors the interests of middle class and poor people.  They are more receptive to deficit spending and financial support of poor people.
621913
The Democratic Republican Party was the precursor of the Modern day Democrat Party. The party grew out of the anti-Federalist sentiments of men like Thomas Jefferson which originally focused on the proper power and relative authority of the Federal and State governments.\n\nThe Democratic Republicans (who generally referred to themselves simply as "Republicans" prior to 1820) favored the state governments over the Federal, the small yeoman farmer over city dwellers, and opposed both the Federal Court system and the National Bank.
1091528
Progressive democrat - tolerant, does not desire war,supports reproductive freedoms, not typically bound by religion\n\nLiberal: anything goes, wants change,weak foreign policy, lacks\nmorals,likes free stuff from government and they cry everytime they lose an election.
578276
Republican\n\nGulliani\nMcCain\nRice\n\nDemocrat\n\nHillary\nGore\nKerry
944312
I consider myself republican and I believe it is but a blatant lie to say that the republican party denies basic rights to gays. They just dont support liberal issues such as same-sex marriage because conservative republicans think that it is immoral and wrong. But that is politics - the interplay of power.