What is the difference between Democrats and Liberal Democrats?
912084
OK, not a liberal, nor a democrat, but....\n\nI think you are asking why the emotional knee jerking of a range of people has hijacked a political party to, at least at one point, the verge of implosion..... \n\nA liberal, so far as I can see, is someone who, not to be rude, has let their emotions run wild and swayed their logic. hope that made sense. These are a people who are also likely to be swayed by the emotional string tugs of politicians, who happen to be in the democratic party. \n\nDon't misunderstand, I do not believe that the liberal minded people out there are evil or corrupt by nature, they simply believe in something so much that they will align themselves with people who tell them what they want to hear. I have very good friends that are liberal minded, and they are not evil, just find more 'truth' in something that others don't find truth in.... ie. class warfare, extreme environmentalism, and 'evil' corruption in big business. Most of these people tend to align into the green party more so in the democratic party, but there is a power base already in existence with in the democratic party, and they seem to gain their support there through some crafty politicians.\n\nI am more concerned with the crafty politicians that have taken control over the democratic party than I am with the people who support the democratic party. These individuals seem to like their positions and will do and say anything to keep them. Dare I say even the likes of Joe Leiberman started going down that road during his spin while running as the vice president candidate. And now that Mr. Leiberman dared reclaim his true self he was butchered by his own party. \n\nI think that is the best example of what is happening at the power levels in the democratic party, they seem to be so concerned with keeping and reclaiming power that they use the emotional ploys to attract voters. \n\nThis is just an opinion, but it explains to me why when people grow a little older they abandon their emotions for logic and start looking toward the libertarian and republican parties for a home.
940155
Actually, the difference between liberal and conservatives is perception. Conservatives see the world as it was, liberals see the world as they would like it to be.\n\nBy the way, yes I have a beard, but I cut my hair every 18 months and donate it to "Locks of Love", have never relied on government welfare (unlike the vast majority of "red states"), have never done coke (unlike our President), don't drink (unlike our President), and find flag burning deplorable (even though it is "free speech).
910242
My understanding (from my college days), is that communism is a political system, and socialism is an economic system.\n\nSo socialism contrasts with capitalism.\n\nOnly those of us on the very far left in the US are socialists; most democrats and liberals are not -- though some believe in SOME socialism (such as Social Security and welfare for the poor, medicare, and other things).\n\nCompared to civilized countries, we don't really have much of a left here.\n\nWell, I guess the progressives are fairly left, and that's a growing group.\n\nBut most Americans, including liberals and democrats, are capitalists, with liberals and dems having slight socialist leanings.\n\nNo democrats or liberals are communist, as far as I know.\n\nThere is a communist party in the US, but it's tiny.
1068746
There are two meanings here.  One democratic means we vote to decide policy the other is the "democratic party" which has a certain set of values it expouses that are different from that of the other dominant political party the "republican party".
378829
Democrats believe in equal rights, freedom, and American liberties, while Republicans believe only their supporters deserve rights, trample on freedom, and scoff at American liberties.  \n\nMany more conservatives have been found guilty of committing crimes while in office than Democrats. \n\nOn one hand conservatives claim to be good Christians while ignoring most of what the Bible teaches while on the other hand liberals tend to follow the teachings of Jesus displaying compassion, tolerance, and honesty.\n\nOne of the flaws which has hurt the liberals is they admit when they are wrong and if a liberal is caught doing wrong, other Democrats don’t continue to support them. In contrast, when a Republican is caught doing something wrong, conservatives will still back them.\n\nConservatives often resort to name calling and foul language (ie: VP Chaney) when they no longer have an intelligent argument and Democrats always have an intelligent response. \n\nI would say the big difference is liberals tend to be concerned about the well being of all Americans while conservatives pursue their own self serving agendas.\n\nIs that logical enough for you?
908712
Democrat = Left leaning\nCommunist = Left leaning\nSocialist = Left leaning\n\nIt becomes clear that while all three would like to sky rocket taxation, they themselves would like to remain exempt.  Detestable
420537
That's a very good question. The UK Liberal-Democrat party claims to exist outside of left-right lines but since the Iraq war has actually shifted to the left of Labour on a lot of issues.\n\nIn the United States, 'liberal' seems to be a word that more people use to tag their enemies than people apply to themselves. It seems generall y to apply to social freedoms - being pro-choice, pro-immigration, pro-civil rights, etc. Economically, well I think American liberals used to be seen as spending-happy, but they run tighter budgets than conservatives these days.\n\nIn Canada, the (federal) Liberal party was once described by one if its leaders as the 'radical middle' - firmly centrist. But being pro-gay marriage, anti-Iraq-war and pro-cannabis-legalisation puts it quite on the left by American standards.\n\nAdditionally, the provincial Liberal parties are often significantly to the right of the federal equivalent (especially BC, arguably Québec, historically Ontario).\n\nIn France it seems to mean rampantly capitalist. Worried about only economic freedom at the expense of social welfare.\n\nI think the Australian Liberal party is right-of-centre and the Japanese Lib Dems are too.
470461
Liberals (Democrats) as they're called in the States are actually not followers of traditional liberalism. Classical liberalism is more closely followed by Libertarians and some factions of the Republican party. Extreme liberalism can be seen in some forms of anarcho-capitalism or anarchy. Just so you know.\n\nAnyway, conservatives are for the protection of a traditional way of life, of the status quo, of stability. Conservatives are therefore against any social upheaval or change. Conservatives feel that too much change is dangerous, destabilizing, and ultimately the death of a society, and that a strong government is needed to protect the people, even if it means restricting freedom somewhat.\n\nModerates see the value in both. They agree that change is necessary and that freedom is important and that both can be beneficial, but that full-blown anarchy is not desirable and that the government can actually help the protection of freedom.
894201
Liberal-Democrat \n\nHell yeah!! Go Democrats!!\nNow we are in control.
824480
This is actually close to the description I use to illustrate the basic difference between Republicans and Democrats:\n\nDemocrats will help feed the people fish.\nRepublicans will teach people to fish.\n\nThis philosophy is kind of a touchstone on how to think about the parties. Democrats are all about the individual, providing for one person at a time, reading to them. Republicans want to help the larger class of people, thus will provide teaching to help the people make their own way.
775400
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.
1012891
In order to understand the differences between the two parties, you would have to understand the history of the two parties. The Democratic party has been around the longest and has had the largest influence in passing the New Deal Legislation proposed by Franklin Roosevelt which you may or may not know as social legislation or Socialism. The Democratic party has always stood for the common man against the abuses of Corporations in the workplace and has looked to Government to help regulate the activities of those persons and government that abuse and opress others.\n\nRepublicans have always looked to limit Government so that business and people do not have to live under a tyranical Government that opresses the people by overburdening the people with legislation.\n\nWhile these two opposing idealisms would seem to work very well together in a political environment, these ideals have been blurred lately. The reason for this is not because of a basic problem with Republicans or Democrats, but rather our social law form and our debt system of money. What you are experiencing when you believe that our country is being ripped apart, is the weight of our monetary system that is starting to crash down on us. Neither side can help what has been placed in 1913, and all they can do is put bandaid after bandaid on the problems until our country will eventually crash under the weight of its own burdens. \n\nFor more information go to Wikpedia and read up on New Deal Legislation, Republican Party, Democratic Party and Federal Reserve System to understand how each operates.\n\nHope that helps your question.
407230
A "little-d democrat" is someone who supports the idea of democratic government. Such people come with all sorts of views on economics, from laissez-faire capitalist to Marxist communist. But I think you actually mean "Big-D Democrat", as in a member of the Democratic Party.\n\nOn economic theory, the Democratic Party is a mixed bag. Some of us are more laissez-faire capitalist than Bush and Cheney, most of us (myself included) support regulated capitalism (with significantly more regulation than most Republicans like). \n\nA full-fledged socialist believes that society, i.e. the government, should control most or all means of production. Actual socialists are pretty thin on the ground in US politics. Most notable is Congressman Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He runs as an Independent, but caucuses (meets to plan strategy) with the Democrats in the House of Representatives.
690408
The Democrats and the Republicans are the two major political parties in this country.  Republicans are universally recognized as more conservative (enact fewer laws that change things radically or even slightly and tax less and interfere with moral issues far more e.g. abortion) than Democrats who are considered much more liberal (tax more to fund many more sweeping changes; a rather laissez faire "anything goes" approach to morality).  The same sort of alignment is found in other countries, take England where the Labor party is the more liberal counterpart of our Democrats.\n\nWithin the Democratic Party there are some conservatives and many middle-of-the-roaders.  Conversely among the Republicans are some liberals and many middle-of-the-roaders as well.  Beginning in the last half of the 20th Century the present party status began to form with the Democrats being gradually considered more and more liberal and the Republicans more and more conservative until by 1980 the present battlelines were drawn. So the question as you asked it doesn't fit exactly . . . There is NO difference between liberals and SOME Democrats and a few Republicans; and there is a huge difference between liberals and other Democrats and even more Republicans.  \n\nThe strangest thing is that up until about 1947 when Harry Truman splintered his party (the Democrats) by standing up for civil rights for the Black servicemen returning from World War II and the Dixiecrats were formed to oppose him, up until that time the Republicans were the liberals and the Democrats were the conservatives with their power bases in the North east and the South respectively.  After all, the most radical change in American life was created during the first Republican administration in history:  Abraham Lincoln's.  \n\nToday the south and the west are the bastions of conservatism and the north east and heavy industrial states are the centers of liberal thought.  Labor unions tend to be the biggest supporters of liberal candidates and business and merchants of the conservative ones.\n\nIn general, Liberals are easily criticized as too eager to tax and too impractical in their legislation, too eager to align with so-called fringe groups (gays and lesbians, for example). Conservatives nowadays are seen as too eager to align themselves with the interests not just of business but especially of big business, too willing to legislate morality, too closely in touch with religious groups that would for example undo Roe vs. Wade. One last comment:  some people call liberals leftists, that is aligned with socialism or even communism; and conservatives right-wingers, that is aligned with the status quo and keeping the rich and powerful, rich and powerful.\n\nIn my opinion the best of both possible worlds is found in the Libertarian Party which espouses very low taxes, strong national defense and simple practical public works projects with no interference in private lives.  Conservative fiscally and on national defense; non-interfering in most other ways.  I hope this helped.  Good luck.
590590
Left is Democrats; Far-Left are Liberals.\n\nRight is Republicans; Far-Right are Conservative Republicans\n\n\nHave a good day!\nA Far-Right Republican
960143
the difference is that the republicans are far to the right of the majority of Americans on most significant issues and the democrats are far to the right of the majority of American on most significant  issues. that is the difference. no seriously there wasn't a big difference until the neocons started their caveman shtick.\n\nthose issues like immigration and gay marriage are distractions. elections are run by the PR industry... the same people that sell toothpaste. the point is to divert you away from issues like health care reform. polls show most people would support something resembling a single payer health care system... like they have in most european countries and Canada. where are the dems and reps on that? up each others butt. the insurance lobby pays a ton of money to candidates in both parties to keep health care reform off the agenda. that's why you see so many controversial bills pass with no debate. because they know the population would be opposed.\n\ndoes anyone remember the big debate about NAFTA? or the Telecommunications act? both of these were done under the Clinton administration.
184438
Democrats believe that  we need big government to solve problems. Republicans believe people can solve problems if government will leave them alone and stop taxing them so much. Dem's are likely to believe unions are a good thing, Republicans are likely to believe that small businessmen are the backbone of our nation. Dem's want someone to take care of them. Rep want the chance to do for themselves. I hope this answer will help you to see the difference.