i have been looking into the differences between the Democratic and Republican parties, historically, and as it pertains to this day and time, and i am having a little difficulty understanding them on some of the issues, especially as it pertains to free trade, and the more complicated foreign affair issues that tend to never really surface, and are never really put on the table, i suppose because for that very reason, they are complicated and difficult to understand, but having said that, is it not our responsibility to investigate these things and try to understand them so that we can vote more inteligibly?
this is the desire of this thread, not to get into the emotional contraversy seperating the two parties, but distinguishing exactly what those differences are, and allowing ourselves to decide our conscious based on the issues, instead of our individual opinions of the issues, or the politicians that are running...
i hope that those of you that are educated on the real differences, and the real issues that face us today, will contribute to this thread...
just a few generalizations: there is a tendacy for Republican view to be about less government, Democratic view, about more government involvement...in issues that hit close to home, especially health care...
some things are obvious; Republican platforms tend to want to give more say-so to the individual states, and individual Americans, in regards to health care, so they are not in favor of a Universal Health Care Plan, where as the Democrats tend to lean towards a more Governmently funded plan. it is not that the Republicans have a plan that does not require government funding, it just requires less, and gives Americans more of a choice in the matter. of course that is wonderful for the Americans that can afford it, but no so for the ones that cannot. Mccain wants to give every household a grant to help with the costs...not sure how that will work, and need to do some more investigating on toward that end, but historically, Republicans have leaned away from a socialist aspect, and Democrats more toward it...
of course their is the pro-life, pro-choice issue; Republican view supports pro-life, and Democratic view supports pro-choice...this has long been a very emotional controversy, and i am not suggesting that we explore the moral reasons behind it, but that we consider the effects on our Country as a whole, if the laws we now have are changed...
it is obvious that if Mccain gets into office, that he will appoint more conservative supreme Court Justices, and there will be the likelihood of Roe vs Wade being overturned, and back-ally abortions will become a reality again...this is what should be considered, not whether it is right or wrong, according to the pope or God, but how will it effect America as a whole...and ultimately every individual has the right to vote their conscious...
on the environmental issues, Republicans have long advocated that Global Warming is a farce...made up...and have discounted scientific reports for many years, and have continued to make America, more dependant on foreign oil than ever...even at the point of going to war to establish further rights to foreign oil...but, in all fareness, many Democrats went right along with it...voting every time in favor of it...now we can say their hands were tied, but that is not the entire truth...we can also say that the war on terror was used as a fear tactic to validate our need for oil, but then again...that would mean that everyone is stuck on stupid...lol...one thing that is certain, there will have to be gas caps on greenhouse emmissions, among other things, if we are going to go in the right direction, and achieve cleaner energy, and catch up with our own technology...
Democrats, on the other hand, have fought for cleaner energy...not hard enough, obviously, but i think they finally realize that this is the major issue we face today, and, in equal fairness, Republicans are beginning to admit also, that we must change the way we use energy...seems like the parties are actually coming together on this...
the economy is a real hot issue right now because gas and food prices, which are interconnected, are skyrocketing, and hitting America hard in their wallets...Americans are losing their homes, their jobs, and there is no end in sight. Democrats want to raise taxes for the rich, and give the middle class a break...Republicans say no...this is another issue that i am not to clear on yet...i mean, i know that there is no easy fix...America is going to have to change the way we live our lives, and it seems to all go back to energy and oil...Bush has suggested drilling for oil here in America; Mccain says no; he wants to protect our environment, and not drill in certain places that are national parks and wildlife refuges...where as the Democrats are pushing hard for biofuel, other ways of running our cars, and heating and cooling our homes...and the Republicans are also looking into this.
either way, jobs are going to be lost, but new jobs, from a thriving new prospect of new energy resources and technology will be gained...farming is going to make a comeback i think...and we will begin to depend upon our own resources and workers more and more...that is another big issue; American jobs being shipped overseas...and big coporations capitalizing on America's weaknesses...even in Iraq...right now, the companies are making big bucks...
the war...i look for this to be a very hot topic as we come closer to November...the Democrats want to begin bringing our troops home, Republicans say no...there are reasons for both ideas that seem to make sense...Republicans claim that if we bring our troops home to quickly, that Iran will take advantage of Iraq, and our milatary will not be there to help, and all that has been done in regards to Iraq obtaining Democracy would have been in vain. The Democrats, say that we need our troops elsewhere...that America faces more serious threats from Afghanistan, and Iran...and that is not the end of it...our involvement with Israel, and Palistine, Saudi Arabia, and it just gets more and more complicated...which i feel on this issue alone there is much that could be discussed...not in terms of who did what that got us here, but what direction should we take now...looking at it intelligently.
then there is the foreign affairs, Nato, and issues that are way beyond my understanding, free trade, blocking trade...jeeze!
then we have the hot imigration issues...which i am just beginning to understand, a little...
Historically, Republicans have been dominated by Christian beliefs; Democrats of course have been more liberal in those concerns, and instrumental in cival rights, gay rights, and womens rights...
our first Republican President, was Abraham Lincoln, who historically gets credit for freeing the slaves, but it should be understood that this was not the initial reason for our cival war...it was about power, industrial states vs. slave states.
if anyone has any knowledge concerning these issues, and can help me understand them better, by expanding on what i have posted, or correcting me where i may be mistaken, it would be much appreciated...
Sincerely, Star...
