by Jack (inspired by Tina and Libby…thank you both!)
As you know the Republican Party was begun by Abraham Lincoln and it was the ONLY party of the time that championed the abolition of slavery. Democrats were the ONLY party that defended slavery. A few decades later it was the Republican Party that championed w omens right to vote (suffrage) – And once again Democrats were on the opposing side. Now let me list some other differences below.
Republicans fear that the government has too much control over corporations. Democrats fear that corporations have too much control over our government. Okay, that’s fairly close..but you’ll never go wrong by limiting government! Limited gov = more freedom!
Democrats believe it benefits all of us to help the weakest and the poorest among us and that wealth sharing (robbing the rich to give to needy and greedy alike) is a legit means to that end. Republicans believe it benefits all of us when businesses thrive and people can rise to their full potential as creative, hard working entrepreneurs who create jobs and bring us the best in low cost, high quality products. Our car manufacturers were once the best in the world, but thanks to unions and costly over regulation, many went bankrupt and lots of good jobs were lost.
Republicans DO NOT believe large corporations will always do what is best for the American people if the government stays out of the way. Only a fool would think that. This is a myth 100% created by Democrats. Republicans at NO time have ever approved of corporations having unlimited power or becoming a monopoly that stifles free trade and competition. The Republican Hand Book as early as 1904 goes to great lengths to explain the difference between over-penalizing, over-regulating laws and laws that limit corporations from having undue influence and other ills. Democrats on the other hand are more emotion and less pragmatic. They tend to believe large corporations would disembowel you and sell your organs to the highest bidder if the government didn’t stop them! That is absurd as it is stupid, but many Democrats will swear its true.
Democrats believe everyone is entitled to health care regardless of their ability to pay and they are prepared to take the money from those who have wealth and use it to subsidize those who don’t, regardless of the reasons. Democrats don’t seem to be able to tell the difference between those who need a hand up and those who need a kick in the pants. Republicans DO recognize there are serious defects in the US healthcare system, but they also recognize a turn towards socialized medicine would damage the national economy and produce a healthcare system that is sub par compared to today’s standards. So, they seek to find a way to close loop holes to provide private, affordable health insurance to those currently in the gap, they are making too much money to be covered welfare and too little money to pay for private health insurance. Republicans have come up with many good healthcare plans that Democrats never let come out of committee.
Democrats believe too much of our money goes to crooked corporate executives who take government subsidies and pay themselves $80 million salaries. They are probably right too. But, Republicans don’t like that either..who does? Republicans are accused of being tougher on school teachers than corporate pirates, but its a lie and it’s another lie that they think too much of our tax money goes to teachers who make $30,000 a year. Sure, they DO believe that top heavy school systems and overpaid bureaucrats have impeded creativity and personal initiative and have virtually stolen money destined for the kids. They also see our finite tax dollars being wasted on too many incompetent teachers protected by unions. Republicans would rather spend tax money at the classroom level and on good teachers who need it and could put it to much better use. They like the idea of competition among schools to turn out a better product.
Democrats believe anything that helps the American people during a recession or a time of crisis is the true essence of patriotism, even if it’s pure socialism. Republicans believe anything that increases our indebtedness during a time of recession prolongs our misery and weakens the nation’s economy. They see no good coming from printing paper money in the trillions with nothing to back it up. They fear it risks inflation, weakens savings accounts for the individuals and runs up national debt that we can ill afford. Democrats don’t get it – they give themselves an unlimited line of credit and hope the bills won’t come due until they are dead and gone.
Democrats believe that we need to set the world’s highest standards for clean air and drinking water. Republicans believe we need clean and air and water too because they drink the same water and breath the same air, but they don’t want be reckless about it. They don’t think it’s necessary to draft irresponsible, draconian legislation that damages us far more than it helps us and weakens our position against the worlds competing economies.
Democrats say they believe the President and Congress need to work together to create jobs during a weak economy. That what they SAY…but not what they do. The President (democrat) digs in his heels, refuses to negotiate and place many budget items off limits even for discussion! Republicans believe that Congress should block any legislation that threatens freedom, leads to socialism and more government power and more debt. Democrats don’t see any problems here. The Republicans encourage the President to lead, but they are chagrined when he hasn’t even submitted a budget in the last 6 years he’s been in office. That’s not leadership and then he blames Republicans for gridlock.
Democrats believe that corporate polluters should be made to pay for the cleanup of their pollution, no matter how costly or unnecessary. Republicans believe that making corporations clean up their pollution is fair in almost all cases, but that purely punitive damages sometimes get so excessive it leads to bankruptcy and that serves nobody, but the lawyers doing the suing. When corporations go broke the cleanup costs are put back on the taxpayers and people suddenly lose jobs only to become another burden. Republicans think bankrupting corporations without seeking other solutions first is just plain stupid. Democrats middle name is stupid.
Democrats believe our health care system exists solely for the purpose of making people healthy, regardless of their immigration status or affordable cost. They would place the cost of this all on credit cards, rather than seek co-pay type solutions or ship the illegals out of the country. “Republicans believe our health care system exists solely for the purpose of making a healthy profit”, a total myth inspired by Sol Alinsky and the cold war propaganda. But, I threw it in because Dems actually say this !
Democrats believe high paying government salaries leads to high quality representation. They also like to segregate people of color into racial caucuses. They believe people working with their own kind can find solutions better solutions than multiracial efforts. Republicans believe in our great melting pot concept and think these that race based caucuses perpetuate the thinking along lines of color. They see this as keeping racism alive. Republicans would rather see a grass roots, citizen, based Congress and Senate and not career politicians. Republican’s embrace the grass roots like the Tea Party, Democrats embrace populism, which is quite another thing. In the latter they like people to think government knows whats best for them and then they buy their loyalty by using the people’s own money. Republicans do NOT believe corporations are the people, but they do recognize that people make up corporations!
Democrats believe that corporations have too much influence over Congress due to their lobbyists and huge campaign contributions. They should know too, because far more Democrats have been arrested for taking bribes than Republicans. Republicans believe the middle class needs more influence over Congress, but they too have been reluctant to take money out of political decisions. Both party’s are therefore guilty of allowing money undue influence and this needs to be fixed now!
Democrats believe we need to file lawsuits against corporations in order to correct some bad behaviors, but moreover it’s used to intimidate them into wealth shifting. Republicans believe we need to protect large corporations from frivolous lawsuits because we sue our jobs providers to death. They know we sue far more than any other nation in the world and it winds up costing everyone, especially the poor who can’t afford to pay even pennies more. Democrats don’t get it.
Democrats believe that the rich should be taxed until they resemble the middle class. Republicans think that steals away incentives to seek excellence and prosperity. They believe that government should get out of the way whenever possible and let people keep as much of their personal wealth as possible to spend as they see fit.
Democrats believe that too much money in politics produces corruption and destroys the American way of life. Republicans believe are ready to accept money as an undue influence and limit it’s access to politics. Again, both sides are guilty of abuses here (see above comments).
That pretty well sums our differences, although I see myself as a conservative and hope that my old GOP will return to support more of the traditional values I now embrace and our founders embraced.
Tina I borrowed heavily from the great things you say every day here and Libby…well, I’m just repeating what you say about the Republicans. There’s quite a contrast isn’t there? lol
I find very little truth in this.
The parties are no longer the same as they were in Lincolns era. The GOP now defends slavery, but it really means by class. They love the way communist China runs and defends tax cuts to move jobs overseas especially communist China. That is a national security issue as well.
As an Independent I can say your representation of your arch enemy the Democrats is dead wrong. I know many from both parties.
Truth be told the Koch’s are buying out both parties.
Where are the jobs? Turn over the products you buy and look where they are made.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/on-politicians-calling-lincoln-the-founder-of-the-republican-party/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-platform-through-the-years-shows-partys-shift-from-moderate-to-conservative/2012/08/28/09094512-ed70-11e1-b09d-07d971dee30a_story.html
By the way Americans are repossessing our flag and our Eagle. They stand for all of us not the Koch Tea Party.
Now want a view of politics today? Look at Chris Christie’s office. His bold face lies and …..watch us bust him. He has been proven to be a liar. Maddow has been on story since December with the Bergen Recorder.
Christie is one cooked goose, but the look inside a Koch Brothers Governor is more valuable than the NJ tool.
Tuesday she proved he was a liar and there is no way to say different. The new Koch GOP on display.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/15/1269754/-Rachel-Maddow-Destroys-Any-Credibility-Chris-Christie-Might-Think-He-Still-Has?detail=email
The transcription of his 2002 hidden meeting with the kochs is available for all to see.
Dewey, do you realize how often you refer to the Koch brothers? No offense, but you’re obsessing. The Koch brothers have about .000478% to do with our day to day politics, yet you spending 90% of your life here talking about them and how they are destroying America. That’s really fanatical Dewey. Please take a step back and see what you are doing and how obsessed you are with these alleged villians of limitless power.
The differences in the parties cannot be highlighted enough.
People don’t seem to realize the extent to which radical democrats now in leadership will go in this quest to fundamentally transform America. They are truly behaving like tin hat dictators.
This is serious business. Freedom is a basic American value. We are losing it with every new law and regulation that is written into law. Complex, loop hole filled laws and regulations give bureaucrats in government the power to punish and fine indiscriminately.
Think about it. There are millions of pages of law and regulation. How many of them directly contradict another? Does anyone even know the answer to that? Of course not!
Regulations on both citizens and companies should be simple, easy to understand, and easy to execute. We do not need complexity and vagaries in the law. Our tax reporting should be at least as simple as registering a vehicle, for instance. Who in business doesn’t understand that safe working conditions will save limbs, lives…and money? How stupid do you have to be to know that companies that are required to spend millions on lawyers to help them comply with confusing laws pass that cost on to consumers?
So yes, the freedom to spend our time and money as we see fit, within reasonable constraints, is vital to the American experience and our government has been gobbling up our freedoms in bits and pieces for decades. Every new generation is completely unaware of how much the generation before has relinquished to the power hungry left and the hapless right. Useless and wasteful hindrances diminish and blunt the experience of freedom and cross over the constitutional mandate that power should reside in the people.
The right to own property is also fundamental to our continued well being and the freedoms we are guaranteed. Ownership is key to creating the sense of vitality and the pursuit of happiness from whence comes great opportunity and prosperity for every citizen.
The people must re-discover the Constitution. We must once again learn to closely guard the rights that make each of us masters of our own fates. Spending by the people, including charitable spending, is by far more productive and less wasteful. Spending by individuals is more invigorating, more creative, and more compassionate.
Spending and redistribution in Washington is wasteful and cold. It has has been out of control under legislators and leaders of both parties for decades. This trend toward socialism has been accepted by the masses who believe they are doing good or who believe they are personally benefiting. But we have accepted this without counting the cost!
The money we make through our labors, savings and investments are our personal property in the same way that our vehicles are our property. It’s incredible how we so willingly send our dollars to Washington even though they have proven to be very poor managers of it. Would we do the same were they to suddenly begin confiscating our vehicles to give to those less fortunate? Do we really believe that taking property from more productive citizens so government can give the people fish is smart when they also take our property to educate…and fail? Why are we not teaching so that our citizens can fish? People can learning to fish and teach the children to fish…have we forgotten who we are?
Democrats don’t believe all people are capable of learning to fish. Isn’t that bigoted…and possibly racist?
Republicans believe every human being has the ability and potential to contribute something. Republicans recognize that we don’t all have the same skills or ambition so they believe we should encourage the best in everyone and rely on each other to help out those who need help. Republicans strive to write laws that allow people to reach for their dreams and strive to achieve. It is the party that more closely aligns with the ideals of freedom and property rights.
Socialism has wormed its way into our society by design of the democrat party because people don’t really get they are giving up their fundamental rights…the very thing that assures they will not become serfs or slaves of relentlessly demanding government.
But once awakened, Americans usually become fierce patriots. And I guess that’s why we are here every day doing our best to highlight the differences and champion the republic…power vested in the people…the greatest idea for government ever devised.
Sorry this was sorta rambling…its that kind of morning.
Tina;
With all due respect the Koch’s always come up cause they are always funding corruption.
1 The Koch’s have spent millions buying out out judges, Politicians, and laws. The Koch’s even buy the right to approve hiring at our Universities.
The Koch’s are behind Citizens United and buy our laws. While there are about 50 others they have been at the forefront of corruption.
I suspect you actually know all this and play it down. Koch’s are bullies and organized crime to take down Democracy.
Next you act like America is a pure wall street capitalist country. No America is a Democratic Republic where we balance Capitalism and Socialism.
Money is not our God. Money is what we use to trade for services and goods.
America was not formed by wall street.
Limitless power? They buy it.
Chris Christy scandal leads right to the Koch’s again. Maybe one should practice what they preach and see why millions of Americans are pissed at the Koch regime and their corruption. Add Foster Friees, Karl Rove and the rest.
http://koch-industries-organized-crime.blogspot.com/2011/10/david-koch-evidence-of-direct-tea-party.html
The political Parties are gone. GOP 100% gone and Dems barely hanging on.
Citizens United and foreign money in our elections seems to be OK?
We will take our flag, our eagle, and our citizens back from the Koch Tea Party. Democracy will win.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&
Too late Millions of us have been tracing the corruption. All ya have to do is follow the money.
And the Kochs are no good scoundrels at every corner with a long history and past by Fred Koch.
So why is it so bad if it is fact? Sorry the Tea Party is o more than the Koch Brothers leading people by the nose. Propaganda, and real Americans have had it.
Intellect, facts, and a willingness to fight for our freedom and Democracy is where the country is at.
I guess maybe Tea Party should just be honest for a change.
JFK 1961
”
Primary Resources: Conspiracy Theories Speech, 1961
Other Primary Resources
The president warns Americans against “crusades of suspicion.”
Conspiracy Theories Speech
November 18, 1961
In recent months I have spoken many times about how difficult and dangerous a period it is through which we now move. I would like to take this opportunity to say a word about the American spirit in this time of trial.
In the most critical periods of our nation’s history, there have always been those fringes of our society who have sought to escape their own responsibility by finding a simple solution, an appealing slogan, or a convenient scapegoat.
Financial crises could be explained by the presence of too many immigrants or too few greenbacks.
War could be attributed to munitions makers or international bankers.
Peace conferences failed because we were duped by the British or tricked by the French or deceived by the Russians.
It was not the presence of Soviet troops in Eastern Europe that drove it to communism, it was the sell-out at Yalta. It was not a civil war that removed China from the free world, it was treason in high places. At times these fanatics have achieved a temporary success among those who lack the will or the vision to face unpleasant tasks or unsolved problems.
But in time the basic good sense and stability of the great American consensus has always prevailed.
Now we are face to face once again with a period of heightened peril. The risks are great, the burdens heavy, the problems incapable of swift or lasting solution. And under the strains and frustrations imposed by constant tension and harassment, the discordant voices of extremism are heard once again in the land. Men who are unwilling to face up to the danger from without are convinced that the real danger comes from within. They look suspiciously at their neighbors and their leaders. They call for a ‘man on horseback’ because they do not trust the people. They find treason in our finest churches, in our highest court, and even in the treatment of our water. They equate the Democratic Party with the welfare state, the welfare state with socialism, and socialism with communism. They object quite rightly to politics’ intruding on the military — but they are anxious for the military to engage in politics.
But you and I and most Americans take a different view of our peril. We know that it comes from without, not within. It must be met by quiet preparedness, not provocative speeches.
And the steps taken this year to bolster our defenses — to increase our missile forces, to put more planes on alert, to provide more airlift and sealift and ready divisions — to make more certain than ever before that this nation has all the power it will need to deter any attack of any kind — those steps constitute the most effective answer that can be made to those who would sow the seeds of doubt and hate.
So let us not heed these counsels of fear and suspicion. Let us concentrate more on keeping enemy bombers and missiles away from our shores, and concentrate less on keeping neighbors away from our shelters. Let us devote more energy to organize the free and friendly nations of the world, with common trade and strategic goals, and devote less energy to organizing armed bands of civilian guerrillas that are more likely to supply local vigilantes than national vigilance.
Let our patriotism be reflected in the creation of confidence rather than crusades of suspicion. Let us prove we think our country great by striving to make it greater. And, above all, let us remember that, however serious the outlook, the one great irreversible trend in world history is on the side of liberty — and so, for all time to come, are we.”
Question why the Post Scripts media blackout on the Chris Christie scandal?Always on the proven useless Issa wasteful spending topics?
Christie may wiggle out with Koch help but there is a story on how Citizens United and a mafia style Gov is being formed.
As JFK warned China became communist by Treason at high levels. Now we are going down as well.
Tina: “Do we really believe that taking property from more productive citizens so government can give the people fish is smart when they also take our property to educate…and fail? Why are we not teaching so that our citizens can fish? People can learning to fish and teach the children to fish…have we forgotten who we are?”
And the most important question: Why are you talking like a Persian immigrant? 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYM7KWTI7Xk
Tina, if I recall, it’s the Democrats who are calling for debt relief for college students–some on the far left are saying college should be free to all. So how are they standing in the way of education?
I “learned to fish” because I received financial aid for college–aid that would have been reduced or flat-out eliminated under the Ryan plan. I couldn’t have gone to college without it. Tens of thousands of college students across the country couldn’t, either. This isn’t about giving away free fish. There’s no such thing as a free education. I worked just as hard as anyone else in college. Now I have a BA, a teaching credential and a good (albeit temporary, as far as I know) job, with many other job opportunities on the horizon.
So I don’t agree at all that Democrats are against teaching people to fish and Republicans are for it. Programs that help the poor give people like me opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have to learn and succeed.
Chris: “…if I recall, it’s the Democrats who are calling for debt relief for college students–some on the far left are saying college should be free to all. So how are they standing in the way of education?”
Training students to think like progressives is not education. Training poor people to accept inferior schools for their children and enticing them to a life of poverty is not education.
You would need to learn about the true heritage of your nation and its people to get it.
“I “learned to fish” because I received financial aid for college–aid”
See how you sell yourself short? See how you have caved to the leftist game?
You may have left poverty behind by getting that degree and teaching job but you are still stuck thinking like a victim. I think you always had the stuff to get to this point. One of my guys worked his way through college and got an EE degree. His mother was alone and elderly. If it was possible for him, it is possible that you could have done it too.
The second part of this is that college should not be this expensive. It is, in part, because colleges don’t have to manage money or the curriculum well simply because they can count on government money flowing into their coffers. Also because those who administrate and teach have forgotten their reason for getting into the business…they think they are rock stars or corporate heads. Teaching is work of service. The number of administrators with high salaries is also outrageous…another awards system.
I can’t believe that you think the tuition you paid is not too high. Its also a little crazy that once again we have a system where a bureaucrat establishes a scale for awarding college grants that leave families earning $1.00 more than yours don’t have the same advantage.
I think a system that keeps costs down to make it more affordable for anyone who wants to go would be better.
Dewey I have said what I have to say about the Koch brothers. I agree with Jack that you obsess about them and I also think you distort their participation and intention.
You also distort and misrepresent the opinions of the Tea Party and conservatives in general.
I would like to see you spend more time expressing your own thoughts or pointing us to articles you find interesting.
As for the Christie flap, this isn’t New Jersey. But the main thing is it isn’t at the top of my list in terms of importance and since this is a very busy time of year for me at work I have a lot less time to play on the blog.
I do find it typical that the left media is obsessing over Christie. It had already given the the story 17% more coverage by the 9th of January.
Tell me Dewey, how do Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Biden, Schummer and other powerful Democrats figure in your depiction of the formation a “mafia style Gov”? Also…what part does George Soros play?
Why do you not obsess about them?
Interesting report funded by Dewey’s favorite person, with very negative results for Christie’s New Jersey rating.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/01/17/state-in-the-worst-fiscal-condition-is/
There is one difference between the Democrats and Republicans that I don’t believe has been mentioned. It is a difference that stands out clearly in my mind. When Republicans want to promote a particular behavior they do so with a positive incentive like a tax break or tax credit. The Democrats do so with a penalty such as a tax. In many cases it is obvious why this is the case. The illogical of many of the Democratic causes require that they force compliance because there would be limited or no compliance even if there was a positive incentive.
Tina: “I can’t believe that you think the tuition you paid is not too high.”
I can’t believe that you think it’s OK to just make up ridiculous arguments in your head, and then apply them to your opponents when they never said any such thing.
This is called a strawman argument. It is unethical, and it makes you look like you don’t have any actual good arguments on your side. It also essentially serves as a big neon sign letting your opponent know that you’re either not interested or incapable of honestly engaging in a real discussion.
You have an ethical obligation to stop doing this.
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/strawman.html
Double WOW! A liberal constitutional expert icon is calling talking about the “I” word.
http://www.ijreview.com/2014/01/109908-liberal-icon-obama-destructive-dangerous-president-weve-ever/
“It is a difference that stands out clearly in my mind. When Republicans want to promote a particular behavior they do so with a positive incentive like a tax break or tax credit. The Democrats do so with a penalty such as a tax.”
Making the Republicans, actually, the permissive parents. Don’t you think that it’s irresponsible to bribe (usually industry) to do what any decent person would do of his own accord?
All government has always been about funneling resources to “you and yours”, whoever that may be: a monarch and his nobles, a party boss and his minions … whichever.
I checked out the villified Senator Tim Scott. (And it wasn’t really that bad: “A ventriloquist can always find a good dummy.” Our Pie gets much nastier than that.) On his Senate page, you can check out Senator Scott’s legislative agenda. He seems mostly interested in funneling public money into private schools.
I am very sad to report that there is a good deal of profiteering in the charter school movement. We’re not having it. You wanna profiteer, you go find private money to do it with.
Peggy … it’s me again. Nat Hentoff is a libertarian, not a liberal. This is an important distinction.
Geez.
Libby as always you twist facts into a pretzel you prefer.
If you liberals were any good at teaching there would be no need for charter schools and as long as you are going to hand out money like candy to any cause you see fit…private contraception and abortion for instance, then monies funneled to charter schools that are, in most cases, beating the tar put of the public schools in terms of actual learning is okay by me!
“… charter schools that are, in most cases, beating the tar put of the public schools in terms of actual learning is okay by me!”
Oh, yeah.
http://credo.stanford.edu/documents/UNEMBARGOED%20National%20Charter%20Study%20Press%20Release.pdf
And I quote:
“The 2013 CREDO study finds that charters in the original 16 states have made modest progress in raising student performance in both reading and mathematics, caused in part by the closure of 8 percent of the charters in those states in the intervening years since the 2009 report as well as declining performance in the comparison traditional public schools over the same period.”
Some more deep reading practice for you. Do you know what this paragraph says ?!? It says that if you take poorly performing students and EXPELL them from your charter schools … sending them back to the public schools … then YOU can claim to be more the effective educational institution.
But this is a LIE!
“If you liberals were any good at teaching there would be no need for charter schools and as long as you are going to hand out money like candy to any cause you see fit…private contraception and abortion for instance, then monies funneled to charter schools that are, in most cases, beating the tar put of the public schools in terms of actual learning is okay by me!”
Why not just say “I like when government gives money to people I like, and I don’t like when government gives money to people I don’t like,” and drop this whole “small-government, free market” facade?