What is the difference between Democrats and Republicans and what are the similarities?

MorkandMindy

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The key difference between the Republican and Democratic parties has to be the voters, whom they will support and whom they won't.

I think I have some understanding of this because in 2016 I switched from Democratic to Republican, but I'm usually surprised by the different takes others people have on the same thing.
 
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HTacianas

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The key difference between the Republican and Democratic parties has to be the voters, whom they will support and whom they won't.

I think I have some understanding of this because in 2016 I switched from Democratic to Republican, but I'm usually surprised by the different takes others people have on the same thing.

Republicans only care about themselves. Democrats only care about power.
 
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Mantishand

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Democrats: Big government is good, guns are bad, tax tax tax, save the earth, lie lie lie

Republicans: Big government is bad, guns are good, tax tax tax(to a lesser extent), The earth is fine, lie lie lie
 
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MorkandMindy

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People have a large variety of personality attributes - conscientiousness and openness are two in the 'Big Five' that Republicans and Democrats differ on, neither one being right or wrong in an absolute sense but the value of each will depend on the situation.

In a society where there is little change, the Dark Ages, perhaps, openness to new ideas would be pretty pointless and when people live their entire lives in one area a person's reputation as being conscientious would be of great value.

Today the situation is somewhat different, so that means a slightly different balance. To be totally open to any and all ideas is going to be very confusing and to be totally closed to any ideas you don't already hold will prevent you from learning anything, so I think it is apparent than nobody can be either entirely conservative or entirely progressive, it's more a question of the right balance.
 
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Ricky M

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They both take their orders from the same source (satan), and they both end up at the same conclusion (the antichrist).

Democrats support a sexual free-for-all, abortion, and the abdication of personal responsibility

Republicans support the worship of mammon, greed, and the hording of wealth at the expense of the middle and the poor.

Don't support either one.
 
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Albion

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I find that Democratic voters are more oriented towards big ideas, whether practical or not. They feature that they are idealists, therefore. Republicans have ideals as well--the free market, reduction of the control of the federal government over daily life, love of country, etc., BUT they also have a strong practical streak.

They appreciate concepts but also know that almost everything that is good in principle cannot stand if it is taken to extremes. Sorta like fluoride or water--the one prevents cavities but will kill you if taken in excess; and the other is wonderful for quenching your thirst but floods are not particularly beneficial!

So also with immigration, the never-ending additions to the national debt, government regulations on business, and so on.
 
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Kaon

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The key difference between the Republican and Democratic parties has to be the voters, whom they will support and whom they won't.

I think I have some understanding of this because in 2016 I switched from Democratic to Republican, but I'm usually surprised by the different takes others people have on the same thing.

The difference is only within the general public.

Politicians play a role, exploiting our prejudices and worries, that appeals to our sentiments. The duality is in our head for the purposes of distraction. Since we are emotional entities, keeping us against us by false dichotomies is the best way to control a population (because the people do the work).

That's all; the politicians you think are enemies are enemies for your entertainment. In reality, they are at least business partners, and in general friendly associates (e.g. the Clintons and Trump).
 
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Kaon

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They both take their orders from the same source (satan), and they both end up at the same conclusion (the antichrist).

Democrats support a sexual free-for-all, abortion, and the abdication of personal responsibility

Republicans support the worship of mammon, greed, and the hording of wealth at the expense of the middle and the poor.

Don't support either one.

Yes, we forget all the order of this plane of existence is under a god the Word of God told us about - a false god that cannot be good. So, why would politics be an exception? Would this "prince of this world" let someone come to power that doesn't fit its agenda?

We are told in Daniel that this entity would have knowledge of who forsakes the holy covenant, so it knows who will work for it.
 
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MorkandMindy

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Democrats: Big government is good, guns are bad, tax tax tax, save the earth, lie lie lie

Republicans: Big government is bad, guns are good, tax tax tax(to a lesser extent), The earth is fine, lie lie lie

The lies are what has always irked me, particularly lies from the media which many people despite the evidence, continue to believe and use as the 'factual basis' on which to base their decisions. One person I know raised the point: 'how else do I know what is going on?'.

It really doesn't matter how bad we know the media is, people will continue to believe it.

There have been a number of TED talks in which the audience have expressed opinions and the speaker has provided the actual data which runs exactly contrary to the commonly held beliefs.

The same problem as besets the media of wanting to get attention and therefore exaggerating or being flatly wrong, also affects TED talks, but there are umpteen comments below so they get caught out if they tell porkies.

How not to be ignorant about the world
 
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mark46

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I hesitate to state the differences between the current parties.

I would have had no problem before Trump. But now, the ideas of former leaders of the Republican Party are not acceptable: the ideas of Reagan, Bush, Bush, Bush, Dole, McCain, Romney, Kasick are all too far to the left for the current party. The obvious example is that before Trump, the Republican Party stood for smaller government and lower federal deficits and debt. Now government spending is fine as long the expenditures helps Trump and his allies. A trillion tax cut would have been impossible before Trump.

Also, it is difficult to make believe that the current Republican Party believes in consistent policies, other than whatever Trump states that he wants today. I'm not criticizing; he has the support of 94% of his party. Almost by definition, a transactional politician cannot be pinned down with regard to doctrine.
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Until Trump, certainly before 911, the US had a consistent foreign policy, and a domestic party based on compromise. IMO, this worked very well between 1980 and 2000; that is, from Reagan through Bush, Clinton, and Bush Jr. I could also say that I believed the system worked well from 1960 onward, but there were lots of crises in the 60's and 70's, ones that we are still recovering from (especially in the Middle East).
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We might consider that we once spoke of declining deficits and retiring the debt. Under Eisenhower and Clinton, we even had a couple of years of budget surpluses.
 
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Albion

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I hesitate to state the differences between the current parties.

I would have had no problem before Trump. But now, the ideas of former leaders of the Republican Party are not acceptable: the ideas of Reagan, Bush, Bush, Bush, Dole, McCain, Romney, Kasick are all too far to the left for the current party.
I would argue that the same ideals are in vogue as before, but Trump has actually put them into practice. Most of these other "leaders" (Kasich?) you mentioned talked a good game but it was just talk.
 
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mark46

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You believe that Trump has put the economic principles of the Republican Party into practice? Wow, just wow.

Before Trump, Republicans were against protectionism, favored globalization, were against high deficits, and of course, were against tariffs.

I believe that many Wall Street Republicans, and free traders will have no problem at all putting lots of support behind Bloomberg, and perhaps even Biden.
 
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Albion

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Before Trump, Republicans were against protectionism, favored globalization, were against high deficits, and of course, were against tariffs.
Yes, but it is no secret that the tariffs you are referring to were essentially a bargaining chip, not an overall policy. And we also have seen it relaxed when results were forthcoming.

As for the deficits, Trump isn't happy about allowing another trillion or two, but in order to rebuild the sorely depleted military, he felt it necessary to approve Congress' budget. Even with the increases since 2016, the growth of the national debt has slowed dramatically, so that's not to be overlooked.

Currently, the administration is proposing substantial budget cuts other than for the military, and we will see how the House of Representatives likes that. Of course, we already know how it will respond.

I believe that many Wall Street Republicans, and free traders will have no problem at all putting lots of support behind Bloomberg, and perhaps even Biden.
Could be.
 
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iluvatar5150

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Even with the increases since 2016, the growth of the national debt has slowed dramatically

lol, wut? That's just objectively false. The amount by which the debt grows every year is the annual deficit. Both in terms of real dollars and as a percentage of GDP, the deficit has grown every year that Trump has been in office. Not only has it been growing, but the amount by which it's been growing (measured either in real dollars or percentage of GDP) has increased every year. IOW, contrary to your assertion, the growth of the national debt has accelerated.

US Federal Deficit as Percent of GDP - plus charts and analysis
 
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mark46

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In a sense, Trump has no overall policy. So, in that sense, tariffs (and everything else) represent bargaining chips.

If Trump has believed one thing consistently for decades, it is in his positions on trade. He believes the trade deficits are wrong and to be avoided, and that globalization is terrible for the American worker. He believes that the American worker and America jobs should be protected. And yes, he believes in tariffs as a tool to equal the playing field and reduce both trade and the disparity between exports and imports with an individual country.

These trade positions have had little support except for the far left of the Democratic Party and from the Buchanan wing of the Republican Party.
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I am surprised at your analysis, since Republicans have been very clear and consistent with regard to trade policy for several decades.

Yes, but it is no secret that the tariffs you are referring to were essentially a bargaining chip, not an overall policy. And we also have seen it relaxed when results were forthcoming.
.
 
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jayem

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To me, the most striking differences between the 2 parties are demographic. Pew Research did a study on this. The link has the details. But it can summarized by describing the archetypal
voter:

Republican: Older white man, living in a rural or exurban area, without a college degree.

Democrat: Younger woman, either white or other race, urbanite, college educated.

These personal differences are the most fundamental ones. The political differences are essentially consequences of these.

Wide Gender Gap, Growing Educational Divide in Voters’ Party Identification

Edited to add: Forgot to include another important characteristic:

Reublican: More traditionally religious.

Democrat: Less religious.
 
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TLK Valentine

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Assuming for the moment that both parties want what's best for America but simply have different approaches, I tend to believe that the Republican philosophy involves helping America from the top down -- help the rich, and the prosperity will trickle down to the poor, improving their lot.

The Democrat philosophy involves helping America from the bottom up -- take care of the poorest and weakest and they will rise up and be able to do more.

Both philosophies have serious flaws -- they each assume a naive view of human nature, and their respective adherents seem to think they're mutually exclusive.

The Republican mindset also has a deep veneration for the past and for tradition, while the Democrats tend to be looking forward for the Next Big Thing. Perhaps both parties would be better off looking at the here and now?
 
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grasping the after wind

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The obvious example is that before Trump, the Republican Party stood for smaller government and lower federal deficits and debt.

Funny how when in power they never made the government smaller, lowered the deficit or dealt with the debt. Were they really for those things or just giving them lip service? Trump is just a symptom of the disease spread by the leaders of both parties. The Democrats and Republican politicians have continually made promises that neither has seriously tried to keep. Republicans in the past, and Democrats now, in the House, take show votes like those the Republicans took on Obamacare when they know that those votes will not mean anything but when there is a chance to do what they promised suddenly they find it impossible to do so. Is it any wonder rank and file Republicans rejected the all talk/ no walk Republicans in favor of the guy that actually has tried to do what he promised to do.
 
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mark46

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The Republican mindset also has a deep veneration for the past and for tradition, while the Democrats tend to be looking forward for the Next Big Thing. Perhaps both parties would be better off looking at the here and now?

hmmm

the big thing?

I would submit that the policies of Roosevelt, as followed up by Humphrey in his 1948 convention speech and career has been the core of the Democratic Party since 1930. Yes, the current improvement in the lot of the disenfranchised and poor could be called the "next big thing". Things like Social Security, welfare, unemployment insurance, civil rights, voting rights, Medicare, prison reform, and access to affordable healthcare.

I would argue that the leadership of the Democratic Party wants to restore Obamacare and extend it to have a public option, to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, provide access to drug treatment, and to extend civil rights to law enforcement and prisons. I would submit that these views on current issues are indeed continuing the traditions of the Democratic Party. Personally, I would like to see the Republican Party continue their traditions developed from 1930 through 2008.
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I agree that occasionally the parties become captive to various wings of their party, outside the traditions of the last 90 years. Democratic socialism is the current call from the Democratic left. American First is the call from the populist/nationalist right of the Republican Party.
 
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