[BroJoeK]

central_va: "Paragraphs are your friend..."

FLT-bird: "The parties have both changed dramatically - as has America - as has the world in 150 years.
150 years ago Southern Democrats were the party of small government, balanced budgets and decentralized power."

Are you kidding?
150 years ago Southern Democrats were the party of anti-American traitors at war against the United States Constitution, the party of Black Codes, Jim Crow, KKK, segregation and all that nonsense.

But let's be fair to the Democrats, let's go back to their Day One in power in Washington, DC., in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson inherited the Federalist government spending around $9 million per year & national debt of $83 million.
Over the following 60 years (1801 to 1861) there were 13 4-year Democrat administrations in which Federal spending increased an average of 25% per administration, such that by the end of the Buchanan Democrat administration in 1861, Federal spending had risen from $10 million under Jefferson to $80 million under Buchanan.

There were also two Whig administrations, in which Federal spending fell, on average 16%.
Over those 60 Democrat years, the national debt rose (mainly due to wars) and fell (especially under Jackson) such that the $82 million debt Jefferson inherited ended at $90 million under Buchanan.
National debt rose by $10 million under the first Whig administration, fell $3 million under the second.

So all claims that Democrats were somehow more frugal, small government or balanced budget are pure nonsense.
It was only actually true in their own political propaganda.

What Democrats undeniably were is more warlike:

1. Against Federalist opposition Democrats declared war on Britain in 1812.

2. Against Whig opposition, Democrats declared war against Mexico in 1846.

3. Against Republican opposition, Democrats declared war against the United States in 1861.

And that is not even to mention dozens of other minor military actions, from Barbary Pirates & Florida to Trail of Tears.

[FLT-bird]

Are you kidding? 150 years ago Southern Democrats were the party of anti-American traitors at war against the United States Constitution, the party of Black Codes, Jim Crow, KKK, segregation and all that nonsense.

Are you kidding? 150 years ago Southern Democrats were the party of limited government, balanced budgets and state's rights. Black Codes were what was on the books in the Northern states. Jim Crow was implemented later and was modeled on the Black Codes. The traitors to the constitution were Lincoln and the Northern Republicans. States are sovereign. The union is based on consent.But let's be fair to the Democrats, let's go back to their Day One in power in Washington, DC., in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson inherited the Federalist government spending around $9 million per year & national debt of $83 million. Over the following 60 years (1801 to 1861) there were 13 4-year Democrat administrations in which Federal spending increased an average of 25% per administration, such that by the end of the Buchanan Democrat administration in 1861, Federal spending had risen from $10 million under Jefferson to $80 million under Buchanan.

Those were the Democratic Republicans. The Democrat Party was founded by Andrew Jackson decades later.There were also two Whig administrations, in which Federal spending fell, on average 16%. Over those 60 Democrat years, the national debt rose (mainly due to wars) and fell (especially under Jackson) such that the $82 million debt Jefferson inherited ended at $90 million under Buchanan. National debt rose by $10 million under the first Whig administration, fell $3 million under the second. So all claims that Democrats were somehow more frugal, small government or balanced budget are pure nonsense. It was only actually true in their own political propaganda.

What was the federal government spending most of its budget on? Aside from national defense which it didn't spend very much on, the vast majority was for infrastructure projects and corporate subsidies. Most of that spending was directed towards the Northern states even though it was the federal tariff paid overwhelmingly by Southerners which generated the lion's share of all federal revenues. Look at the state budgets of the Southern states. They were small and balanced.What Democrats undeniably were is more warlike: Against Federalist opposition Democrats declared war on Britain in 1812.

False. The Democrat party did not even exist then Against Whig opposition, Democrats declared war against Mexico in 1846.

Yes they did after Mexican troops killed American soldiers in US territory. Against Republican opposition, Democrats declared war against the United States in 1861.

False. It was Lincoln who sent a heavily armed fleet of warships to invade Confederate territory.And that is not even to mention dozens of other minor military actions, from Barbary Pirates & Florida to Trail of Tears.

Beating the crap out of the Muslim Barbary Pirates was done in the early years of the republic before the Democrat party existed. The Trail of Tears and the Seminole Wars were under Democrat administrations mostly but then again, they held the presidency mostly in those years. The Republicans weren't at all averse to ethnic cleansing and genocide of native peoples as Lincoln, Grant et all amply demonstrated both during the War for Southern Independence and afterwards.