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Democrats vs. Republicans There’s more than a dime’s worth of difference
Arizona Capital Times ^ | 25 October 2005 | John Semmens

Posted on 10/25/2005 12:47:48 PM PDT by John Semmens

Democrats vs. Republicans There’s more than a dime’s worth of difference

By John Semmens

Former Alabama governor and 1968 American Independent Party candidate for president, George Wallace, once said that there “isn’t a dime’s worth of difference” between Republicans and Democrats. Many people say they agree with that assessment. In order to assess the accuracy of this perception, I examined information on Arizona legislators’ voting records. Each year, the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers and the Goldwater Institute have made the effort to keep score on how our legislators are doing when it comes to taxes and spending. They review tax and spending bills and note how each legislator votes. The more often a legislator votes for lower taxes and spending the higher his or her percentage on these organizations’ scales.

Combining the ratings from both of these organizations we find that the average score for a Republican legislator is 69 percent. This is more than twice as high as the average score (27 percent) for a Democrat. The highest rated Republican was Rep. Russell Pearce, R-18, with a score of 89 percent.

The lowest scoring Republican, Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-8 at 45 percent was more taxpayer-friendly than the average Democrat. Only two Democrats, Sen. Ken Cheuvront, D-15 and Sen. Robert Cannell, D-24, scored higher with 54 percent and 46 percent, respectively. As the highest scoring Democrat, Sen. Cheuvront placed 52nd of 90 legislators. The lowest score for any Democrat was the 17 percent racked up by Rep. David Lujan, D-15.

Regardless of whether one shares the political philosophy of either the Goldwater Institute or the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, this type of data is useful. It can serve as a guide for voters of varying political philosophies and objectives.

If you think your taxes are too high and the government wastes too much of your money, you are more likely to get better results by voting for Republicans. If the Republican in your district scores above the average of Republicans statewide, you probably should support him or her for reelection in a primary. If the Republican in your district scores below the average of Republicans you may wish to vote for a challenger in the primary. Whichever Republican wins the primary, you are more likely to see lower taxes and less government spending by supporting virtually any Republican against virtually any Democrat in the general election.

If you think government needs to raise taxes in order to fund more government programs, you are more likely to get what you want by voting for Democrats. If the Democrat in your district scores below the average of Democrats statewide, you probably should support him or her for reelection in a primary. If the Democrat in your district scores above the average of Democrats statewide you may wish to vote for a challenger in the primary. Whichever Democrat wins the primary, you are more likely to see higher taxes and more government spending by supporting any Democrat against virtually any Republican in the general election.

When it comes to government taxing and spending, though, there is far more than a dime’s worth of difference. There are billions of dollars at stake. And the record shows that Democrats pretty consistently favor higher taxes and more government spending.

John Semmens writes a weekly satire called “Semi-News” that is published by azconservative.org. He also is an adjunct scholar with The Goldwater Institute.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democrats; republicans; spending; taxes

1 posted on 10/25/2005 12:47:49 PM PDT by John Semmens
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To: John Semmens

I will stay home the next time


2 posted on 10/25/2005 12:57:02 PM PDT by cope85
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To: John Semmens

"If you think your taxes are too high and the government wastes too much of your money, you are more likely to get better results by voting for Republicans"

Well, maybe the tax part is true so far... But the notion that the pubs are wasting less of our money?

LOL!


3 posted on 10/25/2005 1:03:25 PM PDT by Pessimist
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To: cope85
I will stay home the next time.

Because the "If-I-can't-win-it-all-I'll-just-take-my-ball-and-go-home" philosophy has ALWAYS worked so well!

4 posted on 10/25/2005 1:04:48 PM PDT by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: John Semmens
Anyone who really, truly thinks that if the RATS were in charge, it would not be much different is INSANE. And I do mean that literally. If you say it, I mean it.
5 posted on 10/25/2005 1:19:59 PM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: John Semmens
If you think government needs to raise taxes in order to fund more government programs, you are more likely to

be a complete moron.

6 posted on 10/25/2005 1:24:26 PM PDT by Doomonyou (FR doesn't suffer fools lightly.)
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To: Doomonyou

be a complete moron.>>>>>>>>

I totally agree, on the other hand I have been struggling to grasp the concept of an INCOMPLETE moron.


7 posted on 10/25/2005 1:49:55 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Acceptance of irrational thinking is expanding exponentiallly.)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
Because the "If-I-can't-win-it-all-I'll-just-take-my-ball-and-go-home" philosophy has ALWAYS worked so well!

He who owns the ball makes the rules.

8 posted on 10/25/2005 2:06:57 PM PDT by Between the Lines (Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only gospel anyone reads.)
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To: John Semmens

There's a bit more than a dime's worth of difference - in fact, a pattern emerges.

FDR: Surrounds himself with the likes of Harry Dexter White, Alger Hiss, Harry Hopkins, all Soviet Spies. Hand Stalin the atomic bomb on a platter. Once nuclear armed, Stalin starts the Korean war.

Truman: Sees the Venona cables that proves Hiss was a Soviet spy, refuses to denounce him publicly but supports him instead.

Clinton: Visits the Soviet Union as a student in England, no explanation for who financed the trip. Joined anti-American protests while in England. Sold nuclear missile technology to the Communist Chinese for cash campaign contributions laundered through corrupt Indonesian
businessmen.


9 posted on 10/25/2005 2:07:24 PM PDT by KamperKen
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To: cope85
That's idiotic!

But, perhaps, if you stay here, you will become educated and see just why that is folly.

10 posted on 10/25/2005 2:10:36 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: RipSawyer

It is a fine line!


11 posted on 10/25/2005 2:29:10 PM PDT by Doomonyou (FR doesn't suffer fools lightly.)
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To: cope85

If you stay home, then shut-up. If you can't get off your ass to vote, you have no opinion worth hearing.


12 posted on 10/25/2005 2:32:59 PM PDT by Redleg Duke (9/11 - "WE WILL NEVER FORGET!")
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To: John Semmens

I'd love to see a simliar comparison on the federal level. I bet the results will be radically different.


13 posted on 10/25/2005 2:43:22 PM PDT by thoughtomator
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To: Pessimist
Well, maybe the tax part is true so far... But the notion that the pubs are wasting less of our money?

All politicians spend at least as much as they get. Tax rate cuts increase revenue for the gov't. More to spend!

14 posted on 10/25/2005 2:56:31 PM PDT by speekinout
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To: thoughtomator

I am working on that.

The results are similar--Democrats are far bigger spenders & taxers.


15 posted on 10/25/2005 3:13:03 PM PDT by jsemmens
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To: jsemmens

Hard to see how that is possible with the GOP Congress' spending record. They haven't been passing Democrat legislation, have they?


16 posted on 10/25/2005 3:14:36 PM PDT by thoughtomator
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To: thoughtomator

Check it out for yourself...

http://www.ntu.org/main/misc.php?MiscID=13


17 posted on 10/25/2005 3:21:29 PM PDT by jsemmens
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To: jsemmens

OK please explain to me how in a GOP-controlled Congress that is spending more than any Congress ever did before, that the average GOP score is 62 percent in the House and 71 percent in the Senate. Are all the majorities that are passing spending legislation primarily Democrat, with a few GOP supporters?

Are we really getting 62-71% taxpayer-friendly behavior from those chambers? The spending numbers would indicate otherwise... how can this be reconciled?


18 posted on 10/25/2005 3:35:23 PM PDT by thoughtomator
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To: thoughtomator

Basically, the taxes & spending pass with Republicans voting for these about 30% to 40% of the time and Democrats 80% of the time.

Since the parties are so evenly divided, this produces an average of 55% to 60% in favor of higher taxes & spending.


19 posted on 10/25/2005 11:56:05 PM PDT by jsemmens
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