Basic Republican/Democrat Belief Comparison Needed

[Mister_Magotchi]

As a project for a local citizen watchdog group in our county, I am trying to put together a comparison chart of sorts defining the differences between right-wing Republicans and leftist Democrats. I have not been successful in finding anything that would serve the purpose. We are trying to find something that would help convert life-long Democrats who don't know the issues over to our cause (or anybody for that matter). I live in the West and in a county that has suffered much from federal government encroachments. Any help anybody can give would be great. If I have posted this in the wrong section or manner, please excuse me.

[boris]

I say: "Conservatives are the people who can read the Constitution, and have the nerve to think it means exactly what it says."

Does that help?

--Boris

[sweetliberty]

I might have just the thing you're looking for. Travelgirl made up a good list of things that make for a simplified comparison. I'll see if I can get her to post them here.

[MonroeDNA]

Republicans believe in a strong second ammendment, and a weak first.

Democrats (until recently) believe in strong first ammendment, and a weak second.

Socialists believe in weak first-through-tenth ammendments.

Libertarians believe in strong fisrst-through-tenth ammendments.

Any questions?

[Dawgsquat]

Beliefs are one thing, actions are another thing entirely.

[Kevin Curry]

Libertarians believe in strong fisrst-through-tenth ammendments.

Yeah, right.

Libetarians believe first and foremost in their favorite vices, addictions, and indulgences. They would have no interest at all in the Bill of Rights otherwise.

[Grim]

Democrats believe that men are fallible and therefore need more government to help them run their lives.

Republicans believe that men are fallible and therefore government needs to be limited to keep other fallible men from screwing up their lives.

[Slyfox]

You might do a google search on the separate party platforms, print them out then compare them point by point.
I have seen stuff written by political organizations usually around a Presidential election.

[Cacophonous]

If you want a real good comparison of Conservative and Liberal philiosophies (neither term is synonymous with either Republican or Democrat), read Thomas Sowell's outstaunding books, "A Conflict of Visions" and "The Vision of the Anointed".

[Nea Wood]

Republicans believe in less government, and more personal responsibility. Dems believe in the opposite.

[Rowdee]

HAve you compared the Party Platforms of each party....not that they ever read them....?

[MonroeDNA]

Great reasoning.

[gcruse]

Republicans believe that men are fallible and therefore government
needs to be limited to keep other fallible men from screwing
up their lives.

That sounds more libertarian than Republican.  Actually,
the lifestyle-police right-wing thinks they should get to define
what 'screwed up' means, then force their idea
of unscrewed life onto others.  For their own good, of course.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I came up with an analogy for my children - maybe some dumber liberals could understand this:

You work very hard in school, studying and doing all assignments and you earn an A. You are so proud because you know all your hard work earned you that high mark. But, the liberals feel sorry for the kids who didn't work so hard. It must be because they didn't have the same opportunity as you, although you know they had the exact same opportunities, they just didn't have the ambition you had, and just didn't do the work.

So, the liberal teacher decides that to make things more fair, he is going to bring your grade down to a C and bring the failing students up to a C - so everyone is on the same level and no one has to feel badly about himself.

It isn't a perfect analogy, but it basically gets the point across.....

[CyberAnt]

You're saying I believe in a "weak" first amendment? - I don't think so!!

[EternalVigilance]

Conservatives - Pro-life for the innocent.
Liberals - Pro-abortion for the innocent.

Conservatives - Pro capital punishment for the guilty.
Liberals - Pro life for the guilty.

Conservatives - Favor the right to self-defense aka the Second Amendment.
Liberals - Favor gun confiscation ala Nazi Germany.

Conservatives - Favor an end to the federal income tax.
Liberals - Favor the IRS and the status quo...would enact 100% taxation if they could.

Conservatives - Favor private property rights.
Liberals - Believe everything belongs to the government.

Conservatives - Favor American sovereignty.
Liberals - Want to give all power to the United Nations.

Conservatives - Believe that liberty means the right to do good.
Liberals - Believe that liberty means the right to do anything you please, no matter who gets hurt (unless you're a conservative).

Conservatives - Favor personal and parental control over the thoughts of ourselves and our children.
Liberals - Favor governmental control over the thoughts of everyone, starting with compulsory attendance in government indoctrination cent...er...public schools...

I'd do more...this is fun...but I better go to bed. :-)

[Mister_Magotchi]

I understand all of your more high-level stuff that explains the difference, but I am looking for something to stick on a pamphlet showing the differences issue by issue. I am also not willing (unless I absolutely have to) to pick apart the platforms piece by piece, especially not the national ones. I live in Idaho, by the way.

[earplug]

Republicans pass laws to keep you from buying something, or pass a law restricting you from doing something in the name of protecting our nations freedom. Democratic want to pass laws to give you something that you didn't deserve and force you to do something you don't want to do in the name of personnal freedom. Oh, My mistake I keep getting John McCain, Ted Kennedy Hillary Clinton, and Wayne Allard confused. Its easier to compare Coke and Pepsi, Both have lots of sugar, fizz and a quick buzz that ends up messing with you sleep and filling your bladder.

[BluesDuke]

Democrats are also the party of government activism, the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, taller, and get the chickweed out of your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then they get elected and prove it. - P.J. O'Rourke.

[EternalVigilance]

I live in Idaho, by the way.

Let me get this straight...you're going to try and convert both of the liberals in Idaho?

OK...

;-)