What notions make someone a Republican? What notions make some a Democrat? Are you Democrat or Republican, yourself?

[Anonymous]

[ShortCircuit]

Read each party's platform.

As far as I'm concerned, in order to be a "Republican" one must agree with the Republican Party's position on every single issue listed in its official platform. Ideologically speaking, this would be closest to neoconservatism. If there are a small number of positions you disagree with, but you still view the Republican Party favorably, that would just make you one of many various types of "conservatives" who votes Republican.

Likewise, in order to be a "Democrat" one must agree with the Democratic Party's position on every single issue listed in its official platform. Ideologically speaking, this would be closest to neoliberalism. If there are a small number of positions you disagree with, but you still view the Democratic Party favorably, that would just make you one of many various types of "liberals" who votes Democrat.

As for myself, I am firmly neither. However, I'm not an "independent" either. I am consistently an anarcho-capitalist, and I find both parties abhorrent. I find the Democratic Party irredeemable and antithetical to everything I believe in. By contrast there are a few positions with which I agree with the Republican platform on, but not enough to support the party in good conscience. There is also a handful of Republican politicians (such as Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Thomas Massie, and formerly Justin Amash) who I find tolerable, but they do not represent an established wing of the Republican Party, and are in fact frequently regarded as "outsiders" by most other Republican politicians.

[Asker]

Where can people find the official paltform for Republicans and Democrats so that people can check out the issues listed on them?

[ShortCircuit]

Republican Party: https://www.gop.com/platform/
This can be found on the party's website: gop. com. It has some highlighted positions, but the PDF of the full platform can be downloaded from this page. The PDF is quite long, so I recommend using 'ctrl+f' to type in certain issues that you're looking for--if you don't plan to read the whole thing.

Democratic Party: democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/
This is found on the party's website: democrats. org. It also has highlighted positions but the full PDF can be downloaded. Their PDF is more concise, but again, you can use 'ctrl+f' if you need to.

Both platforms will be updated before the 2020 presidential election, but there probably won't be many significant changes. Also, they can each be found by simply Googling "republican party platform" and "democratic party platform".

[Asker]

And you feel as though, for example, someone who agrees with a vast majority of those issues, let's say all but 1, and has consistently voted for that party for the last 30 years, you wouldn't consider that person to belong to that party?

[ShortCircuit]

I suppose it would depend on the issue and how central it is to the party's platform. For instance, if someone disagreed with the Republican Party on something like nuclear energy, it would be fair to classify that person as a Republican (in addition to whatever their political ideology is).

However, you simply cannot be a Republican without agreeing with the Republican platform on the taxation because it is too central to the party's platform, despite only being one issue.

Nuclear energy and taxation are both just one issue, yes, but the latter has far more weight than the former.

Regardless, the point I was making is that very few people are in lock-step agreement with "their" party, and the overwhelming majority of people view both parties somewhat unfavorably, for one reason or another, and don't consider either to be a fully accurate representation of their beliefs, yet typically vote for one of the two consistently, and justify it by referring to the party's candidate as "the lesser of two evils". I, however, refuse to play that little game.

[hellionthesagereborn]

Well statistically according to Jonathan Hiadts research, republicans have a higher sensitivity to certain moral conditions then democrats do. Their are about five different stats he used and while republicans scored high on all five, democrats only scored high on two of them.

To break it down, republicans tend to be more cautious (and in bad times democrats are far more likely to become republican, republicans rarely become democrat under any circumstance), they tend to favor, at least in the US, freedom from government control as they tend to mistrust it and most groups that profess to know whats best for you while democrats tend to be for these things. Republicans tend to be more focused on traditional values while democrats tend towards novelty, republicans tend to favor a non interventionist approach to most things (again, they tend to be cautious), democrats are all about intervention.

In the US the conservatives tend to value the constitution more then democrats do, and they are more about the individual while the democrats tend to be more in favor of the group.
https://moralfoundations.org/

[Felicityoyo]

I'm neither. The two party system is broken and both sides are corrupt. But if I had to lean one way itd be on the side of the Democrats only because they tend to align themselves more with my social views like lgbt and womens rights more so than republicans who just want everyone to live by the bible and that's an automatic no for me.

[Asker]

I'm an LGBT supporting atheist conservative, though. And nearly all of the conservatives I know aren't religious.

[Felicityoyo]

Never heard of that but im sure they exist

[Tamera952]

HUH?

[Tamera952]

I don't care who u support as lonG as it isn't ORANGE TURD

[supercutebutt]

These days, if you believe in facts and science, you are a Democrat. If you believe in an invisible sky daddy & a magic baby, along with Trump bullshit (drinking disinfectant, calling climate change & coronavirus "a hoax") you are a Republican.

[JPrez]

@supercutebutt lol

[MzAsh]

Haa love this response!

[Asker]

You know that putting disinfectant into the body is already in-practice, right? It's called H202 nebulization therapy, and it existed long before Trump said anything about disinfectant. And H202 is hydrogen peroxide, a disinfectant, of which I'd imagine you're familiar with. Not to mention, whiskey is a disinfectant. Did we just forget that people drink that all the time? Whiskey has been used as a disinfectant throughout history. How's that for facts and science? Lastly, he didn't tell people to go inject disinfectant, he proposed to the doctor next to him that it be looked into.

[MzAsh]

Way to ruin the moment. Great job.

[supercutebutt]

Umm, you Trumptards need to get on the same page. YOU are saying Trump is a disinfectant genius but your anonymous '45 plus' butt buddy is telling us Trump was "joking" about the disinfectant injection. Which is it?

[JPrez]

@supercutebutt butt buddy? I’m sure name fits more appropriately with that name than me. I stand by what I said. He was joking. If you want, I can provide a link but I don’t think your preschool taught you how to use them or use Google to search.

[JPrez]

Your name

[JPrez]

AOC must be doing a press conference talking about eliminating cow farts again so all the libs left.

[jarofawesome]

Claiming that believing in facts and science makes you a Democrat just goes to show how ignorant you are. Every Single "science" of "facts" that people come across in this day and age should be taken with a HUGE shot of Skepticism because scientists are just humans that can be biased or paid for through research funding. Almost any hypothesis can be 'proven' as fact for one side of the line or the other with the right willful manipulation of data or blinding self-fulfilling prophecies at play.

[jarofawesome]

"While a pseudo-science is set up to look for evidence that supports its claims, Popper says, a science is set up to challenge its claims and look for evidence that might prove it false" This sums it up better.

blogs.scientificamerican.com/.../

[Asker]

I don't think he was joking, he may have been joking, but it didn't seem like that to me. How about actually disputing what I said rather than avoid addressing the points I provided?

[Asker]

I also did not say Trump was a disinfectant genius, I have no reason to believe he's parrticularly familiar with anatomy, biology, or chemistry. Since I apparently have to repeat myself, I said that Trump did not suggest the public di something, I daid he proposed that our doctors look into it. I also said that you are fundamentally incorrect when it comes to both facts and science despite claiming to be founded on both. He factually did not tell people to drink disinfectant, and scientifically there are medical procedures in which you put disinfectant inside of the body.

[Asker]

Well? Are we just going to run away from our problems and people who oppose us again?

[bourgeisenafied]

If you guys believe in facts, and science, you guys definitely need to Learn America's policies to developing countries after 1950s. Companies that showing themselves, Good but avoiding spending money for safety of other workers in 3rd countries. Countries become worse after America came for peace, and the Greater Middle Eastern project.

[Jersey2]

And of course since you are so brilliant you do realize that the core base of the Democrats are deeply religious such as the black community and Hispanics.

[supercutebutt]

@Jersey2 Hopefully they are just pretending.

[Asker]

She's still avoiding addressing my points. Aren't you supposed to be an adult? Perhaps we could get you to take responsibility for your words?

[coffeewithcream]

Oh, fuck.
Someone is making excuses for Donald Trump. Give it a rest.
The role of the president of the United States is to take advice from the experts, not to suggest issues he picked up from the internet.

[Asker]

No. Excusing him would be "he's allowed to say what is on his mind because he's the president." Saying "he did not tell people to inject disinfectant into themselves" is not an excuse, in fact, excuse is not even relevant to the notiok being conveyed. The notion being conveyed is a fact, he did not tell people to do that. Why do you liberals have such backwards logic?

[Asker]

You can't excuse what didn't occur, lmfao

[jarofawesome]

"Why do you liberals have such backwards logic?" This lmao. This is a good example of what best defines someone from the Democratic base.

[Asker]

lmao

[1CentWorth]

I believe in the Republic in the the existing form of the constitution without any exception. that literally makes me a republican. I don't feel progressiveness in the current definition to be something good in most cases - it causes labeled and division. That would be the democrats, who also believe that the republic should completely go away and be replaced with a national democratic vote, which would give California and NY the ability to override all other states with a popular vote. Constitution says no to that. I stand by that. Also, I'm a war veteran - I like my country as it is, legally.

[Eagle_93]

Well I was raised Conservative, but after I grew up and started thinking on my own, I realized there were some ideas of Conservatives that I liked, and some ideas of Liberals that were good.
When I registered to vote at 18, I registered as Republican, but since then I've changed it to no party affiliation at all simply because I don't like it when people get hung up on voting or cheering for their "team" simply because they are either blue or red, and they don't take the time to actually hear what their team is saying.

Unfortunately it happens a lot.

I think it is better to actually listen to what someone is saying and make a decision based upon your own morals/ideas instead of just voting for the team.

That's why I am independent now.

I can freely vote for whichever one I feel has the better ideas.

[bourgeisenafied]

Are you aware of this Greater Middle Eastern Project? Learn why every country America went for "Peace" are became worse than before.

[Eagle_93]

I just read up on it. Very interesting indeed.

[Therisinghero12]

Nowadays im a moderate, but a while back I identified as a republican, all I can say is that my beliefs generally aligned with theirs, for example I was against abortion, and pro 2nd amendment, all that fun stuff, never took kindly on their stance on homosexuality though. At this point though I'm more like, let people do whatever they want, not my problem if you marry the same gender, or shoot a gun, or get an abortion, anything like that, it's not my life to live, it's yours so do whatever you want with it :D

[Anonymous]

A Republican believes in the individual and that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to with hard work. Further, they believe that government only gets in the way of you achieving that goal. They also believe that once you’ve achieved your goals you can help other with a hand up and not a hand out.

[supercutebutt]

lol.

[Opinion Owner]

Democrats believe in government and that it should help everyone from cradle to grave, whether you are Americans or not. In accordance with that belief that have various coalition’s that help with this goal such as unions, LGBT, minorities, feminists etc. In pursuit of this goal, they will use every means possible to make people follow their cause through schools, entertainment, media, sports, books. Anywhere they can inject their politics they will. It’s usually based on feelings and their one common goal is defeating Republicans whom they all dislike more than anything that’s exists on the planet today.

[Opinion Owner]

@supercutebutt go read a book and educate yourself

[supercutebutt]

Based on "feelings". LOL!! Coming from the guy who FEELS that there is a magic baby that will welcome him into Heaven after he dies. Hahahah. You are too much!

[Opinion Owner]

All of liberalism is feelings. No logic or reasoning involved with being a lefty. Let me guess your teacher or professor told you about climate change and the world has only 5 years to live or we’ll destroy the planet!!! Oh no, you’re so lost. They’ve been saying the planets doomed for 50 years. Go read a book and educate yourself.

[supercutebutt]

You are hilarious! The more you post, the harder I laugh. :)

[Opinion Owner]

Cool. I’m drinking a beer shooting a gun with my MAGA hat on. Every time you post I fire another round. Looks like I may run out of bullets.

[supercutebutt]

I hope so. You can't be trusted.

[Opinion Owner]

Triggered much? There goes another round. Don’t worry I’ve got plenty of ammo.

[Opinion Owner]

You libs are funny. He was joking when he said to inject yourself with it. But you guys can’t take a joke so it went way over your small brains. He’s still President and you guys are still upset. Love it.

[supercutebutt]

I am a moderate and Trump is a retard.

[Opinion Owner]

@supercutebutt sigh... back again. More ammo down the drown. There is no such thing as a moderate. If there was, there would be a candidate running or they would have some history. Where in the library is there a book entitled “Great moderated in American History”. No such book, no such party. Just admit you’re a lefty. “Trump is a retard”. Never heard that one before. When you resort to name calling you’ve already lost the argument.

[supercutebutt]

Every president over the past 60 years at least has been moderate... until Trump came along.

[Opinion Owner]

Awesome. You actually want to debate something. Most libs shout you down and don’t want to debate. Ok. I’ll bite. Actually you’re only partially right. JFK, conservative Democrat if you really analyze his policies. Nixon moderate to liberal Republican. He brought us OSHA - government agency. Skipping Ford, as he only served a short time. Carter - ultra liberal. He destroyed the economy. Reagan - Conservative. Bush 41 - moderate. Clinton more lib than moderate. Bush 43 - moderate. Obama - hardcore lefty. Trump is actually a populist, one time Dem now a Republican.

[supercutebutt]

They were all moderates... until Trump, who 100% caters to the Evangelic Christian conservative crowd. He isn't one himself but they cheer at his rallies and march around statues with their racist signs and tiki torches and Trump loves any kind of praise so he will say and do whatever it takes to keep the cheers coming. He isn't a "populist", mainly because he lost the popular vote by 3 fucking million. Trump is a narcissist and a dummy. And we need to get rid of him in November :).

[Opinion Owner]

@supercutebutt sorry disagree. I gave you examples for each. It’s easy to label other Americans the way you do without even trying to understand why people voted for him. I would explain that to you but you wouldn’t listen so no point. If he were a dummy he would not have built his business up the way he did and be President but again it’s easy to label so you do it. The popular vote is irrelevant as our country chose the electoral vote system. I encourage you to read up on why our Founders set up that system but I believe you won’t. He won using that system. If he knew it was based on the popular vote he would have geared his campaign for that. Finally I hope for four more years as this country needs to remain true to its founding. You probably want Socialism but that system never works is a pipe dream. Some day, when you start paying taxes and have kids you’ll hopefully take the red pill as most people do and understand what’s at stake.

[supercutebutt]

He inherited his wealth and he has a personality that a fraction of the country enjoys. He has a low approval rating but we have a broken system that elects presidents. It's a joke. But if we get out and vote in November, we can send the asshole, and his asshole lickers, packing. :)

[supercutebutt]

And I am not a socialist, you fuckstain. I am a science major who works and who invests. I have already amassed a nice return on my investments and I will crush you in net worth because I am smart and not a dummy, like a typical Trumptard, who counts on Trump welfare when times get tough. I don't believe in magic (Christianity), I believe in reason and facts. Now kindly go fuck yourself, as I find your gaslighting incredibly annoying.

[Opinion Owner]

@supercutebutt science major huh? That explains it. Girl, you don’t even know my net worth. I am running circles around you and your Cracker Jack education. I live in Beverly Hills and piss away what you earn in a day or will earn in a lifetime. I guess I’m supposed to cry because you called me names. Get real. Good luck with Creepy Joe in the fall and you definitely need good luck in life because you have zero common sense. Looking forward to four more years of Trump. Have fun with your hate.

[supercutebutt]

You are a loser and people despise you. Now kindly grab hold of your penis, manipulate it until it stiffens, and insert it into your own lubricated anus.

Oh, and stop being an anonymous coward. You are as much of a pussy as Bunker Boy Trump.

[Opinion Owner]

Send a thank you note to your professors. They taught you well SJW. For a supposed scientist you lack critical thinking skills. You’re consumed by your hatred. Pity you poor girl. Your comebacks are so weak. I’m laughing at your inept attempts to bother me. You are truly sad and not too intelligent.

[Opinion Owner]

This has been like a boxing match only you’ve failed to lay a glove on me since you’re reduced to middle school name calling with penis and butt references. So, I will no longer be responding since most of us conservatives have to go work for living and libs usually don’t wake up until noon or one. I will leave you with the knockout blow. Go to your professor or mom and dad, get some markers and draw a “safe space” in your room and that will protect you from the mean widdle conservative bad man who likes Trump and keeps hurting my liberal feelings. Goodbye.

[supercutebutt]

OMG, you are such a snowflake. You are Bunker Boy Jr.

[FakeName123]

There are psychological attributes that usually decide where people politically align. For example creative people are usually more liberal. Industrious people are generally more conservative. Disagreeable people are generally more libertarian. So on and so forth.

[Asker]

Can you elaborate on the disagreeable aspect of many/some libertarians?

[OsloMan181]

Both center right/left parties are fine in my opinion. With regards to US, Republican Party atm seems to be edging towards far right. So, I were to choose I would go with Democrats, a party whose leader openly demonises ethnic groups in 2020, supports idiot conspiracy theorists, supports racist movements, denies scientific theories, disrupts global trade by adopting protectionist policies in the name of nationalism can’t be my choice.

[ItsTheNephilim]

Republicans believe that they rule the country.
Democrats believe that it's the rule of the people by the people for the people.
That's the basic ideology.
These days Republicans are more conservative and right leaning; Democrats are more liberal and left leaning.
According to the parties' individual members, their personal ideologies come in front too which may or may not go by the respective party's basic fundamentals.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Democrat because I like all of their beliefs, I like the things they support and the platform. Of course On every side there extremist that make the party look like a joke. But I don’t vote vote on the party, I would rather vote on the person. Liberals are more accepting of people and different cultures and conservatives are rather close minded and don’t like change, they are afraid of change and moving forward so they choose to stick with their old ways.

[Asker]

Would you like to ask me how I feel about the changes that conservatives are allegedly close-minded to?

[Opinion Owner]

They don’t approve of the lgbtq community, trump is passing a law that bans same sex marriage couples from adopting and yet they say they are pro life? If they want so badly for a woman to forcefully have a baby, then why are they against a loving couple adopting a child to give them a home, food, education and love.

[Asker]

I approve of the lgbtq community, or at least a majority of the policies they support. I'm also pro choice, technically.

[Liam_Hayden]

In theory Republicans support small government and Democrats support big government. In practice, most Republicans support big government and most Democrats support bigger government. Most of both support massive deficits and unnecessary wars. Pointless virtue signaling is a trademark of both, depending upon the issue. Most of both have double standards.

I'm a libertarian and a member of the Libertarian Party.

[youknowbetter]

I can get on board with that

[Dargil]

Republicans fundamentally believe the people own the government.
Democrats fundamentally believe the government owns the people.
Everything else is camouflage.

[Dargil]

Please. Pink down voter, tell us how my statement is wrong.

[supercutebutt]

The people own the government? The police are allowed to kill the people but the people own them? Our government can send people to die in a nonsensical war but the people own the government? Are you the dumbest man alive?

[Dargil]

@supercutebutt
"The people own the government? The police are allowed to kill the people but the people own them?"
*Yes. The same as the military. Hopefully only those who deserve it. There will always be a few bad actors but the principle remains valid.
"Our government can send people to die in a nonsensical war (?)"
*Yes. They volunteered. And who decides what is nonsensical? You? Was eliminating ISIS nonsensical?
"But the people own the government?"
*Unfortunately not, because of the embedded Deep State democrats who believe the people are serfs.
"Are you the dumbest (hu) man alive?"
*Since you are here, I could only rank #2. But I did my best.
But thanks for taking the time to respond. Dialog is good.

[Anonymous]

In my opinion, here are some general differences:

1. Republicans are more for "small government," Democrats prefer "big government," at least economically.
2. Republicans are a little more individualist, Democrats more collectivist.
3. Republicans are a little more religious and believe religion should play a part in people's lives. Democrats are more secular.

Those are just general differences. Neither should be taken to the extreme. I don't mean to suggest all Democrats are Communists or all Republicans believe everyone should convert to Christianity, or go to jail.

[_SOARER]

Republicans are supposed to be people who value small government
Democrats big government

The reality is neither party looks out for its constitutes
In my short life time I have seen the Republican party turn from Neo-conservative to libertarian to Trumps America first

0 principles

Democrats are shit too because they don't believe in God

[Grond21]

The best predictor psychologically of someone falling on the right or the left of the political spectrum is the big five personality test. People who score higher in trade openness tend to be on the left and people who score higher in orderliness tend to be on the right

[Nalix]

Democrats generally want the government to take care of people, and use its power to protect the defenseless and the outcasts of society. Republicans generally want to be free to live as they wish and build strong communities that can solve their own problems.

[Trooper205]

Well, that's a question based on Opinion for some, and Fact for others! I "consider" myself a Republican simply for a few choices and beleifs Republicans have made, however I don't agree with everything... I just agree more with Republicans than Democrats. But recently, I've kinda given up. It's just too much to keep track of.

[Anonymous]

Cons are more family and country types and for the old way of lifestyle. And liberals and democrats are against them and trying to change everything and do everything their way. So their agenda is like gay people becoming a thing, taking away religion, supporting Iran and muslims, whatever look at any liberal dominant area they are trying to turn it into that.

[grif429]

i've voted for both. I believe our government should be strong to lower the debt but i also think wealth needs to be spread because jobs are being replaced with machines programs that use to train American's for job are no longer around so people are being left behind and the rich just get richer

[najekim]

The hidden agenda for Democrats is to be able to have total control of everyone else's life from womb to tomb. The Republicans, on the other hand, want you to fend for yourselves through thick and thin. The Democrats are for the people IF they obey the party edicts. The Republicans are for the businesses and groups who fill their coffers.

Both have been corrupted and therefore should be ignored in all future elections.

[normalice]

Republicans are the scam party, so basically if you insist on believing in magical solutions they are the party for you. Everyone else is a democrat by default.

[Asker]

What sort of magical solutions?

[normalice]

Perhaps the most straightforward example is trump's "it goes away in April, it'll be like a miracle." thing (about the coronavirus). Notice how this didn't immediately raise alarm bells throughout the Republican party that we have someone in charge who doesn't know what he is doing. Instead, they were happy to believe that, yes, in fact, it will go away in April.

There are a lot of other examples - even the belief in trickle down economics is a belief in magic, of sorts - but probably the most prominent example is religion. All religion is rooted in the belief that magic is real - if a religion lacks magic it's usually just called a philosophy. If there was no immortality or miracles mentioned in the bible, for example, what would even be the point of believing it?

[Asker]

I didn't believe that it would end in April, I'm not sure how I feel about trickle down economics, I haven't looked into it, but I have no reason to belief it's false, and me and all my conservative friends aren't religious at all?

[normalice]

We've been trying trickle down economics for the last 40 years but still have poverty. Plus every time republicans are put in charge they push their trickle-down policies to further extremes which has, without exception, led to economic collapse and stimulus checks for everyone.

Meanwhile, the debt balloons to create more cash for their rich friends to hoard. There's not really anything to like about this system unless you are a billionaire, so the republicans work hard to craft the message that it's "edgy disobedience" or "super-chill dynamism" to want trickle down economics. That is the scam. Because there's nothing "cool" about helping rich people take your money. Thays just being tricked.

But if how you describe yourself is true, it seems like you only vote Republican because everyone you know is doing it. Or maybe you don't even bother to vote? I don't know your friends, but probably half of Republican voters do so solely because of abortions. Or at least that's what they say would be their main reason. But they might have also fallen for the "it's cool to be robbed" thing I mention earlier.

[WadeDanielSmith]

If you favor no taxes at all on the rich, and the top 1% keeping everyone else in defacto slavery, then you are a Republican.

If you support homosexuality, beastiality, and abortion, then you are a Democrat.