Do you really think the Republicans and the Democrates are that different?

[Texaskid1]

very much

somewhat

a little

not at all

[nightdrot]

Yes, but the differences are not quite as most Americans imagine them to be, i. e. a simple right/left dichotomy. Rather, the differences vary over time, by region of the country and a host of other factors. It being the case that American political parties are not ideological parties as you tend to see in Europe. Rather they are lose knit coalitions of regional, religious, ethnic, racial, income and other groups that have come together in part by common interests and in part by historical accident.

In the case of the GOP, it is a coalition made up of classical liberals - which Americans call conservatives, libertarians, small and medium sized business, religious and social traditionalists, lower middle and upper middle income earners, farmers, rural and exurban populations, older voters, the South, the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountain West and the state of Alaska, to name the most prominent groups.

On the Democratic side you get, ethnic and religious minorities, middle and high income wage earners, big business and entertainment industries, urban and inner suburban votes, radical liberals - which Americans call liberals. (Note, the term "radical" here does not mean as Americans use it, i. e. "extremist," but rather as the ancient Greeks used the term, meaning "to the root of.") The northeast, the mid-Atlantic, the Pacific coast and the state of Hawaii.

This is how you get a Republican Party that runs from Ted Cruz at one end to Susan Collin at the other. This is how you get a Democratic Party that runs from Joe Manchin at one end to Elizabeth Warren at the other.

Quite simply, party identification is not about ideological identity. It is about where in the country is being discussed, about class and racial breakdowns and much else.

Indeed, even this is changing. The description I provided of the parties above is already in transition - and indeed, this is part of the reason why politics is so chaotic at the moment.

The lower middle class blue collar voters that are now at the heart of the Trump coalition were, until VERY recently, the heart and soul of the Democratic party. The party of the "working man" and the New Deal. Now, the higher the income level, the more likely the person voted Democrat.

Ditto with age. In the 1980s, the 18 to 25 year old demographic was Reagan's best. The 65 and older set, his worst. Now it is completely the reverse, and even then, the elderly seem less enthralled with Trump than they were four years ago. Though still generally more favorable than their 18 to 25 year old children.

In terms of regions. As late as the early 1960s, the "Solid South" was solidly Democratic. Then it became solidly Republican, and now states like Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina are sometimes even battleground states. Ditto, states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin - once so solidly blue collar Democrat look set to tilt GOP.

Indeed, fun fact, over 400 counties that voted twice for Mr. Obama switched in the space of one four year period, to vote for Mr. Trump. Thus to this day that Mrs. Clinton is careening about the country explaining to anyone who will listen why she really won - or not - in 2016.

The differences then vary. In West Virginia, Democrats are the old blue collar coalition. Working the mines, church going, traditional and patriotic. In New York, they are quite liberal, likely racial or religious minorities - though not likely very likely to practice their religion through regular attendance at weekly services - and more likely to work in the tech or service sector.

CONT.

[nightdrot]

Republicans in the Midwest will look like West Virginia Democrats, albeit employed in the factories or on the farms rather than in the mines. In the northeast, they are more likely socially liberal and more dogmatically free market, low tax oriented.

So you pays your monies and you takes your chances. This being further complicated in time. In the 1930 to 1980s, both parties tended to agree on the role of government, broadly accepting a large ambit for government action. (Hence Republican Eisenhower establishes by Federal action the interstate highway system. Hence Republican Nixon established a whole raft of environmental action and widens the sway of civil rights laws.)

From the 1980s to the Trump presidency, there was more skepticism in both parties toward government. Hence Democrat Clinton announces in a State of the Union address that the era of big government is over. Hence, Democrat Obama cannot get the "public option" into his already watered down health care bill - even from a Democrat Congress.

Trump representing a populist turn and in some ways a rejection of the Reagan consensus born in the 80s. Populism being not a consistent schematic philosophy and thus blurring the picture even more.

Put it all together and the short answer is, "It depends." Tell me the time and place, and I will describe the party differences.

[bamesjond0069]

Yes and no. Both are big tent groups. In practicality when talking about current presidential candidates they are entirely different. However recent past presidents like Bush and Obama not really very different at all.

There are also many people in politics on both sides that their utmost concern is to to either make no changes or make very tiny changes... because they have a fear of change or they have some idea that too much change is not proper. These people even in both parties have a very similar outlook and are often called the swamp or the uniparty. They typically agree on everything but disagree to the degree. Ie they are republicans that say "abortion is bad but lets allow it but i dont like it" like that is any different than simply making it legal? Or they are democrats who say "we got one bill passed that increases a tax 1% to put towards some project, ok were done now, thats enough change for now" these are the same people basically. I personally dont understand their motivations but my best guess is they are more concerned with doing what they think will best keep their political career going. This is why their goal is to essentially accomplish nothing so that they are always needed to fix the same problems forever.

The drivers behind the dems are socialists and the drivers behind the repubs are the conservatives and yes they are completely different.

[Shamiah02]

The only difference is what campaign topics they choose.

[Ms_Vanderquack]

this

https://www.youtube.com/embed/O7VaXlMvAvk

[ObscuredBeyond]

There's a reason I'm Constitution Party today.

Republicans and Democrats both want NWO. They are both slaves to Nimrodism. Kabbahlah. Babylonian Talmudic fraud.

However...

Republicans will betray you with a smile on their faces. They still pretend to be the friend of the everyman, the hard worker, the honest Joe who wants to make an honest living.

Democrats will betray you with a scowl on their faces. They openly profess now that anyone who's not you is better than you, in their minds. They openly show daily their hostility to the everyman, hard worker, and honest Joe, and love for the criminal degenerate and alien invader parasite.

Republicans want to destroy America at a slow pace of going over the cliff at 30 MPH.

Democrats want to race over the edge of that cliff at 300 MPH.

When you head through that door, it's the same door to the Mouth of Hell. The cardboard division that is put up that is red on one side and blue on the other, is there to give you the illusion of choice.

[Youdumbeotch]

Exactly, I supported a lot of Trumps policies but now after seeing the idolatry at Cpac with the statue I knew there is no supporting him anymore, by me

[najekim]

They are different only by the means each is carrying out their agendas of complete control of all aspects of the lives of any one in the country. The Democrats are trying to pass laws that weaken or erode the US Constitution into just being a piece of paper so people would come under direct government control in a huge welfare state of affairs. The Republicans on the other end wants to keep the US Constitution intact as much as possible but have the mega-corporations the ones in control of people lives through jobs and benefits and such with the Government in control of the mega-corporations through policies, regulations, and taxes.

IMHO, the only way to stop both the Democrats and Republicans from reaching their goals is to stop electing them into office or other positions of power. There are well qualified, and less dangerous, candidates in the various Third Parties.

Personally, I haven't voted for a Democrat or Republican running for a Federal office since I voted for Ronald Reagan way back when.

[Anonymous]

They are a little different but essentially they shame the ideals, principles and theories and I don't mean that in a good way. In the next weeks or the next few months or the next few years watch what happens in the US and this world. Spoiler: It won't be pretty. The lies will be exposed, the stench can't be covered. This will test the very fibres and fabrics of every patriotic American's thoughts of the United States and its history. Eh, I'm not an American, but I've always advocated that Americans should be taken care of properly by its government regardless of who's in power. But the US and its agencies spends billions or trillions on wars that should explain itself. Anyone who reads this, think about this, do you truly think every tax dollar you spend goes to a good cause? It doesn't, plenty of American tax dollars could end up in the pockets of a politician you despise.

It's safe to say that Americans don't know where their tax dollars go. Anyone could lie and make up a story where the money they earn is going to a "good" purpose. I am 110% sure any American reading this will give me a thumbs down and tell me to stfu because Im an idiot who doesn't understand politics. I have an Honours degree in political science, I studied political economy, political theory, political thought, American politics and etc., I have a Masters in public policy and go into law schools. I want people to sit back and watch the unfolding of the modern day retched superpower. I look at Americans who deny their system and corruption as a girl who stays with an abusive man where the girl says "he's fine, i'll stay with him". There's always a finish line, there's always an end point. People can fake believe in God or live life vicariously as an atheist, but the truth will be as clear as the skies on a bright sunny day.

[MCheetah]

No. They're all the same at the top. Elitist scum. The only difference is, one used to fight for freedom, individuality, intelligence, and respect, and the other side used to be ruthless fascist assholes who did whatever it took to get what they wanted. In the 90s and 2000s, the "nicer, smarter" ones were Democrats/Liberals. Nowadays, it's Republicans/Conservatives.

The pendulum seems to go in twenty year cycles, so maybe by 2030, the Right wingers will be the "bad guys" again. But with how extra-evil the left is being, I think they might hit the Snooze button on that for a while. Liberals are now out-Republicaning the conservatives, and conservatives are now out-Democrating the liberals. Who would've thought the sandals-wearing, San Francisco pussies would be the tyrants nowadays? I just want Clown World to end already and for the Earth's poles to switch back to normal again.

But yeah, they're all the same. The rich vs the rest of humanity.

[ohshee]

Not one thing except for their wording that's it we got to keep the battle going so keep this manipulation. But they're both selling the country out.
The reason why they put on such a big show is it might be pissed because either Democrats or Republicans might have a big donor and now that big donor is in both their pockets because there's enough money to get what they want so we get pissed off at each other because one sold the other ones big donor and promised they would do 10 times more than the other party these have been selling us out for fucking years and now they got themselves in a wringer right now with covid-19

https://www. facebook. com/leslie. johnson.395891/videos/you-really-really-need-to-hear-this/4418486844846799/

[Stoner710]

The media and people in charge of the country are definitely different both Democratic and republicans. The progressive are way way way different then republicans (progressive and now running our country).

your center right and left not that different mainly tax policy is the difference centrist Democratic don’t hate the United state even the progressive are way way way different then centrist Democratic unfortunately the 20% progressive run the Democratic Party and liberals aren’t really happy with them

[ChefPapiChulo]

by the definition of the word, they are different and two different variables. If we're using a universal standard, that they are both parties in the American political system, and they are still two different things.

You could maybe even use liberal as a universal standard when compared to the rest of the world. But democrats and republicans "are that different' just like how an apple is "that different" from a berry or a peach. Or a yard is different from a meter. Similar but different.

[Youdumbeotch]

Your point would be more valid if you compared the Apple to another variety of Apple rather than another type of fruit

[ChefPapiChulo]

@Youdumbeotch not really

[Youdumbeotch]

Well it would be, you may not see it that way.

[ChefPapiChulo]

@Youdumbeotch it really doesn't matter. My point is that they're two different things within the same universal value.

[MTC29]

This is what America actually looks like based solely on districts:

Red is Republican and Blue is Democrat. Don't be fooled by the media. This is not a progressive nation.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Traditionally, not much different except when it comes to the economy, taxes and government involvement in social programs.

The current Democrat and Republican parties seem to split hard where they hardly can agree on anything anymore.

I'm a registered Democrat, but I choose not to identify as one any longer. America's politics have become unstable and filled with stupidity.

[exitseven]

When I was a kid in the 70s they were not really that different. I saw something about JFK on television and thought that if he was alive today he would not be a democrat.
Before Republicans were the party for the rich and Democrats were for the working people.
Now with Law Enforcement and a lot of unions supporting Republicans the demographics have shifted. Now Republicans are for working Americans and the democrats pander to the non working classes.

[normalice]

January 6th showed that all the false equivalence was bullshit to help republicans seem like a normal and civilized party, but really they are not above violent overthrow and terrorism, like a bunch of untrained jackals.

[captain_voidwalker]

Older Republicans not so much. But the republican party is shifting to a more nationalistic, America first, liberty minded party now. Still have some rinos to kick out but its making progress.
Old school democrats by contrast are getting pushed out by basically the CCP but for America.
So basically 10 years ago not realy, today yes they are very different.

[BeMuse]

There is a huge difference between an ideology that believes in a constitutional federal republic and capitalism vs. an opposing ideology that believes in a totalitarian government ruled by mandate and communism. The ideologies can not coexist.

[Anonymous]

All the conflict and thing we see between them are staged. They have mastered the arts of dividing the nation with extremes getting more extreme while making them think the other party is the enemy to the nation and democracy, and I know that because I saw both sides very deeply. Both parties are the threat to the nation and to the people. We must ignore them, become unbiased, and unite as one. United we stand, divided we fall.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I think the Republican's and Democrat's just have issues they need to sit down and work out for themselves I'm not blaming one party over the other like I tell peeps I think we should all come together

[BCA6010]

They're very different, even when they actually do take the time to set aside differences and screw everybody else over "for the greater good" their rationale is still different.

[RolandCuthbert]

One of the weirdest concepts in America is how certain people place their political identity above everything else.

[Jaysonava]

They quite simply don't in New Zealand or Canada or Australia.

Not even when it comes to politics. People don't refer to themselves as 'liberals or 'conservative ' in New Zealand. Or even identify with a party for every election cycle.

[This_Is_My_Opinion8]

@Jaysonava we don't do that in Europe either. For the most part at least.

[RolandCuthbert]

@This_Is_My_Opinion8 Yeah, cultural identity seems to be the biggest deal in many places.

[supercutebutt]

They didn't used to be but since QAnon took over the Republican Party, they are very different.

[Sabretooth]

or, is that all smoke and mirrors?

[ObscuredBeyond]

Q is dead. Real patriots smelled a rat in Q the minute they told patriots to do nothing, and to believe in storms and krackens, because Trump "had a plan.". When they claimed to hear the voice of God, this rat devolved into self-parody.

[supercutebutt]

@ObscuredBeyond True. Trump's only "plan" was to lie.

[ObscuredBeyond]

His plan was to put swamp alligators who sweet talked him into the courts, knowing Biden might cheat, so he could then sue his way to victory. He thought by giving these Deep State sleeper agents positions of power, he'd earn their loyalty and gratitude. And they'd rule fairly when he sued over fraud, rather than prosecuted, the fraudsters, as the Constitution told him to do. To his bewilderment, the Constitution said to prosecute for a reason: lawsuits don't work on criminal matters of that magnitude. And he was mystified to learn how quickly ACB's loyalties shifted.

[supercutebutt]

@ObscuredBeyond LOL. OK QBaby. So Trump, a lifelong conman and swindler, is the only person you trust and everybody else is a liar.

You are battling mental illness.

[ObscuredBeyond]

That isn't what I said. At all. I said he ignored the Constitution in favor of his own schemes. He foolishly trusted enemies of the republic to save the republic - and himself. And was done in by his own scheme. Too clever by half.

[supercutebutt]

@ObscuredBeyond So if Trump runs in 2024 you won't vote for him?

[ObscuredBeyond]

Nope. I'll probably just check who got the Constitution Party nomination. And if there isn't anyone there, I'll see if the Libertarian Party picked someone who isn't a total fruitbasket, and go with that. I supported Bob Barr in 2008 - lightyears apart from that Will Barr that Trump trusted.

[supercutebutt]

@ObscuredBeyond OK :)

[DCooper]

A republican is generally just a democrat who started voting on issues and positions instead of tv commercials.

[goaded]

60 years ago? Yes. 20, 30 years ago, no. Now? Hell yes!

Democrats believe in democracy, Republicans are gleefully taking a dump on it.

[goaded]

Right now, Republicans are saying the Democrats should pass the debt ceiling increase by themselves, while blocking the legislation from coming to the floor for a vote with a filibuster.

It's past time for the filibuster to require some effort on the part of the people refusing to allow votes. Make them stand up and explain their position.