What is a Democrat - A Republican? What do they individually stand for? Why not just be a Independent? (ethics, legal)

[bigreez]

I am a flag waveing repulican republicans value smal goverment ,states to have there right to there own laws, working class people.
Democrats favor goverment desision making for everyone, welfare, every socilized program you can imagine, and of coarse taxing the cr## out of you.
there not all the same ther are some good in each party I whole hartedly suport my Democrat govenor gov dave. But he isnt typical democrat eather he is more conservative tham some republicans in the congress.

[j33]

And I suppose you don't support such things as Student Loans, GI Bills, etc ...? Is it really supposed to be every man (born upper middle class and connected, with a few exceptions to lull people into believing the myth that everyone has equal opportunity at birth) for himself?

[CosmicWizard]

The current crop of Democratic & Republican presidential candidates leaves me wondering if ANYONE worth voting for will be running for president during this election cycle.

regards...Franco

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by j33

Is it really supposed to be every man for himself?

Carve out your political rhetoric and.. basically, yes. Every man for himself.

I acknowledge some things you mention as problems, but I do not think they are the responsibility of the federal government. Frankly, I don't understand why people expect so much federal governance.

[j33]

This is where I disagree. If it were not for the federal student loan program, I would have never been able to complete college, and thus perpetuating the cycle of starting out in unskilled labor as my father did and and my grandfather before him. I for one am grateful that the "tax and spend liberals" afforded me that opportunity I probably would not have been able to achieve on my own.

Sometimes teaching a man to fish involves buying a fishing pole.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by j33

This is where I disagree. If it were not for the federal student loan program, I would have never been able to complete college, and thus perpetuating the cycle of starting out in unskilled labor as my father did and and my grandfather before him. I for one am grateful that the "tax and spend liberals" afforded me that opportunity I probably would not have been able to achieve on my own.

Sometimes teaching a man to fish involves buying a fishing pole.

I may not have been clear, but I wasn't making reference to student loans or GI Bills. Student loans are just that.. loans. They are paid back. I'm not familiar with the GI Bill, but I simply see it as compensation for serving in the military.

I'm casually referring to some of the other discussions in this thread that suggest the federal government should have its hands in everything, and from your comments involving middle/upper class folks. I don't believe in social engineering. There are two ways of looking at equality, and I don't think they can co-exist.

a. The gov't should treat everyone equally.
b. The gov't should try to fix inequalities that exist.

I believe that you can only have one or the other, and I go with A. I also think this is a philosophical difference between Republicans and Democrats.

[southernlady5464]

Sometimes teaching a man to fish involves buying a fishing pole.

As long as the fishing pole is repaid. Liz

[bily4]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

As long as the fishing pole is repaid. Liz

With lots of interest!

[j33]

Ah, but the loans aren't entirely that, in certain cases the interest is subsidized by the federal government while one is in school.

[j33]

Originally Posted by bily4

With lots of interest!

Work for the World Bank, do you?