Quote:
Originally Posted by nep321
I have voted 100% Republican in every election throughout my life and grew up in a 100% Republican household. I am concerned that the main reason I have always voted Republican is because my parents have always done the same and encouraged me to vote that way. However, now I'm 27 years old and my views are evolving. I would like to now welcome the opportunity for a Democrat to please thoroughly explain to me why voting Democrat is better for the nation. Why does it make more sense to vote Democrat?
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Given the choice, I'd vote to eliminate both parties.
Each party has their good points and bad points. Many of those good and bad points tend to get lost.
Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich and give to the poor. Trouble is, they consider the struggling middle class to rich apparently, as they're always raising taxes on them as well. Republicans want no taxes raised on anyone, but have looked hypocritical since some of them want to end the suspension of payroll taxes.
In theory, the Democrats are the political party of diplomacy while the Republicans are the party carrying and using the "big stick" ie going to war all over the planet. This has not been demonstrably true. Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Obama -- all in a row and all engaged in military action world-wide. The main difference here is that while Democrats are just as willing to send the troops into battle, they consistently vote to decrease the military's budget. Otherwise, this issue is a complete wash with no real difference between the two.
In economics, Democrats are the "rob from the rich and give to the poor" party. The Republicans claim that such notions sound nice, but don't actually work well in real life, pointing to the total failure of Communist economic models to enrich the masses. The Democrats fall short of full Socialism, but keep moving the nation in that direction bit by bit. The Republicans avoid attacking already existing Socialistic programs like Social Security, Welfare and Medicare, but consistently resist the creation of new ones. My take on this issue? Pure Socialism is a complete disaster. Pure capitalism is also a complete disaster. The perfect place to be is the right balance somewhere in the middle.
The new generation of Republicans preach balanced budgets and smaller government, but it remains to be seen if they can actually deliver. Democrats don't bother trying to deliver a balanced budget and constantly expand the government. Both of them tend to chop at the branches and leaves of the tree, but ignore the root causes of the problems here: You can't cut spending without hurting some people and destroying programs that some people think are extremely important. That is why neither party has any chance of actually balancing the budget.
Both parties were hinting at some sort of amnesty for the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the USA. The American people overwhelmingly said no to amnesty and blasted them for it. So the Democrat position is to ignore the problem and hope it goes away. The Republican position is to build a giant wall along the Mexican border and deport illegals only when you find them. Neither party supports any attempt to track down and deport all illegal immigrants because both realize it's an impossible task.
On the abortion issue, Republicans are almost universally pro-life. Democrats are almost universally pro-abortion rights.
Republicans are in favor of capital punishment. Democrats are against it.
Republicans are against gay marriage. Democrats are for gay marriage.
Republicans have a very large component of Christians which is a strength in many ways and a liability in many ways. Democrats are the political party of choice for unions and hipees. Once again, this is both a strength and a liability, depending on the issues.
Republicans massively downplay mankind's impact on the environment, questioning the science. Democrats say it's real, but are certainly guilty of over-playing the environmental card to the detriment of other important issues.
In general, the Republicans are more pro-Israel than Democrats, but both actively support the nation of Israel.
Democrats favor regulations being placed on just about everything under the sun in order to protect workers, consumers, the environment, etc. Republicans favor eliminating most regulations, claiming that we have too many regulations and that it makes it very difficult for businesses to build inside the USA. Both make good points for their side of this issue.
There are countless other cases of issues where there or two opposing viewpoints. I think you have to look at each issue and decide for yourself. I was raised by a very Republican family, but I'm currently a political agnostic, firm in the belief that both parties are useless and both parties are full of crap.
You might want to look at the Libertarian Party as well as other alternative parties. You may find that neither big party really stands for what you believe in and that some other party does.
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