There is an old, well-known American joke that, in plain language, demonstrates how Republicans differ from Democrats.
The man was present at the celebration with his friends, liberal democrats. Their little daughter, who imitates her parents in everything, answered the guest's question: “What do you want to become when you grow up?” She answered confidently and without hesitation: “President.” Then the young man asked her another question: “What will you do first when you become the main person in the USA?” Without thinking twice, the baby answered: “I will feed all the homeless and give them a roof over their heads.” It was noticeable that parents shine with happiness and pride, experienced for their child. But then the man suggested the girl not to wait for many years before she becomes head of state, but to earn some pocket money right now by removing his lawn in the backyard, and give this money to the homeless. The daughter of the Democrats, thinking, said: “Then why doesn’t this homeless man clean your lawn and earn money for food?” “Welcome to the Republican party,” the young man said with a smile.
The main types of parties in America
Distinctive features of the political system of the United States of America : sustainability and conservatism. Republicans and Democrats are the two most popular parties. Recent sociological studies have shown that today, between political forces, differences of opinion are even greater than racial, age or gender differences in the country.
The democratic movement was founded in the first half of the 19th century, it easily adapts to any conditions, and is also one of the main political forces of America for several centuries in a row. Their main principles are based on liberal socialist views. The current state president, Barack Obama, is also a Democrat.
The US Republican Party represents the country's second most important political force. Here, the basic principles are liberalism and conservatism. Name and popularity came to this party in the 19th century, during the fight against slavery. It was thanks to the Republicans that this serious problem was overcome. To date, the party is quite neutral about racial issues, while maintaining a conservative position.
Republicans and US Democrats. Difference of belief
The views of the parties are very different. In many ways, they are even the opposite. Thus, the Republican Party advocates an increase in taxes for rich people, a public debt, as well as compulsory health insurance and the preservation of the death penalty. Its adherents are oriented towards the middle class, Native Americans and wealthy people.
US Democrats, by contrast, support the poor and people who live off special benefits and benefits. They advocate free medical care, the introduction of excess profits tax, an increase in budget expenditures and a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
Symbol of Democrats - Blue Donkey
US Democrats as a political force were formed back in 1828. Since the beginning of the 60s of the last century, the Democratic Party has been advocating the expansion of the role of the state, especially in such areas as social protection of the population and health care.
Often, talking about this political force, journalists portray a blue donkey. This tradition came about thanks to the cartoonist Thomas Nast. As early as January 15, 1870, in the Haspers Weekly magazine, he portrayed a donkey next to dead lions. It was a political commentary on Democrat behavior following the unexpected demise of former Minister of War in the Lincoln government Edwin M. Stanton. Nest’s caricature was very resonant and was signed as follows: “A living donkey kicks a dead lion. They allowed themselves vile and dirty printed articles after his death. " The image created an allusion to the famous proverb: "A living donkey is better than a dead lion."
Symbol of the Republicans - Red Elephant
The Republican Party was created in 1854. Since then, it has been very popular in the USA. The most famous Republican presidents are Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, George W. Bush, George W. Bush.
The image of the red elephant was also introduced into American politics by Nest. It happened on November 7, 1874 on the pages of the same Harpers Weekly. Three days after the Democrats won a majority in the House of Congress, Nest ridiculed them in another caricature. This time, an elephant was depicted walking into a pit, thereby escaping from a donkey dressed as a lion's skin. Here, the role of the donkey was assigned to the New York Herald newspaper, which wrote that Republican President Ulysses Grant is Caesar who wants a third term.
Fighting for Voters
There are various types of parties in the United States, including National Socialists and Communists, but practice shows that the American electorate elects members of the Democratic and Republican parties.
About a third of voters vote for Democrats and the same for Republicans. For the remaining votes there is a centuries-old struggle. Based on age, racial and religious characteristics, these parties are gaining new supporters during the election races.
Geographical principle
A few centuries ago it turned out that the party of Republicans had a strong position in the north of America - in a rich industrial region. Then the Democrats confidently occupied the rural south. But over the past 50 years, everything has changed: the Republicans won the confidence of the southerners, and the Democrats won the northerners.
The leader of the "elephant party" Abraham Lincoln initiated the abolition of slavery, but today African-Americans support, on the contrary, the Democratic Party.
In the remaining parts of the country there is no pronounced division, but the working class is most often on the side of the “blue donkeys” party, while businessmen and wealthy people advocate for the interests of the “elephants”.
Difference of views
Republicans and US Democrats are concerned about the problems of modern society. Difference only in their areas of influence. This includes problems called social: economic growth, jobs, medical care, and others.
Both Republicans and US Democrats wish a better life. The difference in their policies is that they are aimed at different segments of the population. In order to attract the attention of voters, people in the pre-election race are discussing gay people, their attitude to drugs and abortion, the involvement of women in the American army, and a host of other issues. But often these are just successful PR moves used to get votes.
Due to the fact that both parties are aimed at different strata of voters, their election promises are greatly eroded. So, Democrats want to provide better living conditions for poor people, providing them with the necessary medical care, new jobs and lower taxes, while Republicans are busy improving the lives of businessmen.
federal government
This is how Republicans are more different from Democrats. The interests of the Democratic Party are that the federal government be strong. In other words, this means that they want to completely take control of the economy, and this is almost the same as increasing the role of the government apparatus and the number of its employees. Democrats also want to raise taxes on business and expand aid for the poor.
Studies show that if America lives on the idea of democrats, it will soon lead to the creation of a capitalist society in which money is taken from the rich and distributed to the poor. Consider an example: in France, a wealth tax of 75% now applies. What does this lead to? To the fact that rich people curtail their business and go to live in other countries. There is a huge risk that all wealthy people will leave France, and then only poor citizens will remain in it who are not able to “raise” the country. Therefore, democratic ideas also have several disadvantages.
The Republican Party, on the contrary, advocates weakening the role of the federal government in America and its minimal interference in people's lives. They set the main task: to monitor compliance with laws and protect their citizens. Republicans advocate self-regulation of the economy, the expression "pure hand of capitalism" is quite applicable to them.
But if the pure ideas of this party reign in society, this will lead to its stratification, and one day those who are at the very bottom of the social cell will take up arms and try to take their own and restore justice and equality.
Maintaining balance
When in the country the electorate prefers two parties, one party reduces the influence of the other. If voters see the advantage of some political force, the active embodiment of its ideas, then, as a rule, a candidate from another party wins the election. In the United States of America, each of the parties won the maximum twice in a row.
It is correct to believe that to the end none of the ideas is ideal, therefore a bipartisan system provides a balance of influence of each of these two main political forces. As a result, the country is developing harmoniously, and all segments of the population are satisfied.
Republicans and US Democrats wish the best for America. The difference lies in the methods and vision of the problems of the modern society of the "star-striped" country.