What are the main differences between the republican and democratic parties?

[KentuckyWoman]

18. What has changed? I don't mean to be rude but are you serious?

Look I have a lot of problems with how the national Democratic Party is conducting itself as far as catering to the monied, but it's clear to me that the Obama Administration is at least TRYING to move the pendulum back in the direction of the 99%.


Credit card reform was huge IMHO. Getting to an abusive state of affairs was exactly what Republicans wanted and fought for.

Holding the TSA accountable for thefts of property, general abuse etc is no small matter either. The Republicans were defending this tomfoolery from the getgo.

Prosecution of Wall Streeters and Banksters is coming arduously slow - the penalties are far too lenient - but President Obama is going after some of them and the Democratic Party is generally supportive. I have no doubt in my mind the Republicans would be rewarding these guys instead - just think about the fact they refuse to even consider nominees for key positions in the regulatory and justice jobs.

Saving General Motors. I can't say enough gratitude for that. The political heat the Democrats took for that was huge. Even blue collar working people were slamming President Obama particularly for it because of their personal jealousy toward union workers with half decent compensation. But it's paid off in so many different ways. Republicans were hell bent on destroying the UAW. They may yet succeed before it's over but President Obama sure made the Republicans have to wait another 10 years to get it done.

Expanded Pell Grants and kicked the durn banks out of the student loan program. It's bad enough we refuse to properly educate our kids at the primary and secondary level. They are forced to mortgage their future for even the smallest hope of an above minimum wage in life. But to have the banks abusing students on top of that all the while taking federal subsidy money is just beyond the pale. Republican have decimated our early education system and rigged the game so the 1% can use education as yet another avenue to line their pockets at our expense. For far too long the Democratic Party didn't fight hard enough to stop it in my opinion, but under this administration they've at least moved the needle a little big back toward sanity.

Food safety. Not that problems haven't slipped through but for 25 yrs the Republican chipped away at food safety standards in the name of almighty profits. During Bush it seemed like every other week we were having tainted food or medicine recalls. Obama pushed through more money for inspections - I wish it could have been more - but the guy did do something and it's helped.

That's a few things I can think of off the top of my head. My basic reason for being in the Democratic Party is that while it's not a perfect marriage, Democratic politicians are far more likely to do what is right for me and mine on any given day rather than cater to only the monied the way Republicans are apt to do.