The Difference between Democrats and Republicans is pretty basic...

[Peacetrain]

It is community.

Republicans value their own individual ability to make money above all else. Democrats also value individual success, but we value just as much, our neighbor being able to work for success.

For Republicans, if the neighbor fails, well that is tough, but that's life. For the Democrats if the neighbor fails, it is, what can we do, to help them, help themselves.

It is a sense of community, and that we all do better if we all have the same chance.

You can see it in what hard righters love in media. They love Rambo, because he singlehandedly won the Vietnam war in their minds. The left is more about reflection on how we avoid that same mistake.

The righters love 24, one person saving the world. The left looks to all hands on deck, no one can do it all.

Basically hard righters like Limbaugh, Hannity are lazy in their philosophy and want others to do all the work.

We in the left side of the equation, look to everyone to pitch in.

The amazing paradox of this, is that the right values lock step support, while we on the left side of the ticket, battle each other to find the best way there. I have never met 2 Democrats who agreed on everything in my life.

[baldguy]

1. For Republicans, if the neighbor fails they refuse to acknowledge that they could be next.

They believe - falsely - that poverty is a character flaw.

[Peacetrain]

2. That is the truth, some of them actually think that people choose poverty

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Fear and critical thinking. nt

[Peacetrain]

4. True, and it is just as true with taxes, they on the hard right do not get it

that wealthy and successful individuals on the left, would choose to pay higher taxes for the welfare of the nation as a whole and its future. They cannot see beyond today. Absolute lack of critical thinking

[unpossibles]

9. agreed, and it's not even completely altruism

I know that the more successful and stable my society is, it vastly benefits me both directly and indirectly. Citizens who are content are less likely to commit crimes than those who are desperate. Citizens who prosper are more able to buy products and ideas from other citizens than those who are set up to fail.

The right's greed and solipsistic/masturbatory bootstrap-pulling nature is so short sighted it amazes me that any of them manage to survive on their own. The sad truth is, they do not survive on their own, they just think they do and give no credit to the society which provides the environment in which they succeed, much less the sheer amounts of luck and connections which enable hard work and drive.

I think the pervasive problem is a lack of being able to appreciate subtlety or understand the spectrum of the world instead of it being black/white. This is why they are so bad at satire, why they think that Teh Gays! are out to convert them all, why they see an inclusive and secular government as an attack on their faith, and why they consider Obama to be a thug.

They want Obama to fail and cannot understand that they will go down with him if he does, nor do they get that none of us wanted Bush to fail; we sick of him failing! I did not like the guy from day 1, but I gave him a chance to be a good president and he repeatedly blew it beyond even what I thought he was (in)capable of.

They complain about taxes without appreciation for the good things which are provided by taxation - including many things they (pretend to) support vehemently, such as the military. They complain about morality and ethics, yet are the first to draw the long knives.

I could go on, but I won't.

[Peacetrain]

11. Well actually I wish you would go on.. You are better at this than me

in pointing out the differences in the philosophies. :)

[liberal N proud]

5. I have always said the difference is thinking

The Republicans don't think, they let someone tell them what to support.

Because Democrats and liberals think for themselves and make their own opinions the republican can win elections simply because they all agree on what the top asshole in the group says.

[elocs]

6. It's simplistic to make a caricature of all Republicans, but it is a popular pastime here at DU.

It certainly makes it easier to slam, mock, and belittle them as they are made out to be one giant lockstep and same-thing moronic monolith. Certainly many of them are as you describe. Most of the Republicans that I personally know do not fit your description. They are just regular, everyday people with whom I disagree, but we respect each others positions. I know Republicans who would help anybody in need and would help me at the drop of a hat if I needed it. I have Republican friends with whom I regularly visit and we have nice discussions, but we avoid politics because politics is not their entire life nor is it mine.

In contrast to that there are posters here at DU who I have placed on ignore because I cannot even stand to read them. I have read posts here that make me ashamed to even be a Democrat. There are others whose posts I read but I have to admit that I have no desire to ever know them any better. Then there are some who are the salt of the earth. I have Republican friends who are like that and that is why they are my friends. Not all Republicans are the same kind of people believing exactly the same things anymore than that is true of Democrats.

[Peacetrain]

7. For me it is as simple as this.. if you supported G. Bush in 2000

no harm no foul.. How could you possibly really know what would happen in 2003 with the invasion of Iraq. In fact he talked about a more compassionate conservatism.

If you voted for him in 2004 with all we knew, then it was love of your politics above love of country. It was a lockstep march to keep a republican in at all and any costs.


Let me edit to add: Getting into a back and forth about individual friends and family we have, is not the point of my op.. It is more how we approach our politics. And especially the hard right such a hannity and limbaugh which I pointed out in the op

[Optical.Catalyst]

18. I like the slamming, mocking and belittling the Republicans get around here

When I get all wound up about something, I like to come read DU and have a laugh at the comments made about the Republicans.

I must say, most of the trash talk directed at Republicans is not abuse undeserved either.

[elocs]

19. I guess that you are just a little too intellectual and high brow for me.

It's a good thing for me that I won't be reading anymore of your posts.

[SPedigrees]

8. It's simpler than that. Republicans are for the rich; democrats are for the working family. nt

[Romulox]

10. Wow. I disagree. Both parties have VERY similar economic programs.

The difference tends to be most evident in the "culture war" areas; differences in civil liberties and economic programs are more muted (where they exist at all.)

There is no sense that "free trade" under Bill Clinton was any less darwinian than the exact same "free trade" policies under Bush, for example.

[berni_mccoy]

12. Democrats Help Victims. Republicans Blame Victims.

[TheCoxwain]

13. Here is the Biggest difference

Republicans tend to be single issue voters .... They might say we are for X,Y & Z issues .. but once you strip the bullshit and look at the core -they are all about 'getting the one thing they want'. Whether that is low taxes or imposing their religious views on others or getting to pollute the environment.


Dems belive in using the Government as a tent to bring people under and solve issues through consensus. That means taking positions on a host of issues - even ones you dont care about on a personal level.


Republicans resent having to agree to a consensus that is different from their world view.


They are selfish fucking bastards - PURE & SIMPLE.

[Peacetrain]

14. single issue voters... very true!

[tucsonlib]

15. James Kenneth Galbraith Summed It Up So Well:

"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."

[TheKentuckian]

16. At this point the biggest distinction is

Republicans don't believe in governance (other than for the purposes of subjecting the people in general to their personal wills, to punish transgressors to their personal codes, or to attack other countries) and Democrats believe government can be used constructively to better the country and citizens.

Republicans are worthless for the purposes of governing.

[mnhtnbb]

17. The difference is empathy. Repubs have none; Dems know that "there but for the grace...go I"