Traditionally, the difference between Republicans and Democrats has been their views on the roles of the federal government. Democrats believe that it is the governments role to protect the people and that it is the duty of the federal government to ensure a minimum for all Americans, thus they support programs that provide for retirement (social security), ensure the availability of food regardless of income, health insurance and medicine, and education. In order for the government to provide this sort of assistance, it costs money, thus they tend to raise taxes, which is the only source of money the government has. Democrats tend to raise taxes on the wealthy while minimizing taxes on those who make below a certain limit (typically around 40,000 for a family of 4).
Republicans believe that a federal governments primary role is to protect the citizens from external threat only, and trust the market to provide for the social wellbeing of the country. They support lowering taxes, especially on the wealthiest, in order to encourage economic growth, and that competition and enterprise will force businesses to provide living wages for those who work at the bottom tier. Although many republicans do support social welfare programs, the core ideology is against the existence, and when it come to whether a program needs better funded or to cut the benefits of the program, republicans tend to support minimizing the program.
Interesting enough, since 1980, Democrats have balanced the budget and republicans have lead us to the 2 biggest deficits in our nations history. This is because Republicans have started to spend on social welfare programs, but have not wanted to raise the taxes to support the programs.
As far as issues are concerned, republicans do not support universal health care, tend to be pro life, do not support gun control, and tend to support military spending.
Democrats tend to support universal health care, want to stop global warming, tend towards pro choice, tend to support gun control, and tend to use the military less frequently, although rarely do they propose cutting the military budget.
I am a democrat. -- I am not surprised this answer was written by a democrat! Republicans/Democrats do not act alone, each party holds their piece of this puzzle.
Democrats tend to be more apt for government spending and taxation to help stimulate the economy and create jobs, while Republicans believe that taxation limits growth and job creation and government spending only makes the government bigger.
Democrats believe that the government should help the lower class in order to encourage their success, while republicans believe that the Government's war on poverty allows the poor to live off the government and discourages their success.
Democrats tend to believe that the Constitution should be interpreted more loosely and in a modernized form, while Republicans believe that the Constitution must be interpreted as strictly and as close to the original text and meaning as possible.
Democrats tend to be more liberal about social and economic issues, while Republicans tend to be more conservative.
Democrats believe that more power should be given to the federal government, while republicans think that the federal government should be limited and state governments should be more powerful.
Thomas Jefferson created a party called the Democratic-Republican party, and his policies were somewhat different from the modern Republican Party.
Lincoln was a member of the Republican Party of 1854, but is was a VERY different Republican Party than we have today.
he was republican
Is Harris Faulkner republican or democrat
republican
no- Bush is a Republican.
sonson
yes
representative democract
They were called Copperheads
Ask at the post office.
Republican, in a time when the parties were much different from their current forms.
Republican
republican party
Thomas Jefferson created a party called the Democratic-Republican party, and his policies were somewhat different from the modern Republican Party.
Helen Keller was a member of the Socialist Party of America, which is different from both the Democratic and Republican parties. She was an advocate for progressive and socialist ideals.
There has been a Republican Party since 1860 and each convention has a different platform, so we need from you a where and when you are asking about.