republican vs. democrat? Options

[Retrogressive]

I go to an all republican school, but I hardely ever get the veiws of republicans what do they stand for exactly? who do you believe is right?

[xquizit]

I'm not quite sure but I think I'm leaning toward democrat. One of the reasons which I feel most strongly about I guess is because I don't support tax cuts. I think it's helpful for us Americans to pay taxes to improve institutions across the country especially schools. I think the solution to a lot of the problems in America lies in improving schools and educating our youth so that they can stay off the streets (prevent violence or drug dealing and other illegal activity), learn how to practice safe sex and how to protect yourself against STDs (decrease teen pregnancy and disease) etc. etc. If our future lies in the youth of the nation, why not invest more in them? Why settle for schools with classes containing 30+ students and no air conditioning for example?

Sure, tax cuts sound appealing, we get to keep more of our money... but I bet the majority of us won't spend it on anything useful anyway... why not help our schools, improve our hospitals and health care, support scientific research, and more.

On the other hand, I don't support abortion or gay marriage entirely which are "republican" views I guess...


Eh... I'm Independent.

[Retrogressive]

my mother is a conservative democrat, she is democrat but she doesn't support gay marriage or abortion... I on the other hand am liberal because it's "freedom and justice FOR ALL" it doesn't say "freedom and justice FOR RICH BAPTIST FAT CATS"

[*Kathleen*]

Eh... I'm Independent.

Hehe. A moderate, eh? Okay, but the differences is basically this:
Democrats/Liberals -> More government
Republicans/Conservatives -> Less government

[xquizit]

my mother is a conservative democrat, she is democrat but she doesn't support gay marriage or abortion...

Yeah, I guess I could classify myself as one of those as well...

Oh, and I do like the idea of freedom HOWEVER... I think there need to be restrictions otherwise all this freedom can potentially lead to chaos, that is if people abuse it...

[ComradeRed]

Republicans/Conservatives -> Less government

Not true -- Republicans have total control of the government now, yetr government is growing faster than it did under Clinton.

Most democrats: Big, solvent government.
Most republicans: Big, insolvent government.

Insolvent is actually better -- the sooner we get a financial collapse, the less harsh it will be and the sooner we will learn that money cannot be eaten.

[Retrogressive]

the sooner we collapse the sooner I can take over.

[*Kathleen*]

No, you call them "Nazi-Conservatives" or whatnot of today, but Republicans are for less government...

[ComradeRed]

No they aren't... Only a small minority of Republicans are for smaller government. Republicans have increased the size of government even though they control both houses of Congress.

[captured_serenit...]

republicans are for less government but not all is taken away...the democrats are more like communists...they want to CONTROL everything...yet you have the liberals who are about the whole freedom and justice for all...but that's goign to be like hell on earth if that happened...for tax cuts people can be able to afford things to keep the economy flowing so it wont fall...but what do i know...that's just my opinion.

[Retrogressive]

bull--- I don't see how democrats want to control society, when its the republicans who pass the PATRIOT ACT.

[ryfitaDF]

bull--- I don't see how democrats want to control society, when its the republicans who pass the PATRIOT ACT.

oooh. you got surrvd! hehe

i see what kathleen's saying with "republucans are for less govt." just because they don't like welfare recipiants. correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't "more govt." mean welfare?

i can't decide wheather i'm liberal or conservative because i they're both right and both wrong. people say i fall under libertarian.

[Retrogressive]

both right? I think it all comes down to this really and honestly.
democrats- for the poor
republicans- for the rich

[*Kathleen*]

I'm not rich. I would say I'm a conservative.

[ComradeRed]

both right? I think it all comes down to this really and honestly.
democrats- for the poor
republicans- for the rich

That's not true, the richest 5% of Americans are over 2/3 democrats.

[Retrogressive]

That's not true, the richest 5% of Americans are over 2/3 democrats.

where do you get this information? I guess I'm going by the fact that every rich person I know is a republican (besides one exception) It seems to me everyone in my private school is a republican if they are rich but a democrat if there poor.

[ComradeRed]

where do you get this information? I guess I'm going by the fact that every rich person I know is a republican (besides one exception) It seems to me everyone in my private school is a republican if they are rich but a democrat if there poor.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/results/index.epolls.html

This breaks down the results of the 2000 Election by various demographics.

Vote by Class All Gore Bush Buchanan Nader
Upper Class 4 % 56 % 39 % 0 % 3 % (family income >$500,000)
Upper-Middle 27 % 43 % 54 % 0 % 3 % (family income $100,000-$500,000)
Middle Class 46 % 48 % 49 % 0 % 2 % (family income $50,000-$100,000)
Working Class 18 % 51 % 46 % 0 % 3 % (family income $10,000-$50,000)
Lower Class 2 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % (family income <$10,000)

Out of the richest 4% of Americans, 56% voted for Gore, whereas only 39% voted for Bush. In the country as a whole, 48.3% voted for Gore, compared to 47.9% for Bush. Remember, upper-class here means the richest 4% of Americans -- i.e. millionaries. For every two millionaries that voted for Bush, three voted for Gore.

When you say "rich" people, you probably mean the Upper-Middle Class -- The richest 5-31% of Americans. These are people in families with incomes of between $100,000 to $1,000,000. This group of people tends to be Republican -- though there are also a lot of Democrats.

The wealth/politics thing is U-shaped curve -- the poor and very rich both tend to vote Democrat, while the ones in the middle vote Republican. The very poor tend not to vote at all (that's why they have straight 0%s--their turnout was only 5%, which makes it impossible to measure statistically their political support).

[*Kathleen*]

Minda just knows retarded facts like that for no reason. Kidding. But...then why are all the famous, richest celebrities democrats?

[nyctophiliac]

hmm...well my parents are Republican so umm yeah I guess i'd be more for the Republicans

[ComradeRed]

Minda just knows retarded facts like that for no reason. Kidding. But...then why are all the famous, richest celebrities democrats?

Quick demographic lesson:

The five-class system was origianlly designed by some neoclassic economist a few decades ago. It still stands today.

"Lower class"
Standard Demographic Definition: Family income under $10,000
Percentage of Population: 2%
Simplified Description: People who, for one reason or another, are unable to get a job. Their sole source of income is probably begging. A couple more are refugees who cannot get government aid. Most of these people do not have children and die off, to be replaced by new people.
Social Mobility: None
Political Clout: None
Economic Clout: None
Why They Tend Not to Vote: Most of them are mentally and/or physically disabled. The ones that are refugees do not have citizenship and therefore cannot vote.

"Working class"
Standard Demographic Definition: Family income between $10,000 and $40,000
Percentage of Population: 18%
Simplified Description: Poor people who have a job. Simple enough. Historically, this group has been the majority of society, but now they are only a minority.
Social Mobility: Slightly Upwards
Political Clout: Medium
Economic Clout: Low
Why They Tend to be Democrats: Democrats give them money. Plus, many of them are industrial workers who are deadly afraid of losing their jobs through outsourcing. They DO, however, tend to be hawkish (pro-Iraq War), etc. Their actual impact on the economy is also exaggerated, giving them political clout under people like d*ck Gephardt.

"Middle class"
Standard Demographic Definition: Family income between $40,000 and $100,000.
Percentage of Population: 46%
Simplified Description: Most Americans. People who probably save up some money, own a little investment, but still have to worry about money. Most are skilled workers, working in computers or stuff like that.
Social Mobility: Upwards
Political Clout: Very High
Economic Clout: High
Why They Tend to be Neutral: This group of people is the group that most politicians campaign after, simply because there are so many of them. They neither favor democrats nor republicans, but whatever party gains a majority of them will usually win the election.

"Upper-middle class"
Standard Demographic Definition: Family income between $100,000 and $500,000.
Percentage of Population: 27%
Simplified Description: This is your typical suburbanite. This class consists of investors, small capitalists, lawyers, doctors, professors, and other professionals, and as such as the MOST influential group of society.
Social Mobility: Slight, Either Direction
Political Clout: Very High
Economic Clout: Very High
Why They Tend to be Republicans: This group of people tends to be the most conservative in that they do not seek to move up the social ladder, most of them just want to stay where they are. Republicans offer them lower taxes and less intrusive regulations. (Steel workers may lose their jobs because of too little regulation, but doctors usually lose their jobs because of too much regulation).

"Upper class"
Standard Demographic Definition: Family income higher than $500,000.
Percentage of Population: 4%
Simplified Description: Rich people. Partners at law or medical firms, corporate executives, celebrities, landlords, capitalists, etc.
Social Mobility: None
Political Clout: High
Economic Clout: Very High
Why They Tend to be Democrats: It's the fashionable thing to do. No, really, it is. These people tend not to value economy, since they are already very rich, and side with the Democrats on social issues. Since successful people tend to be tolerant and freedom-loving (the more liberty you have, the more money you can make--this is common sense), they tend to side with the Democrats because of social issues (The vast majority of rich people are against the PATRIOT Act, pro-choice, anti-censorship, etc. simply because to get rich, they had to have a certain mindset in the first place, that tends to favor things like free speech... however, this does not apply to people who inherited their money, whom may be more conservative than your run-of-the-mill rich capitalist like Bill Gates).

[*Kathleen*]

Why They Tend to be Democrats: It's the fashionable thing to do. No, really, it is. These people tend not to value economy, since they are already very rich, and side with the Democrats on social issues.

Ahh...that's what I always thought, but wasn't sure. I mean...honestly...they don't care if our taxes are raised or not because they're so rich.

[Retrogressive]

1. the problem is were are all grouping people into a lump sum, you can't base entire motives on opinion.

2. Minda?

3. Most celebrities/singers were hard working and struggling at some point they weren't always rich.

4. I guess being a democrat is as trendy as being gay. But you have to admit, freedom of speech "is a pretty neat thing."

[strice]

comradered has it about covered, although i'll venture to say both sides suck ass but they are both equally important. it would surpise no one when i say that becoming either side halts any kinds of progess. Nazis like el busho would destroy everything but the upper class and communists would lower the standard so low that no one could do much to progress society. It is the constant pulling and pushing of these two parties that make this country what it is and why we must always be wary of both sides of an argument.

[Retrogressive]

wow--- thanks for stating the obvious.
of course both sides are asshol.es and probibly neither actually care for america but I guess you have to pick one side or another though, or you can't b*tch about when something shi.tty happens.

[*Kathleen*]

1. the problem is were are all grouping people into a lump sum, you can't base entire motives on opinion.

How else would we break it down?

2. Minda?

ComradeRed -> Minda

3. Most celebrities/singers were hard working and struggling at some point they weren't always rich.

How many of them? Not many. Many of them have connections. On top of that, many people change.

4. I guess being a democrat is as trendy as being gay. But you have to admit, freedom of speech "is a pretty neat thing."

How do Republicans suppress freedom of speech?