Republicans and Democrats of the United States: the difference. How Republicans differ from Democrats

There is an old well-known American anecdote, which plainly demonstrates how Republicans differ from democrats.

The man attended the celebration with his friends, the liberal democrats. Their little daughter, who imitates her parents in everything, to the guest's question: "What do you want to become when you grow up?" Confidently and without hesitation replied: "President." Then the young man asked her one more question: "What will you do first thing, when will you become the main person in the US?" Without thinking twice, the little girl answered: "I will feed all homeless people and give them a roof over their heads." It was noticeable that the parents shone with happiness and pride, tested for their child. But then the man offered the girl not to wait many years before she becomes the head of state, and to earn a little pocket money right now, removing his lawn in the backyard, and giving this money to the homeless. The daughter of the Democrats, after a moment's thought, said: "Then why does not this homeless person remove 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: stability and conservatism. Republicans and democrats are the two most popular parties. Recent sociological studies have shown that between political forces today, divergences in views are even more significant than the racial, age or gender disagreements in the country.

The democratic movement was founded in the first half of the 19th century, it adapts easily in any conditions, and has been 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 president of the states, Barack Obama, is also a democrat.

The Republican Party of the United States represents the second most important political force of the country. Here the main principles are liberalism and conservatism. The name and popularity came to this party in the 19th century, during the struggle against slavery. It was thanks to the Republicans that this serious problem was overcome. To date, the party is quite neutral about racial issues, maintaining a conservative position.

Republicans and Democrats USA. Difference of beliefs

The views of parties are very different. In many respects they are even the opposite. Thus, the Republican Party supports the increase of taxes for rich people, state debt, as well as compulsory medical insurance and the preservation of the death penalty. Its adherents are focused on the middle class, Native Americans and wealthy people.

Democrats, on the other hand, support the poor and people who live off special benefits and payments. They advocate free medical care, the introduction of an excess profit tax, an increase in budgetary expenditures and a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

The Democrat symbol is a blue donkey

Democrats of the United States as a political force were formed back in 1828. Since the beginning of the 1960s, the Democratic Party has advocated the expansion of the role of the state, especially in such areas as social protection of the population and health care.

Often, speaking 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 magazine "Haspers Whickey" he portrayed a donkey next to the dead lions. This was a political commentary on the behavior of the Democrats after the sudden death of the former Minister of War in the government of Lincoln Edwin M. Stanton. Nast's caricature had a great resonance and was signed as follows: "A living donkey lays a dead lion. They allowed themselves vile and dirty printed articles after his death. " The image created an allusion to the well-known saying: "A living donkey is better than a dead lion."

The symbol of Republicans is the red elephant

The Republican Party was established in 1854. Since then, it has become very popular in the US. The most famous Republican presidents are Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, George Bush, George W. Bush.

The image of the red elephant was also introduced into American politics by Nast. It happened on November 7, 1874 on the pages of the same Harpers Weekly. Three days after the Democrats won the majority in the House of Congress, Nest laughed at them in another cartoon. This time, an elephant was seen portraying into the pit, thus escaping from the donkey, disguised as a lion's hide. Here, the donkey's role was taken up by the New York Herald, which wrote that Republican President Ulysses Grant is Caesar who wants a third term.

The struggle for voters

There are different types of parties in the United States of America , including National Socialists and Communists, but practice shows that the American electorate chooses members of the Democratic and Republican parties.

About a third of voters vote for Democrats and the same number for Republicans. For the remaining voices there is a centuries-old struggle. Relying on the age, race and religious characteristics, these parties win new supporters during the pre-election races.

Geographical principle

A few hundred years ago, the party of Republicans Had the strongest 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: Republicans won the confidence of the southerners, and the Democrats - the northerners.

The leader of the "party of elephants" Abraham Lincoln initiated the abolition of slavery, but today African Americans support, on the contrary, a party of democrats.
In other parts of the country there is no clearly defined division, but the working class is most often on the side of the party of "blue donkeys", and businessmen and wealthy people stand for the interests of "elephants".

Difference of views

The problems of modern society are concerned both Republicans and Democrats of the United States. Difference Only in their spheres of influence. This includes problems that are called social: economic growth, jobs, medical care and others.

Both Republicans and Democrats want the best life. The difference in their policy lies in the fact that they are aimed at different segments of the population. In order to attract voters' attention, people of non-traditional orientation, attitude to drugs and abortion, attraction of women to the American army, and many other issues are also discussed in the pre-election race. But often it's just good PR moves used to get votes.

Due to the fact that both parties are directed to different layers of voters, their pre-election promises are very different. So, Democrats want to provide better living conditions for poor people, providing them with necessary medical care, new jobs and lower taxes, while Republicans are busy improving the lives of businessmen.

federal government

This is what the Republicans differ from the Democrats to a greater extent. The interests of the democratic party are that the federal government should 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 assistance 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 away from the rich and distributed to the poor. Consider the example: in France, a wealth tax of 75% is currently applied. What does this lead to? To the fact that rich people turn off their business and leave to live in other countries. There is a huge risk that all wealthy people will leave France, and then only poor citizens who can not "lift" the country will remain in it. Therefore, democratic ideas also have a number of drawbacks.

The Republican Party, on the contrary, is for the weakening of the role of the federal government in America and for its minimal interference in people's lives. They set the main task: to monitor compliance with laws and protect their citizens. Republicans are in favor of self-regulation of the economy, the phrase "the pure hand of capitalism" is quite applicable to them.

But if the pure ideas of this party prevail in society, it will lead to its stratification, and one day those who are at the very bottom of the social cell will take their guns in their hands and try to take their own and restore justice and equality.

Maintain a balance

When in the country the electorate gives preference to two parties, then one party reduces the level of influence of the other. If voters see the advantage of some political force, the active embodiment of her ideas, then the candidate from the other party, as a rule, wins in elections. In the United States, each of the parties won a maximum of two consecutive times.

It is right to believe that none of the ideas are perfect until the end, because the bipartisan system gives the balance of influence of each of these two main political forces. As a result, the country develops harmoniously, and all segments of the population are satisfied.

The Republicans and the US Democrats want the best for America. The difference lies in the methods and vision of the problems of modern society "star-striped" country.