DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANSMr. Geib and Mr. Fitz-Patrick

12th Grade Gov. and Econ.

May 1, 2023

THE RIVAL AMERICAN POLTICAL PARTIES

“All people are born alike. Except Republicans and Democrats.”

Groucho Marx

• disaffected moderate Republicans 

• pro-choicers (abortion) • African and Hispanic

Americans • members and supporters

of labor unions • gay rights supporters

DEMOCRATIC COALITION

• intellectuals• people with lower

incomes • city dwellers • feminists • environmentalists

“I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.”Will Rogers

THE WORLD CAN BE IMPROVED

• Redistribute wealth and INTERFERE with personal behavior to make society fairer and “progress” forward.

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Martin Luther King Jr

“THE WORLD CAN BE IMPROVED”

• Teach respect for others through empathy, cultural diversity, and questioning authority, so child can reach his/her potential.

Tim Dewar, SCWriP

“EQUALITY” IS BEST

• Freedom in the social spheres, but regulation of the economy in the name of “fairness.” Use the power of government to give the weak a “boost.”

• veterans' groups and military supporters 

• religious conservatives • Libertarians• opponents of gay

marriage • opponents of affirmative action

REPUBLICAN COALITION

• supporters of the development of natural resources on public lands

• rural dwellers 

“Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.”

Ronald Reagan

OUR COLLECTIVE PAST

• Let individuals keep their wealth and create more wealth through the market, and “conserve” the best aspects of our collective past.

“Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.” Emmanuel Kant

RULES AND AUTHORITY

• Building character by using “tough love” to help build morals via respect and fear. REWARD and PUNISHMENT.

RULES AND AUTHORITY

• Freedom in economic life, and regulation of social life with “law and order.”

IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE

PARTIES

Democrats Versus Republicans

• less disposed to spend on defense • less disposed to use vouchers, or other public funds,

to let students attend private schools • more disposed to spend money to advance social-

welfare programs • more disposed to spend money on government-run

health insurance programs • more disposed to grant tax relief to targeted groups

such as the lower and middle classes • against private ownership pf assault weapons and

for broader regulations on the ownership of firearms 

DEMOCRATS TEND TO…

• more disposed to spend on defense • more disposed to use vouchers for private schools

and to give government aid to parochial schools • more disposed to grant tax relief to everyone,

especially the wealthy corporations • less disposed to spend money on social welfare

programs • less disposed to spend money on government-run

health insurance programs • less disposed to regulate firearms 

REPUBLICANS TEND TO…