REPUBLICAN
VS.
DEMOCRAT
PHILOSOPHIES
Fundamental Beliefs
Within the two major political parties, sharp differences exist on the specifics of various national and local issues. This occasionally causes people to wonder what holds Republicans and Democrats together--what prevents fragmentation into innumerable splinter parties.
The answer is that the two party system relies on adherence to fundamental beliefs. As an American voter, you should examine these philosophical principles carefully.
The main theme of Democrat philosophy is the expansion of the "general welfare" clause of the Constitution to bring within the scope of the powers of the Federal Government everything interpreted as dealing with the general welfare of the people. The New Deal, the Fair Deal, New Frontier, and Great Society are all essentially concepts of federal paternalism--direction and control of the lives of all citizens from Washington. To implement this philosophy effectively the concept of three coordinate branches of the Federal Government is rejected in favor of domination by the Executive.
The Republican philosophy is firmly based upon acceptance of the concept of restraint of power: 1) the limited, delegated powers of the Federal Government set forth in the Constitution; 2) the balance of power among the three coordinate branches of the Federal Government; 3) the freedom of the States and their people to promote their own welfare within the spirit and letter of the Constitution, with only such assistance or regulation by the Federal Government as may be necessary in the best interests of all the people, or essential under the Constitution.
The Two Party System--Room for a Wide Diversity of Views
The genius, and the long life and success of the two party system in the United States, is that both great parties have provided accommodation within their ranks for a wide diversity of views. This has been possible because both parties agree upon certain objectives, e.g., the "welfare of the people," but disagree upon the means of reaching those goals. Thus, when an election brings a change of party in control of the government, there is not a revolution. The party out of power becomes the loyal opposition until it again is in the ascendancy.
The function of the minority during this period is to: 1) point out errors and deficiencies of the party in power; 2) develop and present to the voters the plans and basic beliefs that will be brought into government if the voters select them [the opposition] to lead.
Republican Record--Individual Initiative
The long period of Republican leadership saw the West settled, transcontinental railroads built, a strong, sound financial system established, and our natural resources developed. It was a period of enormous complexity and growth, during which, with few brief interruptions, the Republican Party guided the Nation. Education, public health, conservation, banking, recreation, antitrust laws, and maximum development of strong, responsible government at state and local levels characterized the major thrusts of Republican efforts.
REPUBLICAN PARTY philosophy is rooted in a belief in individual rights and responsibilities. Maximum power to determine their destiny should lie in the hands of the people and governmental power and resources should be kept close to the people, rather than monopolized from a distance by officials in Washington, D.C. Local government, local education and community life belong to the people themselves.
DEMOCRAT administrations have pushed for more and more centralized power in Washington, with only secondary consideration for the rights of individuals and communities. This has meant increasingly tighter federal control and regimentation, often at the hands of unelected bureaucrats, and an erosion of grassroots government across the country.
It is significant that today some Democrats are talking more and more of returning to a concept Republicans have never abandoned--that state and local governments are best suited to solving our major problems.
For over a hundred years Republican administrations have kept faith by meeting the Nation's needs without abandoning our basic belief in the kind of government that permits the greatest flowering of individual initiative. The Republican Party demonstrated--by performance--government competence on a high scale, compassion for the interests of all in the community, the less fortunate as well as those who have prospered under our free society; and, most of all, Republicans did these things in furtherance of the belief that the primary purpose of government is to free each individual to develop the very best that is in him--all of his abilities and talents--so long as he prevents no one else from doing the same thing. This should be the goal of government everywhere.
Domestic tranquility and unity are Republican hallmarks. No shadow of responsibility was attached to the GOP for encouraging, aligning with, or supporting the dissident forces which divided our country during the sixties. Our laws provide rules which all must respect, and they also provide restraint and penalties for those whose behavior is a threat to the freedom and rights of others.
The preservation of our Nation and the security of our citizens depend upon the Constitution, the laws and the courts, and respect for them is the responsibility of every citizen.
Financial Responsibility And Elimination of Over-Government
Democrats promote an economic order dependent upon, and controlled by, Federal Government planning and regulation. They embrace as "new" the idea of a powerful central government taking our tax money to spend in our behalf, and regulating much of our lives. Far from being "new", this idea is the old European Monarchic idea which our founders rejected in the beginning. The Democrats believe that government, given enough money, can solve everything.
Republicans believe in fiscal responsibility, and a searching scrutiny of every new spending program as to its need and cost. Democrats plunge into visionary, untested experiments, unmindful of the danger of inflation as a result of government extravagance and debt, and unwilling to reassess and adjust the programs to changing times. Once started, a Democrat program is rarely retrenched.
Foreign Policy
Republicans believe that only a strong America can remain a free America. Further, Republican philosophy stresses that it is absolutely essential to maintain a strong national defense posture in order that we may at all times negotiate from a position of strength, not weakness, in our continuing efforts toward world peace and friendship.
National security and world respect are matters with which Republicans are familiar and comfortable. They have been well understood. Maintaining a strong military posture in a dangerous world is just good sense. Americans do not feel guilty about being strong. Republican administrations have sought cooperation with other countries and have refrained from meddling. These policies have produced and maintained respect and peace. by contrast, the Democrats have muddled into conflict all over the world.
The fact remains--in comparing the success of Republican and Democrat foreign policies--that U.S. involvement in all of the world conflicts of this century has occurred under Democrat leadership--none under Republican direction.
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Originally Posted by Schmallz
