Republicans and Democrats: A Comparison
Republicans and Democrats are the largest political parties in the United States of America. Historically, they have for many decades held the largest share of seats both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. However, the major distinction between these two political parties is that they have opposing positions and views on most key issues. According to Lauter (n.p.), almost a half of Republicans, view Democrats as dishonest, lazy and immoral compared to other Americans. In the same vein, in every ten Democrats, seven of them view Republicans as inflexible. Members of each side often admit that the other side makes them afraid or angry (Lauter, n.p.). Even Democratic voters have negative views of Republicans and vice versa. This term paper will compare and contrast the views of Democrats and Republicans on different subject areas.
Differences between Democrat and Republican views
The major distinction between these two political parties is their political orientation. Generally, Democrats are mostly linked with equality, progressiveness, left-leaning and more liberal, whereas Republicans are generally more affiliated with the idea of survival for the fittest, economic freedom, equity, traditional, right-leaning and are mostly conservative. Democrat's ideas are largely based on community and social responsibility, whereas Republican's ideas are mostly founded on individual justice and rights. Negative views of the other side make candidates from one side become unpopular to voters from another side. It has been found that fear and anger of the opposing party influence the perception of American voters on politics. The negative views that the voters have for the other political party motivate these voters to come out in large numbers during elections. Among Republicans, voters and politicians express very unfavorable views of Democrats. Similarly, among Democrats, the members often express negative opinions of Republicans. Democrats and republicans have opposing views on various topics of public importance such as gay marriage, gun control, procreation/abortion, social welfare, healthcare among others, which divide these politicians along their party lines.
Views on Different Subject Areas
Gay Marriage
Most Democrats recognize the need to accept and legally protect LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender). A majority of Democrats believe that LGBT people have a right to marry a person they love regardless of whether they both belong to the same gender. Whereas Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans support denying gays their rights and erasing these rights altogether, Hillary Clinton and her fellow Democrats promote, maintain and support gay rights. President Donald Trump (a Republican) has continued to undo any progress made by his predecessor's administration that promoted the causes or rights of LGBT people. President Trump's administration has continued to promote the anti-LGBT agenda. However, it is also important to note that some Democrats also oppose gay marriage.
According to Lopez (n.p.), former American President Barrack Obama (a Democrat), was the first incumbent American President to back same-sex marriage. Obama's government defined civil rights law to take care and guard trans people unlike other laws existing at the time. Obama's administration reversed laws that banned gays from publicly serving in the United States military. His Democrat administration promoted the rights of LGBTQ people. During his Presidential campaigns, Republican party candidate Donald Trump promised the LGBT people that he would champion for their rights. However, this was just a con since everything his administration has done, is anti-LGBT. Republicans have been pushing for an anti-gay agenda.
Gun Control
According to Republicanviews.org (n.p.), the Democratic Party's view is that enacting gun control legislation that is much stricter will reduce the now infamous cases of mass shootings and daily gun violence that occurs at the domestic level. Throughout their political careers, both Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama have put plenty of effort to enact stricter gun control laws. Democrats believe that the government should regularly regulate gun ownership through conducting extensive background checks on individuals before issuing them with guns to ensure that only responsible people own guns. This measure will also reduce terrorism.
The Republican Party's view is that the Second Amendment gives American civilians the right to keep arms only for recreational hunting and personal defense. Republicans generally argue that citizens should be allowed to own guns so that they can protect their homes, families, and communities in general. Some Republicans argue that civilians should get access to ammunition without first registering. Republicans argue that more public land should be made available to hunters including those living with disabilities. They also resist gun licensing.
Procreation/Abortion
Both Republicans and Democrats accept that abortion should be optional but readily available. Fingerhut (n.p.) states that the Democratic Party believes that any woman has the right to abort irrespective of whether or not they can afford the procedure. Democrats oppose any law that might remove this right. They believe that government and politicians should not influence or prevent abortion. Both Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama are famous proponents for making abortion safer to any woman who willingly wants it. Hillary's view is that abortion should continue being legal since it is not only about the life of the unborn child, but also, the other lives involved. Though Hillary believes that a common ground of understanding can be found between proponents and those who are against abortion, some Democrats such as Nancy Pelosi publicly rebuke those who oppose abortion, referring to them as dumb.
The Republican Party is divided over the limit to which abortion can be legal or illegal. Republicans view that unborn children have a right to life as stipulated in the Fourteenth Amendment. The party argues against public funds being used to conduct or promote abortions. They also resist any health care package that covers abortion. On the other hand, Republicans want people who choose to adopt children to receive tax incentives from the government, discouraging adoption. Republicans do not state how they want pro-abortion women to be punished. Their view is that women who have medical difficulties during their pregnancies should be supported with all the financial and medical support required to keep such women and their babies alive. The party is focused on enacting laws that protect the right to life of unborn children.
Social Welfare
Democrats are in favor of more government resources being spent on programs that aim to support needy people such as Medicaid, unemployment benefits, food stamps and welfare. The Democratic Party believes that more public funds should be channeled into welfare programs. Historically, numerous former American Presidents who were Democrats, promoted initiatives that helped to reduce economic disparity. During Obama's administration, the Democratic Party passed the Affordable Care Act that promoted health care to be provided to every person because it is a human right. Democrats resist efforts by Republican politicians to privatize people's retirement income (social security). They also argue against raising retirement age.
On the contrary, Republicans argue against lots of public funds being channeled to social welfare programs. They want the government to have tighter control of social welfare and also reduce the amount of public resources that are channeled to such programs. The Republican Party wants private organizations to support the needy in society, instead of the government taking up this role. Benevolent organizations such as charities should be exempted from taxes since they promote patriotism and welfare. All charitable organizations that help the needy in society, such as single mothers, should be supported despite their religious affiliation. To reduce the problem of single mother parent families, the party recommends that people should be encouraged to have healthier marriages.
Healthcare
As Salant points out in New Jersey Online (n.p.), the Democratic Party's view is that the government should have more control on health care so that it can become available to every person. Overall, Democrats are generally in favor of Obamacare. They are in favor of the government's efforts in improving and controlling Medicaid and Medicare. Democrats advocate for laws that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to compensate people with pre-existing illnesses, cancelling or capping coverage or overcharging women based on their gender.
On the contrary, Republicans argue against universal healthcare laws, insisting that such programs will result in an increase in the cost of healthcare, thus reducing the quality of healthcare provided. The Republican Party is of the view that private companies can run healthcare services much more efficiently compared to the government. They resist the requirements in Obamacare of civilians to purchase healthcare insurance or otherwise be fined and also the acceptable scope of contraceptives.
Conclusion
This term paper compared and contrasted the views of Democrats and Republicans on areas such as gay marriage, gun control, procreation/abortion, social welfare, and healthcare. Republicans and Democrats have opposing perceptions on matters of public interest. These political parties have different political orientations. Whereas Democrats are left-leaning and push for equality, Republicans are right-leaning and are proponents of remaining traditional. Members of one political party have negative opinions of the other. The Democratic Party endeavors to support and maintain the rights of the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender). Republicans openly push to reduce the rights of gay people. Democrats advocate that more vetting and background checks should be done on people before the government issues them with guns. Republicans believe it is every person's right to have a gun for self-protection. Democrats believe that a woman is the one who should make the choice as to whether she will do an abortion. Republicans do not want public funds to be used in abortion campaigns or procedures. Democrats support the government in doing more to support the needy whereas Republicans oppose this move. Democrats advocate for universal healthcare and Obamacare while Republicans push for privatization of this sector to improve efficiency.
Works Cited
Fingerhut (n.p.). “On abortion, persistent divides between – and within – the two parties”. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/07/07/on-abortion-persistent-divides-between-and-within-the-two-parties-2/. Accessed 11th May 2018.
Lauter, D. (n.p.). “Immoral, lazy, closed-minded: How Democrats and Republicans feel about each other”. Latimes.com. http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-polarized-voters-20160622-snap-story.html. Accessed 11th May 2018.
Lopez (n.p.). “Trump promised to be LGBTQ-friendly. His first year in office proved it was a giant con.” Vox.com. https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/1/22/16905658/trump-lgbtq-anniversary. Accessed 11th May 2018.
Republicanviews.org (n.p.). “Republican Views on Gun Control”. Republicanviews.org. https://www.republicanviews.org/republican-views-on-gun-control/. Accessed 11th May 2018.
Salant (n.p.). “10 huge differences between Democratic and Republican platforms.” New Jersey Online.http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/dnc_2016_10_big_ways_the_democratic_platform_diffe.html. Accessed 11th May 2018.
