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Once
again elections are upon us. The mid-term elections will occur on November 4,
2014. I’ll admit I really dislike elections years. The endless ads, the debates
and the petitions being shoved in my face as I enter a store. However, as a
responsible citizen, I do participate in the voting process. I vote because I
want my voice to be counted even though what I may vote for doesn’t pass. I
always say, if you don’t vote, then you can’t complain. With the coming
elections, it got me thinking about the comparisons and differences between the
Democrats and Republicans, the liberals and the conservatives, especially with
the emergence of the Tea Party in the last few years. This post is not to say
which party is better or which one you should join. That’s for you to decide.
Personally, I don’t belong to any political party and I definitely don’t like
to discuss my political views. Political views are too volatile and it’s not
worth the argument, if you can’t discuss things civilly.
The
Democratic Party is the older of the two parties with its origins in the
anti-federalist factions when this country was founded. The party was organized
by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and other opponents of the Federalists in
1792 (Encyclopedia Britannica). It is follows the liberal philosophy which based
on community and social responsibility. According to their website, the Democratic
Party is a political group which focus on fairness. “We’re greater together
than we are on own - that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot,
when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same rules.”
(Democratic Party official website). While the Republican Party was founded on
March 20, 1854 as an anti-slavery platform. The party rose to prominence with
Abraham Lincoln as the 1st Republican president (History Channel). It
is follows the conservative philosophy which based on small government and laws
should reflect the best interest of society as a whole.
I would
like to discuss each of the issues that the parties support. While there are
many issues in which the parties support, I would like to focus on the main issues.
First, the economy is important to
everyone. It means jobs, income and security. The Democratic Party supports
ending tax loopholes for corporations, tax cuts for small businesses, investing
in clean energy and creating jobs rebuilding the country’s infrastructure
(Democratic Party official website). They also favor minimum wages increases and
a progressive tax rate (Diffen.com). A Progressive tax rate simply is the more
income you make, the more you pay in taxes. While the Republican Party supports
a free market and opposes government intervention in control of industry
(Republican Party official website). They also oppose increase in taxes and
believe wages should be set by the free market (Diffen.com).
Second, immigration reform is an
important topic right now. The Democratic Party supports securing the border,
end to employer exploitation of undocumented workers and responsibility from
undocumented workers (Democratic Party official website). The party proposes
that undocumented residents: 1) be in good standing, 2) must admit they broke
the law, 3) pay taxes and penalties, 4) learn English and 5) get right with the
law before submitted an application for citizenship (Democratic Party official
website). While their official website does not mention immigration reform, according
to the Pew Research Center, the Republican Party supports a path to citizenship
similar to the Democrats’ plan. They also support a requirement for U.S.
employers to conduct immigration status of all new hires as well as tightening
the U.S. border security and providing Border Patrol with resources they need
to keep the border secure (Pew Research Center).
Third, education is an area of
concern. The Democrats supports an educational system which encourages math,
science and technology (Democrat Party official website). The party supports a
national standards, increased spending particularly teachers’ salaries,
reducing the minority achievement gap, government-controlled school options and
programs like Head Start, the party believes puts students on the path to
college (Joy Pullman). While the
Republican Party supports the math, sciences and technology; however, they would
like to see more parent choice in which schools their children attends
(Republican Party official website). The
party supports a variety of school options including charter schools, vouchers,
and supports the ending of “last in, first out” requirements for teacher hiring
and retention (Joy Pullman). The “Last in first out” is seniority based
lay-offs.
If that
wasn’t very confusing, enter the Tea Party. The Tea Party is a populist
movement which began in 2009 urging political change for the benefit of the
people (Tea Party Movement). Their focus is on fiscal conservatism. The Tea
Party favors decreased taxes and decreased government spending in order to
reduce the federal budget deficit (Tea Party Movement). The Tea Party is mostly
associated with the Republican Party and they are not registered as a political
party. They have no central leadership which according to some is proof of its
grassroots credentials which leaves its goal and beliefs to be highly localized
and personalized (Encyclopedia Britannica). Tea Party is basically a label that
some politicians have taken up to further demonstrate their ideas of where this
country has been and where it needs to go.
In
conclusion, I really dislike politics. While some issues I wholeheartedly
disagree with one side with, there are other issues that I think that it makes
sense. What I really dislike is that both sides claim that they are for the
people and they have our best interest at heart but when they get to
Washington, they are out for themselves. Maybe at first, the new idealist politician
comes to Washington to help get the country on the right track, but if they
aren’t carefully, they will forget why they were elected and by whom. I
distrust politicians on both sides of the aisle because I feel that they think
they know better than I do what I want in life. I don’t like being dictated to. And I don't think that I'm alone.
References
Democratic Party
official website www.democratic.org
Diffen.com
www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican
Encyclopedia
Britannica www.britannica.com
History Channel www.history.com
Joy Pullman, Heartland
Institute www.heartland.org
Republican Party
official website www.gop.com
Tea Party Movement
www.what-is-the-tea-party.com
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