DEMOCRATS VS. REPUBLICANS
(This was posted on FaceBook by a liberal friend. I felt the author's biased, over-simplistic, comments needed rebuttal. Not that a true liberal will be persuaded, but at least some clarity of thought will be available for those who are genuinely interested in knowing the truth. My comments are notated by the "J1, J2, etc at the end of each statement. Scroll Down to view my actual comment) JAS
There are some fundamental differences in the way Democrats
and Republicans think. 1[J1] Here
are a few examples.
Democrats fear that corporations have too much control over
our government. Republicans fear that the government has too much control over
corporations. 2[J2]
Democrats believe it benefits all of us to help the weakest
and the poorest among us. 3[J3] Republicans believe it benefits all of us to
help the wealthiest and most powerful among us.
4[J4]
Democrats believe everyone is entitled to health care
regardless of their ability to pay. 5[J5] Republicans believe everyone is entitled to
jack squat if they can’t pay for health care. 6[J6]
Democrats believe too much of our money goes to crooked
corporate executives who take government subsidies and pay themselves $80
million salaries. 7[J7]
Republicans believe too much of our money goes to teachers who make $30,000 a
year. 8[J8]
Democrats believe anything that helps the American people
during a recession or a time of crisis is the true essence of patriotism. 9[J9]
Republicans believe anything that helps the American people during a recession
or a time of crisis is the true essence of communism. 10[J10]
Democrats believe that we need to set high standards for
clean air and drinking water. 11[J11] Republicans believe that standards for clean
air and water are burdensome over-regulation.12[J12]
Democrats believe the President and Congress need to work
together to create jobs during a weak economy. 13[J13] Republicans
believe that Congress should do nothing to create jobs and then blame the
President. 14[J14]
Democrats believe that corporate polluters should be made to
pay for the cleanup of their pollution. 15[J15] Republicans believe that making
corporations clean up their pollution is burdensome over-regulation.16[J16]
Democrats believe our health care system exists solely for
the purpose of making people healthy. 17[J17] Republicans believe our health care system
exists solely for the purpose of making a healthy profit. 18[J18]
Democrats believe that corporations have too much influence
over Congress due to their lobbyists and huge campaign contributions. 21[J21] Republicans believe the middle class has
too much influence over Congress due to their voting and paying taxes.22[J22]
Democrats believe that the rich should be taxed more than
the poor and middle class.23[J23] Republicans believe that the rich should be
allowed to keep all their wealth, except for the millions in campaign
contributions they give to politicians. 24[J24]
Democrats believe that too much money in politics produces
corruption and destroys the American way of life. 25[J25] Republicans
believe that money and corruption in politics are the American way of life.26[J26]
COMMENTS FROM JOHN STERLING- It is common for people to view
politics and the political process through a very narrow lens. It is easy to
over-simplify, especially when doing so can make one side seem “right” and the
other side, therefore “wrong”. In truth, the majority of Americans are
similarly distrustful of too much wealth and power as an influencer of
government policy. Democrats are much more trustful of government control of government while conservatives
(some of which are Republican) do not trust government and especially do not
trust government to be “self-controlled”. The person who authored this “comparison” (above)
is clearly biased. Nevertheless, the
comparison is a “starting point” for a genuine comparison of the fundamentally
conflicting ideologies that are in competition for control of America’s
future. JAS 4/222/2012
[J1]Generally
true statement assuming that people who identify as one or the other have truly
given any thought to what they actually believe. Many people simply identify
with one party or the other without knowing, or caring, what the party may stand for.
[J2]Generally
true. But see comment 20 and 21
[J3]Generally
true
[J4]Partly
true. Republicans believe that creation
of wealth is good for the economy as genuine wealth creation also creates more
jobs. This contrasts with “job creation”
by government because government can create jobs, but NOT wealth, so government
created jobs merely add to the overall tax burden.
[J5]Generally
true
[J6]False.
Republicans believe that health care is NOT an entitlement, or a human right.
It is a benefit that some have, and some do not. Even if health care was within
the legitimate authority of government to provide, it has to be able to be
supported by revenues.
[J7]True
[J8]Not
only false but patently absurd. Republicans believe that in a free market
economy, the people support what, and who, they believe in by how they vote and
how (and where) they spend.
[J9]True
[J10]False.
What constitutes Communism is if, or when, or to the extent, that government
takes money from the working class, and redistributes it to the non-working
class. It is not the duty of Governmnet
to “help” people who are experiencing a personal crisis. IT IS the duty of
government to facilitate business and promote a healthy (free market) economy.
[J11]True
[J12]Partly
true. Whether it is “burdensome” is calculated in relation to the overall
economy. If regulations cost jobs, then
the cost of regulation is too high.
[J13]True
[J14]See
comment 4
[J15]True
but then so do MOST republicans. Except as noted in 12 above.
[J16]See
12 above
[J17]Mostly
true for rank and file Democrats. Not true for many political leaders. See 19 below
[J18]Health
care was originally conceived and administered as a function of religion. As it
evolved, it became divided into “charity” health care (by religious
organizations,) or “private” (for profit) health care. Only after the private
sector flourished did government want to take control of the whole apparatus.
Government wants to control health care, NOT for altruistic motives, but
because it is a successful wealth
producer (assuming an otherwise healthy economy.
[J19]Mostly
true insofar as Democrats often favor democracy. However, Democrats do NOT
favor democracy if the voters support conservative ideas (anti-homosexual,
pro-gun, anti-illegal immigration, anti-abortion, personal accountability, etc.
In such cases, Democrats favor judicial activism, where the law is changed by
Liberal Judges, from the bench.
[J20]Mostly
False. Republicans believe that just
because people organize under the corporate umbrella, and speak with a
collective voice that is not necessarily a bad thing. Republicans are also
suspicious of powerful , well-financed groups that exert strong influence in
the political process. Republicans believe that the government should obey the
law, and resist undue influence by large well-funded organizations when those
organizations seek to derail the constitution.
[J21]True
unless those influences further the Democrat political agenda. But then, that
is also true of Republicans.
[J22]Utterly
False and also patently absurd.
[J23]True
[J24]Mostly
true. People should be allowed to keep all of the money they make, subject to
uniform application of the Internal Revenue Code. Government does not have inherent “right” to
take more from the people who make more.
Most Americans feel that campaign finance reform still has a long way to
go.
[J25]True.
So also do rank and file Republicans. See note below.
[J26]True.
So also do rank and file Democrats.
These two statements are essentially two sides of the same coin…acknowledging
the truth of the way things are, and bemoaning that it is so. See note 24.
I'll rebut some of your rebuttal!
ReplyDelete"[J4]Partly true. Republicans believe that creation of wealth is good for the economy as genuine wealth creation also creates more jobs. This contrasts with “job creation” by government because government can create jobs, but NOT wealth, so government created jobs merely add to the overall tax burden."
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-02-28/news/30067133_1_wealth-public-sector-private-sector
"[J10]False. What constitutes Communism is if, or when, or to the extent, that government takes money from the working class, and redistributes it to the non-working class. It is not the duty of Governmnet to “help” people who are experiencing a personal crisis. IT IS the duty of government to facilitate business and promote a healthy (free market) economy."
I would think that helping people experiencing a personal crisis would facilitate business and promote a healthy (free market) economy? Even disregarding that I'm sure you're familiar with 'the working poor' in America. I think society would benefit from the dreaded "redistribution" of wealth. Multi-billionaires can still be grossly, overwhelmingly, useleslly, stupidly, rich. But! They can just be a little less so. Look at Denmark. "Denmark is also a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). With a mixed market economy and a large welfare state, Denmark ranks as having the world's highest level of income equality. The country has the world's seventh highest per capita income. It has frequently ranked as the happiest and least corrupt country in the world." They seem to be doing okay, huh?
"[J19]Mostly true insofar as Democrats often favor democracy. However, Democrats do NOT favor democracy if the voters support conservative ideas (anti-homosexual, pro-gun, anti-illegal immigration, anti-abortion, personal accountability, etc. In such cases, Democrats favor judicial activism, where the law is changed by Liberal Judges, from the bench."
Oh, come on. I'm gonna use your own quote to reply to this: "But then, that is also true of Republicans." I think it's as unfair of you to say Democrats don't support democracy when it doesn't agree with them as it is for me to say Republicans do the same thing.
But! While we're at it, I think the vast majority of the people voting (Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative) are ignorant and make stupid decisions. That is the bad thing about democracy, there are a lot more dumb people than there are smart ones.
"[J24]Mostly true. People should be allowed to keep all of the money they make, subject to uniform application of the Internal Revenue Code. Government does not have inherent “right” to take more from the people who make more. Most Americans feel that campaign finance reform still has a long way to go."
Does government have an inherent right to anything except what the people decide?