There Is A Difference !

An embarrassingly large percentage of Americans don't even bother going to the polls to vote in elections -- on either a national, state, or local level. And when you ask these voters why they don't do their civic duty to help determine who will lead this country, the most often-repeated reason you'll hear is this one -- "It doesn't matter because both parties are the same." Personally, I find that statement especially irritating. It is not only untrue, but demonstrates the person's ignorance of politics.

I'm not trying to say that one party is always right and the other is always wrong. If you've read this blog for long, you'll know that while I consistently find fault with the Republican beliefs and ideas, I also take the Democrats to task at times for their failures. The truth is that no person or political party is always right. But that doesn't mean the Republicans and Democrats are the same. They aren't. And I align myself more with Democrats because, while they aren't perfect, they do tend to support equality, economic justice, fair play, and democratic ideals far more than the Republicans do.

If you're one of those silly people who can't see any difference between the two political parties, then the excellent blog Addicting Info has compiled a list of the differences to help you. Here are many of those differences:

Republicans fear that the government has too much control over corporations. Democrats fear that corporations have too much control over our government.


Democrats believe it benefits all of us to help the weakest and the poorest among us. Republicans believe it benefits all of us to help the wealthiest and most powerful among us.


Republicans believe large corporations will always do what is best for the American people if the government stays out of the way. Democrats believe large corporations would disembowel you and sell your organs to the highest bidder if the government didn’t stop them.


Democrats believe everyone is entitled to health care regardless of their ability to pay. Republicans believe everyone is entitled to jack squat if they can’t pay for health care.


Democrats believe too much of our money goes to crooked corporate executives who take government subsidies and pay themselves $80 million salaries. Republicans believe too much of our money goes to teachers who make $30,000 a year.


Democrats believe anything that helps the American people during a recession or a time of crisis is the true essence of patriotism. Republicans believe anything that helps the American people during a recession or a time of crisis is the true essence of communism.


Democrats believe that we need to set high standards for clean air and drinking water. Republicans believe that standards for clean air and water are burdensome over-regulation.


Democrats believe the President and Congress need to work together to create jobs during a weak economy. Republicans believe that Congress should do nothing to create jobs and then blame the President.


Democrats believe that corporate polluters should be made to pay for the cleanup of their pollution. Republicans believe that making corporations clean up their pollution is burdensome over-regulation.


Democrats believe our health care system exists solely for the purpose of making people healthy. Republicans believe our health care system exists solely for the purpose of making a healthy profit.


Democrats believe Congress should be of the people, by the people and for the people. Republicans believe corporations are the people.


Democrats believe that corporations have too much influence over Congress due to their lobbyists and huge campaign contributions. Republicans believe the middle class has too much influence over Congress due to their voting and paying taxes.


Democrats believe we need to protect victims of corporate negligence by allowing Americans to file lawsuits against corporations. Republicans believe we need to protect large corporations from lawsuits by Americans who’ve been victimized by them.


Democrats believe that the rich should be taxed more than the poor and middle class. Republicans believe that the rich should be allowed to keep all their wealth, except for the millions in campaign contributions they give to politicians.


Democrats believe that too much money in politics produces corruption and destroys the American way of life. Republicans believe that money and corruption in politics are the American way of life.