American Political parties
Created | Updated Sep 21, 2005
*Note: This entry is being revised and is likely to change*
When traveling across the pond from the United Kingdom one is confronted with the United States of America. In an attempt to
facilitate understanding of the differences between the different factions of the government, or in America as defined as a
political party, I offer the following presentation. One of the main influences to the form of government in America pleaded to not have
political parties for they would cause such hostility that the government would not be able to get any work done. The two main
political parties in America are the Democrats and Republicans.
Democratic Philosophy
The Democratic party believes in the fact that in general people are not likeley to help out their fellow man and therefore must be
encouraged through different methods in order to assist those who are unable to provide for themselves, the poor, through social
security, medicare/medicaid, regulations, and incentives for providing of charity to those who are lesser off. The Democratic party has had ties to the
labor unions due to the fact that the democratic party has stood up for the working class person's rights. The Democratic party formed in support of the Bill of Rights and in opposition to the eletist "Federalists". The democratic policy is that wealth and status are not reasons for an entitlement of the government to the wealthy.
Republican Philosophy
The Republican party believes in the fact that through the therory of trickle down economics if taxation is relieved on the citizens
of the nation they will have a larger disposable income to spend and therefore stimulate the economy through purchasing and
providing wages for the persons who provide the goods and services that others purchase. The Republican party has had ties to the
financially well off due to the fact that if the tax benefits do come through, the richest people will have a greater percentage of
income to use as a disposable income.
Modern Philosophies of Both Parties
It should be noted that from about 1980 on there has been a progressive movement of both parties to the center of the road. This is
done so that the centrists, those who neither strongly affiliate themselves with the Democrats nor the Republicans, will not object
to one party's politics more than the others. Occasionally there is a radical departure from the center of the political spectrum,
in which case the radical departure can cause catastrophic effects to one or both of the parties.
It should be noted that in the last decade that the political animosity has raised to the point where the good of the people is forsaken in favor of partisan politics1 and a combativeness2. This animosity can be expressed in the special investigation proceedings of Special Prosecuter Kenneth Starr and the subsequent impeachment proceedings in the United States Congress conviened in the trial of then President William Jefferson Clinton. Which caused the legislature of the United States to ceace in it's primary function and take up for consideration the impeachment proceedings.
1During the 2004 State of the Union Address by President George W. Bush, the Democratic party clapped in the middle of a statement about a issue of contension between the parties (Provisions of the Homeland Security Act phasing out), therefore increasing the animosity.2It should be noted that there are notable exceptions to this statement including the September 11 2001 incidend and it's aftermath.
