I would like to know the difference between Democrats and Republicans. After all, USA is a democratic republic, isn't it?
I also don't get a vote, but I wouldn't want an African-American just because he's black, or a woman just because she's a woman. Each should stand entirely on his/her own merits.
Joyce in RSA.
Actually, it's a representative republic. We vote for the representative we feel would be the best person to speak on our behalf.
These days, not a whole lot and the definitions keep morphing. I would say the Democrats have kept more of their focus and core identity throughout the 20th Century than the Republicans have.
Political junkie that I am, I don't actually think I can answer that question anymore.
To me, the very basic difference is that Democrats favour more Federal Government involvement (ie: pass laws at the Federal level) and Republicans prefer less (ie: pass laws at the state level). I'm certainly NOT a political "junkie" -- I can never even remember how many senators or congressmen there are -- but that wee little bit is what I believe :-). As for anything else -- it's all up for grabs any more. CiaoMeow >^;;^<
PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at
I believe the official websites with party platforms are:
I don't remember which party evolved from which but once upon a time in history one of them was the "whig" party (I have some vague recollection of something with founding fathers Adams, Jefferson, etc. in a social studies class).
Actually it's more a matter of voting for the least of 2 evils. Frances
Oh, good show. That is, in fact, the truth right there.
Indeed - someone once described the BBC as the "least worst television in the world". I stopped watching the Idiot's Lantern ages ago, BBC Radio 4 is SO much better
Lol last election that's what we were saying "Hold your nose and vote"!
I am really a radio person and if it isn't CBC, when I am sitting here, I listen to BBC4. I even like strange things, like the Shipping Forecast before God Save the Queen lol
I also love downloading podcasts and have to say Australian Broadcasting Corp is great too. I wouldn't miss Rural Bush Telegraph, Street Stories and Health Matters.
Oo! Oo! Check out 'The Morning Interview' with Margaret Throsby on ABC Classic FM! She often has *phenomenally* interesting people on, drawn from all walks of life and, often, just behind-the-scenes folk who have unique insights into their fields. Of course, my favourite interview was the one she did with Tony Attwood, the Grand Poobah of autism research.
That was actually quite spooky. One morning, I listened to Margaret interviewing Jung Chang (author of 'Wild Swans'). It was so enjoyable, I
*had* to write a fan letter and at the end, I tacked on a PS suggesting that Tony Attwood would be a great subject for interview. As I pressed the button, Margaret announced that 'on Monday, our guest will be Dr Tony Attwood, pioneer into autism research'. I nearly swallowed me tongue! Then I busily rang all my 'autistic' friends and we learned a lot that Monday.
Nah, they're not pleased, they're just split about it. Between the ones who like things the way they are, the ones who want to be independent of the USA altogether, and the ones who want to become a state, they can't get enough votes to begin the statehood process.
Elizabeth
Depending on the nominations outcomes, I might not feel that way about this next one.
Elizabeth
It's a long and complicated history with a lot of regional twists, but essentially, both Democrats and Republicans descend from classical liberals, believing in limited government and basic freedoms. Where they split ways is over how limited the government should be and how protected our freedoms should be. The Democrats are more likely to increase taxes to pay for so called "entitlement programs." The Republicans are more likely to argue that taxes should be kept low so that people can make their own choices about how to spend money. At the moment, Republicans are more likely to expand the powers of the government in order to ensure public safety, while the Democrats are concerned about balancing public safety against individual rights and protections. And as someone else mentioned, one deep divide is state power versus federal power - that difference goes back to the very beginning.
That's a very rough sketch, and as I said, likely to vary by region in this country. Also, our election system is biased far more heavily towards individual candidates than towards total party platforms. For example, the Democrats are more likely to support women's choice in abortion issues, but some individual Democrats are strictly anti-abortion but still get elected as Democrats.
Elizabeth
I always was Schocked and horrified by the BIASED news of BBC ,,, and about 2 years ago was interviewed pertsonally by them ,,, over more than an hour ,,,, Alas i didn`t deliver any Hate /fright or other unkind words about My Arab neigbours thus ,,,,, you can only see my photo on the site ,,, and not one of my words ????? they did post some fright hate words by a visitor to the exhibition ,,,,, mirjam
In UK "Whigs" were the Labour party, and "Tory" Was Conservative. I didn't know either name had been used in USA.
In RSA people vote for a party, not an individual, so it's proportional representation. In the last few years there have been regular events of "floor-crossing", which I think is completely wrong, as it means the proportions are changed.
Thanks for all the explanations.
Joyce in RSA.
The BBC are biased how ?
Ach should be 'is' - get another coffee !
Tory hasn't been used in the US, but the Whigs were a fairly short-lived party prior to the US Civil War, mainly started in opposition to Andrew Jackson and his Democratic party. It grew out of the defunct National Republican party (we've recycled the terms "Republican" and "Democrat" a few times in American political party history ;-) ) I suppose perhaps they adopted the "Whig" name because they were opposed to what they called "King" Jackson. They managed to get two presidents elected, but both died in office. After the Civil War, the party essentially dissolved, with most of the northern Whigs joining the recently formed Republican party and the southern Whigs joining the Democratic party (with many on either side going by way of the short lived "Know Nothing party").
Best wishes, Ericka
The District of Columbia was originally formed with land ceded from Maryland and Virginia. But the Virginia land across the Potomac River was given/taken back in 1847 and is now either part of Arlington or Alexandria.
The problems of Washington D.C. becoming a state are many and varied. There is an ongoing fight for statehood. Those who visit D.C. see the license plates which state "No Taxation without Representation." The District has a delegate in Congress, Eleanor Norton Holmes, who is allowed to vote in committee, but not allowed to vote on final legislation on the House floor. With every new session of Congress since the 1980s someone introduces a bill to grant the District statehood.
Donna in Virginia
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