by Cody Hodge

Created on: December 28, 2008

Political parties have been evolving and changing ever since the birth of our nation. Although George Washington warned that factions would be a bad thing for the country, they formed anyway. It is only human nature to think that if groups of people had different opinions, then they should be allowed to express these different thoughts. American political parties have spent the past 230 plus years divided on philosophy, but committed to the universal goal of the success of America, and its people.

The two dominant political parties of our day are the Democrats and the Republicans. The left leaning Democrats have several values that separate them from the right leaning Republicans, and these values are as different as night and day.

So what are a few values that seperate a Democrat from a Republican?

Democrats have a respect for the environment, they value the people who go to work everyday that make the economy strong. While the Bush administration was pulling us out of the Kyoto treaty, and making tax breaks for the rich, the Democrats were out pushing for tax cuts for the middle class, and Al Gore was out warning the world that we need to work together in order to make our environment safe for our continued existence.

Democrats value that everyone has a lifestyle, and they have the right to live it. They believe that people have the right to live safe lives, and that violence should be eliminated. Democrats have for years fought for anti-gun laws, and advancements for the rights of gays and lesbians, while Republicans have advocated for war, and "traditional" standards for marriage.

Democrats believe that peace can only be achieved through persuasion, and that diplomacy is a key to global unity. The Democrats go out and try to broker peace deals, and use the UN to foster global unity, if possible. The Republicans merely used the UN as a sideshow, and a political tactic to start a war that was only vaguely successful.

Democrats believe that the economy is strongest when workers have the power to spend, and they believe that everyone deserves the chance to work. Republicans tend to believe that only the rich have the power to stimulate the economy, and that only highly educated people , or those with connections have the right to be successful.

A democrat sees the world as it is, in the 21st century, and they also know that it will take an improved education system to make it happen. While a Republican sees the world for what it used to be, dominated by anti-gay marriage, SUV's and unlimited rights for the oil companies, a Democrat sees rising oil prices, and a crumbling position of power that the US hasn't seen before. A democrat wishes to change this by offering our students better education, and the tools with with to see the entire world, and not just our own little corner of it.

Essentially, I believe that Democrats offer progress, while Republicans don't. I don't intend to totally bash the Republican party, but I do believe that if the Republicans don't change a few of their platforms, they may be out as a respectable member in US politics.

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