What is the fundamental difference between a Republican and a Democrat? (Seriously)

[aein]

The other day, my girlfriend and I were discussing what was the fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats. We came to the conclusion that the fundamental difference was that Republicans were "commons exploiters" and democrats were "commons preservationists." In other words, Democrats are more publicly-minded--they tend to care more about everybody. Republicans only care about their own group whether that group is their family, people of their same faith, or people in their own nation--which explains they belief in "family values," no wealth transfers, and nationalism. As long as they can provide for their own, fuck the "others."

Thoughts?

[anonymous171]

1. Republicans are reactionaries. That's it.

[mike_c]

2. it gets confusing when dem leadership-- especially congressional...

...is nearly as deeply involved in commons exploitation as the republicans. U.S. foreign policy, fully endorsed by the dems, is all about exploiting the rest of the world for all it's worth.

[DainBramaged]

3. WE want to help, Repukes want to take.

[Ian David]

8. Democrats see the glass and say it is half-empty.

Republicans see the glass and say it is theirs.

[Ian David]

4. Republican = Daddy Warbucks before he met Annie.

I mean in the play version, not the watered-down movie version.

[Ian David]

5. Republicans campaign on the belief that government only makes things worse...

... and once they are elected, they do their best to prove it.

[Ghost in the Machine]

6. The number of working brain cells?

:shrug:

[Pushed To The Left]

7. The best explanation I've seen (I don't remember who said it): "Liberals want to free the people and

regulate the corporations, while conservatives want to free the corporations and regulate the people."

Another difference is that the right wing sides with people who are in power, while liberals try to protect people who aren't.

[Ian David]

9. Republicans believe in a government just small enough to fit in your bedroom.

Or, alternatively, Republicans want to get government out of your boardrooms and into your bedrooms and your hospital rooms.

[Mira]

15. I like that !

[alfredo]

18. Found this

Here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/8/2172/68330/794/492461

That liberals want to regulate business behavior but trust the individual, conservatives want to regulate individual behavior but trust business, and libertarians don't want to regulate either, while fascists want to regulate both.

Loving Barack Obama for President!!!!

by AnnieS on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:33:43 PM PDT

[freesqueeze]

10. hmmm

Democrats care about who you are screwing financially.

Republicans care about who you are screwing.

[Olney Blue]

11. Dems are better managers.

[angrycarpenter]

12. Self interest

Republicans believe that looking out after ones self should be the only factor in politics. Altruism is a dirty word.

[MadMaddie]

13. Republicans believe in a Corporate state, they believe

that companies can run the country and make decisions for Americans. Republicans do not believe in the middle class, they only believe in the have's and have nots. They are selfish people.

[mdmc]

14. One party looks after its own interest

:shrug:

[Skittles]

16. one can empathize, the other can not n/t

[lonestarnot]

17. Pugs want an "ownership" society, and in their society, you and your girlfriend are owned.

[jedr]

19. A quote from Harry Truman in the book "Give 'em Hell Harry"

When ask by a young boy what the difference between Democrats and Republicans, Harry answered; "Democrats are people who like to help people who need a little help. Republicans are people who like to help people who don't need any more help." ....love it, one of my favorite quotes.

[DebJ]

20. Good explanation. I like it. To me, Republican motto Me First

You . . . I really don't care.

[snot]

21. Dems don't mind the gov getting into

their pocketbooks so long as it stays out of their bedrooms; Repubs are the opposite.

[norepubsin08]

22. The republicans are

mother fucking, cock sucking, brainless lemming ass wipes and the Democrats are well, just normal, healthy, well adjusted folk who care about some one of something other than themselves!!!!

[Political Heretic]

23. Strict Father vs. Nuturing Parent framework informs values and actions.

A la George Lakoff.... I recommend a little Lakoff reading, particularly Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think

[Wizard777]

24. Democrat believe in participatory Government. But you wouldn't know that lately. But any way.

The republicans believe your participation in the government begins and ends on election day. Then you go away and leave them the hell alone as they steal us blind and screw everything up.

[1]

25. seriously?

go ahead and read all of the textbook, anecdotal and historical posts about the difference in this thread...

i saw "silence of the lambs" the other night. anthony hopkins had the best line.

dr. lecter: "first principles, clarice. read marcus aurelius. of each particular thing, ask: what is it in itself? what is its nature?"

then review what both democrats and republicans have done in the last few election cycles. look at the bills, the committee results, legislation brought to vote, the votes themselves and the vetos...

of each particular thing, ask: what is it in itself? what is its nature?

and then you will have the answer to your question.