On Basic Human Rights
The cornerstone of REPUBLICAN philosophy is the belief that each person is responsible for his or her own place in our society. Individuals are encouraged by the REPUBLICAN PARTY to work to secure the benefits of society for themselves, their families, and for those who are unable to care for themselves.
DEMOCRATS are more willing to subordinate individual rights to the assumed needs of the group. They assume that society collectively is responsible for each of its members. They place less emphasis on individual enterprise and initiative.
On the Role of Government
REPUBLICANS believe that government should be limited to doing for people those things which they cannot do for themselves. The right to determine individual destiny should lie in the hands of the individual. Similarly, REPUBLICANS believe governmental power and resources should be kept close to the people, through their state and community leaders, rather than centralized in distant big government.
Recent DEMOCRAT administrations have pushed for more and more centralized power in Washington, with secondary consideration for the rights of individual citizens and communities. This has led to increasingly more federal controls and regimentation, often in the hands of unelected bureaucrats, causing a severe erosion of local government across the country.
On the Economy
REPUBLICANS believe in the competitive free-enterprise system. Individuals must be free to use their talents. This is the key to personal and national prosperity. REPUBLICANS believe that the only limits to an individual's opportunity to succeed are the limits of his or her own initiative and enterprise.
DEMOCRATS say that the economy is too complicated to be left to free enterprise alone, and therefore must be subjected to ever-increasing controls by the federal government. They say that we are "entering an era of limitations" and therefore must lower our individual economic expectations.
On Military Strategies
REPUBLICANS believe that peace and freedom can be protected only if America maintains a defense force strong enough to deter any aggressor. REPUBLICANS turn away from the paternalism of the 50's and encourage other nations to shoulder responsibility for their own problems. REPUBLICANS oppose unnecessary intervention in the internal affairs of other nations and stress helping our friends around the globe develop the skills and strengths necessary to protect themselves.
The DEMOCRAT party has vacillated between extreme isolationism, intervention and confrontation tactics in cases like Vietnam, Cuba, and Korea. This inconsistent foreign policy has confused our allies and encouraged our enemies.
On Fiscal & Individual Responsibilities
REPUBLICANS constantly strive to cut governmental spending and to eliminate costly, overlapping and unnecessary governmental programs. Because REPUBLICANS believe that the individual should control his and government's pocketbook, they believe that tax increases should be voted upon by the people.
The DEMOCRAT view is that the federal government knows how and where to spend money for local needs better than elected community leaders, and federal bureaucrats should continue to control the flow of funds to the states and localities and dictate how the taxpayers money will be spent.
The Historical Perspective
America has prospered under the two-party system because one party has always served to check the excesses of the other. Often, both parties agree on the problems, less often they agree on the solution. The root of most of their differences is perspective.
DEMOCRATS tend to stress a powerful, centralized bureaucracy aimed at solving local and national problems from the top down - a method which, after 40 years of trial is a proven failure.
REPUBLICANS believe in solutions which are decided upon and implemented by the people themselves, through their locally elected representatives. REPUBLICANS believe that the solution of America's problems lies in the greatness of the American people.
YES, there is a difference!!!