What is a republican or a democrat?

• I am turning 18 November 22, just in time for the 2008 election, but I am having a bit of a problem choosing a party. I have searched for answers online but nothing I find is very straight forward. I would like to know what the differences are between a republican and a democrat and what they believe in. yes, I have also looked at the other political parties and I understand what they are about. I'm just having a hard time really understanding the republican and democratic parties. I don't want people telling me which party is better or who I should vote for. I will decide for myself. I just need someone to help me understand what the differences are. Thank you.

• Answer:

  The question you should be asking yourself is if you're a liberal or a conservative. Ideology is what matters, not party. Fore example, there used to be a time when the Republican Party was dominated by the northeastern liberal wing. Now they are dominated by southern conservatives. A conservative believes the government has no right regulating the economy or telling multi-national corporations what they can or can't do. However, they believe the government has absolutely every right to restrict people's personal social decisions based on their conservative interpretation of religion. Today that means opposition to gay marriage and abortion. In the past it meant opposition to women's rights, interracial marriage, invitro fertilization, birth control pills, civil rights for minorities, and abolition of slavery. Liberals believe in using the government to protect and help the people from corporate abuse, aristocracy, and law of the jungle (big fish eat smaller fish) economics. They believe that by shifting the tax burden to those who can better afford it (the rich) and creating legislation and economic programs that helps workers, consumers, and citizens, we can increase the standard of living, create a stronger middle class, and more economic growth. In addition, liberals believe in as much social freedom as possible so long as it does not interfere with the rights of others. Today that means support for gay marriage, abortion, and the right to die (for terminally ill patients). In the past it meant the right to birth control bills, interracial marrage, invitro fertilization, and equal rights for women and minorities. Today, the more liberal party is the Democratic Party and the more conservative party is the Republican Party. However, in the past, the Democratic Party used to have a strong racist/conservative wing in the South. The Republican Party on the other hand used to have a strong radical/progressive/liberal wing in the northeast. Ever since the presidential election of 1964, the liberal North has become increasingly Democrat and the conservative South has become increasingly Republican.