democrat vs republican values

do the 2 parties hold conflicting values n policies relating to moral n social policy?

yes:

no:

significant conflict exists on: race, gender, transgender rights, illegal drugs, immigration n police power. repubs emphasise authority, whereas Dems emphasise rights of the individual

  • eg: mike johnson’s election as Repub House Speaker in 2023 suggests a move to the right by Repubs. johnson has supported anti-abortion laws, restrictions on gay rights, etc

  • eg: earlier in 2023, the Republican majority in HofReps overturned the Pentagon policy of guaranteeing abortion access to armed force members

there are basic similarities. all support basic fundamental rights protections. this is true over things such as Civil Rights Act (1964). there are also areas where there is some overlap eg pro-choice repubs n pro-life dems

  • eg: 2021: the Senate unanimously passed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act » made lynching federal hate crime. vote was largely symbolic, promoting racial equality n passed w every member of Congress, bar 3 House Republicans, supporting it

do democrats n republicans hold conflicting values n policies relating to the national economy?

yes:

no:

republicans want more restricted govt n free market intervention. democrats want more govt intervention to overcome socio-economic inequality. democrats also want to increase federal expenditure n taxes on wealthy ppl

  • eg: federal shutdowns of 2018 n 2013 where they refuse to agree the budget have been long @35 n 16 days respectively. before 1990, federal shutdowns never lasted longer than a day - now 6 shutdowns have lasted for 3days +. shows polarisation`

despite apparent differences, democrats are seen to promote capitalist n business interests. supported by the role of PACs n Super PACs

  • the dodd franks act of 2009 sought to regulate banking following the global financial crisis. critics argued the act didn’t give serious regulation n questioned whether the Dems rly wanted to regulate banking after all as approach was similar to Repubs

do the 2 parties hold conflicting values n policies relating to social welfare??

yes:

no:

Repubs emphasise self-reliance n individual liberty. dems argue the sytem gives many limited control n causes unfair levels of inequality

  • eg: there has been an ongoing battle over the Affordable Care Act since it was passed in 2010

  • eg: there is an ongoing argument about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) » issuing of food stamps to those in food poverty. Biden increased the individ payments (made to 42mil US citizens), whilst in 2023, HofReps forced Dems into a compromise on funsing so that now 18 to 55yos must be in work to get SNAP (prev up to 50yos)

both parties respond to social emergencies w some level of federal provision such as covid. both favour social security spending for the elderly on things like medicare. arguably for dems this may be value-based, whereas for the Repubs it might be about protecting their voter base

  • eg: moderate repubs such as susan collins refused to vote in favour of abolishing the Affordable Care Act showing some overlap

  • eg: payments of $600 were made to every adult to stimulate spending in the economy during covid

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