Found this on Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ties_of_the_United_States#Politics_comparison
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ties_of_the_United_States#Politics_comparison
US Political Parties Compared
- Thread starter Bob Hubbard
- Start date
Interesting, Bob. Does anyone know how reliable the information presented is?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #3
It's wikipedia, which I believe is on par with most major encyclopedias.
Ninjamom
2nd Black Belt
I have a few minor quibbles with it -
Under "Increased Taxation", the Democratic Party is listed as "opposed, except for highest incomes"; however, in practice, the 'highest incomes' include the median income level for the US. Proposed new taxes (such as the proposal to increase gasoline taxes in order to cut consumption) affect all socio-economic levels.
Also, under "Iraq War" it lists all political parties except the Republicans as opposed. However, both Democrats and Republicans voted for the initial incursion, and now all parties are looking for a way out (the divergence between the parties being over what is the 'best' way out).
In general, those parties on the LEFT of the Chart favor an interventionist approach, where the solutions to most problems are viewed as the responsibility of Government, and tax policy is used to direct/encourage specific public behavior. Those groups to the RIGHT of the chart generally favor a 'Laissez Faire' approach, and in theory at least (performance in the last 8 years notwithstanding) favor a smaller Government in size and authority. For that reason (among others) I don't like the terms 'Progressive' and 'Conservative' as dividers between the two sides.
Under "Increased Taxation", the Democratic Party is listed as "opposed, except for highest incomes"; however, in practice, the 'highest incomes' include the median income level for the US. Proposed new taxes (such as the proposal to increase gasoline taxes in order to cut consumption) affect all socio-economic levels.
Also, under "Iraq War" it lists all political parties except the Republicans as opposed. However, both Democrats and Republicans voted for the initial incursion, and now all parties are looking for a way out (the divergence between the parties being over what is the 'best' way out).
In general, those parties on the LEFT of the Chart favor an interventionist approach, where the solutions to most problems are viewed as the responsibility of Government, and tax policy is used to direct/encourage specific public behavior. Those groups to the RIGHT of the chart generally favor a 'Laissez Faire' approach, and in theory at least (performance in the last 8 years notwithstanding) favor a smaller Government in size and authority. For that reason (among others) I don't like the terms 'Progressive' and 'Conservative' as dividers between the two sides.
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