Thank you for asking this question! Here is my answer.
Economic issues: The Democratic Party...
Reduces the Federal budget deficit
Creates jobs and increases wages
Offers universal health insurance
Promotes the long-term economic interests of the American people, as opposed to the Republican party, which promotes the perceived short-term economic interests of the very rich
Social issues: The Democratic Party...
Reduces the abortion rate, while keeping abortion legal and available
Believes in equal rights for everyone, regardless of race, religion, or sexual preference
Protects the environment
Foreign policy: The Democratic Party...
Didn't start the last two stupid wars
Promotes democratic ideals, at home and abroad
Issues of competence and trust: The Democratic Party...
Tells the American people the truth
Values facts over ideology when formulating policy
Governs competently
The Republican Party does none of these things.
I agree that Democratic politicians haven't done a good job of getting their message across, and that isn't just because vastly more money is poured into Republican messaging. I bet most Democratic politicians don't even know that Democratic Presidents consistently reduce the Federal budget deficit as a percentage of GDP, while Republican Presidents consistently increase it. I bet most Democratic politicians don't even know that the abortion rate plummeted during the Clinton and Obama administrations, while declining by only a few percentage points during recent Republican administrations.
Regarding your comment about third parties, I sympathize with your point of view, but history tells me not to vote for a third-party candidate. A vote for Nader in 2000 was a vote for Bush and for the invasion of Iraq.
I'm so glad you asked this question! I have been planning to post about politics more, and you have just given me topics for 12 posts. Stay tuned.
What Democrats stand for
Date: 2017-02-26 06:58 pm (UTC)The Republican Party does none of these things.
I agree that Democratic politicians haven't done a good job of getting their message across, and that isn't just because vastly more money is poured into Republican messaging. I bet most Democratic politicians don't even know that Democratic Presidents consistently reduce the Federal budget deficit as a percentage of GDP, while Republican Presidents consistently increase it. I bet most Democratic politicians don't even know that the abortion rate plummeted during the Clinton and Obama administrations, while declining by only a few percentage points during recent Republican administrations.
Regarding your comment about third parties, I sympathize with your point of view, but history tells me not to vote for a third-party candidate. A vote for Nader in 2000 was a vote for Bush and for the invasion of Iraq.
I'm so glad you asked this question! I have been planning to post about politics more, and you have just given me topics for 12 posts. Stay tuned.