Democratic Party vs Republican Party Explained

[rpgamerd00d]

People are constantly asking why the Republicans always seem so lockstep and the Dems always seem so incohesive.

I figured it out today.

The Republican Party is restrictive. Therefore, if you are a member, you have to have the same restrictive view of the world. Pro-Life, Pro-War, etc. etc. If you agree with the Repub platform, you are basically of one ideal, of one mindset. This is why we get this perception that they are all alike. They are. (or at least they pretend to be).

The Democratic Party is progressive. We like all kinds of ideas, and have a very openminded view of the world. Pro-Choice but we accept people that are pro-Life or shades of grey. Anti-War, but we accept people that aren't. etc. etc. So, even if you don't agree with all of the Democratic Platform, you can still become a Democrat. Different ideals, different mindsets. This is why we get this perception that we are chaotic and disorganized and not all "on the same page". We aren't.

In other words, the Republican Party is a very narrowly focussed party, so its members tend to all be alike. The Dem party is very unfocussed, so its members tend to all be different.

If we split the Dem party into pieces, where once piece was "pro-choice/green" and another piece was "pro-life/green" and another piece was "pro-choice/anti-war" etc. etc., and people quit the party to join the new parties, then any one of those new parties would be just as restrictive and would appear just as "cohesive" as the Republican party.

But we don't want to do that. What we need to do, is to make our differences in opinion and our open mindedness our "single cohesive platform." We need to frame our "diversity" in a way that makes it seem we're all the same. Sameness is what people identify with, folks. You identify something like you, and then you glom onto that, and accept it as part of your life.

That is where we need to improve our image. A cohesive appearance people can identify with.

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

1. Amen!

I have been meaning to write something like this for a while now, but have not gotten down to it yet. You said it very well.

This needs to be said and said often, especially in times like these when the blogosphere esp. seems to think it a great idea to emulate them that we hate -- does not make sense to me at all.

Our diversity, progressiveness and most importantly, intra-party criticisms are what keep us (in the modern times!) from making disastrous decisions like the thugs have been doing for the last 30-odd years.

My respect for Senator Feingold grew when he reminded us that he supported censuring Clinton too. It is healthy and more powerful to critique from within than without (which is the reason I think Dems are not too enthusiastic about censuring the pretzelnit: it would be quite unproductive in terms of bringing about change -- now, if the thugs actually grow a true sense of patriotism, that could be powerful -- witness the Miers nomination).

[Finder]

2. As a former repub, I disagree.

Not all repubs are anti-choice or pro-war.(just the loud ones)

If you compare the platforms of the Dems and Repubs they are really not that different. It is the fascist tactics of the repubs and the pandering to the religous right that has created a false sense of unity among them. They were made to feel empowered through the pandering. The leadership only needed to buy off a handful of religious leaders and militia types to garner millions of votes.(and campaign funds)The corporate types--Dem and Repub--watched and said nothing, thanks to the tax breaks tossed to them.

The people pendulum is about to swing since the corruption and incompetency is so obvious. I still doubt the corporate types--dem or repubs--will stand up unless there is a risk to their bank accounts.

The Dems will gain seats in 2006 for sure and the repubs will focus their campaigns for 2008 based on what the new congress does or doesn't do between 2006 and the election.

I don't think the average voter wants to see cohesiveness, I think they want to feel represented.

[rpgamerd00d]

3. I still think the Dems need a better way to appear cohesive.

Uncohesiveness is an image that causes doubt in peoples minds.

[Ufomammut]

4. Good cop/Bad cop

[rpgamerd00d]

5. I dont get your comment... ??

[rucky]

6. Followers vs. Leaders

we are a party of Leaders...often to our own detriment, but I don't think any of us would want it any other way.