OT - Difference between Dems and Republicans

[Johnny O]

Since I am affiliated with an equally abused and dismissed third party, I have always been fascinated by the hatred and filth spewing between the two major political parties in America. When one party is in power, they disdain and condem the actions of the other party who are protesting them. The party not in charge try to block progress every step of the way. Each calling the other party everything from un-American to Nazis. Then, when the other party gets into power, they act EXACTLY the same. Very interesting to me how much the two parties are actually alot alike when it comes to power and greed.

It got me thinking, what are the REAL differences between Republicans and Democrats? I googled it and found hundreds of opinions. One of my favorites is this:

*Democrats will march around and throw blood on people wearing fur and violently protest the harsh living conditions of chickens and fish. Republicans are against abortion.

Keeping it civil, what do Nutters think about the basic differences between the parties?

[moonstone]

Don't know anything about American politics, don't know much about British politics either but it seems to me that whoever you vote for the bloody government still get in.

"It's the rich what get's the gravy, it's the poor what gets the blame!"

[BongoBoy]

I won't make any political comments here but I do have one personal thought on this.

I have always watched US politics from Canada and find it very interesting.

My thought is this: It's because of Sports !

It is the same mindset. You root for your team no matter how bad or how dirty they play...you hate all others.

That is why nothing on TV/Politics has any "real" conversations. Just like in a sports arena.

On the rare occation I have listened to an actual discussion with opposing views I find it so encouraging and refreshing.

Kind of a sad time really.

That's my 2 cents Canadian.
BB.

[sockii]

Personally I hardly see a difference these days between the Dems and Repubs except for all the mud-slinging and name-calling, which is largely why I'm third party, myself.

And I'll leave my commentary at that!

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Also third party, thanks largely to the craptacular TN Democratic Party. Both parties here are full of religious fanatics attempting to legislate their lunacy however possible. TNDP is anti-gay, pro-gun, anti-choice, and I want nothing to do with 'em. The GOP is on the right side of a few issues hereabouts: they want to remove sales tax on food, elect statewide offices (all of them are currently patronage positions appointed by the legislature) and they've got easily twice the numbers of elected women in leadership than Dems.

I'm hoping the numbers of people moving here will eventually change things, although Nashville proper is chock full of lefty arty types, so the local politics are more to my liking. We were able to primary-threaten our local Congresscritter into supporting health care, for example, after he claimed he'd vote against any legislation whatsoever on the subject.

On the national level, if you took the Dems' social stances and threw 'em in a bag with the GOP's financial sense (with the glaring exception of George Bush), you'd have a great party. As it stands, both of them are way more interested in the rights of corporations than those of average folks, so I haven't been super-excited about that either for a while.

I do a fair amount of writing on local & state websites with an eye towards making things better, but most of the issues are so localized I doubt you'd find them very interesting.

[conroy]

I'll go one step further and declare no party affiliation for me unless there's nutters involved. They're all pretty effed up. What drives me crazy is all the people who came out and voted for change last year were nowhere to be seen this year who are whining about how things are. If people want to see changes through, they need to come out and vote in lean years like this one was and vote locally. If I don't like any of the candidates, which is pretty often, I'll write in candidates on the ballot.

[Stephen]

My thought is this: It's because of Sports !

It is the same mindset. You root for your team no matter how bad or how dirty they play...you hate all others.

That is why nothing on TV/Politics has any "real" conversations. Just like in a sports arena.

Bongo Boy --

I have made EXACTLY this same analogy in the past. Interesting to see someone else picking up the same vibe, as depressing as it may be.

Cheers,

Stephen

[dontboxmein]

Nothing they both screw the working class...the middle class gets the brunt of everything...

[njperry]

I am hesitant to touch this topic but can't help but think of this Opus comic:

http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=15147

[vespapod]

I probably am center right so I am probably bent towards republican but I vote for the best and like a balance of power...too much democrats right now... I am fiscally conservative and hate massive handouts because it tends to breed laziness of the masses and to me dems hand out more than republicans...

I do see the emergence of a third party as us middle classers continue to have our anuses stretched beyond rectal proportions...

[Tamadude]

our anuses stretched beyond rectal proportions...

Fuck dude you kill me.

I'm dyin over here.

[vespapod]

hey I had a surgery case today and was hearing about a colleague getting a "prostate massage to express pus from having prostatitis" no anesthesia...just bend over....god fuckin awful if I may say....Ill keep in the foot business.

[conroy]

Yay! I hope this is the beginning of Vespapod's medical story of the day. It reminds me a lot of my youth when my aunt who was an OR nurse and would entertain us around the dinner table at family gatherings with gruesome stories about her patients. Though, I prefer Vespapod's colorful storytelling style over my aunt's.

[Johnny O]

hey I had a surgery case today and was hearing about a colleague getting a "prostate massage to express pus from having prostatitis" no anesthesia...just bend over....god fuckin awful if I may say.

Sounds like Sting's opinion of the Reunion Tour. How bad could the Tour have been, really??? If you watch ES or ATW, Sting always seemed pretty happy. Or was it the 'medication'?

[Bry]

I believe in the intentions of the founders to limit the federal government and retain most powers at the state level. We have drifted far from the Constitution and I believe this is of concern to some Republicans and many Libertarians, but of little to no concern to today's Democrat party.