Democrats vs. Republicans

The Democrats and the Republicans are the two largest political parties in the United States. Their opinions on all issues are as different as night and day. However, as diverse as their opinions are they surprisingly have some similarities: one, both are ignorant of each other; two, both parties are power hungry; and three, both parties are more concerned about being re-elected than they are about their country’s status.

The first similar item is that both parties are ignorant and quite stubborn of each other. One party is always bickering with another. They seem to be constantly trying to prove to the world who is right, and when they are proven wrong they blame their loss on the opposing party and call it a scandal. They argue over everything from minimum wage to stem cell research. Disagreements are especially present in presidential elections. One candidate is always trying to make the other appear as a negative influence to the country. Rumors are spread, the paparazzi come out, and then sooner or later a possible president’s reputation is ruined. Democrats and Republicans have been bickering like alley cats since the Democrat-Republic Party split in the midst of the Civil War. The only thing they both seem to agree with is that the other party’s opinion is wrong.

The Democrats and Republicans share a significant trait with Prince John (the old wicked king in Robin Hood): both are power hungry. The author of “The Two-Party Political System in the United States” put it this way: “Even if factions occasionally served popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines… cunning, ambitious, and usurp themselves the reins of government”. Not only are they both power hungry, they both lack the confidence to act on their hunger. The only significant time one sees the passionate desire for power from both parties is in the elections. Both parties seek to achieve and uphold government power (particularly over each other). For example, President George W. Bush was elected in 2000. He had a smooth presidential term until the September 11^th terrorist attacks. This put not only the people of the country in disarray, but the president as well. He immediately declared a War on Terrorism and by 2003 invaded Iraq as well. Although, this wasn’t the wisest action most citizens decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. However, the longer the war raged on the more confused and chaotic the economy in America became. Bush started out as a strong “compassionate conservative” and great leader but ended his presidential term as an overwhelmed and puzzled man.

The final similarity is that both parties spend more time trying to get re-elected than they focus on “real” needs of the people and the country. Although, they spend most of the time preparing for defense on a certain issue it seems like their main concern is their own status in the running for president. The country needs a leader who knows the people and understands the conflicts being faced within the land. Without good leadership nothing good can be accomplished. I’m sure that both parties would agree with that statement, but both are more concerned with their status. Willmoore Kendall stated in “The Two Majorities” that “the president is elected by a national majority that is brought together by means of extremely nebulous platitudes and rather meaningless promises. This insubstantial foundation is a necessary condition of American politics because of the extreme diversity and broad range of needs and interests that dominate various sections of the country.”

Differences between parties are keen to the political society. Democrats will always think one way of the world and the Republicans will have theirs. The differences of each party make them unique, and their similarities are what balance them out.