http://www.policymic.com/articles/56823/10-simple-steps-to-understanding-why-liberals-and-conservatives-disagree-so-much
There is no question that the 113th Congress is one of the least productive in history. It has passed only 15 bills so far this year, and only a few of them were significant pieces of legislation. Even bills with strong bipartisan support, like the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act or disaster relief for Hurricane Sandy victims, were accompanied by intense bickering.
In these politically-charged times, issues such as gun control, immigration, health care, and abortion have become stalemates. The two parties just can't seem to find a happy medium.Just how different are the philosophies, ideas, and values of the two parties that dominate America’s political landscape? Perhaps it's time to take a look at how different the Democrats and Republicans really are, and why they're butting heads.Americans are more interested in their party's platforms than they are in their party's candidates. And with good reason. A political party’s platform is perhaps the best reflection of its values and philosophies, as it illustrates the public policies that the party intends to promote.Even the keywords used throughout the two parties' platforms betray their differing perspectives. Take the use of the words “hope” and “change,” for example. Surprisingly, the word “hope” is mentioned four times as often in the GOP party platform as in the Democratic platform, and “change” appears twice as often in the GOP platform. In the Democratic platform, the word “fight” occurs 35 times; the GOP platform doesn't use the word.Likewise, the Constitution is referenced 60 times in the Republican platform, but only six times in the Democratic one.
these difference IMO are by-products of the real reason for the differences. all one needs to do is look at the two parties, then read their manifestos, then check archives and see what is more of a agenda for either party,
note who is trying to bring us together and who is purposely pushing us apart and blaming it on the Pres., in that vein look who has blamed the other the most in the media for our problems and who has lied from how fast they run a marathon to ObamaCares
1. Abortion
Republicans“We assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.”Democrats“The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.”
2. Economy
Republicans“We offer our Republican vision of a free people using their God-given talents, combined with hard work, self-reliance, ethical conduct, and the pursuit of opportunity, to achieve great things for themselves and the greater community. Our vision of an opportunity society stands in stark contrast to the current administration’s policies that expand entitlements and guarantees, create new public programs, and provide expensive government bailouts.”Democrats“We continue to fight for measures that would strengthen the recovery and create jobs now, including keeping teachers and first responders on the job, putting construction workers back to work by investing in our roads, bridges, schools, and water supply, helping families refinance their mortgages and save hundreds of dollars a month, cutting taxes for small businesses that invest and hire, and putting veterans back to work.”
3. Environment
RepublicansThe Republican party platform does not use the term “climate change.” In contrast, he word “climate” appears in the Democrat's platform more often than the terms "Al-Qaeda," "nuclear proliferation," "radical Islam," or "weapons of mass destruction."Democrats“We know that global climate change is one of the biggest threats of this generation — an economic, environmental, and national security catastrophe in the making. We affirm the science of climate change, [and] commit to significantly reducing the pollution that causes climate change.”
4. Guns
Republicans“We uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, a right which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by the Second Amendment. We acknowledge, support, and defend the law-abiding citizen’s God-given right to self-defense.”Democrats“We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans’ Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation.”
just to wet your whistle but pointing out number 2 stop and think who that really applies to and who many of you or those you know did just that and are still in a sling do to right wing deregulation on wall street, how many lost homes, jobs ins., "rich get richer and the poor get poorer", sound familiar?
