Weststander
Well-known member
They're not really polar opposites though. If I was to summarise how I see the Dems vs the Rs on these issues it would be something like this.....
Climate: R = Climate change does not exist and is not a problem.
D = Climate change exists. Perhaps we should look at making a few inadequate changes as to where we get out energy from.
Guns: R = No gun control of any kind.
D = We might ban assault rifles.
Ethinic minorities: R = Pretend racism doesn't exist. Stop teaching about our racist history in schools.
D = Racism exists. We should teach about it in schools. Maybe take down some of those confederate statues glorifying slave ownership. No rush though.
Taxation: R = Lower taxes for the rich. Make up the shortfall by squeezing it from the poor. Or don't even bother and just get more into debt.
D = Try and find a taxation level that gives the average worker enough money to at least pay for essential things like housing and food.
Abortion: R = Women should have no rights to bodily autonomy.
D = Women should have rights to their own bodily autonomy.
Equal opportunities: R = White male Christians should be given the priority in our job market.
D = The most qualified person should get the job. It's better for the economy.
Workers rights: R = No unions. No rights. We can hire or fire as we please. Maximise working hours, minimise paid leave. Call people lazy if they don't want to do this.
D = We should probably raise the minimum wage and try and reach a level of workers rights that is at least in the same ball park as other civilised countries.
Healthcare and social programs : R = We're gonna scrap all these in order to pay for the aforementioned tax cuts for the rich.
D = We should at least have some form of healthcare and social security for people without jobs.
Obviously you'd have to be either an idiot or a prick to actually look at the R policies and think "yep that's my team!" But to say the Dems are polar opposites just isn't true.
I meant polar opposites in terms of American culture and a mixed economy, what’s feasible. It’s a huge juggernaut with extreme poverty, impossible to right all the injustices.
Not the polar opposites of say pure Marxism versus alt-free enterprise.
Personally I wouldn’t underplay the D’s policies and genuine aspirations on healthcare, protecting special environmental or Native American lands, gay rights, womens rights, racism, gun control, aligning on climate change accords.
The R’s have shifted markedly to the right. Presldent Theodore Roosevelt, a conservative, a former hobby hunter I think, created the world’s first national parks. To conserve vast areas away from the hands of big business and thugs. Imagine Trump or Gym Jordan having that plan!
Last edited: