I was thinking about the basic differences between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party over the last week or so. I know that the parties have evolved over time and have represented different points of view over time. The recent history of the Democrats has its roots in FDR and Labor. And, because of the diversity of labor in the United States Democrats have become a force for tolerance in America. Republicans on the other hand have their roots in defending the rights of the wealthy, the property owners and the corporations. Republicans have developed a strict ideology where straying from the party line is considered insubordination or even treason. If you have any doubt about this consider the Republican efforts to remove Senator John McCain the most powerful and vocal dissenter in the Republican Party. In other words, the Republican Party is a party of inherent intolerance.
If we consider several issues that divide the country today we can easily show that Democrats support the tolerant side of the argument while the Republicans support the strict intolerant side of the argument.
Gay marriage is an easy one. Republicans think that the religious view of marriage should be incorporated into government law. Even though some religions recognize gay unions these religions are considered outside the mainstream and Republicans remain opposed to government endorsement of gay marriage. The tolerant point of view would be to allow religions themselves to deny religious marriages, but to allow government to recognize a legal contract between two people willing to accept the responsibility of marriage. This is tolerant to both sides of the issue. Democrats do not deny that religions can discriminate against those who wish to be married, but members of religions that allow gay marriages should also be allowed to have that religious marriage recognized by the state.
On the Medical Marijuana issue, Democrats are typically tolerant of the fact that some people find marijuana helpful in treating the symptoms of their disease regardless of the arbitrary classification of marijuana as a class 1 drug. Republicans are generally intolerant of this and would choose to enforce marijuana as a class 1 drug regardless of the fact that sick people find it helpful and state referendums have been widely approved by the majority of the people.
On labor issues Democrats has traditionally supported the worker. Democrats have recognized the fact that some people are born into wealth and have no trouble paying for private schools and influential schools. Democrats have recognized that it isn't always what you know, but who you know that results in a lucrative job sometimes requiring little work. In many cases the typical farmer or "Blue Collar" worker puts in a harder workday than a Fortune 500 executive, but barely make enough money to get by on. That Fortune 500 executive is likely paid 6 or 7 figures and lives in a house 3 or 4 times the size of the typical worker. Democrats know that companies can't be forced to fix these inequalities, but the children of these employees can have a better shot at landing one of these jobs if they go to college and make some connections with those who hire executives. Coupled with fair hiring laws this approach will slowly erode the dominance of the wealthy class and make America a true meritocracy where it is what you know and not who you know that gets you the job. Republicans on the other hand are intolerant of those who may come in and disturb the social structure of their system and wish to do away with these laws at every opportunity.
Just try this with your own pet issue and you will see that for most issues the Democrats are the party of tolerance while Republicans continue to be intolerant of change.
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