Republican: Republicans generally prioritize economic growth and job
creation over strict environmental regulations. They often advocate for market-based solutions and oppose expansive government intervention in addressing climate change.
Democrat: Democrats typically prioritize aggressive action to combat
climate change, including government regulations, investments in renewable energy, and international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Abortion / Planned Parenthood
Republican: Republicans generally oppose abortion and support
restrictions on abortion access, including defunding Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services. They often advocate for policies that protect the rights of the unborn fetus.
Democrat: Democrats generally support abortion rights and access to
reproductive healthcare services, including funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood. They prioritize women's autonomy and reproductive health choices.
Taxes
Republican: Republicans typically advocate for lower taxes, especially
for corporations and high-income individuals, arguing that it stimulates economic growth and job creation. They often prioritize tax cuts and simplification of the tax code. Democrat: Democrats generally support progressive taxation, advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund social programs and reduce income inequality. They often prioritize closing tax loopholes and increasing taxes on the highest earners.
Minimum Wage
Republican: Republicans often oppose raising the federal minimum
wage, arguing that it could lead to job losses, particularly among small businesses. They prefer market-based solutions, such as job training programs, to address poverty and income inequality.
Democrat: Democrats generally support raising the federal minimum
wage to ensure a living wage for all workers. They argue that it reduces poverty, stimulates consumer spending, and provides greater economic security for low-income families.
Gun Laws and Restrictions
Republican: Republicans typically advocate for protecting gun rights
and oppose stricter gun control measures, arguing that they infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. They often emphasize the importance of enforcing existing laws rather than enacting new ones.
Democrat: Democrats generally support stricter gun control measures,
including universal background checks, bans on assault weapons, and closing loopholes in gun sales. They prioritize public safety and reducing gun violence through legislative action.
Illegal Immigration / Health Care for Illegals
Republican: Republicans often prioritize border security and enforcement of immigration laws, including measures to reduce illegal immigration such as building a border wall and implementing stricter immigration policies. They generally oppose providing healthcare benefits to undocumented immigrants.
Democrat: Democrats generally support comprehensive immigration
reform, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and policies that prioritize family reunification. They often advocate for expanding access to healthcare, including for undocumented immigrants.
Border Wall
Republican: Republicans generally support the construction of a
border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border as a means of enhancing national security and controlling illegal immigration.
Democrat: Democrats generally oppose the construction of a border
wall, viewing it as ineffective, costly, and symbolically divisive. They advocate for alternative approaches to border security, such as technology and increased manpower.
Military Spending
Republican: Republicans typically advocate for robust military
spending to maintain national security and military superiority. They prioritize a strong defense posture and investment in defense technologies.
Democrat: Democrats generally support maintaining a strong military
but often advocate for a more balanced approach to defense spending, including investments in diplomacy, foreign aid, and domestic programs.
Police Department Funding / Training
Republican: Republicans generally support maintaining or increasing
funding for law enforcement agencies and emphasize the importance of law and order. They may also advocate for additional resources for police training and equipment.
Democrat: Democrats often advocate for reallocating some police
funding to social services and community programs aimed at addressing the root causes of crime. They prioritize police reform, including training on de-escalation techniques and accountability measures.
Electoral College (How we elect the president)
Republican: Republicans generally support the Electoral College
system, arguing that it protects the interests of smaller states and ensures a balance of power between rural and urban areas.
Democrat: Democrats often advocate for abolishing or reforming the
Electoral College, favoring a national popular vote system to elect the president. They argue that it would better reflect the will of the people and promote greater voter participation.
Voter ID Requirements
Republican: Republicans generally support voter ID requirements as a
measure to prevent voter fraud and ensure the integrity of elections. They argue that it is a common-sense safeguard against voter impersonation and fraud.
Democrat: Democrats often oppose strict voter ID requirements,
arguing that they disproportionately disenfranchise minority and low- income voters who may face barriers to obtaining identification. They prioritize expanding access to voting and reducing barriers to participation.
Government Paid College Tuition (includes 4 year universities)
Republican: Republicans generally oppose government-funded
college tuition, arguing that it would be costly and inefficient, and could lead to a devaluation of higher education. They often advocate for market-based solutions and promoting alternatives to traditional four- year universities.
Democrat: Democrats generally support government-funded college
tuition, including tuition-free public college proposals, as a means of expanding access to higher education and reducing student debt. They prioritize investing in education as a means of fostering economic opportunity and social mobility.