It is my opinion that there is no way any Christian or Jew
can justify being a democrat. Please keep in mind that I'm not saying that
being a republican is Biblical, however, comparison of the platforms is
necessary. Claiming, instead to be an independent, would be the biblical
approach. The republican platform is not in anyone's definition scripture. The
democrat platform, on the other hand, is one of the most anti God documents
available in the world today. The declaration that one is a democrat and/or a
vote for a democrat candidate is a confirmation of agreement with the democrat
platform.
If you are a follower of Christ, you should know the Word
of God well enough to be able to distinguish between good and evil. Being able
to distinguish between good and evil will enable you to realize that
associating yourself with a group that condones, and promotes the killing of
seventy million babies in the womb, is not what God would condone. Being able
to distinguish between good and evil will enable you to realize that
associating yourself with a group that condones the celebration and promotion
of LGBTQ (the extra biblical word for sodomy), is not what God would condone.
All Christians and Jews should involve themselves in the
politics of their country, in order to draw that country into a relationship
with God that brings blessing to their country. The democrat stance on Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel Jerusalem as the capital of Israel Jerusalem is the capital of
Israel
In order to be fair, I am including a link to each parties
platform. Please read them both - just to be fair.
DEMOCRAT 2016 NATIONAL
PLATFORM
https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Democratic-Party-Platform-7.21.16-no-lines.pdf
REPUBLICAN 2016 NATIONAL
PLATFORM
https://prod-static-ngop-pbl.s3.amazonaws.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL[1]-ben_1468872234.pdf
Sometime between
the 1860's and 1936, the (Democratic) party of small government became the party
of big government, and the (Republican) party of big government became
rhetorically committed to curbing federal power. How did this switch
happen?[3]
History of Democrats and Republicans
In
order to understand the fundamental differences and beliefs of each party, we
must look at the histories of Democrats and Republicans to understand their
motives for becoming a party. It is also necessary to understand their
fundamental beliefs and positions and how they have stuck with these positions
through their voting records.
History of the Democratic
Party
The party can trace its roots
all the way back to Thomas Jefferson when they were known as Jefferson ’s
Republicans and they strongly opposed the Federalist Party and their
nationalist views. The Democrats adopted the donkey as their symbol due to
Andrew Jackson who was publicly nicknamed “jackass” because of his popular
position of “let the people rule”. The Democratic National Committee was
officially created in 1848. During the civil war a rift grew within the party
between those who supported slavery and those who opposed it. This deep
division led to the creation of a new Democratic party, the one we now know
today.
History of the Republican
Party
The Republican Party came
into existence just prior to the Civil War due to their long-time stance in
favor of abolition of slavery. They were a small third-party who nominated John
C. Freemont for President in 1856. In 1860 they became an established political
party when their nominee Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States Lincoln
Differences Between Democrats and Republicans
With the establishment of a powerful two-party political system in
the United States—the Democrats beginning in 1824 and the Republicans beginning
in 1854—there are some core differences between the two based on very strong
political beliefs.
1
Tax Policy
Both parties favor tax cuts, but each party takes a different view
on where those tax cuts should be applied. The Democrats believe there should
only be cuts for middle and low income families, but believe they should be
higher on corporations and wealthy individuals. The Republicans believe there
should be tax cuts for everyone, both corporations and people of all income
levels.
2
Social Issues
One of the differences between democrats and republicans lies in
their views towards social issues. The Republicans tend to be conservative on
social issues. They tend to oppose gay marriage and promote marriage being
between a man and a woman. They also oppose abortion and promote the right of
gun ownership. Democrats tend to be more progressive in their views, favoring
abortion and gay marriage, but are strongly for strict gun control laws that
limit ownership.
3
Labor and Free Trade
Republicans and Democrats have very different ideas when it comes
to the business environment. Republicans tend to oppose increases to the
minimum wage, citing the need for business to keep costs low so they can
prosper and all Americans can have access to products and services. The Democrats
favor increasing the minimum wage so that Americans have more money with which
to purchase goods. They also favor trade restrictions to protect American jobs
while Republicans favor free trade in order to keep costs low for consumers and
make businesses more profitable so they can grow.
4
Health Care
Democrats generally prefer a lot of government regulation and
oversight of the health care system, including the passage of the Affordable
Care Act, because it makes the health care system accessible to everyone.
Republicans, who opposed the Affordable Care Act, believe too much government
involvement in the industry will drive up costs and have a negative impact on
the quality of care that consumers receive.
5
Social Programs
Democrats across the board believe that government should run such
social programs as welfare, unemployment benefits, food stamps, and Medicaid
that support people in need. They believe more tax dollars should be funneled
into these programs. Republicans acknowledge a need for these social programs,
but favor less funding and tighter control. Republicans favor supporting
private organizations that support people in need.
6
Foreign Policy
When it comes to differences between democrats and republicans,
the foreign policy can not be missed. Each party has had differing stances
in relation to foreign policy over the years depending on the situation.
Generally speaking, when military involvement may be required, the Democrats
favor more targeted strikes and limited use of manpower while Republicans favor
a full military effort to displace regimes that are totalitarian and
detrimental to their own people and who are threatening others. Both parties
typically agree that sending aid to other countries is a good thing, but
disagree on the nature of that aid and who should be receiving it.
7
Energy Issues and the Environment
There have always been clashes between the parties on the issues
of energy and the environment. Democrats believe in restricting drilling for
oil or other avenues of fossil fuels to protect the environment while
Republicans favor expanded drilling to produce more energy at a lower cost to
consumers. Democrats will push and support with tax dollars alternative energy
solutions while the Republicans favor allowing the market to decide which forms
of energy are practical.
8
Education
The parties have different views on the education system of the
country, but both agree there needs a change. Democrats favor more progressive
approaches to education, such as implementing the Common Core System, while
Republicans tend to favor more conservative changes such as longer hours and
more focused programs. They are also divided on student loans for college, with
Democrats favoring giving students more money in the form of loans and grants
while Republicans favor promoting the private sector giving loans and not the
government.
9
Crime and Capital Punishment
Republicans generally believe in harsher penalties when someone
has committed a crime, including for selling illegal drugs. They also generally
favor capital punishment and back a system with many layers to ensure the
proper punishment has been meted out. Democrats are more progressive in their
views, believing that crimes do not involve violence, such as selling drugs,
should have lighter penalties and rehabilitation. They are also against capital
punishment in any form.
10
Individual Liberty
Individual liberty has been a sore subject of late. Political
correctness is on the rise and many people believe that people need to be
protected against themselves. Democrats have tended toward favoring legislation
that restricts some freedoms, including foods we may have access to.
Republicans favor personal responsibility, in that individuals should be able
to choose for themselves what they do and what they do not do if it doesn’t
break existing laws.[5]
Here are 10 huge differences
in the party platforms:
1. ABORTION
Democrats: "We
believe unequivocally, like the majority of Americans, that every woman should
have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and
legal abortion." Up and to including one second before natural birth.
Republicans: Abortion
should be illegal in all cases and the Constitution should be amended to ban
the procedure. Most republicans believe
that the life of the mother should be considered, as well as rape and incest.
"We assert the sanctity
of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life
which cannot be infringed," the platform said.
The GOP argued that
supporting the constitutional right to abortion was the
"extreme" position.
2. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Democrats: Applauded the U.S.
Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage.
Republicans: Condemned
the court decision.
"Five unelected lawyers
robbed 320 million Americans of their legitimate constitutional authority to
define marriage as the union of one man and one woman," the platform said.
3. IMMIGRATION
Democrats: Called
for fixing the "broken immigration system," including a path to
citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Republicans: Embraced
Trump's call for a wall along the U.S-Mexican border though was silent on
whether to back their nominee's demand to deport all 11 million.
4. CLIMATE CHANGE
Democrats: "Climate
change poses a real and urgent threat to our economy, our national security,
and our children's health and futures."
Republicans: Cast doubts
on whether the climate is changing, rejecting the findings of the United
Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as "a political
mechanism, not an unbiased scientific institution" with "intolerance
toward scientists and others who dissent from its orthodoxy." In reality,
I and most thinking people believe in Global Climate Change as reality. What we
don't believe is that man is causing it. Climate change has been a reality
since God created the world.
5. MEDICARE
Democrats: They would
not only would "fight any attempts by Republicans in Congress to
privatize, voucherize, or 'phase out' Medicare," but would allow Americans
older than 55 to enroll.
Republicans: They would
end the health care program for the elderly as we know it, requiring seniors to
either enroll in a private insurance plan or face limits on how much the
government will pay. This is a lie.
Democrats: The party promised
to "vigorously implement, enforce, and build on" banking
regulations enacted to curb risky practices by financial institutions and
"will stop dead in its tracks every Republican effort to weaken it."
Republicans: Blamed the
Great Recession on "the government's own housing policies," not Wall
Street actions and called the banking regulations "an excuse to establish
unprecedented government control over the nation's financial markets."
7. IRAN
Democrats: President
Barack Obama's agreement to relax economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear
program "verifiably cuts off all of Iran
Republicans: The deal
"gravely threatens our security, our interests, and the survival of our
friends." The Republican platform called it "a personal agreement
between the president and his negotiating partners and non-binding on the next
president."
8. ISRAEL
Democrats: The platform
backed a "secure and democratic Jewish state" of Israel
Republicans: While both
parties support Israel , the
Republicans said nothing about the two-state solution that has been the
bipartisan cornerstone of U.S. Israel and believe Jerusalem
9. MONEY IN POLITICS
Democrats: They want to
overturn the Citizens United decision, which eased restrictions on corporate
and union campaign spending.
"We need to end secret,
unaccountable money in politics by requiring, through executive order or
legislation, significantly more disclosure and transparency — by outside
groups, federal contractors, and public corporations to their
shareholders," the platform said.
Republicans: "I
have joined the political arena so that the powerful can no longer beat up on
people who cannot defend themselves," Trump said in accepting the Republican
presidential nomination.
The GOP platform would make
things much easier for the powerful. It would repeal or raise contribution
limits and allow outside groups spending millions on campaigns to
hide their donors.
10. VOTING RIGHTS
Democrats: The party
said it would fight laws requiring certain forms of voter
identification "to preserve the fundamental right to vote."
(Many foreign countries can't believe we are this stupid.)
A leader of the 1963 landmark
Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), helped
nominate Clinton for president on Tuesday.
Republicans: The GOP
platform endorsed state efforts to impose voter identification
requirements that the U.S. Justice Department and several federal and state
courts have said discriminate
against minority and poor voters. The platform called Justice's actions
"bullying."
Cases of in-person voter
fraud, which such voter-ID laws are supposed to prevent, are "nearly
non-existent," according to the Brennan
Center for Justice at New York University Law
School
To sum this up, the only way I can
believe a Christian would be a democrat is that they don't know what the party
stands for. That is known as a limited
information voter.
[1] http://www.enkivillage.com/differences-between-democrats-and-republicans.html
[2] Genesis
12:3
[3] http://www.livescience.com/34241-democratic-republican-parties-switch-platforms.html
[4]
History
of Democrats and Republican
[5] http://www.enkivillage.com/differences-between-democrats-and-republicans.html
[6] Jonathan D. Salant may
be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.
Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant.
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