American Politics

1
American Politics

• What is a Democrat?
• What is a Republican?

2
Democrats vs. Republicans

• The major difference focuses on how government
  should interact in our daily lives
• Today, we are going to focus on Domestic issues
  (issues related to life here in America)

3
Democrats vs. Republicans

• Democrats believe that the Federal government
  should be more involved in peoples lives.
  Therefore, the Federal government should play a
  big role in solving peoples problems (to do
  this, taxes have to be higher)

4
Democrats vs. Republicans

• Republicans believe that the Federal government
  should play less of a role in peoples lives.
  The government should be a resource in solving
  problems, but not the final authority.

5
Democrats believe

• More tax money should be spent in public schools
  (more after school programs, paid lunches, etc.)
• Abortion should be legal (Democrats do not see
  abortion as a religious issue. Instead, it is
  more of a personal privacy issue)
• Want a strict separation between Church and State
  (State Government)

6
Democrats believe

• The immigration issue should be solved by
  allowing current illegal immigrants to register
  and begin the process of becoming Americans
• That all Americans should be more energy
  responsible. In addition, the US should develop
  energy sources other than oil (use water, wind,
  ethanol, etc.)

7
Democrats believe

• Some Democrats seem to advocate some sort of
  socialized medicine.
• The wealthier people in the US should be taxed at
  a higher rate so that the government can afford
  the social programs

8
Republicans believe

• Government should not increase spending in public
  schools. In fact, families should receive tax
  credits so they can send their kids to private
  schools (if they so choose)
• Abortion should be illegal. For many
  Republicans, it is a religious issue. Others
  believe that abortion is murder.

9
Republicans believe

• That faith-based organizations should be aided
  in providing services for people (schools, child
  care, hospitals, etc.)
• Immigration should be handled in a more strict
  way. For example, there should be some sort of
  wall on the Mexican border, as well as the US
  National Guard
• Energy companies should be given tax breaks to
  fund research on new energy sources

10
Republicans believe

• The medical insurance business should be
  reformed, but no public medicine
• Taxes should remain low for all people so that
  people can spend money how they see fit.
  (Republicans believe that wealthier Americans
  will use their tax breaks to re-invest in the
  economy and create jobs)