Party Platforms: Where do they stand?

Taxes

Democrats: Gernerally believe that tax rates should depend on a person's income. The richer you are, the more heavily you should be taxed.

Republicans: Tend to favor the idea of a flat tax (same rate no matter income).

Health Care

Democrats: Believe in a health care system where the government is heavily involved creating programs, giving aid, and making it available to everyone.

Republicans:  Prefer the government be less involved in the health care system.

Climate/Energy

Democrats:  Dislike extensive drilling in environmental areas and offshore, but do agree that the U.S. should push to become more energy independent.

Republicans:  Feel offshore drilling is necessary to meet today's high demand and also support the idea of providing tax incentives for energy production.

Education

Democrats:  Strongly believe the government should have a firm place within schools and that standardized testing and character building education are very important (Charater Counts). Also, they wish to reduce class sizes, hire new teachers, modernize facilities, and make college tuition tax deductible. Finally, Democrats support the enactment of new tax programs to promote life-long learning.

Republicans: The government's role should be limited within schools. Also, science and math courses should be pushed and students' access into college should be less determined by income or social status and moreso by achievement. Finally, Republicans support home-schooling, school choice, and student initiated prayer.

Debt/Deficits

Both parties agree that the ever-growing federal deficit is beyond exceedingly large and it is a top priority to lessen it. However, they have different views on how this should be done.

Democrats: Raise taxes

Republicans: Cut/Alter programs


Reform

With each new president comes a new slogan; A new vision for what the party plans are and what should be top priority during the upcoming session. So what are each parties main focuses?

Democrats:  "Change That Matters."   Top priorities include improving American Competitiveness (primarily through improved education system and advancements in technology), ending the war in Afghanistan and all other terrorist threats, and finally, jump-starting the economy.

Republicans: "A Pledge to America."  Main focuses of the GOP are lessening government power and involvement overall, reforming the universal health care plan, solving the growing energy crisis with funding to new research, creating jobs (primarily in the energy production area), and lowering the federal deficit.

Immigration

Democrats: Are far less stringent in border control and more open to immigration into the United States. They believe illegal immigrants should be given assistance in becoming citizens and also, they think it is important to help illegals avoid employment exploitation.

Republicans: Believe in tighter borders and are strict when it comes to finding illegals within the country. They think people who request citizensip should go through rigorous testing and background checks and should also be able to contribute to the country once they are a citizen.

Afghanistan

On the situation in the East, both parties are rather split in views. Some avidly support the war while others oppose and there are some in between. Generally speaking, both parties agree that it was a necessary step to liberate a nation in need and protect the United States from further terrorist attacks. However, there is currently no set distinction between parties on whether or not they each support it as a whole.

Platform Video Clip

Not much of a reader? No problem. Most of the views expressed above have been compiled in a video we made, although we were not able to upload it on this site.

Pete: See Flash Drive