Thumbnail Sketch of Current Republican
and Democrat Policy Orientations*
Republicans | Democrats |
seek to restrict and limit social welfare spending | favor expansive social welfare programs |
pro-life -- supports government restrictions on abortions | pro-choice including right of pregnant women to obtain abortion paid for by tax payer |
oppose gun control | favor gun control |
supports broad tax cuts | favors "targeted tax cuts" |
supports "traditional family values" | supports gay/homosexual/lesbian causes |
suspicious of environmental groups and federal government regulations on land use | supports most initiatives of environmentalists |
favors choice in education -- pro-vouchers | supports traditional organization of public education - anti-voucher |
favors prayers in public schools | opposes prayers in public schools |
supports reduction in trade barriers | sensitive to loss of jobs by American workers, environmental impact of lowered trade barriers |
wants to deregulate of electric energy | maintain/expand regulations |
explore ANWR for oil | opposes oil exploration in ANWR |
modify current Social Security system structure | generally supports existing system |
opposes hikes in minimum wage laws | seeks to raise the minimum wage |
supports rights of business to replace strikers | supports law banning permanent striker replacement workers |
favors right to work laws-(pro) | opposes right to work laws-(con) |
opposes racial preference/affirmative action laws | favors racial preference/affirmative action laws |
opposes establishment of special category of "hate crimes" | supports "hate crime" legislation |
seeks conservative judges | seeks liberal judges |
would leave access to medical care to private sector except for Medicare and Medicaid programs | has long term goal of government guaranteed universal medical care rights |
wants maximized presidential discretion in proposed Homeland Security legislation | favors standard civil service rules, collective bargaining and congressional limits on presidential administrative powers of proposed new Department |
favors continuing military presence in Iraq until Iraq government is able to sustain itself | seeks specific time frame for wthdrawl of U.S. troops from Iraq |