Selecting Your Political Party 101: What is a Republican
If you’re a new voter then one of the first things you need to do is select a political party, or at least become knowledgeable of what makes them different.
History
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists and other defectors from other political parties of the time (Whigs,) They first came into power in 1860 with the election of Abraham Lincoln. Their main principals were they opposed slavery, and believed in allowing there to be free land for all, not just the wealthy.
The Republican party has changed over the past 150 years and is also referred to as the Grand Old Party or the GOP and is the second most popular political party in the United states with over 55 million registered voters.
Current Philosophies
Republicans focus economic beliefs on individual achievement, free markets, and lower taxes for the wealthiest to initiate economic growth through what is known now as “trickle down economics”. These beliefs are opposite their initial belief system.
Republicans oppose anything that is socialized such as single-payer healthcare systems, social security, unions and the system that is currently set in place for workers such as firefighters, policemen, teachers, and libraries because it is supported by the masses as opposed to being privatized for profit and individual gain.
Social Philosophies
Keep in mind, every political party, like every religion has its own varables. And therefore some people will feel strongly for one part, but maybe not the other. Overall republicans are often against abortion, gay-marriage, gun-control, censorship, stem-cell research, and environmental factors. They support churches, prayer in school, school choice, and extensive spending on the military to support a large military. They are divided as a party on immigration since current philosophies do not general support the working poor, however, the basis the party was built upon is about men having the right to be free, own land, and be fruitful. These conflicts in philosophies is part of the problems with current debates between individuals.As their biggest fundamental principals is for a smaller government, except for some of these social issues. This same hypocritical conflict exists in the democratic party.
Color: Blue
Symbol: The Elephant
Demographics: generally high income earners, white, families, and are over the age of 29
