What makes someone a Republican?

Question

What makes some a Republican? What platforms, ideologies, and beliefs do they have? Also, what makes someone a conservative and how is that related to being a Republican? You don't have to answer every question; just give me a general list of things they believe in and a simple definition of a conservative

And no, this isn't a homework assignment. I'm actually quite curious because I'm approaching the age where I'm old enough to vote and I want to make sure I make the right decision.

I'm looking forward to your answers and input. Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

To being with God and Guns. Preach moral and family values but don't practice what you preach. Teach responsibility but keep your kids out school when the president speaks. Be led by the messiah of the GOP Rush Limbaugh who today's version of Jim Jones.

Answer 2

The Republican platform from the last election puts forward what the Party ran on.



Generally 'conservative' refers to a view that we are successful BECAUSE of our values and beliefs, and so we should be judicious in changing them. That is applied to the Constitution, and you can find things about "natural law" or "constructionism" the look at the documents as our base beliefs (vs the 'living document' that seeks to reinterpret the values in the light of current enlightenment to find new rights and discard old ones).



Conservative tends to think that the people, not the government, are the seat of power (Declaration of Independance) and favor small government...or smaller...though sometimes the elected seem to forget. They believe that the division of powers was between the Federal government and the States, and that the constitution was specific that unless the power was given to the Federal, by default it remained with the States.



They believe that property rights are essential for liberty, and oppose things like emminent domain allowing a local government to take a property and then sell it to someone else (not using it for a government purpose).



Republicans do not have a "lock" on conservatism, but it is probably more true that the Republican party/platform is more conservative than the current Democratic party.



Beliefs?

> It is the individual who can best make decisions about their money and happiness.

> The best government is the least government.

> The freedom to compete includes the risk of failure and the government can not ensure 'fairness' in the result: it is messy

> Capitalizm for all it's short comings, is the best way to create upward mobility and prosperity

> Military service is honorable and demands our support and respect.

> We are the most generous, most prosperous, most successful nation on the planet because of our people, our beliefs and our freedom.



Always vote the person, not the party. I've just found that that results in more Republican votes than not.

Answer 3

Wow some people put some awesome answers on here. And they are right. Moral beliefs mainly.

I am independent. I support visions in both parties and vote accordingly. For example, I am very pro-life but there are times when I think the dem candidate is all and all better for the country such as Clinton. So I vote accordingly.

What I support in the Republican party is the strong military, lower taxes, helping your neighbor but not carrying them on your back, and free enterprise.

Republicans believe you get what you earn. I worked very hard to get where I am from where I came from. I don't like the idea of everyone getting the same lifestyle when one works 60 hours a week and the other sits at home and spits out kids to get a bigger welfare check.

Answer 4

Most of the answers above are correct, ignoring the typical liberal wack-job answers you also see. But I would clarify it is not necessarily LOWER taxes that conservatives want, but FAIRER taxes. Most conservatives would be happy if everyone paid a flat 17% tax on income, therefore you would no longer be punished for succeeding and rewarded for laziness.



You will notice that the Democratic Party has done a great job using class warfare to win votes. We had a Democratic congress for 40 YEARS up till Clinton, and a Democrat president for 8 years prior to Bush. THE POOR ARE STILL POOR AND ALWAYS WILL BE NO MATTER WHO IS PRESIDENT! Only you young people think Bush is the cause of where America is today.

Answer 5

the first time i voted i had never read the parties platform, i dont think a person SHOULD vote until they do, the real truth about what each party supports. democrats and republicans now support very differnt ideals. if it were up to the democratic party, there would be no public prayer, no worship. they would take God out of everything. they support abortion and gay marriage, and a wide open society, the republicans do not. that is why in the year 2000 i became a republican, i had voted 28 plus years as a democrat not really understanding what they really stand for. i no longer could support a party who wants to take God out and let anything in that is socially acceptable. sorry but the real republican party is in favor of keeping america strong and not weaking it with radical left ideals. like giving illegals the right to vote, and gay marriage and abortion, i dont want to live in a society that is liberal, and that anything and everthing is acceptable as long as they think it is. its crazy enough as it is, just look at left wing democratic hollywood , that should tell you all you need to know.

Answer 6

Well, to be a smart a s s,

common sense.

Now realistically, I guess the following makes me a Republican. The party has since leaned too far left for my liking, but there is just nothing else out there.

1. I believe in less government. How did we survive the first 150 years? Since the 60s, our government has been bloated to twice its size since then. Save government expenses not but gutting the military, but getting rid of bureaucracies that are redundant. We have career politicians that have been in D.C. over FORTY YEARS. they have more power than the president. They need to go away.



2. No apologies to countries we have fought for and died to protect in the past, but they protest against us defending ourselves, we know who our true friends are now. Stop supporting them.



3. Keep a strong military.



4. Preserve the sanctity of life especially lives of the innocent (the unborn). I currently live in Australia, and their abortion policies are much more strict than ours. When abortion is approved up to full term, something is wrong.



5. No such thing as separation of Church and state, it is not in the constitution. It was meant to protect the CHURCH from being run by the STATE. The church was always supposed to be involved in state matters, that is what made America unique among nations, we LEFT countries that had state run religions. Over 50% of the founding fathers were graduates of theological seminaries. I think they knew what they were talking about. Even the atheists and deists among them agreed.

Freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.



6. Private gun ownership is a basic human right that helped found this country. We all should have the right to defend ourselves. Disarm the criminals, not law abiding American citizens.



7. No government bailouts with the money that I paid taxes with. If someone else spends themselves into bankruptcy, tough. That is what charity is for.



8. While I believe in a form of universal health care, it is not something that should be rammed down our throat without even being studied by experts. It is not a carte blanche to spend ourselves into bankruptcy.



Sorry my answer is not so simple, but i hope it helped you out a little in your decision.

Answer 7

I left the RNC because it refused to hold true to what used to be its platform.



That platform is best spelled out here by Justus and a couple of others.



Sadly, the RNC is no longer faithful to those common-sense (yet noble) principles. They have been invaded and conquered by liberals from within.



They are so far to the left that it is impossible to recognize them anymore.



Then the DNC can keep claiming the "center" is farther and farther to the left, to the point that one-man, one-woman marriage is somehow controversial . . . HOW did this happen?



Globalism and apathy. That's about it.

Answer 8

Low Federal and State Taxes

States Rights - a Republic

Limited Federal Government Control

Free Market Capitalism

Strong Military

Border Security

Individual Rights

Answer 9

Republicans have a positive can do attitude, self reliance, do it yourself,with out the help of government.Get er done!

Conservatives will not bend they stick to their beliefs and resist change.

You should be an independent most of us are some what Liberal as well as somewhat Conservative. Some views on both sides are to the extreme. I do not trust government and think they have to much power. To much government can get in the way,making harder for someone to get ahead. We do need government to step in from time to time,this should only be temporary.

Answer 10

Morals are # 1; We don't believe in abortion but we believe in Guns to kill. #2 Conserve as in our name Conservative ,a balanced budget like President Bush left Obama and Bill Clinton didn't do for George W. Bush. #3 Less Government, Call it : every man woman must fend for themselves if you don't have a job your ### lazy! #4 Less taxes for the rich because it trickles down in droplets to the working class. Thats why I'm a Morally Right Republican.

Answer 11

A Republican is one who rejects big government interjecting itself into every aspect of his or her life. We do not want to over pay our taxes to support those who refuse to work or improve themselves. We feel citizens should be responsible for ourselves without government interference in our lives. Obama is trying to sell his personal agenda regardless of the risks he runs on the populace. We want to worship where we want, have opinions of our own, and decide for ourselves what kind of health care is best for us. This administration wants to dictate how it wants us to live. A Republication administration honors the purpose and desires of the individual.

Answer 12

It used to be abortion and the level of our military and/or our military involvements overseas. Today to be a "Republican" you have to oppose the theologies of Social Democracy, Progressivism, and Reformism because these are being used for slow, catalytic "change" of our country. To be against these three things not only labels you as a "Republican", it also labels you other "vile names" like racist, neocon, hater, red-neck, Neanderthal, etc.... and these are the names our elected officials use! Proudly proclaiming yourself as a "Republican" is tantamount to proclaiming yourself a "Nazi" in today's political theatre!

Answer 13

Just a realistic view of the world.



You believe in right and wrong

You believe in the constitution

You believe in limited powers of government

You believe people should work for their incomes

you believe competition stimulates the economy

You understand that there is no such thing as a free lunch

you have a decent understanding of US history.

Answer 14

Less government involvement in daily life

Government that honors the Constitution

Lower taxes

Strong foreign policy that reflects OUR interests

More individual freedom

Strong military

Guarantee of Equal OPPORTUNITY, not OUTCOME

Retaining the rewards from hard work

Money belongs to the individual, NOT the state

Helping those who are truly needy, but not turning a safety net into a hammock...



http://rnc.org/splashpage/index.aspx

Answer 15

A republican is someone who believes in the constitution , a person whom believes in freedom and less government involved in our lives!!

Answer 16

Here is SOME positions of social and economic conservatives (although you don't always have to agree, this mixes in most conservative types)



* Classroom prayer

* Prohibition of abortion

* Traditional marriage, not same-sex marriage

* Respect for differences between men and women, boys and girls

* Laws against pornography

* The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms

* Economic allocative efficiency (as opposed to popular equity)

* The death penalty

* Parental control of education

* Private medical care and retirement plans

* Canceling failed social support programs

* No world government

* Enforcement of current laws regarding immigration

* Respect for our military ... past and present

* Rejection of junk science such as evolutionism and global warming

* Low taxes, especially for families

* Federalism (less power for the federal government and more for local and state governments)

* A strong national defense



---



Libertarians consider themselves the "real" conservatives. As they're completely economically conservative and socially for freedom.

Answer 17

Answering from the top of my head and not from the books;

Republicans:

Have lots and lots of money (or sometimes wannabees)

Want more money

Believe in strong businesses (will have lunch together to make ponzi schemes)

Heaven forbid social programs! No welfare or medicaid, willing to put social security into the stock market (gah!) Flush all gov't funds to the Nursing Homes, hospitals, senior programs, children's programs down the toilet...puleeze don't get sick or old!!!!!

Make more money (for themselves) thru taxing the middle class until their eyes bulge out!!!

Keep the present Healthcare Program (as is) the way it is...forever...until there IS NO healthcare. We'd have to drink the milk from our GOATS for cures!!!! (If you don't know what I mean, read my other political posts.)

Answer 18

Republicans advocate fiscal responsibility and small government. They also advocate that social responsibilities like helping the poor comes voluntarily out of one's own wallet, and the goal is to make the poor and needy self-reliant, not dependents on welfare .

Answer 19

I am a conservative.

I joined the Republican Party when Obama said we are evil.

I still vote conservative only.

So I vote for little mainstream either side.

Answer 20

If you want answers, go to the website. Some people are Republicans on one issue, and Democrat on another. It all depends on your personal morals which makes you a republican.

Answer 21

People aren't always what they call themselves. There are RINOs and DINOs alike. I have actually come in contact with people who say they are for "this" "this" and "this".... but then say they are "________" which would be the opposite of what they are stereotypically for.

Answer 22

what makes someone a liberal?



its just how someone sees an issue

Answer 23

Just read all of the outrageous nasty little answers you get from liberals and be just the opposite and you will be on the right path to start.

Answer 24

a conservative wants the current President of the United States to fail. they also believe that the current President of the United States is a racist and has a deep seated hatred of white people.

Answer 25

Someone who wants to live their lives in a traditional way call themselves conservative

Answer 26

having a vacuum in your cranial cavity

Answer 27

1. a belief in less government

2. a strong military

3. individual responsibility

4. lower taxes

Answer 28

We used to be repubs. Then Bush jr was in office and I realized they are all for the wealthy, and the dirt poor, and nothing in between.

Answer 29

An absence of any ideas, whatsoever, other than to perpetuate the same ones that have failed over and over again.

Answer 30

money

cars

money

houses

money

big business

money

"cool things"

money

raising rich kids and giving them lives

money

George W Bush

money

being against helping the poor

More money, and.. Not ever voting for a "black" president.

Answer 31

The FOX NEWS