Anyone watching the debates?

[mrstickball]

PDF said:

mrstickball said:

You want evidence? Look at the laws passed by both parties in the past 10 years:

• Who passed more federal education requirements via No Child Left Behind? Who authored the bill? Who ratified it?
• Who passed more federal health care via Medicare Part D? Who authored it? Who signed it into law?
• Who passed the Patriot Act?

The reality is that the dichotomy between Obama and Bush isn't as far as you'd think. Obama is about as pro-war as Bush is, with a little bit more leftist economic policies. But the chasm is not as far as you'd think.

Go take a look at PoliticalCompass.org's chart of US & European leaders. They do a great job scoring all candidates on where they actually stand in opposition to one another. McCain was only about 1.5pts away from the center of the Democrat nominees.

Compatatively, then you have guys like Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, and Ron Paul who are actual ideologues that are likely better representatives of what politics should be - something that isn't always center-right or right.

Your chart doesnt impress.  I always disliked that poltical compass chart as it is poorly made imo.   I understand their are hipocrisy between both parites that make them seem closer.  The Differences are not extreme but still substantial.

Socially:  

Dems-  Little government involvement.  More social freedoms.  Such as abortion, and gay marriage.

Republicans - More government involvement.  Making laws stoping certian things.  ^^^^

Libertian:  Little Gov involvement - Pauls general stance - sides more with the dems

Economically:

Dems - Government involvement.  Regulations on corporations, more gov aid for people

Republicans - Little Gov. involvment.  Less taxes, Less regulations, and gov programs.

Libertian: Little Gov. involvement - Pauls Stance - Sides more with republicans.

You can argue all day what a REAL republican is but a chart doesnt decide that.  The active party does.

Not quite like you'd think.

Both parties can want nore government involvment socially, and economically. For example, Dems push hate speech legislation which is certainly a social issue. Likewise, Republicans can push for more government involvment via subsidies such as all Big Ag. Additionally, I mentioned things that the Republicans championed under Bush such as Medicare Part D and No Child Left Behind which were big government intrusions into the economy and created larger government. So its not as different as you think. Both parties blame each other, but they are the side of the same coin. That is why government has grown so incredibly under Bush AND Obama. Look up the numbers... Both are horrible in regards to regulations and government invovlment.