I recently saw something on Salon that tried to boil down the two parties to their essences. Namely, Republicans believe that government "can't ever do anything right" and is basically not a good thing. Democrats believe that "good governance can improve our society."
For those who identify themselves with one of these parties, do you agree with your party's description? Dumping on the other party won't help your argument.

I know there are a lot of Libertarians here. How would you put your party's beliefs into 25 words or less?

Personally, as a Democrat, I agree with the description of the Democratic belief.

Republican motto: "In God We Trust"
Democrat motto: "In Government We Trust"
Libertarian motto: "Trust Nobody But Yourself"

These "statements of essence" are too simplistic.

Both Dems and Reps believe in a more efficient Govt.
So do Libs. They all just have different policy agendas.

Better to go with the party platforms...or possibly outlaw
all political parties altogether and force everyone to run
purely as individuals. Now that would be interesting!

the sad reality is that none of us alive today have ever witnessed "good" governance.

we have been exposed to terrible governance and now we sit here arguing over which is better ..

the previously horrific governance or the current astronomically irresponsible governance..

its pathetic to be honest..

I go with this, seems accurate to me.

From what I can tell:

Republicans want "Guns and Jesus."

Democrats want "Sunshine and Rainbows."

Libertarians want "To live there lives without looking over their shoulders."

Green Party wants "Whales and Trees."

Communist Part wants "You to know they still exist."

Only ignorant folks vote straight party lines.

MSM is selling us crap. The current crap is cold and old.
The new crap is hot and still steaming.

Those are the two options.

How would you like it?
Cold and old or hot and fresh?

I'm an independent. Although I lean towards Libertarianism, I recognize that it does not truly exist in America as a real political party. It is more of a disorganized fringe concept.

I am a fiscal conservative. Neither Democrat nor Republican party has acted in any way responsible fiscally over the past few decades. I truly believe that the debt we are amassing will destroy America as we know it, like it has every other country in the past.

"No nation has ever survived outspending it's treasury".

The current administration has wasted an incredible amount of money and plans to continue the process which I feel will cause the fall of our economic system. I do not know if the Republicans can fix it since they claim major tax cuts are the answer. The real answer is to balance the budget and pay off the debt. America is now experiencing historic low interest rates due to the Federal Reserve printing money hand over fist. When this craziness stops, interest rates will rise, probably by several times.

This year we will pay (owe) 16.35 trillion dollars times 1.37% interest for an interest payment of 224 billion dollars.

By 2016 the debt is expected to be 22.33 trillion with an interest rate of 2.65% for a annual payment of 592 billion dollars.

Please explain which party is/is not allowing this to happen.

Numbers above from the US Federal Budget Interest Analysis.

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/federal_budget_interest

I think we are doomed because all the politicians in Washington act in accordance with reelection donations and do not act in the best interest of the American people, or if they do, they do it in such a stupid way as to keep pushing us toward socialism and bankruptcy.

It is why we need to vote everyone out of office, and keep doing so, until they understand.

the government running massive deficits in the name of stimulus hasn't helped either as we have seen..

the CBO issued a report on letting the tax cuts expire for the top 1% and it will generate $700 billion over ten years..

when you are running trillion dollar deficits $70 billion isn't a drop of pi$$ in the bucket..

70 billion is the number I was looking for...It's estimated that this $70 billion in lost disposable income would reduce the GDP by .24 % or $40 billion, so now we are talking about $30 billion...

Obama favors letting tax cuts expire for all but those making less than $250,000 a year, but he does not mention that most small businesses are classified as S Corps which means they are taxed the same way household are taxed...Letting their tax cuts expire will cripple many of them costing America even more jobs....Letting the tax cuts expire for the top 1% is not the answer, in fact, it will only serve to worsen the economy....What is important to understand is letting some or all of the Bush tax cuts expire will negatively affect the GDP of a country fighting its way out of the worst recession in history...Right now we can't afford to take that chance...Obama had his turn at bat...It's time for change....

I agree with the above descriptions, as a democrat, IM for a government by and FOR all people

I think republicans seem more in favor of all people for themself,,,,

25 words......Republicans believe the strength of our nation lies with the individual, Democrats believe the strength of our nation lies with government...Smalls vs big government

and violate the First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

A political party is an assembly of the people.

Wow. That's nonsense.

Wow! You have been misinformed.

Haha!

The mafia is also an assembly of the people...

And thanks to the SCOTUS, corporations are too now... with the same rights as individuals, just more money, so more power, and control the lawmakers and leaders.....

The mafia could learn from the bankers.... come to think of it, they probably already work for them.... in congress!