04-02-2013, 08:22 PM
There have been crooks in both parties. The first half of the twentieth century was rife with Democratic Party corruption in the big cities of the northeast and to a certain extent, the midwest. Republican corruption also existed, but outside the city limits. The relative magnitudes of D and R corruption are not obvious, but perhaps some historian can do a semi-quantitative estimate.
All that having been said, there are differences between the Republican and Democratic Parties, but they have to do with policy and, to a certain extent, what masters they serve. It shouldn't be in doubt that the Republican Party supports the interests of the wealthy and of corporations. They don't dispute this fact, although they often attempt to cloak it in the guise of doing what's right for the economy, or the people.
Democratic policy has been shown to be superior in terms of economic growth and creating jobs over the past century. Economic historical analysis of GNP (now called GDP) make this clear, as do unemployment and employment figures over the last century. Whether this is because the Democratic Party serves the interests of organized labor or of big city northeastern Catholics (with a strong overlap within the two), or at one time, of southern farmers and small town residents, the economic result is clear. It is also clear that since the 1960s, Democrats have been the leadership party on civil rights, voting rights, women's rights, and redistribution of income to the elderly and the disabled.
All that having been said, there are differences between the Republican and Democratic Parties, but they have to do with policy and, to a certain extent, what masters they serve. It shouldn't be in doubt that the Republican Party supports the interests of the wealthy and of corporations. They don't dispute this fact, although they often attempt to cloak it in the guise of doing what's right for the economy, or the people.
Democratic policy has been shown to be superior in terms of economic growth and creating jobs over the past century. Economic historical analysis of GNP (now called GDP) make this clear, as do unemployment and employment figures over the last century. Whether this is because the Democratic Party serves the interests of organized labor or of big city northeastern Catholics (with a strong overlap within the two), or at one time, of southern farmers and small town residents, the economic result is clear. It is also clear that since the 1960s, Democrats have been the leadership party on civil rights, voting rights, women's rights, and redistribution of income to the elderly and the disabled.