A lot of Americans feel this way and certainly, the voters' instinct for electing the right candidate at the right time, regardless of party, has worked in the past.

Few would question the importance of the power of the independent vote in deciding closely contested elections. And it's true that both parties are alike in many respects.

However, to ignore a candidate's political affiliation is to miss one of the great advantages of our political system. The reason that a candidate is listed as a REPUBLICAN or a DEMOCRAT is that he or she subscribes to the basic political philosophy for which that party stands

. ....yes, there is a difference.

In recent years, the real differences between these two parties have been distorted. Some candidates have focused on many issues that really aren't within the purview of politics. So here is a summary of the REAL differences.

The cornerstone of the REPUBLICAN philosophy is the belief that each person is responsible for his or her own place in our society. Individuals are encouraged by the REPUBLICAN PARTY to work to secure the benefits of society for themselves, their families, and for those who are unable to care for themselves.

DEMOCRATS are more willing to subordinate individual rights to the assumed needs of the group. They assume that society is collectively responsible for each of its members. They place less emphasis on individual enterprise and initiative.


GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNED

REPUBLICANS believe that government should be limited to doing for people those things which they cannot do for themselves. The right to determine individual destiny should lie in the hands of the individual. Similarly, REPUBLICANS believe governmental power and resources should be kept close to the people, through their state and community leaders, rather than centralized in distant big government.

Recent DEMOCRAT administrations have pushed for more and more centralized power in Washington, with secondary consideration for the rights of individual citizens and communities. This has led to increasingly more federal controls and regulations, often in the hands of unelected bureaucrats unaware of the concerns and needs of local citizens - and causing a severe erosion of local government across the county.

ECONOMIC POLICIES

REPUBLICANS believe in the free enterprise system. Individuals must be free to use their talents. This is the key to personal and national prosperity. REPUBLICANS believe that the only limits to an individual's opportunity to succeed are the limits of his or her own initiative and enterprise.

DEMOCRATS say that the economy is too complicated to be left to free enterprise alone, and therefore must be subjected to ever-increasing controls by the federal government. They say that we are "entering an era of limitations" and therefore must lower our individual economic expectations.

FOREIGN POLICY

REPUBLICANS believe that peace and freedom can be protected only if America maintains a defense force strong enough to deter any aggressor. REPUBLICANS shun away from the paternalism of the 50s and encourage other nations to shoulder responsibilities for their own problems. REPUBLICANS oppose unnecessary intervention in the internal affairs of other nations and stress helping our friends around the globe develop the skills and strengths necessary to protect themselves.

The DEMOCRAT party has vacillated between extreme isolationism, intervention, and confrontation tactics in cases like Vietnam, Cuba, and Korea. This inconsistent foreign policy has confused our allies and encouraged our potential enemies.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND TAXES

REPUBLICANS consistently strive to cut governmental spending and to eliminate costly overlapping and unnecessary governmental programs. Because REPUBLICANS believe that the individual should control his or her own and the government's pocketbook, they believe that tax increases should be voted on by the people.

The DEMOCRAT view is that the federal government knows how and where to spend money for local needs better than elected community leaders, and federal bureaucrats should continue to control the flow of funds to the states and localities and dictate how the taxpayers' money will be spent.

YES, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE:

America has prospered under the two-party system because one party has always served to check the excesses of the other. Often, both parties agree on the problems less than they agree on the solutions.

The root of the differences between Republicans & Democrats is perspective:

Democrats tend to stress a powerful, centralized bureaucracy aimed at solving local and national problems from the top down - a method which, after 40 years of trial is a proven failure.

Republicans believe in solutions which are decided upon and implemented by the people themselves, through their locally elected representatives. Republicans believe that the solution to American's problems lies in the greatness of the American people.