An Overview of the Democratic Party

The Democratic party was formed in 1792 when Thomas Jefferson adopted the party to emphasize anti monarchical views. It was previously known as the Republican party and then later the Democratic-Republican party, but was officially called the Democratic party in in 1844. From 1828 to 1856, the Democratic Party had a hold on the presidential office, winning all but two elections. In 1896, they lost the office because of split views on the free silver and populist programs of William Jennings Bryan. From 1896 to 1932, the Democratic Party only held office during Wilson’s terms. In 1932, the democrats took office with FDR and became the most dominant political party in America. In 1960 with the election of JFK, the democrats lost their traditional southern supporters with their support of civil rights. From 1972 to 1988, the democrats lost all but one election. In 1992, Bill Clinton reclaimed office for the democrats. In 2008, democrats were in office once again with the election of Barack Obama. 

The Democratic Party favors a greater government involvement in the economy and oppose government intervention in the non economic affairs of citizens. In the beginning of the Democratic Party, they supported slavery and opposed civil rights. With the election of JFK in 1960, their ideals switched to the other side, costing them their traditional followers. The Democratic Party supports federally financed social services and benefits for the poor, unemployed, aged, and other groups. Democrats advocate for the protection of civil rights and endorse a strong separation of church and state. In foreign policy, Democrats prefer internationalism and multilateralism, executing foreign policy through the United Nations, over isolationism and unilateralism. Most Democrats favor affirmative action and gun control, but moderate and conservative Democrats oppose these policies or give them only qualified support.

Works Cited

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Democratic Party | Political Party, United States." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Democratic-Party>.

An Overview of the Republican Party

The Republican Party was coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1792 to describe those who favored decentralized government with limited powers. The Republican Party started to form in the 1850s when antislavery leaders were opposed to the extension of slavery into Kansas and Nebraska. During its first 4 years of existence, the Republican Party replaced the Whigs as the Democratic adversary.  In 1860, the Democrats split over the issue of slavery and Abraham Lincoln claimed presidency. In 1896, the Republicans won the office again with William McKinley. In 1920 and 1924, Republicans won office again, but the stock market crash hurt them because they refused to interfere directly. In 1932, the Republican candidate Herbert Hoover lost to FDR overwhelmingly. With FDR’s 4 terms and Truman’s success, the Republicans were out of office for two decades. In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower reclaimed office for the Republicans. At the Republican Convention in 1964, there was severe turmoil due to the battle between moderates and conservatives for control of the party. In 1980, Ronald Reagan claimed the office for Republicans. In 1994, Republicans had control of both the Senate and House of Representatives for the first time since 1954. In 2000, the Republicans reclaimed the presidency with George W. Bush, but lost control of the Senate and House of Representatives in 2006. 

Republican ideals frequently conflict with the ideas of the Democratic Party. Republicans believes in states’ rights against the power of the federal government. Republicans usually oppose government intervention in the economy, government funded social programs, and policies aimed at the rights of workers. Republicans prefer increased regulation of private non economic aspects of citizens’ lives such as abortion and strongly oppose gun control. Republicans generally are more likely to support prayer in schools than democrats and oppose legal recognition of the LGBTQ community. Republicans traditionally has supported a strong national defense and the aggressive pursuit of U.S. national security interests.

Works Cited

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Republican Party-present."Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Republican-Party>.

An Overview of the Libertarian Party

The Libertarian Party was founded December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 1976, they started to gain support from people left and right as noted by Newsweek. In 1978, Ed Clark receives 5 percent of the vote in his race for Governor of California and the Libertarian party gains permanent ballot status in California. In 1978, Dick Randolph becomes first Libertarian elected state legislator as the Governor of Alaska. In 1980, Ed Clark makes it on the ballots of all 50 states and D.C. and Dick Randolph is reelected. In 1984, Libertarians are on 39 states’ ballots and Jim Lewis comes in 3rd place in the presidential election, while 11 Libertarians are elected worldwide. In 1986, 200 candidates nationwide get nearly 3 million votes and Ray Cullen gets 570,000 votes for California State Treasurer, the most for a 3rd party. In 1987, Ron Paul resigns from the GOP and joins the Libertarian Party and becomes the candidate for President. The following year, Ron Paul is on the ballots of 46 states and D.C. and comes in 3rd for presidency. In 1992, during the New Hampshire primary, Andre Marrou beats George Bush and is on the ballots of all 50 states and D.C.. In November 2001, 300 Libertarians run and a record of 76 are elected and the number of Libertarians holding offices nears 500. In 2000, 1,642 Libertarians run for House of Representatives and receive over 1 million votes, a feat only achieved by Democrats and Republicans. In 2012, Gary Johnson gets 1,275,951 votes and six other Libertarian candidates break the 1 million threshold. By the end of 2013, there are 149 Libertarians holding offices.

Libertarians believe in personal liberty. The believe the government should be kept out the private affairs of citizens life. They support the LGBTQ community and believe the government should not be involved in the matter of abortion. They also want to repeal the laws creating crimes without victims since actions that infringe on the rights of others should be labeled crimes. Libertarians believe in economic liberty. They support a healthy, clean environment and want the government to have no control over energy pricing, allocation, and production. They believe that the income tax should be eradicated and that education be in the hands of parents. The want to provide free healthcare to citizens and eradicate social security and place retirement in the people’s hands. In the case of foreign policy, Libertarians want nothing to do with foreign nations and want the United States to be isolationist. Libertarians embrace the concept that people are born with inherent rights and condemn bigotry. They also believe that if the government infringe any rights of the people that it should be abolished.

Works Cited

"Our History." Libertarian Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.lp.org/introduction/our-history>.

"Platform." Libertarian Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.lp.org/platform>.

An Overview of the Green Party

In May of 1984, David Haenke convened a Green Movement Committee at which concerned the formation of a Green Party in America. He felt it was important to have a political party that put life in the center of decision making. Another larger meeting was held in St. Paul, Minnesota in August which became the founding of the U.S. Green Party. From August 10 to August 12, the meeting gathered activists from peace, ecology, and justice groups, veterans, farmers, community leaders, church activists, and teachers. The attendees agreed that the national information would be in St. Paul and considered various events, that would be manly education, for local, regional, and national gatherings. Originally called the Committee of Correspondence, The Green party adopted the name Green Party USA in 1991.

The Green Party operates on a set of rules called the Ten Key Values. The first value is grassroots democracy. This means getting the citizens more directly involved in decision making process creating a more direct democracy. Next is social justice and equal opportunity which means all people have the right to benefit from the government. Ecological wisdom is one of the most important to the Green party and it states that people are one with nature and we must preserve the ecological balance for future generations to enjoy. They also believe in the idea of non-violence; demilitarizing and eliminating weapons of mass destruction without being ignorant of other nations’ intentions. They also want to use a non-violent way of opposing practices and policies the US disagrees with. The Green Party believes in decentralization which keeps the rich from benefiting from a bureaucratic system and brings decision making down to a local level while protecting citizens’ civil rights. They believe in community based economics where income is restructured to  include things done outside of working like parenting, gardening and community service. They also believe in Feminism, Gender equality, and a respect for diversity making all people equal to one another. Lastly, they believe in Personal and Global responsibility and Future focus and Sustainability which shifts the focus of life from economic growth to the quality of life in order to preserve the planet for future generations.

Works Cited

"A Short History of the Green Party in the United States." Green Pages. N.p., 22 July 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2015. <http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/?p=3515>.

"Four Pillars - 10 Key Values." Www.gp.org. Karen Young, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.gp.org/four_pillars_10_kv>.

An Overview of The Constitution Party

The Constitution party was created in order to remind those in powers the constitutional limits on their power. The government has strayed away from the constitution’s original ideas of limited government. The Constitution party recognizes that there is an increasing disappointment in the Republican and Democratic parties and that a third party candidate could be elected president in the next 10 to 12 years. In 1992, the Constitution Party was created under the name U.S. Taxpayers Party and secured ballot positions in 21 states. The U.S. Taxpayers Party was recognized by the Federal Election Commission in 1996 and was on 39 ballots. In 2000, the U.S. Taxpayers Party changed their name to the Constitution Party to better reflect their goal of returning to the original ideas of the Constitution. In 2004, the Constitution Party achieved 41 ballots. In 2008 the party did not match the 2004 ballot turnout but increased vote tally by 40 percent which was better than any of the other third parties. 

The Constitution Party runs on a set of rules called the Seven Principles. One of the principles is the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. They believe that every human being, starting from fertilization, has a god given right to life. They also believe in Religious Freedom and Personal Liberty. They want the churches to remain tax free and keep the government out of the personal lives of citizens. They strongly believe in the idea of family as one wife, one husband, and their children as divinely instituted. They deem an effort of the government to take away personal private property as a direct violation of the Constitution. They also believe in interpreting the Constitution according to the original intent of the Founding Fathers. They believe strongly in states’ rights and citizens’ rights as stated in the Constitution. Lastly, the Constitution party believes that the United States should remove itself from all foreign affairs, stay isolated, and concentrate on the defense of our own borders.

Works Cited

"History of the Constitution Party." The Constitution Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.constitutionparty.com/the-party/history/>.

A Brief Biography of Hillary Clinton (Democratic Party candidate)

Hillary Diane Rodham was born on October 26, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Wellesley College where she was active in student politics and was elected senior class president before she graduated in 1969. Afterwards, she attended Yale law school and graduated with honors in 1979. During the summer of 1971, she had various summer jobs such as working on  U.S. Senator Walter Mondale’s subcommittee on migrant workers. In the spring of 1974, she became a member of the presidential impeachment inquiry staff advising the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives during the Watergate Scandal. After President Nixon resigned in August, she became a faculty member of the University of Arkansas Law School in Fayetteville. On October 11, 1975, Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton. In 1976, Hillary worked on Jimmy Carter's campaign for president and in 1977, she was appointed to part-time chairman of the Legal Services Corporation by President Carter. In 1999 and 1991, she was named one of the 100 most powerful lawyers in America by The National Law Journal. After her husband’s two terms in office, she decided to run for U.S. Senator of New York. Clinton managed to defeat Rick Lazio with a surprising 55 percent of the vote and was easily reelected in 2006. In early 2007, Clinton decided to run for president, but later conceded to nomination to Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries. In spring of 2015, Hillary Clinton decided to run for president again and is considered a frontrunner. If successful, she would be the first woman to win the nomination for a major party’s presidential bid.

Hillary Clinton is a democratic candidate and has various topics she has taken a stance on. In the case of voting rights, she wants the people’s voice to be amplified. She wants to require that outside groups disclose where their money comes from. Clinton also wants to address the hard truth of race and justice in America when it comes to incarceration. She wants to reform minimum sentences for low-level nonviolent offences and require cops to wear body cams. Clinton also wants to crack down on gun violence by getting rid of the gun show loophole and more comprehensive background checks. In the case of social security, she wants to preserve it and have the wealthiest contribute as well. She also wants to drive down drug cost for seniors and other Americans. Clinton believes the Voting Rights Act needs to be revised and the standard for early voting be revised. She wants voting registration to happen as soon as a person turns 18 and having it move with citizens in order to increase voters and decrease errors.

Works Cited

Biography.com Editors. "Hillary Clinton Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/hillary-clinton-9251306#related-video-gallery>.

"Hillary Clinton on the Issues." Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/>.

A Brief Biography of Chris Christie (Republican Party candidate)

Christopher James Christie was born on September 6, 1962 in Newark, New Jersey. Christie lived in New Jersey his whole life, except when he went to study political science at the University of Delaware. When he graduated, Christie returned to New Jersey to study law at Seton Hall University where he received his J.D.. In 1986, Christie married his wife, Mary Pat Foster, whom he met at the University of Delaware. The following year, Christie was admitted to the New Jersey bar.

Christie started his political career as a relatively brash freeholder and moderate Republican. He almost immediately began laying plans for a run for State Assembly which would mean going against well-established party regulars. However, he had not garnered enough support and suffered a crushing defeat in the 1995 Assembly race. Chris Christie would not run for elective political office until 2009 and became a lobbyist for energy companies.

His lobbyist career set him up to become a top fundraiser in George W. Bush’s presidential campaign in 2000. In 2001, he was nominated to serve as United States Attorney for New Jersey which  sparked controversy over his little experience. Many Democrats and skeptical Republicans thought he was given the job since he funded Bush’s presidential campaign. However, in office Christie changed minds by spearheading aggressive investigations against corrupt public officials. After gaining the reputation of being a capable and fair-minded prosecutor, Christie began to consider electoral politics again.

Chris Christie managed to beat out his more conservative Republican rivals and won the primary election. As a Republican at the head of a liberal state, Christie was praised for his ability to move legislation and win over constituents. As the presidential election of 2012 approached, Christie’s name was thrown around for the Republican candidate. When Mitt Romney was selected as the Republican candidate, Christie was considered for his running mate. However, Paul Ryan was chosen and the Republicans ended up losing that election.

As tragedy befell New Jersey in the form of Hurricane Sandy and the Seaside Park boardwalk fire, Christie pledged his support to helping the community. In November, Christie had the backing of most of the state and easily won re-election for governor. After this impressive victory, Christie was considered for a presidential candidate in 2016. At the start of 2014, Governor Christie found himself caught in a scandal involving a traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge entering New York City. Christie issued a public statement saying that he had nothing to do with the incident. Some still believed he was involved and thought it would damper his bid for presidency in 2016 if he ran. In June 2015, Christie announced his bid for presidency. He faces a lot of opposition in his quest for nomination from Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, and Marco Rubio.

Chris Christie believes that assault weapons should not be banned and there should be some gun control. He also believes that there should be a focus on mental health in connection with gun violence. Christie opposes citizenship for illegal immigrants but advocates for giving undocumented students in-state tuition. He wants to repeal Obamacare and replace it but accepted the Medicaid expansion for his state. Christie disagrees with the legalization of gay marriage but respects it as the law of the land. He believes abortions should be banned after 20 weeks with exceptions of rape, incest, and risk to mother. On the issue of Social Security he believes that the costs should be increased for wealthier Americans and the retirement age be raised to 69 by the year 2064.

Works Cited

Biography.com Editors. "Chris Christie Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/chris-christie-20648789>.
Summers, Elizabeth, and Lisa Desjardins. "What Does Chris Christie Believe?" PBS Newshour. PBS, 30 June 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/chris-christie-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/>.

A Brief Biography of Derrick Michael Reid (Libertarian Party candidate)

Derrick Michael Reid is a graduate of Western State University and the University of California and has attended many other institutions of higher education. He boasts of having 20 years of educational training and 45 years of professional training. He claims that during that period he was able to effectively enjoy the benefits of 100 years of combined study and experience. Despite having mastered the difficult fields of engineering and law, he admits his ability to communicate in English is limited, calling math his first language. Reid is a religious man and credits great religious movements with establishing social taboos against incest, adultery, abortion, murder, cannibalism, and homosexuality. Nevertheless he is amenable to gay rights. While personally disapproving of homosexual conduct, he believes the government has no place passing laws regarding sexual behavior between consenting adults. Reid is against interpreting the Constitution as a living document allowing the judicial branch impose anything they wish to impose as constitutional. Reid supports individual liberty and state’s rights over the  authority of the government. Reid wants to return to a basic, revolutionary-era interpretation of the Constitution.

Works Cited

"Derrick Michael Reid | 2016 Declared Presidential Candidate." Derrick Michael Reid | 2016 Declared Presidential Candidate. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://2016.presidential-candidates.org/Reid/>.

A Brief Biography of Cynthia McKinney (2008 Green Party presidential candidate)

Cynthia McKinney was born on March 17, 1955, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father was one of the first African-american police in Atlanta and her mother worked as a nurse for several decades. From an early age, McKinney was active in the Civil Rights Movement. After graduating from St. Joseph High School, she attended the University of Southern California majoring in international relations. McKinney continued her studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and became a diplomatic fellow at Atlanta’s Spelman College. In 1986, Mckinney’s father submitted her name as a write in candidate for state legislature in Georgia. Despite living in Jamaica at the time, she was able to secure 40 percent of the popular vote.  

Two years later she ran for the same seat and won a post in the state’s House of Representatives. By that time, her father was well established in the House of Representatives and they became the first father-daughter team to serve in legislature in Georgia. In 1992, McKinney became the first African-American woman to represent Georgia in the House of Representatives. In January 1993, McKinney led the Women’s Caucus Task Force on Children, Youth and Families and served on the Armed Forces and International Relations Committees. As she was interested in foreign policy, Bill Clinton handpicked her to attend the presidential inauguration in Nigeria.

             She faced a new political challenge when the district she represented was redrawn after 

deemed unconstitutional. She than ran for the seat in the 4th district and won in 1996. Holding on to 

her seat for two more terms, she remained active in foreign affairs. In the wake of 9/11, she wrote a 

letter of support to a Saudi prince who called the US government to review its Middle East policies. 

She received a lot of backlash since it appeared that she was agreeing with the enemy in a time of 

war. In 2002, she ran a tough race against Denise Majette which ended in her eventual defeat. Two 

years later, she regained her post and criticized the government’s handling of Hurricane Katrina. In 

2006, she faced another tough race against Henry C. Johnson in which, again, she lost. In 2008, she 

was selected as the Green party presidential candidate running against Democratic Barack Obama 

and Republican John McCain.

Works Cited

Biography.com Editors. "Cynthia McKinney Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/cynthia-mckinney-377842>.

A Brief Biography of Chad Koppie (Constitution Party candidate)

Chad Koppie was born on February 23, 1938 in rural Illinois. His family lived on a 4000 acre farm that stretched into southern Wisconsin. After high school, Koppie joined the US Army and served overseas. When he returned home, he went to Purdue University before beginning a career in flying jumbo jets. He is currently retired but continues to serve as a member of the Kane County Regional Board of Schools and has a seat on the Illinois Forum board.

Koppie is a traditional conservative in the social and fiscal sense. As a lifetime member of the NRA, he believes in gun rights. He is also pro-life when it comes to abortion, opposes gay marriage, and wants to repeal Obamacare. Koppie believes that Common Core should be eliminated and schools should be controlled at the local level. He also believes that the federal government lacks the authority to pass drug laws without a constitutional amendment. Koppie advocates for the abolition of the IRS and supports a reduction in taxes. He believes in the free market and calls for the end of welfare. Koppie opposes amnesty for illegal aliens, and is against all forms of foreign aid.

Works Cited

"Chad Koppie - Constitution Party Presidential Candidates." Chad Koppie - Constitution Party Presidential Candidates. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://2016.constitution-party.info/Koppie/>.

History of the Democratic Donkey

The symbol of the donkey for the Democratic party first appeared in 1828 when Andrew Jackson was running for president. His opponents liked to refer to him as a jackass to which he twisted the image in his favor. Instead of focusing on the negative adjectives attached to the jackass, Jackson decided to focus on the positives- steadfast, determined, and willful. In 1870, Thomas Nast popularized the symbol of the donkey for the Democratic Party. Nast drew a donkey, representing the Copperheads a group of northern Democrats, kicking a dead lion to symbolize President Lincoln’s recently deceased press secretary. The Donkey would be seen as an insult of the Democrats and demonstrate their dishonor of the Lincoln administration. In 1874, Nast drew another cartoon depicting the Democratic press as a donkey in lion’s clothing to depict them as a fear mongers. The Democratic party never adopted the donkey as their official symbol, but during election periods democrats are associated with the donkey.

Works Cited

Stamp, Jimmy. "Political Animals: Republican Elephants and Democratic Donkeys." Smithsonian. N.p., 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/political-animals-republican-elephants-and-democratic-donkeys-89241754/?no-ist>.

History of the Republican Elephant

The symbol of the elephant for the Republican party first appeared in a cartoon by Thomas Nast. In the cartoon, the Democratic party was depicted as a donkey in lion’s clothing to represent them as fear mongers. In the same cartoon, the Republican party is depicted as an elephant running towards a pit labeled chaos and inflation. The reason Nast chose an elephant is unclear but it is speculated that it embodies a large, powerful creature that is dangerously careless when frightened. It could also be interpreted to refer to the saying “seeing the elephant” a reference to war and possible a reminder of the Union victory. The Republican party eventually adopted the elephant as their official symbol.

Works Cited

Stamp, Jimmy. "Political Animals: Republican Elephants and Democratic Donkeys." Smithsonian. N.p., 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/political-animals-republican-elephants-and-democratic-donkeys-89241754/?no-ist>.

History of the Libertarian Porcupine

The first symbol used by the Libertarian party was an arrow bearing the words TINSTAAFL which means “there is no such thing as a free lunch”. The next symbol they used was the Statue of Liberty. However, she was seen as the universal symbol of political parties in America and Libertarians wanted to be differentiated from the other political parties. The symbol the Libertarians use now is the porcupine. The porcupine represents a cute, cuddly creature that is defensive when subject to aggression. This makes an ideal symbol for Libertarians who believe in the primacy of individual rights and minimum state intervention.

Works Cited

"The Libertarian Porcupine: The True Story behind the Controversial Mascot - Liberty Warrior." Liberty Warrior RSS. Grassroots News, 6 Aug. 2014. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. <http://libertywarrior.com/libertarian-porcupine-true-story-behind-controversial-libertarian-mascot/>.

History of the Green Party Sunflower

The focus of the Green Party is to base decision making on the preservation of the Earth and its environment. The logo has a green color scheme to reflect these ideals. It also includes a sunflower with the center shaped like the Earth. The sunflower is internationally associated with the Green party. In “flower language”, sunflowers symbolize “pure and lofty thoughts”. This helps enforce their ideas of universal love and protection of the Earth.

Works Cited

Manuel, Rob. "What Do Political Party Logos Actually Mean?" Mirror. N.p., 05 May 2015. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. <http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/ampp3d/what-political-party-logos-actually-5604537>.

History of the Constitution Party Logo

The Constitution party’s focus is to return the country to the original ideas of the Constitution. It has very traditional ideas which is why its logo includes the bald eagle. Going along with the idea of traditional, the logo contains the American flag and the American colors: red, white, blue. The logo is also in a rectangular shape giving off an authoritarian attitude.

Works Cited

"Top 10 USA Political Party Logos." SpellBrand. N.p., 21 Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. <http://www.spellbrand.com/top-10-usa-political-party-logos>.

Abortion + 5 Political Party Stances

Abortion has always been a sensitive topic that people have strong opinions about. Many people feel that abortion is a form of murder and think that it should be illegal. Other people feel that it is the role of the government to provide this service to women. Moderates feel the decision of legality should be left up to individual states and the federal government should have no say in it. The current system does not allow for all women to have access to safe abortions. Although the government should not necessarily have a direct role in the matter, abortion should be more accessible to all women.

Due to a lack of access to safe abortions, many women are forced to have illegal and self abortions. As a result, an estimated 80,000 women die from botched abortions. For women who live under the poverty line, Medicaid doesn’t cover abortions for 1 out of 5 women. Between 1973 and 1977, the federal government paid for about one-third of all abortions. Three years after the decision of Roe v Wade, only 13 percent of all abortions were publicly funded. By 1978, fewer than 2,500 abortions were covered by federal Medicaid funds. The number continues to dwindle down and in 1992, Medicaid only covered 267 abortions.

For women living under the poverty line, Medicaid funds are extremely important to them. Without Medicaid, many women can not afford an abortion. They then have to turn to searching for funds to afford one. However, the time it takes to raise the money, makes it more likely that they will need a more expensive second-trimester procedure. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Medicaid eligible women would have had a first trimester abortion had they had the public funds. 

The lack of funding also contributes to the inaccessibility of abortions. Ninety-four percent of non-metropolitan counties have no abortion services. Eighty-five percent of rural women live in these under-served counties. One-quarter of women wanting abortions have to travel over 50 miles to get one. In addition to the lack of services, there are less doctors to perform them. Abortion is the most common obstetrics surgical procedure; yet, few medical students are being trained in abortion techniques. Many hospitals do so few abortions that they can not be appropriate training centers.

Many women’s lives are put in danger because of the lack of abortion services. They have to turn to unsafe practices in order to get the abortion they need. Due to the lack of funding, women have very few places they can go to get an abortion. There should be more public funds dedicated to abortion in order to help these women. More medical students should be taught how to perform these procedures in order to open more places for women to go to. In addition, there should be more education on safe sex practices in order to reduce unwanted pregnancies and reduce the need for abortions.  

Democrats believe abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. They completely agree with the results of the court case Roe v Wade. The decision to get an abortion should be between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy. The government has no place in this important decision. Democrats also believe in better health care and sex education. This would help reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies; therefore, reducing the number of abortions. They also believe the government should help women with raising the child if abortion is not an option and even providing them with adoption options.

Republicans strongly disagree with Democrats on the issue of abortion. They are pro-life and believe an unborn child has the right to life. They do not believe in the exceptions of rape, incest, birth defects, or risk to a mother’s life; every unborn child has the right to life in all cases. Republicans believe that the 14th amendment applies to everyone even unborn children. They also oppose health care options that would cover the cost of abortion. They also oppose sex education other than the teachings of abstinence.

Libertarian ideas fall slightly in line with Democratic views. Libertarians believe that the government should not be involved in this important decision. They believe the decision should be left strictly to the person. Unlike Democrats, Libertarians condemn state funded abortions. If someone believes that abortion is murder, it is harsh to force someone to contribute to it. They also believe it is the right of women to decide the desirability of prenatal testing, cesarean births, fetal surgery, and/or home births.

The Green Party’s view also aligns with Democratic views. The Green party unequivocally support women’s right to reproduce and abortion should be safe. They believe that contraception and legal abortion should be covered in all health coverage plans in the United States. The “morning after” pill should be affordable and easily accessed without a prescription. The Green Party also believes in educating women on various forms of contraceptives. They also oppose government cuts of family planning funds.

The Constitution Party’s ideas fall in line with Republican ideas. The party believes the decision of Roe v Wade is an illegitimate usurpation of authority. Constitutionist believe it is a god given right to legal personhood from fertilization to natural death without exception. Abortion and other methods are violations of an unborn child’s inalienable right to life. Constitutionist oppose distribution of abortion drugs and research involving embryonic or pre-embryonic cells.

Works Cited

"Democratic Party on Abortion." Democratic Party on Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Democratic_Party_Abortion.htm>.

"Green Party on Abortion." Green Party on Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Green_Party_Abortion.htm>.

Fraser, Laura. "The RU-486 Abortion Pill Should Be Available to Women." The Abortion Controversy. Ed. Lynette Knapp. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "The Abortion Pill's Grim Progress." Mother Jones (1999). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

Fried, Marlene Gerber. "Women Need Greater Access to Abortion." The Abortion Controversy. Ed. Lynette Knapp. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Abortion in the United States—Legal but Inaccessible." Abortion Wars: A Half Century of Struggle, 1950-2000. Ed. Rickie Solinger. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

"Libertarian Party on Abortion." Libertarian Party on Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Libertarian_Party_Abortion.htm>.

"Republican Views on Abortion." Republican Views on the Issues. Republicanviews.org, 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.republicanviews.org/republican-views-on-abortion/>.

"The Sanctity of Life." The Constitution Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.constitutionparty.com/the-sanctity-of-life-2/>.

Affirmative Action + 5 Political Stances

Affirmative Action was put in place in 1964 in order to combat the institutional racism in America. Some people feel that this system does a great job of addressing racism in the higher education system and the workplace. Others feel that the system gives minorities an unfair leg up in life. Moderates feel that the Affirmative Action is needed but the current system has flaws that need to be fixed. Affirmative Action gives those in unfavorable conditions a chance to succeed. No human made system is perfect and neither is Affirmative action. However, without it many people would be kept from getting a quality education and finding a decent job.

One of the best ways students try to get ahead in their education is through the Advanced Placement program. These programs are less likely to be offered at schools with large proportions of minority students. Therefore, minorities are disadvantaged when it comes to admissions decisions. Universities put minorities at an automatic disadvantage because they don’t have the GPA nor the opportunity to take AP courses. This would keep minorities from being able to enter the higher education system even though more of them are trying to achieve a higher education.

Federal figures show that minorities comprise 47 percent of the 2011 class as compared to one-third in 1996. Minorities constitute over 36 percent of the total population and are on track to make up the majority of the youth before 2020. Minorities are being steered away from the most selective colleges in the nations. The African-American and Hispanic population at community colleges has increased from one-fifth to one-third from 1994 to 2006. In four-year schools rated least selective, the population increased from one-sixth to two-fifths in the same time frame. At the same time, whites plummeted as a share of all high school seniors, but still constitute 75 percent of students in the most selective schools, a small difference from 78 percent in 1994.

Affirmative Action was established in order to open doors for minorities historically discriminated against. The more diversity there is in the workforce and higher education system, the better America can be changed for the better. The challenge of inequality in higher education needs more responses. Affirmative Action is a great start in order to help minorities; but currently, it is not enough. In addition, community colleges need to be improved to improve social mobility. The quality of education would help those for whom community college is the best chance they have for higher education.  

Democrats support the policy of Affirmative Action. They believe it is a necessary action in order to redress discrimination. This helps achieve a diversity all Americans benefit from. Similarly, the Green party supports Affirmative action. One of their key values is respect for diversity. They believe that Affirmative action helps people confront the barriers of racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.

Republicans believe Affirmative Action forces employers and schools to accept lesser qualified individuals in order to have a more diverse representation. For this reason, the party has often fought to repeal Affirmative Action legislation. However, they still want to maintain a merit based system within schools and the workforce. Republicans support the effort to help low-income individuals get a fair chance based on their potential and individual merit. However, they reject preferences, quotas, and set-asides and the methods through which fairness can be achieved. Libertarians also believe the Affirmative action policy is flawed because it gives minorities a higher edge than white counterparts. The Constitution party also disagrees with Affirmative Action because it is inconsistent with the principles of liberty and the free market.

Works Cited

Brownstein, Ronald. "As Nonwhites Gain in Numbers, Improving Their Education Benefits Society."College Admissions. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2015. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Why This Affirmative Action Debate Is Different." National Journal Daily (30 May 2013). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.

"Democratic Views On Affirmative Action." Republican Views on the Issues. N.p., 30 July 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. <http://www.republicanviews.org/democratic-views-on-affirmative-action/>.   

"Green Party on Civil Rights." Green Party on Civil Rights. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Green_Party_Civil_Rights.htm>.

"Libertarian Viewpoint on Affirmative Action." Libertarian Viewpoint RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. <http://libertarianviewpoint.com/blog/libertarian-viewpoint-on-affirmative-action/>.

Pachon, Harry P. "Affirmative Action Should Not Be Eliminated." Racism. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Q: Has the Passage of Proposition 209 Been Good for California? No: This Measure Only Has Served to Stifle Talent in the State's Barrios and Ghettos." Insight 17 (16 July 2001): 41-43. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.

"Platform of the Constitution Party of Oregon." Platform of the Constitution Party of Oregon. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. <http://www.constitutionpartyoregon.com/platform_of_the_constitution_par.htm>.

"Republican Views On Affirmative Action." Republican Views on the Issues. Republicanviews.org, 31 July 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. <http://www.republicanviews.org/republican-views-on-affirmative-action/>.