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/>.