How to Decide if You're a Democrat

The platform of the Democratic Party states that it is "determined to reawaken the great sense of American community." What this means is illustrated in a variety of issues and ideals espoused by the party and its members. By exploring these issues, listed below, you may be able to best determine your own party affiliation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• VCR Tapes
• Newspaper Subscriptions

1. Decide how you feel about taxes. Democrats generally support higher taxes and higher spending on most government programs. The 2000 platform, however, advocates a tax cut for the middle class and other targeted groups.
2. Take a position on the minimum wage. Democrats tend to favor increasing it so that all workers can make a better living.
3. Assess your position on health care. Democrats generally advocate affordable, high-quality health care even if it raises taxes. Democrats also are in favor of preserving Medicare.
4. Determine whether you support parental choice among public schools only, and oppose the use of private school vouchers. This is the position of the Democratic Party.
5. Evaluate your feelings about gun control. Democrats generally push for stronger gun control legislation.
6. Decide how you feel about the issue of abortion. Democrats generally support a woman's right to choose, while the Republican Party generally opposes abortion.
7. Judge your position on the environment. Democrats believe that the federal government should play a strong role in enforcing laws to protect Americans from smog, pesticides and other pollutants.
8. Get on the party Web sites and read the Democratic platform and positions on various issues. If you agree with the party platform, you are most likely a Democrat.
9. Evaluate the candidates during an election year, or follow their votes on the state or federal level. If you tend to favor the views of Democratic candidates over those of Republicans, you are probably a Democrat.

Tips & Warnings

• Opposing political parties may actually agree on certain principles and issues, while there is often some disagreement within parties on issues such as abortion.
• Watch political TV programs on C-SPAN, Fox News and CNN to get an idea of how the two parties differ, or read the political sections of "The New York Times," "The Wall Street Journal" or other national newspapers. Most are available online.
• Being affiliated with one party does not disqualify you from voting for a candidate from the opposing party, except in some states' primary elections.
• If you register for one political party and find you are not happy, you can change your affiliation later.
• Voters should familiarize themselves with several party platforms before voting or registering with a party.