How to Decide if You're a Republican

By eHow Culture & Society Editor

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The Republican Party platform states that it's seeking to restore prosperity and moral clarity. These values - along with the desire to provide tax relief for economic growth - are reflected in various issues listed below. By considering them, you may be able to better determine your own political affiliation.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Radios
Televisions
Newspaper Subscriptions

Step1

Decide how you feel about taxes. Republicans generally support lower taxes across the board, which means they tend to favor lower spending on most government programs.

Step2

Judge your dedication to individual rights. The Republican Party honors individual property rights and promotes the shifting of power to local communities and away from centralized government.

Step3

Assess your feelings about gun control. The Republican Party opposes strong gun control legislation and supports the individual's right to bear arms.

Step4

Decide your position on crime. Republicans generally push for strong enforcement and tough laws against drug traffic and juvenile crime.

Step5

Take a stand on defense. The Republican Party promotes a strong national defense.

Step6

Consider your feelings about abortion. The Republican platform is pro-life, while Democrats tend to support a pro-choice position.

Step7

Get on the Republican Web sites and read the platform. If you find that you agree with the party's stand on most issues, you are probably a Republican.

Step8

Listen to the candidates during an election year, or follow the voting record on a state or national level. If you agree with the Republican votes, you are most likely a Republican.

Tips & Warnings

Opposing political parties may actually agree on certain principles and issues, while there is 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.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Share your views with others on the issues, but don't be judgmental of others if they don't hold views similar to your own. A wise man once said, "I may not agree with what you say, but I would fight to the death for your right to say it."

Anonymous said

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on 12/16/2005 Republicans support keeping things the way they are (hence, conservative). This goes toward issues such as gay marriage and civil rights. They also support big business and rewards for the productive individual (bigger tax breaks for the wealthy).

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government...then you are a Republican! If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group...then you are a Republican! If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does...then you are a Republican! If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children...then you are a Republican! If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope of democracy in the world...then you are a Republican! And, ladies and gentlemen, if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism...then you are a Republican!

There is another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people, and faith in the U.S. economy.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Of course, we support an individual's right to vote. What we DON'T support is cheating by changing the rules after the fact.

Anonymous said

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on 12/9/2005 Republicans support lower taxes, but increase spending across the board, except on democratic platforms, such as social security and welfare. If you don't believe me, look at the tax cuts and increased spending of this administration.

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