Liberal vs Democrat

In America, the Democratic and Republican parties dominate the political landscape. But the two parties differ widely in their ideals and philosophies. Democrats tend to favor more active government involvement in society, believing it can help achieve greater levels of opportunity and equality. Republicans, on the other hand, believe that the less government is involved in people’s lives, the better.

The term “liberalism” refers to the broad political philosophy that supports a large role for government in society, a focus on social justice and equality, and a strong adherence to traditional moral values such as the right to freedom of speech and belief. Some liberals lean toward the left on economic issues, while others are centrists who believe in the principles of free trade and capitalism.

There is also a wide range of differences between Democratic and Republican policies on hot button issues like abortion, gun control, healthcare, immigration and the environment. For example, Democrats generally support abortion rights and oppose the stance of Republicans who believe that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. In addition, the vast majority of Democrats support a moratorium on deporting – or offering a pathway to citizenship – undocumented immigrants while Republicans support stricter enforcement measures at the border and oppose granting amnesty to any undocumented workers.

As a result of these differences, the percentage of Americans who identify as liberal has declined slightly since 1994 while the percentages who describe themselves as conservative and moderate have increased. Overall, however, Americans’ descriptions of their ideological stances have varied relatively little over the long term.