Republican vs. Democrat Stand On the Following Issues

Introduction

The Republican and the Democratic parties dominate the political landscape in the United States. However, the ideals and philosophies of these two parties are significantly different. This paper highlights the political positions and policies of the parties regarding the issues below.  

Raising the Minimum Wage

Republicans are against the idea of increasing the minimum wage with the justification that besides inflating prices, it will increase the rate of unemployment in the United States. Subsequently, inflated prices will affect businesses negatively. They hold that free markets should be responsible for setting the minimum wage. On the other hand, Democrats support increase of the minimum wage arguing that it will help workers, especially those in entry-level positions. Moreover, Democrats react to Republicans arguments by emphasizing that there is little evidence to prove that increasing the minimum wage will increase the rate of unemployment or inflation in America.    

Raising the Debt Limit

In the view of the Democrats, majority of the Republicans are hampering the process of lifting the debt limit relentlessly and recklessly. Democrats support increasing the debt limit with the rationalization that it is a way to prevent the US from defaulting on its spending obligations. The Republicans have always held that they would lift America’s legal debt limit only in the event of deep spending cuts, especially to entitlement programs. However, a number of Republicans have been supporting the issue of increasing the debt limit with the hope that it will grant American people a chance to rein in their deficits and debts. It is the hope of these Republicans that increasing the debt limit will be fundamental in changing the way that the US federal government uses tax dollars of the American people.        

A Path to Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants

Democrats generally support provision of a path to citizenship for deserving illegal immigrants. Nevertheless, Democrats do not believe that every undocumented immigrant deserves amnesty. Rather, the illegal immigrants should satisfactorily clear their background check, pay taxes, and work hard towards earning their citizenship. Additionally, Democrats greatly wish to change current laws on immigration with the argument that these laws undermines the US values, and don not serve US security. Republicans, on the contrary, believe that illegal immigrants deserve strong repercussions. They hold that American citizens who either help these illegal migrants to obtain falsified documentation or offer them employment equally deserve strong repercussions. According to the Republicans, undocumented immigrants have little value to the United States and impede development in every aspect of the nation.

School Vouchers

Democrats are against school vouchers arguing that the United States requires accountability from public academic institutions. According to the Democratic Party, it is necessary for public schools to have the freedom of designing their curriculum in accordance with set educational standards. Democrats believe that public schools should be in a position to compete for learners and hold accountability for student results. Democrats consider that private school vouchers exhaust resources in public schools, thereby, handing over the well-deserved tax dollars of the public to private schools. Conversely, Republicans standby school vouchers arguing that it is an opportunity for underprivileged American parents, who perceive certain public schools as inappropriate for their children, to send their children to private schools that the law allows.

A Cap and Trade System for Regulating Carbon Emissions

Congressional Democrats as well as President Obama have been pushing for the cap and trade policies for regulation of carbon emissions. Democrats view the cap-and-trade system as a market-based procedure for addressing climate change. The system would set rational caps on greenhouse gas emissions from carbon and other emitters, and offer industries with credits that are tradable. According to Democrats, trade in these credits empowers industries deploy new and effective technologies and energy resources that reduce environment pollution. The nation would also be able to utilize energy resources in a way that produces substantial environmental and financial benefits. On the contrary, the Republicans have been against the cap-and-trade system considering it as a job-killing overreach of the government. However, some Republican presidential candidates have supported the cap-and-trade system in past campaign periods. For instance, John McCain, a Republican candidate, supported the cap-and-trade system in his 2007 during his presidential campaigns.  

Expanding Medicaid in Oklahoma

The current governor of Oklahoma, Marry Fallin, is a Republican. She has staunchly rejected expansion of Medicaid in the state of Oklahoma. The governor has also given no proposal for an optional model that the state could use to expand insurance coverage for Oklahoma residents who fall under low-income category. On the other hand, Oklahoma Democratic Party supports expansion of Medicaid in the state. Oklahoma Democrats have petitioned the governor’s decision of not permitting expansion of Medicaid in the state.

The democrats believe that expanding Medicaid program in Oklahoma will provide effective healthcare to the state’s residents and, consequently, enhance their health and quality of life. Moreover, democrats hold that expansion of Medicaid will save Oklahoma millions of dollars since funding of the Medicaid program is a responsibility of the federal government. Furthermore, expanding Medicaid in the state will lead to considerable economic benefits. It will create numerous new jobs with high pay to Oklahoma residents. Consequently, the new jobs will generate a new pack of tax revenue for both the state and county governments.