DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN? THAT IS THE QUESTION ...

J. A. Morasan (*)

In the opinion of some analysts, there are no substantive differences between the policies implemented by Democrats and Republicans in the U.S.A.

The best way to determine whether or not there are differences, is to review some events of recent history.

Take for example the administration of Republican Herbert Hoover (1929-1933), who succeeded Calvin Coolidge and was faced with the toughest times of severe financial and economic crisis known as the "Great Depression".

After the economic boom after World War I, when the population had access to big cities with high rates of profit and the money available to invest billions of dollars went to the capital market and the bubble resulting from this process took the stock prices far beyond their real value, which ultimately caused the stock market crash and all those investors who had speculated neophytes irresponsibly. Can not find matches to the recent crisis?

Coollidge his predecessor made no effort to intervene in the economy, according to him, as a good Republican, "the state should not interfere in private enterprise." Hoover tried to protect the agricultural sector with the imposition of tariffs on products of this type that were imported, promoted education for black students and away from corrupt practices of administrative patronage, but was little that could be achieved to the crisis and so he decided to do, because like its predecessor, the Republican ideology not allow him to intervene in the economy. (Biographies and lives).

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Democrat, 1933-1945), was who led the country's economic recovery after the "Great Depression" of 1929. His commitment to a new economic policy: New Deal, won him the confidence of Americans in the 1932 election to Republican Hoover, becoming the 32 th. President of the United States of America for the Democratic Party.

By Roosevelt's New Deal stimulated spending and infrastructure investment. During his first years in government implemented various projects, hydropower, roads, schools, and in general all types of public works, making significant upgrades to the country and out of the economic crisis. Enhanced foreign policy as a means to achieve global supremacy and established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union in 1933.

His charisma and popularity allowed him to be the only president in history elected for four periods achievements. It was the American leader during the Second World War. A supporter of diplomacy and to maintain personal contacts with political allies, met on several occasions, separately and together, with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin to make deals at the end of World War II Yalta Conference call. In this line and according to their desire for a peaceful understanding between countries, promoted the creation of the Organization of the United Nations (UN).

During the long administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945), the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress.
On April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt died in Warm Springs (Georgia) and Harry S. Truman, who served as vice president, became the thirty-third president of the United States. In 1948 he was reelected for a second term: 1949-1953.

Given the cyclical nature of capitalism, the U.S. and many other countries, have faced various crises throughout the century just ended, but have not reached the depth of 1929 to 2008 that was not far away and whose effects persist. The configuration of this latest crisis began or in the 80's with Reagan, continuing in the 90's, under the Republican administration of George H. W. Bush (father), both Republicans.

William Jefferson Clinton (Democrat, 1993-2001). He is remembered for having used the phrase, "It's the economy, stupid" to criticize President George H. W. Bush. This focused his message on issues that matter to citizens, such as economic development, education and healthcare, all wrapped in an image change. The points in favor of Clinton were also his youth and charisma, in a generational struggle against the elder Bush (veteran of the Second World War) and uncharismatic. For its part, the Bush campaign attacked Clinton for not having fought in the Vietnam War and his activism against the war, which cast doubt on their conditions to be commander in chief. (Reportajes.org).

To paraphrase former Democratic president Bill Clinton, Dave Gilson and Carolyn Perot, titled his recent study (02/02/2011) on the social economic situation of the American people: "Is inequality, stupid: 10 images that explain everything wrong in the U.S.A."

The study, which can be accessed online, highlights, among other things:
- A huge portion of economic growth in the last 30 years has gone to the hundredth part located at the apex (top) of the pyramid, meaning that one percent of the richest, now have on average, $ 27 million per family. In contrast, the average income of 90% we are located at the base, is $ 31,244. (Theoretically, N. E.)

- The richest 10% control 2 / 3 of U.S. equity.

Moreover, the paper: "The U.S. economy: The Return of deficicit prosecutors," Mr. Saturnino Aguado Sebastián, published in the Journal of World Economy at the University of Huelva, Spain, are:
The most striking results of the eight-year administration of President Clinton, were: the creation of more than 22 million jobs, thanks to an average economic growth of approximately 4% during the eight years of economic liberalization index rose 5 points percentage, from 21 to 26%. As for the budget balance from a deficit inherited (Bush's father) of 255.000 billion in 1993 to a surplus of 236.000 billion that Clinton inherited in 2000 his successor George Bush. The rate of investment to GDP went up the important figure of 4% from 1993 to 2000.

The most important decision in fiscal policy conducted by Clinton was the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA93), which led to a rise in marginal tax rates for favored sectors of American society. What came along with the containment of public spending, strong economic growth and the boom of the stock market, significant income tax in respect of capital gains, starting the end of the period of fiscal deficits and a brief period of fiscal surpluses, unfortunately brief, since the Clinton economic policy could not be continued to be succeeded by the Republican administration of George Bush (son), and the generation of new fiscal deficit. President George W. Bush appears on U.S. economic history. UU. as the continuation of fiscal policies of his father and Ronald Reagan (just three Republicans), which led to dramatic declines in tax revenues (with severe damage to the economy, the U.S. image and peace in the world).

George W. Bush (Republican, 2001-2009). The main fiscal policy measures taken by Bush during his first term are to be: In April 2001, "Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA)" which meant a gradual reduction in income tax in the period 2001 - 2006, so the maximum tax rate of 39.6% passing to 35% and the remaining types 36, 31 and 28% were reduced by three percentage points. It stated the gradual elimination, with the ultimate horizon of 2010, the property tax. The cost, in the mentioned period of 10 years, these measures is estimated at 1.35 billion dollars, taking into account the gradual cuts and the fact that when maturing in 2010, all tax rates to their initial values ​​reverterian in 2001.

Aside from some other tax measures introduced in March 2002, following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the other largely on fiscal policy is the "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief 2001", which introduces a lower tax capital gains. All this at an additional cost of 1.3 billion dollars over the period 2004 to 2013. Not to mention the disastrous foreign policy undertaken by President Bush in his two terms, which is characterized by bellicocity, waste and economic policy sectarian.

Mr. Barack Obama was elected as the forty-fourth president of the United States on November 4, 2008 and was sworn in on January 20, 2009.

Even before taking office President Barack Obama today defended the welfare policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and opposed Republican proposals to establish private accounts for Social Security. Following the devastation that occurred because of Hurricane Katrina, expressed opposition to the government's indifference to the increasing division of social classes, and asked members of the Democratic and Republican them to take some action to restore a social safety net for poor. Shortly after he announced his presidential campaign, said he supported universal health care in the United States. He also proposed to reward the performance of teachers through merit pay system, assuring labor unions that changes would be implemented through a collective bargaining agreement.

In his inaugural address said: "Our economy is severely weakened as a result of greed and irresponsibility of some, but also by the collective failure to make the decisions necessary to prepare our country into a new era. With respect to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, said: We will begin to leave Iraq responsibly, its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan."

Ending the economic and financial crisis, improve the U.S. image abroad, find a solution to immigration issue and alleviate the growing

unemployment in the country, were the main challenges of Barack Obama taking office.

From the first day in office, Obama issued executive orders and memoranda in opposition to the policies of President George W. Bush. Lifted the ban known as the Mexico City Policy, known by critics as the Global Gag Rule, which stipulates that all nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive federal funds must refrain from promoting or perform services related to abortion in other countries . Signed measures restricting lobbyists and pressure groups, and required government entities compliance with the Freedom of Information Act in order to promote transparency of government. He asked the U.S. Army to develop a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq and reducing secrecy practices in the presidential records. He also ordered the closure of Guantanamo detention center as soon as possible, with a maximum term until May 2010, and the immediate review of all arrests and trials of prisoners held in this prison.

On January 29, 2009 President Obama signed his first bill, which corresponds to the Pay Equity Act and named Lilly Ledbetter, a victim of employment discrimination. Five days later he signed a bill to expand the Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP for its acronym in English) and allow the coverage of four million uninsured children. On March up Bush's ban on using federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Despite the controversy surrounding the use of stem cells, Obama proclaimed that the veto "... handcuff scientists and damaged the U.S. ability to compete with other countries"

On February 17, 2009 Obama signed the Economic Stimulus Act of 787,000 million dollars in order to remedy the effects of the economic downturn caused by the mortgage crisis "subprime"

On February 27, 2009 announced that the combat mission in Iraq will end on August 31, 2010 and shall be the total withdrawal of U.S. troops in that country in 2011. On March 21, 2010, the House of Representatives finally approved the health reform, with amendments such as a ban on using federal funds to finance abortions, by 219 votes in favor and 212 against. (Biografias.org).

As we can see, there is consistency between the promises and achievements of President Obama in his first two and half years of government, although not fully meet the general expectations, it is not easy to fix the mess inherited from the previous administration, added to the crisis caused by the greed of the banking sector - financial and the failure of neoliberalism, more waste involving George Bush's wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, threats to neighboring countries and that only benefits the arms industry.

Among the remaining tasks is the regulation of banking to the effect that unemployed people can keep their residential properties, as long as the crisis because the conditions set by the available programs seem more distracting than true formulas of solution rules.

However, interest has been shown to govern for all, with an emphasis on lower-income population; developing a foreign policy based on mutual respect, dialogue and international law, hoping that will continue to work steadfastly on the topics of interest the population as the economy and employment, as well as the expansion of democracy inside and outside the country.

The pending fulfillment of the promises would be tied to the results of the upcoming elections. Now the decision is in our hands if we want to support the orientation of these policies for the benefit of the majority population, although some people do not understand for lack of political education or the manipulative propaganda that we are made to order.

Well it seems we can say that if there are differences in weight between Democrats and Republicans.

In short, as in the play Hamlet, the American people and by extension, the world, faces an existential question back to the dinosaur age with the Tea Party or advance to the genuine Democracy.

(*) J. A. Morasan, writer and lawyer in International Relations, author of the book: Neither neoliberalism nor more death, 'just revolution'.