Is there really a difference? "There's not a dime's worth of difference; both political parties are alike." "I vote for the person, not the party." "If I'm anything, I'm independent."

A lot of Americans feel this way today and certainly, the voters' instinct for electing the right candidate at the right time, regardless of party, has proven itself time and again.

Few would question the importance or power of the Independent vote in deciding closely contested elections.  And it is true that both parties are alike in many respects.

However, to ignore a candidate's party affiliation is to miss out on one of the great advantages of the two-party system.  The very reason that a candidate is listed as a Republican or a Democrat is that he or she subscribes to the basic political philosophy for which that party stands...

and there is a difference!

The cornerstone of Republican philosophy is the belief that each person is responsible for their own place in our society.  Individuals are encouraged by the Republican Party to work to secure the benefits of society for themselves, their families, and for those who are unable to care for themselves.	Democrats are more willing to subordinate individual rights to the assumed needs of the group.  They assume that society collectively is responsible for each of its members.  They place less emphasis on individual enterprise and initiative.
Government and the Governed
Republicans believe that government should be limited to doing for people those things which they cannot do for themselves.  The right to determine individual destiny should lie in the hands of the individual.  Similarly, Republicans believe governmental power and resources should be kept as close to the people, though their state and community leaders, rather than centralized in distant big government.	Recent Democrat administrations have pushed for more and more centralized power in Washington, with secondary consideration for the rights of individual citizens and communities.  This has led to increasingly more federal controls and regimentation, often in the hands of unelected bureaucrats, causing a severe erosion of local government across the country.
Foreign Policy
Republicans believe that peace and freedom can be protected only if America maintains a defense force strong enough to deter any aggressor.  Republicans turn away from the paternalism of the 50's and encourage other nations to shoulder responsibility for their own problems.  Republicans oppose unnecessary intervention in the internal affairs of other nations and stress helping our friends around the globe develop the skills and strengths necessary to protect themselves.	The Democratic Party has vacillated between extreme isolationism, intervention and confrontation tactics in cases like Vietnam, Cuba and Korea.  This inconsistent foreign policy has confused our allies and encouraged our potential enemies.
Economic Policies
Republicans believe in the competitive free-enterprise system.  Individuals must be free to use their talents.  This is the key to personal and national prosperity.  Republicans believe that the only limits to an individual's opportunity to succeed are the limits of his own initiative and enterprise.	Democrats say that the economy is too complicated to be left to free enterprise alone, and therefore must be subjected to ever-increasing controls by the federal government.  They say that we are "entering an era of limitations" and therefore must lower our individual economic expectations.
Government Spending and Taxes
Republicans constantly strive to cut governmental spending and to eliminate costly, overlapping and unnecessary governmental programs.  Because Republicans believe that the individual should control his and government's pocketbook, they believe that tax increases should be voted upon by the people.	The Democrat view is that the federal government knows how and where to spend money for local needs better than elected community leaders, and federal bureaucrats should continue to control the flow of funds to the states and localities and dictate how the taxpayers money will be spent.
The Future
America has prospered under the two-party system because one party has always served to check the excesses of the other.  Often, both parties agree on the problems, less often do they agree on the solutions.  The root of most of their differences is perspective:
Republicans believe in solutions, which are decided upon and implemented by the people themselves, through their locally elected representatives.  Republicans believe that the solution to American's problems lies in the greatness of the American people.	Democrats tend to stress a powerful, centralized bureaucracy aimed at solving local and national problems from the top down - a method which, after 40 years of trial, is a proven failure.

Yes there is a difference!

From the California Republican Party