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Logo of the Green Party of Rhode Island

Green Party of Rhode Island

Democrats & Republicans vs The Green Party

Democrats talk about the different policies, positions, and priorities we'd see from Congress if they take control back from the Republicans.

But members of the Green Party say that most Democratic and Republican politicians hold similar positions on major issues — and that's why we need a new party that gives power to “We the People” instead of powerful corporations.

Which is true? Judge for yourself — and compare with Green positions:

Issue: Global Warming

Republicans: Bush withdrew the U.S. from the Kyoto Treaty to reduce greenhouse gases and fossil fuel use (oil, coal). Wants to lower emissions standards to try to reduce gas prices.

Democrats: Willing to weaken emissions standards to lower gas prices. Promotes subsidies to corporate agriculture as a way to reduce petroleum consumption.

Greens: Reduce emissions NOW. Convert to renewable energy sources such as low-cost wind and solar power.


Issue: The War in Iraq

Republicans: Claims the Iraq War is making the world safe from Global Terror; Leaving Iraq now would be “cutting and running”.

Democrats: Can’t develop a united position.

Greens: Stop the Iraq war and all foreign adventurism. We need a sharp reduction in military spending, with funds redirected into social and environmental needs.


Issue: Abortion

Republicans: Oppose abortion; Bush ordered a ban on US funds for overseas agencies that offer abortion. Supported South Dakota statewide ban.

Democrats: Support abortion rights sometimes.

Greens: Support full access to abortion, with funding, for all women in the U.S. and around the world.


Issue: Universal Health Care

Republicans: Oppose guaranteed universal health care; Support health policy based on corporate profits for insurance, HMO, and drug companies instead of human need.

Democrats: Support health policy based on corporate profits; Deleted plans for universal health care from the Democratic platform.

Greens: Demand real universal health care: Single-payer national health insurance, with guaranteed treatment and medicine regardless of age, ability to pay, employment, prior medical condition, including choice of doctors and hospitals.


Issue: Clean Water

Republicans: Are trying to gut the Clean Water Act by reducing the areas it covers.

Democrats: Are trying to maintain the scope of the Clean Water Act.

Greens: Would strengthen the Clean Water Act, making sure that wetlands are adequately protected from uncontrolled development.


Issue: The Death Penalty

Republicans: Overwhelmingly support it.

Democrats: Lukewarm

Greens: Oppose the death penalty citing racial bias, failure to deter crime, widespread errors, and humanitarian objections.


Issue: Wages and Unions

Republicans: Oppose raising minimum wage and have worked to weaken unions.

Democrats: Support incremental minimum wage increases, claim to support unions, but refuse to overturn Taft-Hartley Act restrictions on union organizing.

Greens: Demand a living wage (pay that people can live on), democratic workplaces, strong unions, and repeal of Taft-Hartley restrictions.


Issue: Global Corporate Power

Republicans: Support Free Trade Pacts (WTO, NAFTA, FTAA).

Democrats: Support the same Free Trade Pacts.

Greens: Oppose these Free Trade aggreements because of their anti-democratic power to overturn labor, environmental, and human rights protections.


Issue: Handouts for the rich vs. relief for poor and working Americans

Republicans: Bush proposed a $1.6 trillion tax cut favoring the rich. Passed the Bankruptcy Bill favoring credit card businesses over Americans whose budgets are destroyed by job loss or medical bills. Preach Welfare Reform that penalizes the poor.

Democrats: Proposed a $1.35 trillion tax cut, compromising with Bush, and helped pass the punitive Bankruptcy Bill. Clinton signed the Welfare Reform Act, cutting aid to the poorest Americans.

Greens: Support progressive taxes (relief for low-income and working people); Would transfer funding from military operations to environmental and social needs, including assistance for the poor.


Issue: Campaign Finance

Republicans: Accepts donations from corporations, including defense contractors, oil companies, insurance and drug firms, etc. Republican officials indicted or under investigation of bribery, perjury, etc.

Democrats: Accepts donations from the same contributors. Democratic officials indicted or under investigation of bribery, perjury, etc.

Greens: Refuse to accept corporate contributions; Demand an end to special rights for corporations and an end to big money elections


Issue: U.S. Democracy

Republicans: No position on democratic reforms. Republican Party supporters provided unaccountable voting machinery in key states like Ohio in 2004 Presidential election.

Democrats: Talk about making voting machinery auditable, but refused to participate in investigations of election fraud in 2004.

Greens: Call for major democratic reforms to strengthen citizen participation and minority representation, including proportional representation, ranked choice voting, monitoring of elections, and public financing of campaigns.(More information.)


Other issues on which most Republicans and most Democrats agree — and Greens disagree: