Title: What Is the Ideology of the Democrats? | Synonym
Headings: What Is the Ideology of the Democrats?
What Is the Ideology of the Democrats?
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1 Forms of Liberalism
2 Dominant Themes
3 Government's Role in Society
4 Overlapping Values

Content: 3 Government's Role in Society
Democrats generally support government funding to help to those in poverty and those facing social injustice. They are more likely to believe government initiatives and regulations can develop the economy and reduce business practices they argue negatively affect average Americans. Republicans, meanwhile, generally believe that the less government is involved with business, the more businesses can create jobs and thus reduce the need for social programs, which they say generate too much debt. On a national level, Republicans would generally prefer to have much of the federal government's regulatory power transferred back to states. Many Democrats have adopted a combination of these views. 4 Overlapping Values
The partisan divide between congressional Democrats and Republicans is often vast, but there is some overlap. Like many Republicans, socially conservative Democrats have expressed opposition to abortion and gay marriage. In 2010, 34 House Democrats voted with their Republican counterparts against President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, just as eight Senate Republicans voted with Democrats to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Congressional Democrats and Republicans have come together more closely in extreme situations -- they were in nearly full agreement on pursuing al-Qaida immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks -- and on matters where basic party values weren't at stake. Some libertarians, who are often associated with Republicans but more firmly support smaller government, have also found themselves in agreement with Democrats.