Nathaniel Said:

Is it time for the Republican AND Democratic parties to disappear?

We Answered:

Can you imagine a Libertarian convention run by Ayn Rand? John Galt pictures galore!

Erik Said:

How have the democratic/republican parties changed since 1789?

We Answered:

Hello...
Political parties are one of the most poorly implicit components of American political life. Neither political scientists nor economists have enlightened sufficiently what political parties are and what they do. Generally speaking, political scientists miscalculate the consequence of political parties, while economists mischaracterize the role that they play. First opposition political party in the America was structured in 1792 as the Republican Party, its power held nationally between 1801 and 1825. It was the direct antecedent of the present Democratic Party. Thomas Jefferson establishes the Democratic Party in 1792 as a congressional caucus to fight for the Bill of Rights and against the elitist Federalist Party. The party which called “party of the common man" made government in 1798...
You can find more info here:

Lonnie Said:

What are the British equivilants to the American Republican and Democratic parties?

We Answered:

In the Westminster Parliament, there are three main parties. The Conservative party is the nearest equivalent to the Republicans and the Liberal Democrats (often shortened to the Lib-Dems) to the Democrats. The Labour Party is closer to the Democrats than the Republicans.

In the Scottish Parliament, it is different. Here there is no main party equivalent to the Republicans - the Scottish National Party being the closest. The other main parties are Labour and the Lib-Dems (see above)

Yolanda Said:

List how both the Republican and Democratic Parties stand. Then, using the definitions of Conservative and Li

We Answered:

I can tell you want John W. Dean said about the Rep's. "Republicans are indifferent to the founding principles of liberty and equality, and who cloak their actions in moral superiority while pushing the country further and further from its constitutional foundations". I find that quit true.

Pauline Said:

Which British political parties would be the equivalent of the American Republican and Democratic parties?

We Answered:

Though we have the 'conservative' party it is no where near as right wing as the Democrats, never mind the Repubicans. Politics in Britain is on a different scale to the US.

Both the Conservatives and the Labour party are most like the Democrats. The Liberal Democrats are even further left than Labour these days and would be called 'Socialist' in the US. There is the Socialist Labour party that are more in tune with Labour in the 70s - they would be off the left scale in the US. the Green party is also there, as well at the BNP - who are the British Republican party in terms of immigration and moral policies.

The issues are also totally different. People don't really care too much about the personality of the leader, though a bad personality can make it harder to win elections (of course, the British vote for the party, not the leader - who is chosen by the party). Abortion, gay marriage and gun control aren't issues and haven't been on the agenda for years. Religion dosen't play a part either, as Tony Blair said - being too open about your religious beliefs as a politician can get you labled a 'nutter'. No party would try to mess with the NHS, except to give it more money, as cutting it or abolishing it would get them lynched.

You can't run as an independent as such in the UK because you need a party to form a government. Because the people elect the party, not the Prime Minister, the party must select a PM from within their ranks. If a person was elected as a member of Parliament as an independent (which happens a lot) they could only gain one seat (their own) and so couldn't win the national election and make themselves PM.

Edit:

A government is limited to five years in office until an election has to be called, but the PM can be re-appointed by the party as often as they like. Of course, if the PM is unpopular then the party won't get elected so they dump them pretty sharply if they think the current leader will hold them back.

45% of people listed 'no stated religion' on their census forms in 2001. Of the remaining 55% a large majority are 'census' Christians who list it out of habit. Only around 6% go to church weekly.

I spent a few months in Berkeley, CA last year working at a pretty left wing radio station. I was there throughout the beginning of the Healthcare saga. Fascinating stuff.

I also did comparative American and British politics at school, so it's sort of my thing.