Why Democrats Do Better

A Republican coworker of mine pointed out that statistics can be used artfully when I mentioned that analyses show Democratic administrations have done a better job of keeping down government costs and growing the economy. He was incredulous - but game to check out my links. After reading the analyses, his tune changed - slightly. His conclusion: the analyses may not be wrong, but they are irrelevant.

Irrelevant because - in his view - even if the rosy data points aren't entirely coincidental, it only means that Democratic policies may, in the past, have helped juice the economy - but such policies in today's economy simply won't work.

According to my coworker, the difference between the parties is that the Republican philosophy is centered on trying to serve the interests of business owners, because it is ultimately business owners who grow the economy - while the Democratic philosophy is centered on trying to serve the interests of workers. My coworker points out that labor policies were historically necessary to protect workers from the outrageous abuses of the industrial age, and he acknowledges that a labor-centered philosophy may indeed have helped to grow the economy in the past, but he is adamant that, going forward, the "Democratic approach" would be ruinous for America.

So in his view, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is really a difference in focus.

And I suspect my coworker's view here is pretty representative of the majority of rank-and-file Republicans, who may or may not be social conservatives, but who share a preference for the Republican "economic philosophy."

However, his dismissal of the economic analyses is also, I believe, representative of what really distinguishes Republicans: they tend to be political ideologues.

They will stick to their preferred ideas and methods in spite of evidence that indicates other ideas and methods yield better outcomes. Democrats, on the other hand, tend not to be political ideologues precisely because of their progressive bent. Making progress in society, just as in the sciences, depends upon relying on facts and evidence and not being wedded to or blinded by ideology. This is why so many Democrats are "policy wonks" - people who could put you to sleep with their detailed explanations of policy matters. But it is also why Democrats have a much better track record in the complex tasks of government - from managing the Federal budget and helping to hasten economic growth, to reducing poverty and protecting public health.