Democrat? Or Republican?

You know, with the upcoming election, I have been thinking a lot about what I believe about the government. It is really the first time I've done this, as in all the past elections I've been too young to really care - calling my friends and IMing was way more important than watching presidential debates. This year, I am glued, along with my parents, to Fox, CNN, anything that is talking about the upcoming election. Before I get to my point, it is such a remarkable year! I mean, an African American man running for president and a woman running for vice president. That is so cool. It weird to compare this to just 30 years ago even, where this never would have occurred. Whoever wins, definite strides have been made and elections will never be the same. But back to my point...I was thinking about government and its role. Both democrats and republicans talk about helping people, just through different means. Democrats want the government more involved in every day life while, across the board, republicans don't, at least to that extent. Ideally, every single person in America would be willing to help others. I mean, when disasters strike, often the first people helping are those from the neighboring communities. And ideally, no matter whether someone lost their job or a tree fell on their house, people would be the ones to help, not the government. And if everyone helped everyone naturally, the government would not have to be involved. But that, unfortunately, is not the case. So I feel like there is benefit to the government aiding other people. Sure they use our - well, my parents', at this point - tax dollars to do so. I understand that tons of money leaves the pay check to pay someone else' social security check. I know that is hard - I don't pay a lot of bills, but I pay for my own gas, and in a '94 Ford Explorer, that is not cheap. One of my friends was giving a speech about FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and she brought up social security. She said, "I was complaining about money being taken out of my pay checks for taxes, and my mom told me, 'Em, that money is going to someone like my best friend's mom, whose husband died in '83 and who is going blind because of a disease. She can't work, and that means she can't afford to live. But that money taken out of your pay check is helping her." Now, I know this isn't always the case - I know people abuse their privileges. I mean, I am in high school! I see that every day! :) But for some people, that money really is helping them when no one else is. Ok, I rambled on and on, and I don't even really know what I believe concerning democrat vs. republican, but those are my current thoughts.