What is the difference between a democrat and a Democrat ??

[kentuck]

I know that one belongs to a political Party. What does the other stand for? Is there a difference between them?

[scheming daemons]

1. a democrat believes in certain things....a Democrat tries to organize to get those things done

...

[kentuck]

2. So a Democrat believes in the same things a democrat believes in?

There is no difference? Or is one an idealist and one a pragmatist?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. "Of, by, and for the people" vs "Of, by, and for the party".

Also, see Lord Acton's famous axiom when power is achieved by parties, corporations, monarchs, or mobs.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. It is possible to be a Republican and be a democrat.

It is also possible to be a Democrat and not be a democrat.

Technically, as we have a democratic system of government, all Republicans are democrats, if they are not fascists, just as all Democrats are democrats, if they are not fascists.

You cannot be a fascist, monarchist, or oligarchist and be a democrat.

[dmallind]

5. Pretty simple IMO

democrat = "people should be able to vote to elect representatives and/or decide laws directly"

Democrat = "I am a member or supporter of the Democratic party".

At least vocally, Bachmann is a democrat, not a Democrat.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. My own definition of democracy

Democracy is a state where:

• Citizenship is universal. Each person born within the boundaries of the state is a citizen, as is one born abroad to at least one citizen parent or who swears allegiance to the state in a rite of naturalization.
• Citizenship is equal. Each citizen has an equal opportunity to participate in and influence public affairs. Every adult citizen shall be enfranchised with the right to vote. Decisions are made by a majority voting based on the principle of one man/one vote.
• Citizenship is inalienable. A guaranteed set of civil liberties is in place to assure full and open public discourse of civic affairs. No citizen may be stripped of his citizenship or otherwise punished by the state for expressing any point of view, no matter how unpopular or even absurd.

Ok, that's what believe. I know that means there has never been a democratic state in the human history, but that does not make such a state an unworthy goal.