THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE – TO BE HAPPY – IT’S ALL THAT MATTERS. --AUBREY HEPBURN

POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR BELIEFS Democrats today say the donkey is smart and brave, while Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified.

(CBS NEWS) DID YOU EVER WONDER ABOUT JUST WHAT WAS BEHIND TWO FAMOUS PARTY ANIMALS? THE DONKEY WAS FIRST ASSOCIATED WITH DEMOCRAT ANDREW JACKSON'S 1828 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. HIS OPPONENTS CALLED JACKSON, WELL, A "JACK---" FOR HIS POPULIST VIEWS. JACKSON WAS ACTUALLY ENTERTAINED BY THE INSULT, AND USED THE IMAGE OF THE STRONG-WILLED DONKEY ON HIS CAMPAIGN POSTERS.

LATER, FAMED CARTOONIST THOMAS NAST USED THE DONKEY IN HIS NEWSPAPER CARTOONS, HELPING TO ESTABLISH IT AS THE SYMBOL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AND IT WAS NAST WHO PROVIDED THE REPUBLICANS WITH THEIR ELEPHANT. "THE THIRD-TERM PANIC" BY THOMAS NAST, PUBLISHED IN 1874 BY HARPER'S WEEKLY, ON A POSSIBLE THIRD TERM BY PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT.

IN AN 1874 CARTOON, NAST DREW A DONKEY CLOTHED IN A LION'S SKIN - SCARING OFF THE OTHER ANIMALS AT THE ZOO.... ALL THE ANIMALS, EXCEPT FOR THE FEARLESS ELEPHANT, WHICH WAS LABELED "THE REPUBLICAN VOTE." THE SYMBOL ENDURES TO THIS DAY.

"The Third-term Panic" by Thomas Nast, published in 1874 by Harper's Weekly, on a possible third term by President Ulysses S. Grant.

DEMOCRATS: DEMOCRATS SAY THE DONKEY IS SMART AND BRAVE. Democratic Party a political party that believes that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives, particularly those who are in need

DEMOCRATIC PARTY LIBERAL LEFT LEANING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP EVERYONE SUCCEED (EX. STUDENT COLLEGE LOANS) MORE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT/LARGER GOVERNMENT NOT AFRAID TO RAISE TAXES TO FUND GOVERNMENT ACTIONS BIGGER TAXES ON BIG BUSINESS AND WEALTHY FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, JOHN F. KENNEDY, BILL CLINTON

REPUBLICANS: REPUBLICANS SAY THE ELEPHANT IS STRONG AND DIGNIFIED. Republican Party - a political party that believes that the federal government should play a small role in people's lives; they favor lower taxes and less government spending

REPUBLICAN PARTY BELIEFS CONSERVATIVE RIGHT WING BELIEVE TAXES ON WEALTHY HURT THE ECONOMY LOWER TAXES SMALLER GOVERNMENT SMALLER ROLE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES HARD WORK LEADS TO SUCCESS STRONG MILITARY ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1 ST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT), RICHARD NIXON, RONALD REAGAN

LIBERTARIAN PARTY A POLITICAL PARTY THAT BELIEVES IN INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND THE ONLY PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT THIS FREEDOM

SOCIALIST PARTY A POLITICAL PARTY THAT BELIEVES PEOPLE SHOULD OWN AND CONTROL INDUSTRY THROUGH DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED PUBLIC AGENCIES, COOPERATIVES, OR OTHER COLLECTIVE GROUPS

COMMUNIST PARTY A POLITICAL PARTY THAT BELIEVES THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTROL ALL PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND WORKING PEOPLE SHOULD CONTROL THEIR OWN LIVES AND DESTINIES

SOCIALIST PARTY STRIVES TO ESTABLISH A RADICAL DEMOCRACY THAT PLACES PEOPLE'S LIVES UNDER THEIR OWN CONTROL -- A NON-RACIST, CLASSLESS, FEMINIST, SOCIALIST SOCIETY IN WHICH PEOPLE COOPERATE AT WORK, AT HOME, AND IN THE COMMUNITY. SOCIALISM IS NOT MERE GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP, A WELFARE STATE, OR A REPRESSIVE BUREAUCRACY. SOCIALISM IS A NEW SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ORDER IN WHICH WORKERS AND CONSUMERS CONTROL PRODUCTION AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS CONTROL THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, HOMES, AND SCHOOLS. THE PRODUCTION OF SOCIETY IS USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL HUMANITY, NOT FOR THE PRIVATE PROFIT OF A FEW. SOCIALISM PRODUCES A CONSTANTLY RENEWED FUTURE BY NOT PLUNDERING THE RESOURCES OF THE EARTH.

WHICH PARTY DO YOU AGREE MORE WITH?