nomination. Although the candidates have expressed widely differing views, at the heart of party

候選人提名。（GOP為共和黨的簡稱） 儘管各位候選人持有天壤之別的政見，黨中心的

politics is holding the same values and beliefs. So what exactly do Republicans believe?

觀點和理念依然相同。那麼共和黨員的理念是什麼呢？

To start, the Republican Party calls itself “the party of opportunity,” referring to

首先，共和黨自稱是「機會之黨」

the idea that in The U.S. there we should be free in our pursuit is should be equal opportunity for all.

他們認為在美國我們應有選擇職業的自由，也就是每個人都應有平等的機會

To achieve this end, they believe there should be limited

為達到這項目標，他們認為應限制

government interference in daily life as it leads to a better functioning state. This

政府對日常生活的干涉，因為這樣國家才能更好地運作

means fewer business regulations and smaller bureaucracies in public institutions. The

也就是減少商業調節手段和降低公共機構中的政府成分。

figurehead of the modern conservative movement, Ronald Reagan, explained it best: “The nine

現代保守運動領袖隆納·雷根對此解釋得很詳盡：「英語中

most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

最嚇人的九個字就是：我是政府人員，我來幫忙的」（這句話在英文中是九個字）

When it comes to the economy, Republicans tend to believe in the power of the free market

講到經濟，共和黨員傾向依靠自由市場來

to generate wealth. This is an idea espoused by Reagan’s supply-side economics,

分配財富。這個觀念來源於雷根的供應面經濟學

colloquially known as “trickle-down” theory. In this system, it’s believed that low taxes for

俗稱「涓滴效應學」。這項學說認為對富人

the rich will prompt them to invest in businesses, thus creating more jobs, causing the wealth

課低稅會引發他們投資更多資本，從而創造更多工作機會，如此一來財富

to trickle down to the poor. This theory was most recently seen in the George W. Bush era

便會涓滴到窮人手中。這項理論最近一次實踐是小布希總統

tax cuts for those making more than $200,000 dollars a year.

對年收入超過20萬美元的人降低稅額

Today, this is accepted doctrine in the Republican Party. The most recent party platform, ratified

現在，這是共和黨所擁護的教條。2012年通過的最新黨綱

in 2012, espouses the belief that “any American who works hard, dreams big and follows the

支持這個理念：「美國人只要努力工作、用力夢想並全力守規

rules can achieve anything he or she wants.” As a result, Republicans don’t believe in

就會達成任何她或他想達到的目標」 可想而知，共和黨員不認同

many social services, like welfare, or a single-payer healthcare system. Aside from Medicare and

許多社會服務機制，像是福利制度或單一保險人健康照護系統。除了醫療保險和

Medicaid, Republicans prefer to stick to private insurers. Repealing Obamacare is a crucial

醫療補助計畫以外，共和黨員傾向依賴私人保險業者。廢止歐巴馬醫療法案是

part of their platform.

他們政見的關鍵部分

Republicans also tend to hold conservative views on social issues. Despite gay marriage

共和黨員在社會議題上也傾向保守立場。儘管2015年禁止同性婚姻的法案

bans being ruled unconstitutional in 2015, candidates like Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee

遭判違憲，像卡森和赫克比等候選人

have expressed their opposition to the idea. The 2012 platform opposes a “redefinition”

依然表示反對同性婚姻。2012年通過的黨綱反對「重新定義」婚姻制度

of marriage, and maintains an anti-abortion stance.

並繼續堅持他們反墮胎的立場

Republicans are also known for supporting the military. Ever since Theodore Roosevelt’s

共和黨員也以支持軍隊聞名。自從羅斯福總統上任以來

presidency, the GOP has advocated for American exceptionalism and intervention around the

共和黨便主張美國在全球有獨特性和干涉世界事務的地位

world. Republicans believe this is possible only through a strong military.

共和黨員認為這只能藉由強大的軍事力量來實踐。

Today, the platform advocates “peace through strength”, promoting American ideals of freedom and democracy

現在，他們的黨綱主張「用力量獲得和平」，推動美國的自由和民主理念

while maintaining a formidable army.

的同時仍繼續維持強大的軍事力量

But today the Republican Party has seen internal instability. Within Congress, far right members

但今天，共和黨內部面臨分裂問題。在國會有極右派分子

have forced the unseating of the Speaker of the House, and prevented party unity, despite

強行將議長免職，儘管共和黨為國會多數

a Congressional majority. This split has threatened to divide the Republican Party.

卻也無法聯合起來。這樣的分裂局勢對共和黨造成威脅

Clearly, there are many types of Republicans: from free-market conservatives to the religious

我們顯而易見共和黨員有很多類型：有自由市場保守派，也有虔誠右派

right, the diversity of views within the party is astounding. That being said, Republicans

這個黨內部立場的多樣性非常驚人。也就是說，共和黨員

do all seem to agree on two things: lower taxes and smaller government.

似乎都認同兩件事：降低稅收和減縮政府

Now you know what Republicans believe. What about their more liberal counterparts, the Democrats?

現在你知道共和黨員的理念是什麼了。那相比之下較自由的敵手民主黨呢？

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看看這部影片吧。謝謝收看TestTube News！記得按讚

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