On the public radio show This American Life, host Ira Glass notes the widening chasm between the two parties:

"Everyone knows that politics is now so divided in our country that not only do the two sides disagree on the solutions to the country’s problems, they don’t even agree on what the problems are. It’s two versions of the world in collision."

Even the frequency of key words used in the two documents is indicative of the parties' drastically contrasting perspectives. Take the mention of "God" for example: In the Republican party platform it appears 10 times. In the Democratic platform: once (added in only after lengthy debate). Likewise, mention of "the Constitution"(or some variation thereof, like "constitutional") is referenced 60 times in the Republican platform as compared to just six in the Democratic one. And while Democrats make multiple references to the "climate change" and the urgency of addressing it, there is not single mention of it in the entire Republican platform.

Click the image above to download the PDF. Excepts are taken directly from the platforms of both parties platforms, illustrating some of the widest divides on a range of major national issues. Download the PDF above or browse through the interactive version below.

Not sure what side you're on? Take this Procon.org party platform identity quiz.



