While there are some common political beliefs among Republicans like some moderate political beliefs, they differ significantly on social and economic policy. These differences range from whether corporations should be allowed to make a profit to whether the wealthy should pay more taxes. There are also significant differences between the parties regarding foreign policy and abortion. These differences make it difficult to see a common ground between the two major parties.

Openness to Experience is the Most Common Personality Trait Linked to Politics

Openness to Experience is one of the five core personality dimensions that govern behavior. People with high levels of transparency to Experience are generally open to trying new things and embracing change. They also pay attention to their inner feelings and are curious about the world. By contrast, people with low levels of openness tend to stick with familiar routines and groups and may be perceived as closed-minded.

There are many studies linking certain personality traits to political views. Some of these studies have found that people with high Openness to Experience are likely to be interested in science and technology. They are also more likely to have high levels of interest in politics.

Military Might is Key to Keeping the U.S. a Superpower

One of the critical issues facing the United States is China’s rise. China has been gaining ground in key areas, such as green tech and quantum computing, while the United States has lagged. The Chinese military recently conducted war games that predicted their modernized army could defeat Taiwan. Military might is crucial to maintaining an edge over the PLA. To achieve this, DOD must accelerate its efforts to modernize U.S. forces and counter PLA capabilities, including incorporating private sector innovations, designing new warfighting concepts, and moving troops into the Indo-Pacific.

While the U.S. military might is not unlimited, it does allow the country to intervene decisively in any region of the world. In comparison, most countries are forced into making foreign policy decisions based on a set of priorities dictated by their neighbors. As a result, vulnerable countries must spend a large part of their time doing damage control along their borders. For example, China cannot ignore separatists in Taiwan or unrest in Hong Kong. Nor can it ignore the nuclear weapons and missiles of North Korea. In addition, ten other countries claim territory in China.

Gay Marriage is a Significant Issue for Both Parties

Gay marriage has become an increasingly important social issue in this election year. While the Republican National Convention opted to restrict marriage to one man and one woman, the Democratic National Convention called for same-sex marriage. Despite these differences, Log Cabin Republicans hope their party’s platform will eventually include the issue. Mitt Romney has made this point to recent Liberty University graduates, arguing that he hopes to see equality within his party.

According to Gallup’s most recent polls, Americans favor same-sex marriage. More than half (57%) of Americans now favor such a marriage, up from just over 30% a decade ago. In the same poll, only 27% of Republicans oppose it.