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I need help people: should I register as a democrat or republican?

Hi everyone. I think I am going to get registered to vote and from what I understand, you have to register as either as a republican or democrat, regardless who you plan on voting for. I'm 21 and never had the desire to vote before, but I think it would be fun and I feel left out since many of the people I know vote. Anyway, the reason why I don't know what to register as is because I really don't know too much of the difference betwen the republicans and the democrats. So can some of you guys please help me out and explain what the difference is, or at least tell me a webpage that describes it?
I may be wrong (and please tell me if I'm wrong) but from what I understand:
1)Republicans are conservative and democrats are liberal. I really am neither, I'm somewhere in the middle, but probably more on the conservative side, so would that make me a republican?
2)Aren't the democrats in favor of abortion and republicans against it? If thats the case, then I would again be republican.
3) I've been told that the republicans are mostly racist and sexist, and that its the democrats who are more in favor in civil rights and equality for all and such. If thats the case, then I'm 100% democrat.
4)Weren't the republicans in favor of the draft and the democrats who believed that it should be voluntary? If thats so then I'm a democrat.
5) I've been reading in the paper that a republican congressman or somebody in my area want's to amend the constitution to make it illegal to burn the flag. The democratic lawmakers think a law like that would be a stupid waste of time when you could be focusing more on important things. I agree with the democrats.
6) I've heard that the republicans are more in favor of "family values" and frown upon things like divorce, unmarried people who choose to be parents etc...and if that's so, I'm republican.
7) Gun control: republicans are against any and all type of gun control, whereas democrats are in favor. I believe that all honest people should be allowed to own a gun if they wish, however I believe that there should be some kind of control to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals.

So as you can see, I'm very confused. There are things that I agree with on both sides. I hope somebody can please help me. So what exactly is the difference between republicans and democrats? And what do you think I am more of?

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McSpotlight: Can't you also register as "independent"? (and exactly what does voting achieve when you're voting for either a) a moderately right-wing capitalist party or b) a full-on right-wing capitalist party? Vote Cthulhu; never mind about the lesser of two evils!)

Follow Ups:

• closer to being a libertarian DonS USA July 16 1999 (0)
• Do neither. Partisanship kills democracy. Pajaro June 20 1999 (2)
  • Partisanship is Democracy. Red Deathy Socialist party Uk June 21 1999 (1)
    • Hmm. Perhaps I confused things. Pajaro June 24 1999 (0)
• Spoiling teh Fun. Red Deathy Socialist party Uk June 20 1999 (0)
• register D or R? I'd advise against it! Floyd Frances Farmer Cabal Unit Shifters Anonymous June 20 1999 (0)
• some advice Samuel Day Fassbinder Citizens for Mustard Greens USA June 17 1999 (5)
  • Denying law abiding adults the right to keep and bear arms DonS USA July 21 1999 (4)
    • Not all prisons have bars... Farinata L'Inferno July 21 1999 (3)
      • Born lucky? DonS USA July 28 1999 (2)
        • You're Western; ergo, you are lucky. Farinata L'inferno July 28 1999 (1)
          • The First World benifits from robust economics in the Third World. DonS USA July 29 1999 (0)
• Try the communists Nikhil Jaikumar PCC MA, USA June 16 1999 (1)
  • How? Samuel Day Fassbinder Citizens for Mustard Greens USA June 17 1999 (0)
• That's up to you, do what you think is right, but whatever you do, vote!! Mike Bacon North TX USA June 16 1999 (0)
• Do you really want pollsters calling you, or being summoned for jury duty? Hugh Morris Howard Stern for President USA June 16 1999 (0)