@Opusworks Those who say the two parties are the same overlook the faction that doesn't care what party it's in as long as it can keep people from voting -- the oligarchy faction. From the beginning it's tried to restrict voting to white men with property. Everyone else has had to fight for their voting rights.
That faction controlled the Democratic party till the mid-20th century. Now it controls the GOP. That's not the only difference between the parties, but it's a crucial one.