Where do you stand on the issues?

You can be a Democrat or a Republican and say you support the troops.

You can be a Republican or a Democrat and think the state should do away with the Washington Assessment of Student Learning tests.

You can be either and espouse better government, encourage the grass roots, evoke the Founders.

But there are key differences between the two major parties, as recent state conventions in Washington highlighted. At each gathering, more than 1,000 members gathered to adopt a platform and some resolutions that call for their party, their elected officials or their government to keep doing some things and stop doing others.

Each party has detailed stands on everything from agriculture and immigration to health care and foreign policy. They aren’t necessarily polar opposites on those topics. One party suggests reducing farm subsidies “as soon as prudent,” while another calls for “allocation of equitable and fair farm subsidies.”

One party says immigrants should be offered programs to teach them English, while the other says the country should welcome immigrants “willing to embrace our language” – in either case, they want immigrants speaking English, they just have different ideas how we get there.

Candidates aren’t required to adhere to their party’s platform, and members can disagree with some principles or ignore others. For Washington voters who haven’t traditionally identified with a party but are wondering this year whether they’re a Democrat or a Republican, The Spokesman-Review is offering a brief test here, and a more extensive one at spokesmanreview.com.

The following statements come from the platforms and resolutions approved at the two recent state conventions. For each pair of statements, pick the one you most agree with.

1. Taxes

a. I support a progressive tax system at both the federal and state levels.

b. The federal income tax should be eliminated.

2. Marriage

a. Government’s responsibility is to uphold and respect traditional institutions, such as marriage between one man and one woman.

b. Marriage is a human right and should not be restricted by sexual orientation or gender identity.

3. Health care

a. Health care is a basic human right that should be guaranteed by law, and the United States should have a comprehensive, single-payer national health care plan that provides quality care, prescription coverage, dental, visual, hearing and contraceptive services.

b. Individuals should have the freedom and opportunity to make their own health care decisions, and the ability to choose a plan that meets their individual needs. Government should promote competition among health care providers and avoid mandates.

4. Education

a. I oppose charter schools and vouchers.

b. I support tuition tax credits and competition in education to bring wider choices, higher quality and lower costs.

5. Energy

a. A key solution to the energy crisis would be drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and along the U.S. coastline, using the best available technology to protect the environment.

b. A key solution to the energy crisis would be creative mechanisms to encourage conservation, efficient, renewable and environmentally responsible energy, which includes solar and wind power.

6. Iraq

a. I support giving military leaders and troops all the equipment, arms and other material supplies and services that they need to bring the campaign to a successful conclusion.

b. I support an expeditious and orderly withdrawal of U.S. military forces and bases from Iraq, conducted to do the least harm to the people of that country.

7. Immigration

a. English should be the only language used for legal documents and laws requiring other languages to be used should be eliminated.

b. English should not be established as the sole official language of the United States.

8. Crime

a. The criminal justice system should emphasize rehabilitation.

b. The criminal justice system should deter crime through strong and appropriate punishment.

9. Elections

a. The president should be elected through the Electoral College system.

b. The president should be elected through the popular vote.

Answers:

The Republican platform and resolution positions are 1b, 2a, 3b, 4b, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8b, 9a.

The Democratic platform and resolution positions are 1a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8a, 9b.

If you selected six or more Republican answers, color yourself red. If you selected six or more Democratic answers, color yourself blue.

If you split so that you support five answers of one party, and four of the others, you trend toward the purple.