Why should I believe anything that either the Republicans or Democrats say?

Listen to what is said and make up your OWN mind. Scrutinize what you are told, but don't accept or dismiss it simply because it appeases your political self-esteem of what you want to believe. Sometimes, accepting or rejecting information takes courage. To properly evaluate what you are told takes an informed mind on how the real world actually works. It also takes an appreciation of history to see patterns. Understanding the philosophies of the Founding Fathers would help too. Their political philosophies are as relevant today as they were back in Colonial times.