After the Democrat and Republican National Conventions, I tried to reduce eight days of drama and advertising into the essence of each party. But trying to think clearly about each side, it’s too easy to come up with an amorphous puddle. Maybe short phrases could do the trick: Democrats believe in the political and social equality of all people. Republicans believe in institutions based on continuity and stability. Much too vague. And it’s impossible to take away underlying assumptions and values because they’re so deeply buried. For greater clarity I tried to examine each party’s platform, i.e. its policies, values, and visions. Since my purpose here is to speak to undecided voters, the platform of each party could help.
The Democratic platform was easy to find and summarize: strong economic development including livable wages, workers’ rights and job development; safe housing and strong health care; a reformed tax code and Wall Street abuses curbed; reform of the criminal justice system; racial justice and equity including women’s, immigrant, LGBTQ and disability rights; the climate crisis taken seriously; voting rights protected; world class education; working against the NRA for gun safety.
The Republican platform was harder to find because there is none. Why? The answer was given at the Convention: there would be no “breadth of perspectives” there to write one. Instead, Republicans drafted a resolution that the RNC “enthusiastically supports President Trump. With the help of Republican David Frum, a writer for Atlantic magazine, here’s the Republican Platform that Republicans refused to write. Where there was uncertainty, I filled in from the last four years of the President’s term.
Reduce the taxes of our richest citizens and prosperity will follow; don’t over-hype corona virus—that hurts the economy; open our schools and businesses; hold face-mask free rallies. Climate change is over-hyped; if it is happening, live with it. Health care will manage without government intervention; those who pay more will get more. Voting is a privilege and states should have wide regulation powers. Discrimination against Blacks is less important than the media bias against whites, Christians and conservatives. Illegal immigrants and DACA’s should be delayed citizenship, voting rights and health care. Gun safety should not curtail gun rights and the Second Amendment. Extreme police misconduct should be punished, but crime is stopped by empowering police.
I’ve written this letter to those in the political middle by examining two Platforms. I am a Democrat because I think progressives will better unite and heal the country. Republicans have given our President unlimited discretion and power. Sadly, one person or one party rule borders on fascism.
Tom Klein
Bowling Green
