It seems that few people really read political platforms. The last one that guided both strategy and policy was the Newt Gingrich-initiated Contract With America in 1994.
Well, the GOP just released their new platform and it makes 20 common sense, simple, and clear statements of intention. CNN responded by ridiculing the simplicity, saying it was designed for white rural voters who have only a high school education.
Yes, the goals are stated in plain language. However, achieving those goals will be complicated. Really, there is something elegant about plain comprehensible language. For example, here is the preamble to the 2020 Democrat Platform, filled with self-guilt and “stolen land” gibberish:
“The Democratic National Committee wishes to acknowledge that we gather together to state our values on lands that have been stewarded through many centuries by the ancestors and descendants of Tribal Nations who have been here since time immemorial.
We honor the communities native to this continent, and recognize that our country was built on Indigenous homelands.
We pay our respects to the millions of Indigenous people throughout history who have protected our lands, waters, and animals.
We respectfully acknowledge that we present this Platform at our 2020 Democratic National Convention on the lands of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Forest County Potawatomi Community, the Ho-Chunk Nation, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Menominee Nation, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Band of Mohican Indians.”
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Or deeper into the document we find this gem:
“We must heal our nation’s deepest wounds, not fan the flames of hate. Democrats will root out structural and systemic racism in our economy and our society, and reform our criminal justice system from top to bottom, because we believe Black lives matter. We will ensure that our nation continues to prize diversity and compassion, and welcomes those who yearn to participate in our great democratic experiment by creating a humane, 21st century immigration system that benefits all Americans.”
What can one say about the above except, “How’s that working out for ya?”
In contrast, the new Republican Platform shows how Donald Trump has reshaped the Republican Party and political rhetoric.
We think this platform will provide the exception to the rule. People will read it because it is readable and mercifully compact.
It takes on many of the current political and cultural battles and draws clear lines for the voters to assess. Clarity and briefness are two of its finest qualities. It does not waste time making empty gestures about the unfairness of history, making major misstatements about the past, and wallowing in self-doubt and self-loathing. It takes on the major issues of the day that concern everyday Americans and looks forward to solving real problems, many created by Democrats.
You can read the entire document here, but below are the highlights:
1. SEAL THE BORDER, AND STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION.
2. CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
3. END INFLATION, AND MAKE AMERICA AFFORDABLE AGAIN.
4. MAKE AMERICA THE DOMINANT ENERGY PRODUCER IN THE WORLD, BY FAR!
5. STOP OUTSOURCING, AND TURN THE UNITED STATES INTO A MANUFACTURING SUPERPOWER.
6. LARGE TAX CUTS FOR WORKERS, AND NO TAX ON TIPS!
7. DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR BILL OF RIGHTS, AND OUR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, INCLUDING FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, AND THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.
8. PREVENT WORLD WAR THREE, RESTORE PEACE IN EUROPE AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND BUILD A GREAT IRON DOME MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD OVER OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY — ALL MADE IN AMERICA.
9. END THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
10. STOP THE MIGRANT CRIME EPIDEMIC, DEMOLISH THE FOREIGN DRUG CARTELS, CRUSH GANG VIOLENCE, AND LOCK UP VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
11. REBUILD OUR CITIES, INCLUDING WASHINGTON DC, MAKING THEM SAFE, CLEAN, AND BEAUTIFUL AGAIN.
12. STRENGTHEN AND MODERNIZE OUR MILITARY, MAKING IT, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE STRONGEST AND MOST POWERFUL IN THE WORLD.
13. KEEP THE U.S. DOLLAR AS THE WORLD’S RESERVE CURRENCY.
14. FIGHT FOR AND PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WITH NO CUTS, INCLUDING NO CHANGES TO THE RETIREMENT AGE.
15. CANCEL THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE AND CUT COSTLY AND BURDENSOME REGULATIONS.
16. CUT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ANY SCHOOL PUSHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY, RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY, AND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE RACIAL, SEXUAL, OR POLITICAL CONTENT ON OUR CHILDREN.
17. KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS.
18. DEPORT PRO-HAMAS RADICALS AND MAKE OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES SAFE AND PATRIOTIC AGAIN.
19. SECURE OUR ELECTIONS, INCLUDING SAME DAY VOTING, VOTER IDENTIFICATION, PAPER BALLOTS, AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP.
20. UNITE OUR COUNTRY BY BRINGING IT TO NEW AND RECORD LEVELS OF SUCCESS.
To be sure, each of these points will be contested and the details of implementation are necessarily missing from a short document. Nevertheless, to achieve a goal, it must be clearly stated. A platform should be a statement of goals, not a detailed analysis of how all goals will be implemented. Some of these goals can be reached by Executive Order, and regulatory changes, while others will require Congressional action. Therefore, much will depend on electing both a Republican President and Congress.
How many of these 20 goals do you agree with?
We agree with almost all of it, with a few nuanced exceptions. Point 14 is problematic. Given the demographic shifts, the point implies no cuts in Social Security benefits. That would leave only tax increases or increased debt to save the current system. That would seem to conflict with #6. Point 11 may prove difficult since the development or improvement of cities requires mostly local action. However, the Federal Government can cut off funds to those cities that don’t clean up their crime problem and the Supreme Court has now given cities more flexibility to deal with drug-addicted vagrants.
In all, the contrast between to two parties both in terms of policy and verbiage could not be more clear. If the purpose of a “platform” is to inform voters of your positions and intentions, the new Republican Platform succeeds.
