HEALTH CARE
Of the two platforms, the Democrats’ plan is the more substantive and detailed. They assigned this a high priority, placing it at the same place the Republicans placed national security. Here are some highlights:
Families and individuals should have the option of keeping the coverage they have or choosing from a wide array of health insurance plans, including many private health insurance options and a public plan. Coverage should be made affordable for all Americans with subsidies provided through tax credits and other means.
Health care should be a shared responsibility between employers, workers, insurers, providers and government.
No one should have to worry about losing health coverage if they change or lose their job.
Additionally, they are in favor of funding for “stem cell research”, AIDS prevention, and elimination of chronic disease.
Far from being socialized medicine, this plan sounds reasonable. I like the emphasis on tax credits to help pay the costs of staying insured and the fact that you can still choose your own plan. There are, however, three glaring problems:
No mention of tort reform (not surprising considering that billionaire trial lawyers are among the Democratic Party’s biggest supporters)
This:
Health insurance plans should accept all applicants and be prohibited from charging different prices based on pre-existing conditions.
Insurance companies are in the business of risk. It should be expected that those who are sickly are going to file more claims. Won’t this lead to healthy people getting charged more so the insurance companies can cover their losses? Honestly, this is like requiring that a guy with a Dukes of Hazzard-like driving record be entitled to pay the same auto insurance premiums as a 60 year old woman who has never had an accident or ticket in her life.
Finally:
We will make our health care system culturally sensitive and accessible to those who speak different languages.
Sounds like pandering to the illegal immigrant demographic, frankly.
The Republican plan is simple: we shouldn’t have a government plan. This is consistent with small-government beliefs. What the Republican platform offers are basically guarantees. Here they are:
We will protect citizens against any and all risky restructuring efforts that would complicate or ration health care.
We will encourage health promotion and disease prevention.
We will facilitate cooperation, not confrontation, among patients, providers, payers, and all stakeholders in the health care system.
We will not put government between patients and their health care providers.
We will not put the system on a path that empowers Washington bureaucrats at the expense of patients.
We will not raise taxes instead of reducing health care costs.
We will not replace the current system with the staggering inefficiency, maddening irrationality, and uncontrollable costs of a government monopoly.
To drive down the costs of medical coverage--which the Republicans consider to be the real problem--they offer the following:
- Tort reform
- Tax benefits or credits to be applied toward your own insurance
This appeals to those of us who do not believe that the proper role of government is to run your healthcare plan.
The Republican platform also calls for federal funding toward stem cell research, but specifically not the embryonic kind; only umbilical cord and adult stem cell research.
Both plans talk highly of “encouraging” better preventative medicine, but offer no specifics.
CRIME
The Democrats are vague on this one, but some of the key points are:
- Holding offenders accountable
- Pro-death penalty, but want it to be fairly applied
- More federal funding for local police
- Better rehabilitation for ex-convicts
- Support the use of drug courts instead of hard time for simple drug offenders
The Republican plan criminal justice plan is much more specific and balls-to-the-wall tough:
We support mandatory sentencing provisions for gang conspiracy crimes, violent or sexual offenses against children, rape, and assaults resulting in serious bodily injury.
Gang rape, child rape, and rape committed in the course of another felony deserve, at the least, mandatory life imprisonment.
We oppose the granting of parole to dangerous or repeat felons.
Courts must have the option of imposing the death penalty in capital murder cases and other instances of heinous crime, while federal review of those sentences should be streamlined to focus on claims of innocence and to prevent delaying tactics by defense attorneys.
We encourage the use of advanced technology to monitor nonviolent criminals.
Thankfully, there is a party willing to stand up against gang rape. Anyway, there’s more:
- Aggressive prosecution of online sexual predators
- Criminals should be barred from seeking monetary damages for injuries they incur while committing a crime (many states are adopting that through the “Castle Doctrine”; one of the NRA’s best initiatives)
- Favors drug courts (like the Democrats do)
- Use of faith-based initiatives to help divert young offenders from delinquency
Regarding illegal immigration, both platforms talk tough. The Democratic stance boils down to this:
We support a system that requires undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, pay taxes, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.
The Republicans are clearer and harsher:
Our determination to uphold the rule of law begins with more effective enforcement, giving our agents the tools and resources they need to protect our sovereignty, completing the border fence quickly and securing the borders, and employing complementary strategies to secure our ports of entry. Experience shows that enforcement of existing laws is effective in reducing and reversing illegal immigration. Our commitment to the rule of law means smarter enforcement at the workplace, against illegal workers and lawbreaking employers alike, along with those who practice identity theft and traffic in fraudulent documents. As long as jobs are available in the United States, economic incentives to enter illegally will persist. But we must empower employers so they can know with confidence that those they hire are permitted to work. That means that the EVerify system—which is an internet-based system that verifies the employment authorization and identity of employees—must be reauthorized.
It means requiring cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement and real consequences, including the denial of federal funds, for self described sanctuary cities, which stand in open defiance of the federal and state statutes that expressly prohibit such sanctuary policies, and which endanger the lives of U.S. citizens.
It does not mean driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, nor does it mean that states should be allowed to flout the federal law barring them from giving in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens, nor does it mean that illegal aliens should receive social security benefits, or other public benefits, except as provided by federal law.
We oppose amnesty.
Personally, I approve of all of that. Whether or not they can sincerely get McCain on board is another matter.
TAXES AND SPENDING
The Democrats do not have a unified tax and spend policy in their platform, so I have to break it down in bits and pieces:
- Taxes will not be raised for anyone making less than $250,000 per year
- No capital gains tax on “small businesses”
- No intention of cutting spending at all, but they do promise that:
We will lift the veil of secret deals in Washington by publishing searchable, online information about federal grants, contracts, earmarks, loans, and lobbyist contacts with government officials.
So look for expansion of Big Government paid for by “soaking the rich”.
As for the Republicans, they promise everything that their base demands, but their record during the Bush years was far removed from it. However, their solutions are thorough:
- Introduction of a Balanced Budget Amendment (yes!)
- A declaration to stop earmarks
- A one-year moratorium on non-defense, non-veteran discretionary spending
- A Presidential line-item veto
- A “supermajority” requirement in Congress to thwart tax hikes
Wow! They certainly do talk the talk, but can they deliver? History says no. Still, they have the right message and it’s a pity that nobody feels like they can trust them on this.
The Republicans at least deserve credit for identifying the real problem: spending is too high and taxes are more than high enough. I say they have the advantage in this category.
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
I’m just going to lump these together since they are connected (especially as far as the Democrats are concerned).
Energy
The Democratic Platform on Energy:
It will not be easy, but neither was getting to the moon. We know we can’t drill our way to energy independence and so we must summon all of our ingenuity and legendary hard work and we must invest in research and development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies—such as solar, wind, geothermal, as well as technologies to store energy through advanced batteries and clean up our coal plants. And we will call on businesses, government, and the American people to make America 50 percent more energy efficient by 2030, because we know that the most energy efficient economy will also gain the competitive edge for new manufacturing and jobs that stay here at home.
I already condemned most of this when reviewing Obama’s acceptance speech. They plan to throw money into trying to power the economy with technology that is either less efficient than what we currently have, unproven, or imaginary. This is not a plan. Interestingly, the platform contradicts Obama when he stated in his acceptance speech that he would get us off of oil dependence in ten years. The platform says it’s more like twenty:
We will make it a top priority to reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or ten million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the amount of oil we are expected to import from OPEC nations in 2030.
No domestic oil drilling
Environment
Here are the highlights:
We understand that climate change is not just an economic issue or an environmental concern–this is a national security crisis. (At least until we figure out whether it’s getting hotter or colder)
We will lead to defeat the epochal, man-made threat to the planet: climate change. Without dramatic changes, rising sea levels will flood coastal regions around the world. Warmer temperatures and declining rainfall will reduce crop yields, increasing conflict, famine, disease, and poverty. By 2050, famine could displace more than 250 million people worldwide. That means increased instability in some of the most volatile parts of the world. (They forgot to mentiong the plague of locusts)
We need a global response to climate change that includes binding and enforceable commitments to reducing emissions, especially for those that pollute the most: the United States, China, India, the European Union, and Russia.
No mention of the Kyoto Protocol
The Republicans, of course, want to rape the Earth.
Energy
We support accelerated exploration, drilling and development in America, from new oilfields off the nation’s coasts to onshore fields such as those in Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska.
Because of environmental extremism and regulatory blockades in Washington, not a single new refinery has been built in this country in 30 years. We will encourage refinery construction and modernization and, with sensitivity to environmental concerns, an expedited permitting process.
We therefore advocate a long-term energy tax credit equally applicable to all renewable power sources.
Both platforms come out in favor of biofuels, coal, natural gas; and promoting solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The Republicans want to encourage private development of the last three with tax incentives, while the Democrats want to invest in a massive Manhattan Project to make it happen.
Environment
It’s basically “free market” all the way:
In caring for the land and water, private ownership has been the best guarantee of conscientious stewardship, while the world’s worst instances of environmental degradation have occurred under governmental control. By the same token, it is no accident that the most economically advanced countries also have the strongest environmental protections.
SUMMARY
Now, in my analysis, I want to make it clear that I’m not saying that I know what either candidate will do if actually elected nor do I believe that either party will seriously deliver on most of their promises. For example, the voting records of Biden and Obama clearly show a law enforcement approach to terrorism, but the Democratic Platform does not. Here’s how I summarize the message on the covered issues:
Social Policy
The Republicans are wasting far too much time and energy on gay marriage and non-issues like internet gambling. Furthermore, the idea of an anti-abortion amendment to the Constitution is ridiculous. Focus more on appointing originalist judges and these issues don’t come up. The Republicans are talking a good game on education, but their solutions are largely untried, highly controversial, and poorly explained. Advantage: the Democrats.
National Security
Both parties are very similar on this in their platforms--regardless of what the candidates are saying. They want to use aggressive diplomacy against Iran but are careful about threatening military force. The Democrats want to hurry up and get out of Iraq no matter what so we can commit more to Afghanistan while the Republicans want to finish the job in Iraq and increase the ability of the Afghans to fight for themselves. Neither one has a coherent plan for dealing with Pakistan, so I don’t see what difference it makes. Both are committed to nuclear non-proliferation, although the Republicans are smarter to favor everything the Democrats do plus missile defense. Both want to improve security on the border and improve cargo screening. According to recent polling, a majority of Americans now believe that we are winning the War on Terror, so it seems to be true that Republicans are still more trusted on national security. Advantage: the Republicans
Health Care
The Republicans are resisting the urge to take control over 1/6th of the American economy with socialized health care, but the trouble is that the Democrats are too. Attempting to scare voters with falsehoods about the Democrats’ proposal is probably not going to work because it is actually sensible--on paper. You could almost say that the Republicans don’t really have a health care plan beyond tort reform (which is necessary, but not a cure-all). Advantage: the Democrats.
Crime
For most crime issues, the platforms are equal. However, the Republicans are much more articulate on the issue of illegal immigration, on which a majority of Americans favor a tough stance. Advantage: the Republicans
Taxes and Spending
The Democrats are interested in class warfare, punishing big business, and expanding the scope and power of government. The Republicans are the only ones talking about controlling spending. What else can I say? Advantage: the Republicans (maybe they really, really mean it this time)
Energy and the Environment
Many similarities on energy policy (biofuels, encouraging renewable sources), but the Republicans are being sensible when they speak of domestic drilling, increasing our refineries, and relying more on nuclear power. As for the environment, I’m not personally convinced that humans are the primary or even a significant cause of global cooling global warming climate change, but many Americans do think so and the Democrats have a clearer agenda on it. Nevertheless, the Democrats’ energy policy is too pie-in-the-sky for my tastes, so… Advantage: the Republicans
All things considered, the platforms lay out the national strategies of both parties and show where their priorities are. The Democrats want to bash Bush, raise taxes, and grow Big Government (at least they’re honest about it, I guess). The Republicans want to end abortion and gay marriage, scare the crap out of you about terrorism and Democrats’ intentions if elected, and let the market fix your problems.
Speaking as a Republican, I hope that all of our national candidates will focus on heavily on the spending issues (especially the Balanced Budget Amendment) and illegal immigration. These are the issues that will motivate the base and appeal to many Independents and Democrats as well. No more of this “abortion amendment” jibber-jabber. Let’s run on things that we can and should win with.
Again, if you have any questions on anything in the platforms that I didn’t cover and don’t feel like looking it up, just ask!
DNC Platform
RNC Platform
UPDATE: Rich Taylor asked me to note that when evaluating taxes, consider that the US has the highest corporate tax in the world. The Republicans mention this in their platform:
America’s producers can compete successfully in the international arena — as long as they have a level playing field. Today’s tax code is tilted against them, with one of the highest corporate tax rates of all developed countries. That not only hurts American investors, managers, and the U.S. balance of trade; it also sends American jobs overseas.
The GOP is in favor of reducing corporate taxes.
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