DIFFERENT VISIONS

The PARTY PLATFORMS - IMPORTANCE & COMPARISON


WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

Both presidential candidates have repeatedly said that there is a clear difference in the visions each has for America.  That is not always clear from their ads and the debates.  They both say they are for jobs, freedom, security, prosperity, fairness, lower cost of living, better government, motherhood, and apple pie.  To see the differences, one must look closer; for example, maybe not motherhood for every woman, and maybe not apple pie if the apples are genetically modified or picked by underpaid migrant workers, and so on.

Where can we get those details?  One place is the party platforms.  Some think that the platforms are meaningless or full of the same platitudes as the ads and debates, and that the candidates, once elected, will ignore them and do as they please - and that is somewhat true.

However, a lot of work and precision goes into these documents to express the mind and will of a bulk of the active party members, and that includes the candidates.  They generally agree with the principles and goals laid out there, or they would not be in that party, and certainly not as the main representative of it.  And, if they do not stick to it, their base will object.

One of the best descriptions of the importance of the platforms is in an article at FreakOutNation.com [http://freakoutnation.com/2012/09/05/comparing-the-dnc-to-the-rnc-2012-platforms-ones-humane-and-the-other-is-insane/].  The site is obviously liberal and/or Democratic, and the author goes way beyond any objectivism in the rest of the article, but there is one screen of text that is well stated.  This part starts just after her all-caps line "IS THERE ANY QUESTION as to who is HUMANE and who is INSANE?" which is a clue that she has an opinion.

"If there were any questions as for what the 2 candidates stand, the answers are right here...
...Each platform addresses only those issues for which the party can come to consensus  or, rather, willingly to promote as “concensus agreement.”   Anything else is left out either from lack of consensus or refusal to address – That void or lack of discussion is telling as well."  [emphasis is mine]

She goes on to compare several paragraphs from each platform document and ridicule the GOP one.  But it does quote from the parties' documents and you can compare for yourself.


HOW CAN THEY BE COMPARED?

There are several things one can do to compare the platforms.
    a. Read the Party Documents themselves (brief description and links below)
    b. Read abbreviated Comparisons by Others [Other Websites (my annotated list of links,
        on another page of this site)]
    c. Discuss these issues with other people (who can remain civil while discussing emotional
        topics)
    d. Consider how to evaluate the various statements (based on your values, your
        knowledge of reality and of the factors involved in the issue).
    e. Rate the issues numerically and see how each party platform adds up on your value
        scale.


a. Party Documents

If you want to avoid some name-calling and extreme adjectives, you can go to the party documents themselves (they are not quite as bad).  Both are in PDF format.  The Democratic platform is 32 pages with only part of 1 page blank.  It does not list who was on the committee.  The GOP platform is 62 pages, with 50 of actual text, the rest being committee/staff lists, contents, dedication, preamble, and cover sheets.
      Democratic 2012 National Platform
            [http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform]
      Republican 2012 National Platform
            [www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012GOPPlatform.pdf]

Most of us do not have the time (especially at this late date), nor the tolerance for vague generalizations, to read through and digest these documents.  So most of us will rely on others to extract and match up the core statements from the platforms.


b. Comparisons by Others

There are many websites that compare the platforms, but most have some point of view that slants their choice of issues to compare (don't we all?), and they vary in length and depth. 

I have compiled an annotated list of about 20 websites that compare the party platforms.  I've listed my 5 favorites first, but after that there is no particular order.  You might read the annotations to select which you want to read first.  There are also some tips on doing your own web search.

Before going off to follow those links, I'd recommend that you finish the descriptions of the other 3 steps in the comparison process.


c. & d. Discuss the Issues & Consider how to Evaluate the platform statements

These 2 steps are best done together because they feed each other.

We all tend to oversimplify issues in order to speed the decision-making process and to minimize the ambiguity and angst.  Our email box tends to be predominantly of one political or social persuasion.  We also tend to get caught up in the mind-set of our associates and to start "playing those tapes" to the point of weakening or killing our own independent analysis of the issues, especially if you watch Fox News or Rachel Maddow exclusively.

So I recommend that your discussions be with not only those of like mind but also with some who have different points of view.  This helps you with step d. by opening up some of the detailed aspects of issues and how they often interrelate.

If you do these steps, I think your conclusions will be more realistic and more helpful for yourself and the country.


e. Rate the issues numerically

See how each party platform adds up on your value scale.  This exercise is helpful because, after looking over the platform comparison, it is often hard to determine which party, on balance, with all the pluses and minuses, you really agree with most.  This exercise will keep track of all those pluses and minuses for you, as you review the comparison.  It might be useful to do this with a like-minded group (hopefully after you've done the discussion step in a diverse group).
    1. View or print one of the tables of issues listed on the "Party Platform Links" page.
           (I recommend Asaravala's list, What Your Vote Means)
    2. On a piece of paper (or a spreadsheet), make 3 columns of widths of about 2", 1", and 1"
          respectively.
    3. Write a title header for each column:  Issues, Dems, & Reps.
    4. In the 1st column, list the issues (Asaravala's list, What Your Vote Means  has 41 issues)
    5. Now, for each issue:
        a. read what each party has to say on it.
        b. rate each party's statement, on a scale of 0-10 (or -10 to +10, whatever),
            considering how closely it fits your values (considering steps c. & d.) AND
            considering how important the issue is to you as a factor.
        c. Write the rating number in the appropriate party's column.
            If time, you might want to follow the links to learn more about the laws or court cases
             referenced.  They often involve much more than the title would suggest.
    6. When all issues have been rated, add up the Dem and the Rep columns separately.
        The column with the larger total will be the platform that seems to match your values
         better.

    Keep in mind that this is for the Party platform statements ONLY;  You still need to consider how closely the candidate will actually abide by the statement (or not) once he gets elected, and how he will adjust when the real world doesn't let him abide by the platform.


Here now is a link to my "Party Platform Links" page, where you can explore different sites that comment on the platform differences.  You can also use the link on the tab bar near the top of this page.

----
P.S.  For more general information on the election:

As I explore the web for this blog, I am coming across a number of sites that look like real treasure stores of useful information and perspectives.  One of these is Democracy in Action (P2012.org) by Eric M. Appleman of George Washington University, and deals mainly with the presidential elections.  I've explored several of its pages and it looks like a great place to start.  It gives many links to important sites (governmental, think tanks, partisan, and not) on many issues.  I highly recommend it.

"Thatch"