Trying to find a simple understandable party platform for the Democratic party isn't easy. The one on their website is 59 pages long. Although the below is from 2006, I wasn't a Democrat then, and so the concepts- for the most part- are the same.
Again, my words are in red.
http://www.politics-and-candidates.com/articles/democratic-party/stance.phpIn 2006, the Democratic Party announced a new platform that encompasses six key goals that epitomize the Democratic Party's beliefs and overall stance.
Here are the six goals and what the party says about each:
Honest Leadership & Open Government: This goal is a pledge by the Democratic Party to enforce ethics and accountability in government by creating new rules, ending unethical relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists and abolishing the trading of official business for gifts.
Of course, we've seen what the dems mean by this. Today we have a secret council led by the president re-writing our healthcare plans, which a firm majority are against...Real Security: In this goal, the party states: "We will protect Americans at home and lead the world by telling the truth to our troops, our citizens, and our allies."
No sure WTF that means. So far, Barry's security isn't real secure.Energy Independence: This is the party's environmental stance that aims to reduce dependence on foreign oil, eliminate the billions in subsidies that go to gas and oil companies and use money saved to invest in alternative energies for a cleaner America.
Again, we've seen that while it sounds good, they won't do it. Stop all American oil research- pay billion to foreign countries to find more.Economic Prosperity & Educational Excellence: This two-part goal includes creating more jobs for Americans within the United States, raising minimum wage, establishing fair trade agreements to increase economic opportunity and paying the national debt.
Man...just not a good time to be reading the Democratic Party Stance, is it?For education, the Democratic Party aims to make college more affordable and expand educational opportunities for all.
Nice words. Never gonna happen. 12 trillion in dept, no money for education.Health Care for Everyone: This goal includes providing affordable health care for everyone, improving prescription drug coverage and investing in stem cell and other medical research.
Yeah- we're getting ass-raped with healthcare for everyone right now.Retirement Security: This goal promises to protect Social Security and fight for pension reform.
Did I mention the ass-raping in healtcare also sodomizes the Social Security and Medicare plans?Continual Issues in Left-Wing Politics
The six goals mentioned above cover a majority of the Democratic Party's ongoing goals. Here are some more continuing concerns of the Democratic Party:
Abortion: Abortion divides the Democratic and Republican parties. The Democratic Party's platform favors a woman's right to choose and supports the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that declared abortion a constitutionally protected right.
Abortion on demand? uh.....no.The current Republican Party, heavily influenced by the Christian right, favors government interference in reproductive rights in general, which includes abortion and birth control.
Simplistic and stupid arguement that pisses a majority of Americans off, including me.Affirmative Action: Affirmative action has been a hot topic for a number of years as way to ensure equal opportunity, with the Democratic Party mostly in favor of it and the Republican Party mostly against it.
Affirmative Action is giving a position to a lesser qualified person based on who they are. How is that fair? It's not supposed to be.Economics: In economics, the party's stance focuses on assisting the poor and keeping spending and, therefore, the national debt under control.
This is now so far off of what is really happening, that it's not fair to comment on it.Environment: Left-wing politics in general favor environmentally friendly policies and conservation and have worked to develop renewable energy,
stop global warming and increase regulation of greenhouse gases.
Um...lets start by cutting our dependance of other people's gass and oil by using our own. How about nuclear power plants? How about something?Equality: The Democratic Party repeatedly calls for more equal opportunities, no matter a person's income, in both the cost and quality of health care and education. They also favor equality for all in social issues and oppose discrimination of any sort.
But they oppose you if you are white, Christian, and male. See Affirmative Action.Gun Control: Gun control issues split along party lines. Some Democrats agree with the Republican Party's platform on fewer firearm restrictions, while other Democrats want strict gun control measures.
I don't see alot of republicans pushing for control of guns.Current Issues of the Democratic Party Platform
As relates to the ongoing issues, certain changes have occurred during the 109th and the 110th Congress:
Minimum Wage: On May 25, 2007, Congress passed the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 that gradually increases the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour.
Same-Sex Marriage: Just as controversial as the subject of abortion in recent years is the subject of same-sex marriage. The Republican Party attempted to pass an amendment to the Constitution called the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) on June 7, 2006, but the Democratic Party voted against it and the amendment failed to pass.
Uh...no. Marrage under the Church should be about the Church. A civil union giving money to the partner is government. Give under Cesaer what is Cesaers...and all that.Stem-Cell Research: Left-wing politics favor stem-cell research and want to provide federal funding for it. Congress passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, but President Bush vetoed it on July 19, 2006.
Stem cells have not been proven to do squat. Using aborted fetus' stem cells is just creepy. Adult stem cells- not so much.War in Iraq: The Iraq War has also divided the two political parties. The Democrats have been staunchly against sending more troops to Iraq. They recently passed the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, that provides funding for the war through September 2007. An earlier version that Congress passed included a timeline for the troops' withdrawal from Iraq, but President Bush vetoed it. However, the Democrats did manage to tack onto this act the Fair Minimum Wage Act, $5 billion in tax breaks for small businesses and $6 billion for hurricane relief.
As a result of the war in Iraq and homeland security concerns, other issues have been raised in recent years that have split the parties. The Democratic Party platform favors strong international alliances and support before taking any military action. The party also opposes the use of torture and believes in following the laws of the Geneva Convention. They also take a strong stance in favor of a right to privacy.
The Dems were wrong on Iraq.I know. Not a lot of suprise that I am not a Democrat, but I think in fairness to the ****ing crazy Libertarians, I'd give my feelings about the Democratic Party as well.
This is not even close to the full 59 page party platform the DNC put out, but I really don't care to wade through it, either.
