Installment #3: The Republican Platform and the Constitution

A couple of weeks ago, I compared the Democratic and Republican Platforms on how they each plan to create jobs and stimulate the economy.  If you didn’t get a chance to read it, just click this link, It’s all about the jobs and the economy. IInstallment #2 covered Democrats and Principled Leadership.  Besides, the Presidential candidates, we have a lot of thinking to do about everyone who runs for a seat in our government.  I’m encouraging an informed vote.

Since the remainder of the platforms are not that easy to compare side-by-side, this installment covers the Republican section entitled “A Rebirth of constitutional Government.  It’s a lot of reading for me, but more importantly, for you.  I’m sort of having fun sifting through the rhetoric to find the meat of what each party wants for the country.

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Today’s Installment is about [tweetthis]the Republicans’ take on A REBIRTH OF CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. [/tweetthis]

The introduction of this section explains that the Republicans believe that government exists first and foremost to protect our inalienable rights.  So The Republicans fine that preferences, quotas, and set-asides are forms of discrimination.

As in the previous two installments, just so I can keep everything straight, I put the information into a simple chart, like I would for corporate goals.  This is also the way CoCo’s Individual Education Plans got laid out, too.  Pretty easy to understand; I think:  We will______________ by_____________ so that______________ happens. Previously, I added a column for how the action will be financed, too.  Sadly, it would be completely empty for this piece of the analysis, so stuck to just three columns.

 

We will By

So that

Have a constitutionally-minded Supreme Court. Appointing up to five Supreme Court judges. We can begin to reverse Roe, Obergefell, and the Obamacare cases.
Have a court that follows the text and original meaning of the Constituion and our laws. Restoring a strong conservative majority in the judiciary. We oppose the adoption or ratification of treaties that weaken or encroach upon American sovereignty.
Reclaim the constitutional powers from the bureaucratic state. Requiring major new federal regulations be approved by Congress before they can take effect (Regulation Freedom Amendment). Rules and regulations are no longer created and enforced by executive departments, agencies, and commissions.
Define marriage as one man and one woman. Supporting the appointment of justices and judges who respect the constitutional limits on their power and respect the authority of the states to decide fundamental social questions. Marriage is defended against an activist Judiciary.
Prohibit government, specifically the IRS, from policing or censoring speech based on religious convictions or beliefs. Repealing the Johnson Amendment The 1st Amendment: Religious Liberty is protected.
Bar the government from discrimination against individuals & businesses for acting on the belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Endorsing the 1st Amendment Defense Act. The 1st Amendment: Religious Liberty is protected.
Support the freedom of Americans to act in accordance with their religious beliefs. Supporting the public display of the Ten commandments and affirming the rights of students to engage in voluntary prayer at public school events. The 1st Amendment: Religious Liberty is protected.
Oppose any restrictions or conditions that would discourage participation in the public square or limit their ability to promote their ideas. Repealing McCain Feingold, raising or repealing contribution limits.

End the Fairness Doctrine.

The 1st Amendment: constitutionality of Protected Speech is protected.
Uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. Preventing the President from installing a new liberal majority on the Supreme Court. The 2nd Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is protected.
Uphold the right of individuals to bear arms. Opposing laws that restrict magazine capacity or ban the sale of common modern rifles.

Opposing any efforts to deprive individuals of their right to keep and bear arms.

Supporting firearm reciprocity legislation;

Supporting right to carry statutes..

The 2nd Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is protected.
Condemn lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers and harassment of gun dealers. Opposing federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners, registration of ammunition, and restoration of gun bans. The 2nd Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is protected.
Affirm the 4th Amendment “right of the people to be secure in their houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” Calling for strict limits on the use of aerial surveillance on U.S. soil, with the exception of patrolling our national borders for illegal entry and activity. The 4th Amendment: Liberty and Privacy is protected.
End governments warrantless seizure of personal financial information of Americans overseas. Repealing FATCA U.S. citizen living outside overseas can lead normal lives.
Assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed. Supporting a human life amendment to the Constitution;

Supporting legislation to make clear that the 14th Amendment’s protection apply to children before birth.

The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can “be deprived of life, liberty or property.”
Make it a crime to acquire, transfer, or sell fetal tissues from elective abortions for research; Opposing public funds to perform or promote abortion or to fund organizations, like Planned Parenthood The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Ban the practice of misleading women on fetal harvesting consent forms. Refusing to fund or subsidize healthcare that includes abortion coverage. The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life. Opposing the non-consensual withholding or withdrawal of care or treatment including food & water, from individuals with disabilities, newborns, the elderly, or the infirm.

Opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide.

The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can “be deprived of life.
Affirm our moral obligation to assist women who face an unplanned pregnanacy. Supporting legislation that requires financial responsibility for the child be equally borne by both the mother and the father. The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Add enforcement to the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act Passing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivor Protection act, Healthcare providers will face civil and criminal penalties who fail to provide treatment an care to an infant who survives an abortion.
Prohibit abortions after twenty weeks. Passing a Capable Unborn child Protection Act. Protect unborn babies at a point where they can feel excruciating pain.
End discrimination in its most lethal form. Banning sex-selective abortions, abortions based on disabilities. The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can “be deprived of life.
Support adult stem cell research. Banning embryonic stem cell research, federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, opposing federal funding for harvesting embryos;

Banning human cloning.

The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Assure that private property can be taken only for true public use. Supporting the Private Property Rights Protection Act. The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life
End unscrupulous law enforcement officials that profit by destroying the livelihood of innocent individuals. Enacting reforms to protect law-abiding citizens against abusive asset forfeiture tactics. The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of  property.
Guard against counterfeit part that can compromise the reliability of our weapons systems and the safety of military personnel. Enforcing intellectual property laws against all infringers, whether foreign or domestic. The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of intellectual property
Restore the vertical separation of powers between the federal government and state government. Stopping federal government from bullying states and local government regarding voter identification, immigration, healthcare programs, forced education curricula, school restroom policies, etc. The 10th Amendment is protected as the foundation of personal liberty.
Restore the vertical separation of powers between the federal government and state government. Reducing and ultimately eliminating conditioned grant.s State and local taxpayers can decide for themselves what is best for their own communities.
Uphold the Electoral College procedure. Opposing the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or any other scheme to abolish or distort the Electoral College procedures. Our Presidential Elections are honest.
Protect the voting rights of every citizen. Supporting state efforts to ensure ballot access for the elderly, handicapped, military personnel, and all legitimate voters. We have honest elections.
Oppose litigation against states that enact voter registration limitations. Supporting legislation to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and securing photo ID when voting. We have honest elections.
Keep voter rolls accurate. Urging every state to join the Interstate Voter Registration Cross Check Program We have honest elections
Guard against foreign involvement in elections. Calling for vigilance regarding online credit card contributions to candidates and campaigns. We have honest elections.
Ensure that citizenship, rather than residency, be made the basis for apportionment of representatives among the states. Conducting the decennial census “in such a Manner as they shall by Law direct.” Preserve the principle of one person, one vote.

 

There’s a lot here. In theory, some of this sounds commendable.  Yet, much of it leaves me wondering.  Our nation is better united than factions.

For me, it helps to lay everything out in this format, don’t you think?  Early voting starts this week.  Still, I’m plunging ahead and plan two more installments. First I’ll compare “Education and Healthcare,” and then environmental concerns.

What do you think?  Is this a useful thought exercise?