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If you missed my preamble, no, not those platforms.
And not that kind of party.
I’m reviewing and comparing the Democrat and Republican Party Platforms. I’m doing this because there’s more to the election than getting a new President. I already know who I want for my next President. I, like, Thomas L. Friedman of The New York Times, hope that all 50 states go to one candidate.
Both Parties have rebuilding the economy and creating jobs as the first thing on their respective Agendas.
The Democratic Party has nine pages on job creation, pay, and workers. The Platform mentions Donald Trump or the Republican Party seven times in these nine pages. The Republicans have eight pages on restoring the American dream; they mention Obama/the current administration or the Democrats eleven times.
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. I added a column for how the action will be financed, too. Sadly that’s pretty empty.
So here’s the Democrats’ Plan for jobs and the economy:
| We will | By | So that | Finacing by |
| Raise workers’ incomes | Incrementally raising the minimum wage to $15/hr | Everyone can earn a living wage | Federal dollars to support employers |
| Protect workers’ rights | Allowing unions to be certified by simple majority | Workers are protected at the bargaining table | |
| Protect workers’ rights | Opposing right-to-work legislation | Workers are protected at the bargaining table | |
| Support working families | Enacting national 12 weeks paid medical & family leave | We have a strong, stable caregiving workforce | |
| Support working families | Fighting for 7 days of paid sick leave, and paid vacations | We have a strong, stable caregiving workforce | |
| Help more workers share in corporate profits | Incentivizing companies share in corporate profits with workers | Worker productivity increases |
|
| Expand access to affordable housing | Expanding incentives to ease local barriers to building. | We create millions of good-paying jobs,
Address the housing crisis. |
Increase funding for the National Housing Trust Fund |
| Expand access to home ownership | Expanding efforts like the Neighborhood Stabilization Program | We counter the Lingering effects of the foreclosure crisis are addressed | |
| Address homelessness | Expanding initiative to end veteran and family homelessness | Veterans no longer go homeless. | |
| Protect and expand Social Security | Fighting efforts to cut, privatize, or weaken Social Security. | Every American can retire with dignity | Ask those with incomes above $250,000 to pay more. |
| Ensure a secure and dignified retirement | Enacting legislation so that earned benefits will not be cut | Workers get priority and protection when pension plans are distressed. | Closing tax loopholes that benefit millionaires and billionaires |
| Create good-paying jobs | Building a better infrastructure | Millions of Americans are put back to work | Create an independent national infrastructure bank |
| Create good-paying jobs | Claw back tax breaks for jobs shipped overseas | We foster a manufacturing renaissance | |
| Create clean energy jobs | Making American manufacturing more internationally competitive | Our industries are the greenest and most efficient in the world | Invest in efficiency |
| Pursue an innovation Agenda | Supporting public and private investment in science, technology, and research | We Enhance opportunities to achieve greater self-sufficiency | |
| Pursue an innovation Agenda | Connecting every household to high-speed broadband, increase free Wi-Fi | We enable the Internet of Things and a host of transformative technologies. | |
| Support a free and open internet | Opposing roll back of net neutrality rules | ?? | |
| Expand space exploration | Strengthening support for NASA | Americans continue to push beyond the boundaries of what we know. | |
| Support small businesses and entrepreneurs | Cutting red tape | We grow jobs faster. | |
| Support small businesses and entrepreneurs | Providing targeted funding and support | We grow jobs faster. | |
| Make investments to spur the creation of millions of jobs | Creating jobs for America’s between the age of 16 and 24 | We decrease the number of young people who are unemployed (Currently 10%) | Direct federal funding for a range of locan programs |
Whew! That was a lot of work. Next up….
This mornin
g I finished A LITTLE LIFE by Hanya Yanagihara. Wrestler #1 recommended A LITTLE LIFE months ago, maybe even around the 1st of the year. Finally, I picked it up. This is bound to be my favorite book of 2016. It is hopeful and mournful at the same time. It made me cry from the guts out, and it made me appreciate all the love in my life, and how we never really know anyone, that there are always secrets too tender to share.
Yanagihara skill a turning research into story is exceptional. Wow! Thank you Hanya Yanagihara and Thank you Wrestler #1. I grieve the loss these characters already.
Here are a few more things on my gratitude list, in no particular order:
[icon name=”heart” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Another grandchild turning the corner into teenhood, and still loving his Legos.
Saturday, almost a week ago, Loved-One and I took a walk in the early morning. I needed to […]
No, not the shoes. The party platforms.
No, not the fun parties.
The Presidential Democratic and Republican Party Platforms. These go beyond what the Presidential Candidates say in their stump speeches. The platforms go beyond any one candidate. These are the statements re-written every four years that describes in detail the official principles, policy stances, and priorities of the party. The Democratic Platform is 51 pages long. The Republican Platform is 59 pages. They both have table of contents.
I’m going to read them both. Yes, I am. Cuz, you know what? I’m going to vote in November like I do every year. And you know what else? There are more than just Hilary and Donald duking it out.
I’ll report back next week. Interested? I hope so.
Just for a little sneak-peek, here’s a look at the tables of content: