Party Platform 2020: It’s the economy.

blue boat on gray wooden dock Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

This is the the third in my installments on the Presidential Party Platforms. I’m reviewing and comparing the Democrat and Republican Party Platforms.  

I think it’s worth repeating that the Republicans decided to adopt the 2016 Party Platform. On the opening day of the 2020 convention, Republicans announced that they do not have a platform, but will follow Presidents Trump’s direction. Okay, now what? Lacking specifics, I’ll follow my original plan and compare the 2016 Republican Platform with the 2020 Democratic Platform.

The Democratic Party has about 12 pages addressing the economy. The Republican Party has seven pages under the heading Restoring the American Dream.

Just so I can keep everything straight, I put the information into a simple table, like I would for corporate goals. Pretty easy to understand; I think:  We will______________ by_____________ so that______________ happens.  The last column is the page number for your reference.

So here’s the Democrats’ Plan for the economy:

We willBySo thatPage
Improve job quality and securityPassing the PRO Act and restoring workers’ rights, including the right to launch secondary boycottsWe raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour 14
Improve job quality and securityRepealing so-called “right to work” laws We protect those who have been left without wage and hours for decades—including domestic workers and farmworkers—have the same rights as other workers.14
Improve job quality and securityIncreasing funding and staffing at the Department of Labor to aggressively enforce wage, hour, health, and safety rulesEmployees who are being misclassified, including gig and platform workers, deserve wage and workplace protections including minimum wage and overtime pay14
Support unions Banning captive audience meetings, penalizing companies that bargain in bad faith, protecting all private-sector workers’ right to strike Employers are held accountable if they interfere in workers’ efforts to organize14 
Aggressively enforce wage, hour, health, and safety rules across the economy  Increasing funding and staffing at the Department of laborTaxpayer dollars stop flowing to employers who steal workers’ wages, violate labor laws, or engage in union-busting 14 
Strengthen labor rights for public-sector employees  Passing the Public Sector Freedom to Negotiate ActWe have a guarantee for public-sector employees to bargain for better pay, benefits, and work conditions15 
Fight for at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for all workers and family units Implementing a high-quality paid family leave systemNew parents can recover from childbirth and bond with their newborns or adopted children and allow all workers to take extended time off to care for themselves or an ailing relative15 
Boost funds for grants to states to help low-income and middle-class families afford child care  Increasing the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit; Provide access to affordable, high-quality child care on a sliding scaleParents don’t have to choose between keeping their kids safe and earning a paycheck 15 
Improve compensation and benefits for child care providers and enact universal high quality pre-K programs for three- and four-year-olds. Increasing the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit; Provide access to affordable, high-quality child care on a sliding scaleParents don’t have to choose between keeping their kids safe and earning a paycheck  15 
Invest in the engines of Job creationInvesting in resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure USA has the world’s best infrastructure system. 15 
 Invest in the engines of Job creationInvesting in clean energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing USA has the world’s best infrastructure system.  16 
Repair, modernize, and expand our highways, roads, bridges, and airports Installing 500,000 public charging stations; using safe modern, design approaches  Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and others can safely share the road. 16
 
Launch our country’s second great railroad revolution Investing in high-speed rail We have public transportation that is affordable to all and accessible to people with disabilities16 
Upgrade our nation’s ports, lock and dam systems, and freight infrastructure ?? We create jobs  16
 Increase demand for American-made shipsEnsuring U.S. cargo is carried on ships flying our flag We create jobs 16 
 Ensure everyone has access to clean, reliable drinking water and safe wastewater systemsReplacing lead pipes, increasing investment in innovative water technologies We create jobs 16 
 
  
 Close the digital
25  divide that deprives more than 20 million Americans of high-speed internet access 
Investing in broadband and 5G technology, including rural and municipal broadband, and restoring the FCC’s authority to take action against internet service providers who violate net neutrality principles. We create jobs 16 
 Ensure labor protectionEnsuring Davis-Bacon wage standards, project labor agreements, and domestic sourcing requirements We create good, union jobs that expand the middle class 16 
 End  policies that incentivize offshoring;Accelerate onshoring of critical supply chains, including in medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.  We support robust Buy America and Buy Clean standards for federally supported projects16
 Support domestic manufacturing and grow rural manufacturing jobs; Expanding effective tax credits; invest in innovation hubs and government programs andSmall manufacturers have access to technical and business expertise so they can grow their revenues16
Build a diverse pipeline of talentInvesting in
career and technical education and high-quality job training programs including pre-apprenticeship opportunities and registered apprenticeship; invsting in adult literacy and other skills development programs.
All workers can access the good jobs that will be created17
Support small businessesBoosting funding for state small business grant and lending initiatives;
increasing access to credit for small businesses in low-income
and rural areas, including for unbanked or underbanked businesses; improving and expanding Small Business Administration (SBA) programs
Women- and minority-owned businesses have increased opportunities17
Invest in the heartland and rural communitiesExpanding U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ownership and
operating loan programs
It’s easier
for new and beginning farmers, ranchers, and foresters, including returning veterans, to start and grow their operations 
17
Invest in the heartland and rural communitiesTaking steps to limit foreign ownership of U.S. farmland and reforming agricultural
subsidies to better support small- and mid-sized farms. 
We protect family farms and promote food security17
Expand domestic markets for family
farmers and ranchers
Developing and growing regional food systems to deliver fresh, American-grown produce to schools, hospitals, Department of Defense installations, and other major public institutionsSmall, mid-size, and traditional farmers can stay competitive.17
Spark a
revolution in agriculture and open up new revenue streams for farmers in energy and waste products, and grow bio-based manufacturing jobs.
Strengthening the Renewable Fuel Standard, supporting E15
blends, and supporting research, development, and deployment of advanced biofuels; expand popular, voluntary programs for sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices
U.S. agriculture sector is the first in the world to achieve net-zero emissions17
Enforce labor and environmental protections for farmworkers,Protecting workers from exposure to pesticides and extreme heat; strengthening enforcement of the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts and the Packers and Stockyards Act.Small and mid-sized farmers are empowered18
Put workers firstNegotiating strong and enforceable standards for labor, human rights, and the environment in the core text of our trade dealsWe build a fair system of international trade for our workers18
Take aggressive action against China or any other country that tries to undercut
American manufacturing
Working with our allies to stand up to China and negotiate from the strongest possible position.We build a fair system of international trade for our workers19
Take steps to increases the supply of housingEqualizing access to affordable credit and improving access to down payment assistance to help families of color, low-income families, and rural buyers purchase homes; creating a new tax credit of up to $15,000 to help first-time homebuyers, and making the tax credit refundable and advanceableHomeownership is in reach for every American19
Expand the number
of affordable, accessible housing units on the market.
Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; build more affordable, accessible housing and retrofit existing housing in rural areasHomeownership is in reach for every American20; 22
Increase investments in public housingProviding
Section 8 housing support for every eligible family, and will enact protections to keep landlords
from discriminating against voucher recipients. 
We end homelessness20
End using public policy to close neighborhoods off to Black families and other people of colorEnforcing the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Affirmatively Furthering
Fair Housing rule, and the disparate impact standard
Homeownership is in reach for every American20
Make sure the wealthy pay their fair share in taxesReversing the Trump Administration’s tax; cracking down on overseas tax havens and closing loopholes that are exploited by the wealthiest. We level the economic playing field21
Curb Wall Streets AbusesStrengthening and enforce Dodd-Frank financial reform law; update Glass-Steagall; back criminal penalties for reckless executivesWe protect American workers from the impacts of future
financial crises
21
Expand access to creditCreating a public credit reporting agencyWe ensure equitable access to credit and banking products for all Americans21
Support the 10-20-30 funding approach, to direct at least 10 percent of federal funding to communities where 20 percent or more of the population has been living below the poverty line for 30 years or longerDirecting more federal investment to the
communities most in need 
We create jobs, improve and expand housing; modernize and expand transportation, clean water, wastewater, energy, and broadband infrastructure, and promote shared prosperity.22
Make sure no child goes to bed hungry.Increasing funds for food assistance programs; removing barriers that keep the formerly incarcerated from accessing food assistanceWe end poverty22
Protect individuals’ privacy and data rights while continuing to support and enable innovation in the technology sector. Updating the Electronic Communications Privacy
Act
We afford the same protections to
digital content as physical content.
23
Tackle runaway corporate concentationReviewing mergers an acquisitions to assess whether any have increased market concentration, raised consumer prices, harmed workers, increased racial inequality, reduced competition, or constricted innovationEncourage competition and inovation23
Protect Social SecurityEnacting policies to make Social Security more progressive; eliminating
penalties that unfairly reduce public sector workers’ earned Social Security benefits; supporting reforms which better accounts for the challenges facing
unpaid caregivers
All workers have
the ability to save at work for emergencies and for retirement.
23
Protect Social SecurityRejecting efforts to cut, privatize, or weaken Social SecurityAll workers have
the ability to save at work for emergencies and for retirement.
24
Make it easier to save for retirement beyond core Social Security programsSupporting approaches to retirement saving that enable workers and retirees to prepare for and prosper in retirementWorking people can build their nest eggs faster24
Make it easier to save for retirement beyond core Social Security programsReversing the
Trump Administration’s regulations allowing financial advisors to prioritize their self-interest
24  over their clients’ financial wellbeing
Working people can build their nest eggs faster24

Whew! That was a lot of work.  Next up….

The Republicans’ plan for jobs and the economy:

Oh now, that’s a little easier.  I did the heavy lifting in 2016.  I just needed to go back and find the page numbers.  A simple search did the trick.

woman holding an american flag
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
We willBySo thatPage number
Not divide people into winners and losersEliminating as many special interest provisions and loopholes as possible and curb corporate welfareWe don’t penalize thrift and discourage investment.
Level the international playing fieldLowering the corporate tax rate to be on a par with, or below the rates of other industrial nationsAmerica is competitive.
Level the international playing fieldSwitching to a territorial system of taxationProfits earned and taxed abroad may be repatriated for job-creating investments.
Prevent foreign governments from limiting American access to their markets while stealing our designs, patents, brands, know-how, and technology.Broadening our trade agreements with countries which share our values and commitment to fairnessThe interests of the U.S. workers are advanced. 3
Avoid future taxpayer housing market bailoutsScaling back the role of government in the housing marketHomeowners and lenders are responsible.
Advance responsible homeownershipEnd government mandates to satisfy lending quotas to specific groupsWe end discrimination in the mortgage industry.
Advance responsible homeownershipReviewing federal environmental regulationsWe make it easier and less costly for Americans to rent, buy, or sell homes.
Eliminate Federal funds for ferries, bike-share, sidewalks, recreational trails, landscapingRemove the Highway Trust Fund programsWe end the current administration’s efforts to get people out of their cars. 5
Eliminate Federal funds for AmtrakAllow private ventures to provide passenger service to the northeast corridor and high-speed intercity rail across the countryAmerican taxpayers don’t subsidize public transportation
Create a partnership with individuals and industries for investment and innovationSimplifying the tax code, reduce corporate rates, transition to a territorial system, and create incentives for investment and innovation.We have a business climate that rewards risk and promotes innovation.
Create new jobs, give access to new markets, open opportunities to underserved populations, and expand consumer choices.Paving the way for broadband deployment and completion on the internet and for internet services.

 

Encouraging the sharing economy and on-demand platforms

We are competitive in an open market 6
Improve the Electric GridExpediting siting processes and the thoughtful expansion of the gridOur aging grid is replaced in seven to ten years.
Reduce the occupational licensing lawsOverturning the Dodd-Frank lawMillions of entrepreneurial careers open. 7
Annually audit the Federal Reserve’s activitiesAdvancing legislation already approved by the HouseThe Federal Reserve’s role is carried out in a more transparent manner.
Bring labor laws into the 21st centurySupporting the States to enact Right-to-work laws.We protect economic liberty of the modern workforce.
Limit non-cash benefits of the federal workforceReviewing the unionization of the federal workforce for the effects on cost, quality, and performance of the civil service.We align Federal compensation and benefits with most American employees and expedite firing of bad workers, tax cheats, and scammers.
Reduce the Federal DeptImposing caps on future dept, accelerate the repayment of the trillions now owed.Our economy is strong. 8

Wow!

There’s one nice thing about the Republican Party adopting the 2016 platform. We can also check to see what progress has been made in the past almost 4 years. If you want to do that in a concrete way, please visit GovTrack.us and use the search bar.

I gotta say, that really helped me get a feel for what each party hopes to achieve and why.  Both parties want a healthy economy. In many cases, they have opposing views of how that can be achieved. No wonder it’s so hard to get things done in Washington. There must be some middle ground, don’t you think?

It’s not easy to compare the two Platforms. They don’t use the same style or organization.  But, I’m determined to give it my best shot.

What do you think?  Was this enlightening? Or just sort of boring?

Next up: Health Care.

Now that should be interesting. Are you with me?