Assignment #4: Parties and Elections
The paper will examine the party platforms from the end of the 20th century and hence the year 2000. The examination of the Republican and Democratic platforms will show the similarities and differences between the platforms represented by the running candidates Albert Gore Jr. and George W. Bush. Bush has won the 2000 presidential elections with 271 electoral votes compared to the 266 electoral votes won by Albert Gore, Jr. The first differences seen in the platforms is the length since the Democratic platform with 24.220 words is shorter as the Republican platform with 34.555 words (The American Presidency Project, n. p). Based on the examination of the ten public policies and comparison between the two parties’ platforms show that the observers who claim “there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the two parties is incorrect. Since the hypothesis tested in the paper is that the political platforms differ in numerous policies the major and the most polarized topics were examined inside the both political party platforms, and hence 5 issues which impact the domestic and five issues which impact the foreign policy. The political platform can give an insight of the political policies accepted and implemented if the party is to win the elections.
One of the biggest differences in the platforms is also a perception of the threats to the national security which shape the international cooperation and foreign relations as well as international agreements. The Republican platform focuses on the so called traditional threats such as military threats, terrorism, bioterrorism, ballistic missile, nuclear threat, weapons of mass destruction and are mostly seen from the national perspective (2000 Republican Party Platform, n. p.). On the other hand, Democratic platform points out, more globalized threats such as global warming and environmental degradation, gap between the rich and poor as well as different diseases such as AIDS (2000 Democratic Party Platform, n. p.). The military compared to non-military threats can be seen through the whole comparison of both platforms.
One of the most important differences between the platforms is the view of the United Nations and military actions. The Republican platform believes that American troops should not serve under the United Nations command and they believe that the troops are not subject to the International Criminal Court jurisdiction (200 Republican Party Platform, n. p.). On the other hand, the Democratic platform is for the ratification of United Nations treaties such as the Kyoto protocol and treaty named Discrimination against Women (2000 Democratic Party Platform, n. p.).
Among numerous differences is also the importance of the global climate change. As one of the important threats the Democratic political party platform is given in the subcategory of “disruption of the world’s ecological system” and includes the importance of the protection of the environment in the light of the global warming. Their platform supports the actions taken to preserve the environment and supports the ratification of the negotiated Kyoto protocols (2000 Democratic Party Platform, n. p.). On the other hand, Republican political platform points out that Kyoto conference was not based on the science and that the impacts of global warming and its causes must be further researched. On the other hand, they are in support of the proven harmful emissions without the compromising the sovereignty of the states (2000 Republican Party Platform, n. p.). From both points the policies regarding the environment as well as American sovereignty and cooperation with the United Nations show the differences in the foreign policies envisioned for the states in the future where the Republicans judge international agreements as well as international institutions.
The political platforms envision different measures to guarantee national and international security. Different approaches of cooperation among nations have been presented. The Republican Party based its safeguarding on the development of missile defense system based on the fact that the current treaties in the area of security are outdated in comparison to the Democratic political platform, which believes the international security should be provided with the international cooperation based on the treaties and agreements which already exist. Two approaches show different policy formation since they are pursing different ways of achieving the same goals (2000 Democratic Policy Platform, n. p. and 2000 Republican Party Platform, n. p.).
One of the important issues in the foreign policy and international agreements is also the issue of proliferation in the area of the U.S. nuclear weapon policy which has a global effect on different countries because it can have consequences on the national as well as international security. A democratic platform from the year 2000 points out the need to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (2000 Democratic Party Platform, n. p.). On the other hand, the Republican platform (2000 Republican Party Platform, n. p.) rejects the treaty, since it is regarded as obsolete and works against the possibility of the US becoming an actor of nuclear deterrent.
Policy issues in the domestic policy
The differences can also be found in the policy issues. First visible is in the area of gun control. The Democratic platform points out the importance of stricter gun laws as well as their enforcement. They are in support of the mandatory safety locks, photo licensing and full background check when buying handguns, and enhanced federal gun prosecution, ATF agents and inspectors (2000 Democratic Party Platform, n. p). To continue, the Republican platform is opposed to the federal licensing of law-abiding gun owners and national gun registration and in support of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The platform supports programs which hold the individuals accountable for their actions and are in support of enacting the current gun laws (2000 Republican Party Platform, n. p.). On the other hand, both platforms are in support of the background checks, but they differed in the desired implementation of greater security, whereas Democratic platforms would deal with the issue more broadly and Republic platform through the specific already existing programs. More regulations are proposed by Democrats and lees by Republicans. The platforms have different views on the Second Amendment.
Second difference can be seen in the area of abortion. The democrats are in support of abortion under any circumstances and are in support of the tax-funded abortions. They support the individual choice of family planning with polices which would make abortion safer (200 Democratic Party platform, n. p.). Both platforms are for the reduction of the abortions rate, but differ in the actions needed to implement the goal. However, the Republicans are opposed to the tax funding of abortion. As it is stated in their platform they are against the school-based clinics which provide counseling and services. Further on, the Republican platforms points out that they are against public financing and organizations who founded abortions because of the fundamental right to life found in the constitution and they oppose abortion without punitive actions (200 Republican Party Platform, n. p.).
There are also differences seen in the area of health care. Democratic goal was to form a universal health care financed through the taxes and federal government financing. The democrats are in support of expending the insurance coverage, affordable and accessible Medicare and Medicaid health coverage (2000 Democratic Platform, n. p.). Republicans point out that the individuals must be allowed to own their own health insurance. Based on the 2000 Republican platform (n. p.) the Republicans support the private sector, and personal responsibility in decisions making with less federal government involvement. They were in support of Medicare improvement and the end of the government one-size health care options for all thorough the private insurance, which allows choice through the Flexible Savings Accounts and Medical Savings Accounts. Both platforms point out the need for health care change and the correlated spending.
Capital punishment is also one of the known differences between the political party’s platforms. Democratic platform points out the need of the DNA testing in the penalty cases, with effective assistance and counsel of the defendants and need to post-convictions reviews. They are in support of the death penalty for terrorist and cop killers (2000 Democratic Party Platform, n. p.). Further on, the Democratic platform addressed the death penalty inside the fighting crime and Republican platform in the justice and safety. The party is in support of the capital punishment for the drug traffickers who take an innocent life as well as for other crimes (2000 Republican Party Platform, n. p.).
There are also differences found in the views of family and morality standards. The Democratic platform supports the inclusion of gay and lesbian families with emphasizing the importance to fight the hate crimes. On the other side, the Republican platforms points the out the fact that the marriage is between man and women and they are against any legal protection based on the sexual preference. What is more, the platform also show the opposition towards the homosexuals in the military, which they believe is incompatible with the military service. From both platforms we can see that the policies between the parties differ also in the morality views which are also the cornerstone for further social policies.
Works cited
The American Presidency Project. N. d., http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php.
Accessed 31 Jan 2017.
2000 Democratic Party Platform. 2000,
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29612. Accessed 31 Jan 2017.
2000 Republican party Platform. 2000.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25849. Accessed 31 Jan 2017.
