| We've heard a lot the last two weeks about why not to vote for Republicans or Democrats. |
| But are there any good reasons to vote for them? |
| That requires a closer look at the most overlooked and quickly forgotten part of national conventions: The official party platforms. Let's talk about the issues for once, shall we? |
| CHOOSING SIDES IS EASY |
| The good news (sort of) is that the parties have moved even farther apart on major issues. So you won't have to draw straws, hand out roses or use one of those paper fortune telling things to decide which set of beliefs most closely resembles yours. There's no overlap. |
| The bad news: Because the GOP and Dems are so far apart, a lot of people might find that they have nothing in common with either party, end the date early and go eat a pint of ice cream in disgust. Sorry. At least we still love you. |
| WHAT CHANGED AND WHY? |
| Even if Bernie Sanders lost the nomination, his candidacy forced the party to embrace more of his democratic socialist ideas, including a $15-an-hour minimum wage and opposition to Obama's international trade deal, the Trans Pacific Partnership. But the party has been moving left for a while. Case in point, courtesy of The Wall Street Journal: In 1988, the party platform noted that "the legalization of illicit drugs would represent a tragic surrender in a war we intend to win." Now? Democrats say a reasoned path to legal marijuana might not be so bad. |
| Ditto for Republicans. Their 2016 platform is a blend of Donald Trump's and House Speaker Paul Ryan's ideas -- which, you might notice, are at times diametrically opposed. The shift right (or whatever direction Trump is taking it) has been the subject of much hand-wringing among conservatives who worry that the party no longer embraces limited government. Some pivots, like those second-guessing international trade agreements, came quickly. Others have been in the works for decades. |
| HOW FAR APART ARE THEY? |
| The Republican manifesto is 66 pages; Democrats explain in 55. So, yeah, neither is exactly light reading. Democrats also take the unusual step of mentioning Trump 32 times , compared to twice for Clinton in the GOP platform. Here are just five night-and-day policy differences (there are plenty more): |
| • | CLIMATE CHANGE: Democrats consider climate change to be a "real and urgent threat" and want to take Obama's ideas even farther by requiring utilities to generate half of their power with renewable sources in the next decade. Republicans don't think climate change is a pressing issue and would strip environmental regulation authority from the EPA, leaving states to set their own rules. | | • | HEALTH CARE: Democrats believe "health care is a right, not a privilege" and want the feds to expand Medicare so it covers more people. Republicans disagree, saying they'd rather repeal the Affordable Care Act and turn Medicare into a block-grant program, leaving funding decisions to states. | | • | HIGHER EDUCATION: Both parties agree that college is too expensive (hooray, an agreement!). But Republicans say the federal government should get out of the student-loan business and encourage other options, like trade schools, while Dems say the feds should spend more to make community colleges and public universities tuition free. | | • | IMMIGRATION: Republicans place heavy emphasis keeping people out of the country, including Trump's call for the construction of a taller border wall. Dems reject that idea and say we need to focus on a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants already here. | | • | LGBT ISSUES: The GOP disagrees with the Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage; Dems praise it. Republicans support laws allowing businesses not to serve gay couples if it conflicts with their religion; Dems say the feds should press for additional protections for gay and transgender people. | |
| MORE FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL |
| • | Donald Trump's feud deepens with the parents of a fallen soldier (USA TODAY) | | • | John McCain renews his feud with Trump - and Jeb Bush jumps in for good measure (Arizona Republic) | | • | Does Hillary Clinton have a chance with voters who "don't know what 'white privilege' is"? (USA TODAY) | | • | Libertarian Gary Johnson is the only way to save the Clinton/Trump debates (Orange County Register) | | • | Green Party candidate Jill Stein unabashedly seeks Bernie Bros, names a Sanders supporter as her VP (Cincinnati Enquirer) | |
| D'OH! WHO GAVE HOMER THAT CRYSTAL BALL? |
| "The Simpsons" famously predicted a Donald Trump presidency in a 2000 episode. And now they're following it up with a series of events that would occur should Trump receive a 3 a.m. phone call from the Situation Room. (Hint: It involves spray tanning and Chris Christie being forced to eat a worm). |
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