Now that the election is mostly over, perhaps it is time to address America’s divisions. I know! This is a huge risk in today’s social climate. Nevertheless, I have to try. For some of us, political ideologies consume our lives. This can be addictive and unhealthy. It can cause families to rip apart. It separates communities and divides the nation. I don’t intend to cast blame. There is enough of that going around.
For Christians, in many cases it comes down to losing focus. Our identity should not be our politics. We are children of the King and citizens of God’s restored creation. The Church’s prophetic voice should transcend who happens to be in office.
Personally, I have never registered under the banner of any political party. This does not mean that I’m neutral. It is not possible to escape the political torrents of the day. I wonder. Throughout human history, the common folk had no voice. The king or clan leader’s decisions were not up for discussion. Could that have been better? Does a government by individuals inevitably revert to tribalism and lead to mob rule? I guess time will tell.
My goal is not to persuade or manipulate. You won’t hear me proclaim that one party is evil. Neither will I argue that another seeks to destroy our way of life. No talking points or simple generalizations here. This is a complex issue. There is no way that I can do it justice in a single article. We’ll start here. Let’s see if we can learn together as I continue my research.
When we go to vote, we generally think we are voting for a particular person. Decisions are made as to whether we think that person is likeable or charismatic. Is he or she the kind of person that we would like to have over for dinner? Do they act presidential? Can they relate? Are they rude, arrogant, or narcissistic? This way of evaluating makes good sense. Humans have inborn capabilities to read a person by how they look and act. Unfortunately, this ability is often clouded by rhetoric. Social media, news outlets, and campaign advertisements can twist us to unconsciously bend to the agendas to which we are exposed. They often paint a caricature of the candidates that they oppose.
Political platforms provide another approach for making informed decisions. Yes, these are filled with talking points, stereotypes, and logical fallacies. Nevertheless, if we critically read both sides, we can discern and make choices with confidence. There is an informative website that I’ve used in my preparation. It contains every political platform from 1840 to present
Party platforms significantly change from one election cycle to another. The parties of Lincoln and John Kennedy no longer exist. Platforms have an agenda. Their purpose is to hold onto their voting base while promoting new and different policies. Some things espoused in the past are rejected. New ideas are advanced, sometimes with nuanced confusing language.
It wasn’t always this way. In 1860 for example, the Republican platform consumed all of 2 pages. The Republicans used state rights to fight Democrat efforts to force slavery into new territories like Kansas. They appealed directly to the bill of rights. “No persons should be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.” They called the action by some states to reopen the slave trade a crime against humanity. They were disturbed by threats of dissolution coming from the Democrats. They concluded their platform with policy positions on other issues of the day.
In contrast, the democratic platform was short of a single page. There was general agreement with the issues unrelated to slavery. There they appealed to the Supreme Court precedents. They were especially troubled by the refusal of Northern States to return runaway slaves to their owners.
Up to 1964, platforms never exceeded 20 pages. Since then, they steadily increased in size. The record is held by the 2020 Democratic party. It is just under 80 pages in length. What do I make of this? Here are my thoughts. Modern parties don’t want the average citizen to read them. Who wants to wade through pages and pages of legal gobbledygook? Second, they want to assert plausible deniability. When they don’t follow through with a particular promise, they easily come up with an excuse. “There were so many pressing problems that we couldn’t get to it.” Or, “It was because of the opposition.” Will it (whatever that is) be in the next platform? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on whether it can help win the upcoming election.
Let’s contrast the most recent party platforms. There are lots of redundancies, generalities, attacks on the opposition, stuff that was already done, and things to which everyone agrees. Regarding existing programs and departments, Democrats generally desire to increase their impact; Republicans consistently oppose agencies enforcing things that the Congress did not specifically authorize. Both talk about fiscal responsibility, but as far as I can tell, neither are serious.
Well, I took the plunge. My first plan was to read many of the platforms through history. It didn’t take me long to realize that the effort would require trudging through many thousands of pages. Sorry, can’t do it! So, I focused on the most recent pair. The table below is my best effort to objectively lay out contrasting positions. If there are mistakes, I apologize. If you find this boring, feel free to scroll past the table. My conclusion follows after that.
| Democrat |
Republican |
|---|
| General Principles |
|---|
| Seek a more perfect union
| Recognize America’s greatness |
| Social Justice |
|---|
| Platform: Black capitalized, white lower case
| Oppose all class distinctions based on race |
| Institutions are guilty of systemic racism
| Racism exists, but it is not systemic |
| Condemn white supremacy
| Condemn white supremacy, antifa, anarchists |
| Limit speech deemed hateful
| Unqualified support for freedom of speech |
| Income disparities between races must be addressed
| No platform position; likely agree |
| Support critical race theory training
| Oppose critical race theory training |
| Labor/Economy |
|---|
| $15 minimum wage by 2026
| Wages should be indexed by state |
| Right to join unions
| Right to opt out of unions |
| 12-week paid family and sick leave
| No platform position; likely negotiable |
| Eliminate forced arbitration
| No platform position; likely allow arbitration |
| Federal assistance for child care costs
| No platform position; likely negotiable |
| Promote home ownership to minorities
| Oppose lending quotas, predatory rates |
| Strongly regulate the banking industry
| Oppose policies harmful to community banks |
| Private partners adhere to federal regulations
| Reduce barriers to public/private partnerships |
| Compensation based on labor negotiations
| Equalized public/private compensation |
| Reduce welfare work requirements
| Increase welfare work requirements |
| Oppose multinationals moving jobs overseas
| Oppose multinationals moving jobs overseas |
| Social Security and Medicare |
|---|
| Oppose any reduction of benefits
| Ensure fiscal stability with some adjustments |
| Oppose all privatization proposals
| Support privatization as an individual option |
| Reduce Medicare age to 60
| Oppose reducing Medicare age |
| Climate and Environment |
|---|
| Climate change is an immanent global threat
| There are many more pressing problems |
| Rejoin Paris Climate Accord
| Join only if all major nations opt in |
| 500,000 charging stations in 5 years
| No platform position; cost is likely a concern |
| Free energy upgrades to homes
| No platform position; cost is likely a concern |
| Subsidize energy upgrades to buildings
| No platform position; cost is likely a concern |
| Envision a high-speed rail revolution
| No platform position; cost is likely a concern |
| Major funding for public transportation
| Funding should not be skewed to cities |
| Increase use of bio-fuels
| No platform position; likely negotiable |
| Firm dates to end dependence on fossil fuels
| Unrealistic policies are extremely costly |
| Forbid federal land fracking, oil exploration
| Energy independence is extremely important |
| Companies responsible for toxic cleanup
| No position stated in policy platform |
| Support cap and trade carbon tax
| Oppose cap and trade carbon tax |
| No platform position: likely oppose
| Transfer land management to states |
| Education |
|---|
| Increase funding for early child education
| Evaluate if early child education is effective |
| Student loan debt relief
| No position stated in the platform |
| Free college, trade schools for middle class
| Affordable college education for all |
| Establish federal curriculum standards
| Reduce federal control over education |
| Eliminate for-profit charter schools
| Allow for-profit charter schools |
| School choice harms public education
| School choice helps minorities |
| No position stated in platform
| Oppose university political indoctrination |
| No position stated in platform
| Oppose safe spaces on campuses |
| Immigration |
|---|
| Citizen path for DACA |
Citizen path for military or nonprofit service |
| More welcoming immigration system
| Merit based immigration |
| No wall funding
| Wall funding to secure southern border |
| Restore catch and release
| Don’t restore catch and release |
| Welcome refugees, expand asylum
| Be welcoming but vetting is necessary |
| Support public funds to illegal immigrants
| Oppose public funds to illegal immigrants |
| Criminal Justice |
|---|
| Reallocate police funding
| Fund increased training, support the police |
| Reduce qualified immunity
| Preserve qualified immunity |
| Eliminate mandated sentences
| No position stated in the platform |
| Eliminate cash bails
| Cash bails are necessary for violent crimes |
| Elections |
|---|
| Guarantee the right to vote
| Guarantee the right to vote with verification |
| Limit money in politics
| No platform position; likely agree |
| Government match small donations
| No platform position; likely oppose |
| Companies and organizations are not people
| Political organizations should be allowed |
| Full disclosure of all campaign donations
| Privacy maintained to avoid intimidation |
| No platform position: likely oppose
| Maintain the electoral college system |
| No platform position: likely oppose
| Support term limits for congress |
| Health Care |
|---|
| Provide a public option
| Support health care choice; no public option |
| Support, expand affordable care (ACA) act
| Replace ACA with a simpler system |
| Plans must fund contraception
| Plans need not fund contraception |
| Plans must fund gender transition surgery
| Plans need not fund gender transition surgery |
| Fight big pharma
| Require favored nation drug pricing |
| Increase Medicaid funding to states
| No platform position; likely negotiable |
| 100% paid health insurance after job loss
| No platform position; likely negotiable |
| Free health care for the poor
| No platform position; likely negotiable |
| Support adopting the equal rights amendment
| Current constitutional amendments suffice |
| Plans must cover preexisting conditions
| Plans must cover preexisting conditions |
| No position stated in platform
| Support right to try experimental procedures |
| Social Issues |
|---|
| Oppose restrictions on abortion rights
| Support constitutional state-driven regulations |
| No position stated in the platform
| Support law outlawing sex selection abortions |
| No platform position: likely oppose
| Legal protection for abortion survivors |
| Restroom access based on gender identity
| Restroom access based on birth-gender |
| Trans woman compete athletically
| Trans women must not compete athletically |
| No discrimination against Gay, LBGT+
| No race, gender, sexual preference discrimination |
| No discrimination against Muslims
| No discrimination against traditional beliefs |
| Repeal Hyde amendment
| Maintain Hyde amendment |
| Restore Planned parenthood funding
| Fund nonprofits that don’t perform abortions |
| Federal medical data base
| Respect individual privacy rights |
| No platform position; likely a personal choice
| Oppose Euthanasia |
| Support funding prenatal car, adoption
| Support funding for prenatal care, adoption |
| No platform position; likely qualified support
| Guaranteed care to elderly, infants, infirm |
| No platform position; likely oppose
| Support human life amendment |
| No position stated in platform
| Oppose sale of fetal body parts |
| Universal gun sale background checks
| No platform position; likely privacy concerns |
| Remove gun rights from dangerous persons
| No platform position; due process concerns |
| High capacity magazines should be illegal
| The most popular rifle should not be illegal |
| No platform position; likely oppose
| Allow concealed carry of firearms |
| No platform position; likely oppose
| Fully support the right to bear arms |
| No position stated in platform
| Oppose all forms of government surveillance |
| No position stated in platform
| Oppose financial data seizure without warrant |
| No platform position: likely oppose
| Support death penalty |
| Housing |
|---|
| Low income housing subsidies
| No platform position; likely cost concern |
| Rental bill of rights
| No platform position; likely a state issue |
| Taxes |
|---|
| Increase corporate, estate, capital gain rates
| Oppose taxes that will hurt the economy |
| Eliminate overseas tax havens
| No position stated in the platform |
| No position stated in the platform
| Oppose adding a value added tax |
| No position stated in the platform
| Oppose legislating retroactive taxes |
| Oppose corporate welfare
| Oppose corporate welfare |
| No platform position: likely oppose
| Require super majority for tax increases |
| The gas tax promotes clean energy transition
| Oppose increases to the federal gas tax |
| Technology |
|---|
| Support Net neutrality
| No position stated in the platform |
| Universal access to broadband, 5G Internet
| Expanded access to broadband, 5G Internet |
| Social media should censor hate speech
| Social media should not censor speech |
| Foreign Policy |
|---|
| Support the trend towards globalism
| Oppose the trend towards globalism |
| Reduce defense spending
| Maintain defense spending |
| Military should adhere to social standards
| Oppose if it weakens military readiness |
| No position stated in platform
| Expand the National Guard |
| Middle East peace via Palestinian negotiation
| Middle East peace via economic agreements |
| Restore Palestinian aid
| Don’t restore Palestinian aid |
| Qualified support for Israel
| Unqualified support for Israel |
| Oppose boycott, defund, divest Israel
| Strongly oppose boycott, defund, divest Israel |
| No platform position: likely oppose
| Reject calling Israel an occupying force |
| Continued military presence in Syria
| Remove military presence from Syria |
| Undo Cuba travel restrictions and sanctions
| Keep Cuba travel restrictions and sanctions |
| Foreign aid conditional on American Values
| Foreign aid must support American interests |
| Rescind tariffs
| Use tariffs as a trade deal negotiation tool |
| Support fair and transparent trade
| Negotiate trade deals that benefit America |
| Rejoin WHO
| Require WHO reforms before rejoining |
| Stand up to authoritarian regimes
| Oppose policy of regime change |
| Rejoin the Iran deal
| The Iran deal was deeply flawed |
| Submit to United Nation global principles
| Oppose infringements to national sovereignty |
| Miscellaneous |
|---|
| Greatly increase funding for states and cities
| Oppose bailing out mismanaged entities |
| Increase power of the federal government
| Oppose infringements to state rights |
| Increase grants (with conditions)
| Reduce conditions imposed on grants |
| Increase regulations
| Reduce regulations |
| Increase spending for domestic programs
| Accountability tied to increased funding |
| Federal control over state funding
| Return power to the states with block grants |
| Support adding Washington DC as a state
| Requires a constitutional amendment |
| Support adding Puerto Rico as a state
| Support adding Puerto Rico as a state |
| Increase number of district court judges
| Preserve number of district court judges |
| Constitution and laws are living documents
| Judge according to original intent |
Please note that my conclusions have nothing to do with Joe Biden or Donald Trump. The people already chose between those two. Putting personalities aside, how might we vote in the future? How can we evaluate the positions put forth by our two major parties independent of media spin?
It is important to understand that when we vote, we are voting for a system. Very few of us will fully align with everything that appears on a single side of the above table. The question is this. Which issues are most important? Which issues mostly align with our faith? Which issues best enable religious people to live out their faith without apology?
Should all Christians vote the same way? I don’t think we can be dogmatic on this issue. Let’s say we do our evaluation and come to a particular conclusion. How do we treat those who disagree? It doesn’t help to assume that they are evil. That will only exasperate the situation. It also does not help to consider them uninformed and ignorant. Many on both sides follow politics closely. We rather need to be ready to calmly listen and learn. Seek common ground. Pray for discernment. As the scripture teaches, pray for our leaders regardless of their flaws. Pray for and love one another. Our identity is not our political ideology. We are children of the King. Jesus is Lord.
Dan,
You are Amazing! Thank you for your HARD work and Insight!
How can I improve in such a post? Excellent Dan. Identity is Key. If we act like political party is first, we slide into idolatry. I am convinced Jesus would look at the parties as both reaching for an Eden unlike the one God created. He is first, and believers must find a way to unite in this madness.
Right on Christopher. However you have to see the whole picture of which party follows the teachings of God/Jesus. A party that is fine with killing the unborn? Even up until the moment of birth.
A party that has a history of corruption and undermining our freedoms?
Hmm..
Platforms.
I’d forgotten there was such a thing.
I agree their purpose is to keep us from reading them.