Check it Out: Party platforms are important

A crow flying over a field with a scare crow in it asked another crow, “Is that a human?” When the crow assured him it wasn’t a human, the first crow asked him how he could be sure. The second crow answered, “Because it’s not looking at its phone.”

Apparently that’s how you tell the difference between a human and a scare crow, but how do you tell the difference between political parties? The approach of the U.S. election brought this question to mind.

Even though Canadians receive a huge amount of information regarding politics in the United States, they don’t receive much information about the party platforms. Usually I steer away from addressing United States politics because it gets so much coverage from our Canadian mainstream media, and because I feel the issues right here in Canada should be a priority for the people who live here. However, I am making an exception in order to give a simple account of the two different party platforms.

Every four years, documents are written as to how each particular party will govern. These documents are called platforms and they define what the party believes and the policies they will pursue. What you see on the platform is what you will get if they are elected. The party nearly always votes in favour of the party platform.

Regarding spending and debt, the Democrats are for raising taxes, and spending more on ambitious, progressive programs. Republicans say government spends too much, debt is a burden and caps should be put on future debt while accelerating payment of debt.

In other words it’s socialism versus capitalism. Socialism curtails individual freedom, and capitalism can exploit cheap labor brought in from other countries. This happens when the moral foundation has eroded, and such practices are justified.

As for freedom of religion, which is the right of people to live according to their beliefs outside of church walls, the Democrats remain silent. The Republicans affirm the right to conscience for all, and call to appeal the 1954 Johnson Amendment which effectively silenced churches on issues deemed political.

Regarding the life issue, Democrats believe in government funded elective abortion and that every woman to have access to safe and legal abortion up to birth, and don’t support assisting an aborted baby which is born alive. Republicans call to end funding abortion.

Democrats believe in systemic racism and calls for reparations. Republicans believe in equality for all and oppose reparations.

Democrats believe in the redefinition of marriage and Republicans believe in the union of one man and one woman.

Democrats are for appointing liberal activist judges, who protect a woman’s right to abortion and special rights to LGBTQ, superseding religious liberty. Republicans support constructional and constitutional judges who support traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.

Democrats believe the military is strongest when it includes people of all sexual orientation and push for abortion coverage in military benefits. Republicans reject the use of the military for use of social experimentation and support the religious freedom of military leaders, especially chaplains.

As for terrorism, Democrats are for defeating terrorism and combating climate change. In addition, Biden has said, “I’ve been against Keystone since the beginning,” and has vowed to cancel the pipeline which we so desperately need in western Canada.

Republicans say radical terrorism is a threat to personal freedom around the world and oppose it.

Regarding schooling, Democrats are for higher taxes, oppose vouchers, tax credits and homeschooling and offer no support for families to choose their education. Republicans support parental choice on how to educate their children, and support vouchers, private schools and homeschooling.

This may help Canadians to see the difference between the two parties. Hopefully it will help people realize the election is not about personalities, but it is about platforms. Unfortunately, almost everything the media feeds us focuses on personalities, and it also decides who is the human and who is the scare crow.