Democratic Party in The Democratic Platform for America
On Principles & Values:
New vision for America: strong at home, respected abroad
We are mindful that the challenges of our times are new and profound. For the first time in generations, we have been attacked on our own shores. Our brave men and women in uniform are still in harm's way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war against terror.
Our alliances are frayed, our credibility in doubt. Our great middle class is hard-pressed. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and millions more are struggling under the mounting burden of life's everyday costs.
In Washington, the President and his allies stubbornly press on, without regard to the needs of our people or the challenges of our times. It is time for a new direction.
John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democratic Party bring a new vision for America - strong at home, respected abroad. An America that offers opportunity, rewards responsibility, and rejoices in diversity.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 1
On Foreign Policy:
Bush bullies when he should instead persuade
The Bush Administration has walked away from more than a hundred years of American leadership in the world to embrace a new - and dangerously ineffective - disregard for the world. They rush to force before exhausting diplomacy.
They bully rather than persuade. They act alone when they could assemble a team. They hope for the best when they should prepare for the worst. Time and again, this Administration confuses leadership with going it alone and engagement with
compromise of principle. They do not understand that real leadership means standing by your principles and rallying others to join you. John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democratic Party believe in a better, stronger America -
an America that is respected, not just feared, and an America that listens and leads. Our vision has deep roots in our Declaration of Independence and Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms, and in the tough-minded tradition of engagement and leadership
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 3
On Homeland Security:
We respect and honor our veterans
As Americans, we respect and honor our veterans. We are indebted to all those courageous men and women who have answered our country's call to duty.
Their service and sacrifice, their dedication and love of country advance our cause of freedom and uphold our finest traditions as a nation.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 3
On Homeland Security:
3 challenges: War on Terror; WMDs, stable world democracy
Today, we face three great challenges above all others - first, to win the global war against terror; second, to stop the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; and third, to promote democracy and freedom around the world, starting with a
peaceful and stable Iraq. To meet these challenges, we need a new national security policy guided by four new imperatives: First, America must launch and lead a new era of alliances for the post-September 11 world.
Second, we must modernize the world's most powerful military to meet the new threats. Third, in addition to our military might, we must deploy all that is in America's arsenal -
our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and the appeal of our values and ideas. Fourth and finally, to safeguard our freedom and ensure our nation's future, we must end our dependence on Mideast oil.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 3-4
On Homeland Security:
Reform intelligence community internationally and locally
Improving intelligence to find & stop terrorists. We will train and equip the military to enhance its capabilities to seek out and destroy terrorists. We will strengthen the capacity of intelligence and law enforcement around the world by forging
stronger international coalitions to provide better information and communication. We must also improve our intelligence here at home. From the failure to uncover the September 11th plot to the deeply misguided reports about Iraq's supposed weapons of
mass destruction, we have experienced unprecedented intelligence failures in recent years. We must do what President Bush has refused to do - reform our intelligence system by creating a true Director of National Intelligence with real control of
intelligence personnel and budgets. We must train more analysts in languages spoken by terrorists. And we must break down the old communications barriers between national intelligence and local law enforcement, taking care to fully preserve our liberties
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 4-5
On War & Peace:
"Name and shame" terrorist sponsors, tough on Saudi Arabia
Cutting off terrorist funds. We will move decisively to cut off the flow of terrorist funds. We will impose tough financial sanctions against nations or banks that engage in money laundering or fail to act against it.
We will strengthen our anti-money laundering laws to prevent terrorists from using hedge funds and unregulated institutions to finance terror.
We will launch a "name and shame" campaign against those that are financing terror. If nations do not respond, they will be shut out of the U.S. financial system.
And in the specific case of Saudi Arabia, we will put an end to the Bush Administration's kid-glove approach to the supply and laundering of terrorist money.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 5
On War & Peace:
Focus on Afghanistan to avoid renewing terrorist haven
Preventing Afghanistan and other nations from becoming terrorist havens. Nowhere is the need for collective endeavor greater than in Afghanistan. The Bush Administration has badly mishandled the war's aftermath. Two years ago, President Bush
promised a Marshall Plan to rebuild that country. Instead, he has all but turned away from Afghanistan, allowing it to become again a potential haven for terrorists. We must expand NATO forces outside Kabul. We must accelerate training for the Afghan
army and police. The program to disarm and reintegrate warlord militias into society must be expedited and expanded into a mainstream strategy. We will attack the exploding opium trade ignored by the Bush Administration by doubling our counter-narcotics
assistance to the Karzai Government and reinvigorating the regional drug control program. Beyond Afghanistan, failed and failing states or countries with large areas of limited government control need international help to close down terrorist havens.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 5
On War & Peace:
Focus on preventing terrorism by education in Muslim world
Increasing public diplomacy to promote understanding and prevent terrorist recruitment. At the core of this conflict is a fundamental struggle of ideas: democracy and tolerance against those who would use any means and attack any target to impose
their narrow views. The war on terror is not a clash of civilizations. It is a clash of civilization against chaos. America needs a major initiative in public diplomacy to support the many voices of freedom in the Arab and Muslim world.
To improve education for the next generation of Islamic youth, we need a cooperative international effort to compete with radical Madrassas. And we must support human rights groups, independent media, and labor unions dedicated to building a
democratic culture from the grassroots up. Democracy will not blossom overnight, but America should speed its growth by sustaining the forces of democracy against repressive regimes and by rewarding governments that work toward this end.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 5-6
On Homeland Security:
Safeguard nuclear material and stop creating new material
Locking away existing nuclear weapons & material. [We should] safeguard all bomb making material worldwide. We need to find it, catalog it, & lock it away. Our approach should be simple: treat nuclear materials that make bombs like they are bombs.
More than a decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Russia still has nearly 20,000 nuclear weapons and enough nuclear material to produce 50,000 more. For most of these weapons and materials, cooperative security upgrades have not been completed.
We will lead an international coalition to put an end to the production of new materials - highly enriched uranium and plutonium - for use in nuclear weapons. And we will reduce
excess stocks of existing nuclear materials and weapons. We will conduct a global cleanout initiative to remove stockpiles of vulnerable highly enriched uranium at research reactors and facilities in dozens of countries around the world within four years
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 6
On War & Peace:
Need a plan to "win the peace" in Iraq
Winning the peace in Iraq. More than a year ago, President Bush stood on an aircraft carrier under a banner that proclaimed "mission accomplished." But today we know that the mission is not finished, hostilities have not ended, and our men & women
in uniform fight almost alone with the target squarely on their backs. People of good will disagree about whether America should have gone to war in Iraq, but this much is clear: this Administration badly exaggerated its case, particularly with respect
to weapons of mass destruction and the connection between Saddam's government and al Qaeda. This Administration did not build a true international coalition. This Administration disdained the United Nations weapons inspection process and rushed to war
without exhausting diplomatic alternatives. Ignoring the advice of military leaders, this Administration did not send sufficient forces into Iraq to accomplish the mission. And this Administration went into Iraq without a plan to win the peace.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 8
On War & Peace:
Internationalize Iraqi military and political presence
We must create a stable and secure environment in Iraq. We must truly internationalize both politically and militarily: we cannot depend on a US-only presence. Other nations have a vital interest in the outcome, and we must bring them in to commit troops
and resources. The Bush Administration has missed 3 great opportunities to do that.
The President broke his promise to build a legitimate coalition in Iraq by exhausting diplomacy before resorting to the use of military force.
When the statue
fell in Baghdad, Kofi Annan invited the US to come to the table to discuss international support-but we rejected his offer.
When the President addressed the UN last fall, he once again refused to acknowledge the difficulties we faced in Iraq and
failed to elicit support from other nations.
The President has not given our troops the clarity of mission, the equipment or the international support they need and deserve. We have a different approach based on a simple commitment: Troops come first
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 8
On Foreign Policy:
US leadership in Africa for economic & humanitarian goals
US engagement in Africa should reflect its vital significance to US interests. The HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern and eastern Africa is a massive human tragedy and a security risk of the highest order that threatens to plunge nations into chaos. Chronic
and debilitating hunger also threatens the very survival of communities where investment in agriculture has suffered for over a decade. We are committed to bringing the full weight of American leadership to bear against this crisis.
We must also work
with the UN and Africa's regional organizations to address Africa's persistent, disproportionate share of the world's weak, failing states and chronic armed conflicts, and to promote effective relief efforts when there is a humanitarian crisis -
particularly at this moment in Sudan. We value our deepening economic ties with Africa, including Central and West Africa's rapidly rising position as a major source of non-Gulf oil.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p. 9-10
On Foreign Policy:
Commit to "One China" policy but support Taiwan
We must better engage with China to secure Chinese adherence to international trade, non-proliferation and human rights standards. We are committed to a "One China" policy,
and will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-Straits issues that is consistent with the wishes and best interests of the Taiwanese people.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.10
On Foreign Policy:
Asia: Enhance relations with Japan, S.Korea, India, Pakistan
We must maintain our strong relationship with Japan, and explore new ways to cooperate further. And we will actively seek to enhance relations with our historic ally South Korea
in order to advance our collaborative efforts on economic and security issues. We must also work with our friends, India and Pakistan, in their efforts to resolve longstanding differences.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.10
On Foreign Policy:
Community of the Americas for US-Latin American relations
We believe that it is time to create a new Community of the Americas that reflects our close relationship with our regional neighbors. We will return U.S.- Latin American relations to a place marked by dialogue, consensus and concerted action to address
common concerns. We understand that our collective security and prosperity are furthered by mutual efforts to promote democracy, generate wealth, reduce income disparities, and provide sound environmental stewardship. We are committed to strong and
steady support for democratic processes and institutions in our hemisphere. We believe that democratic governments deserve our support, and that we should exercise our considerable diplomatic and moral force in support of democratically elected leaders.
Mexico has made steady progress toward building a mature democracy, and we will make relations with Mexico a priority in order to best address economic, environmental and social issues of concern.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.10
On Foreign Policy:
End Castro regime, but allow travel
We support effective and peaceful strategies to end the Castro regime as soon as possible and enable the Cuban people to take their rightful place in the democratic Community of the Americas.
We will work with the international community to increase political and diplomatic pressure on the Castro regime to release all political prisoners, support civil society, promote the important work of Cuban dissidents,
and begin a process of genuine political reform. Within this framework the Democratic Party supports a policy of principled travel to Cuba that promotes family unity and people-to-people contacts through educational and cultural exchanges.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.10-11
On Drugs:
Bring to justice those bringing drugs to America
We will increase efforts to combat drug-trafficking throughout the Caribbean and ensure that those involved in bringing drugs into the U.S. are brought to justice.
We will assist in combating corruption so that funds made available for development are used appropriately.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.11
On Foreign Policy:
Russia: work on nukes, human rights, and democracy
Democrats will pursue a Russia policy that recognizes that country's importance and advances the core U.S. security interests at stake in Russia's historic transformation, beginning with cooperative work to secure vulnerable stockpiles of nuclear weapons
and materials. We reiterate that respect for human rights, the rule of law and Russia's fledgling democratic institutions and independent media outlets are essential to Russia's continued integration into international institutions and the global economy
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.11
On War & Peace:
Committed to Israel but support Palestinian state
The Democratic Party is fundamentally committed to the security of our ally Israel and the creation of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors. Our special relationship with Israel is based on the unshakable foundation
of shared values and a mutual commitment to democracy, and we will ensure that under all circumstances, Israel retains the qualitative edge for its national security and its right to self-defense.
We support the creation of a democratic Palestinian
state dedicated to living in peace and security side by side with the Jewish State of Israel. The creation of a Palestinian state should resolve the issue of Palestinian refugees by allowing them to settle there, rather than in Israel.
Furthermore, all understand that it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949. And we understand that all final status negotiations must be mutually agreed.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.11
On Homeland Security:
Add 40,000 new soldiers and keep military all-volunteer
We need a new military to meet the new threats of the 21st Century. Today's American military is the best in the world, but tomorrow's military must be even better. It must be stronger, faster, better armed, and never again stretched so thin.
As a first step, we will expand America's active duty forces. The war in Iraq has overextended our armed services. We are effectively using a stop-loss policy and recall of Individual Ready Reserve members as a back-door draft.
[If elected], we will add 40,000 new soldiers-not to increase the number of soldiers in Iraq, but to sustain our overseas deployments and prevent & prepare for other possible conflicts. This will help relieve the strain on our troops and bring back more
of our soldiers, guardsmen and reservists. We are dedicated to keeping our military operating on a volunteer basis. We are committed to management reform both to ensure that our defense funding is spent effectively and to help pay for these new forces.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.12
On Energy & Oil:
Energy independence to avoid dealing with repressive regimes
Today, the American economy depends on oil controlled by some of the world's most repressive regimes. This leaves our economy dangerously vulnerable to nations that do not share our interests. America too often is silent about the practices of some
governments because we depend on oil they control. John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democratic Party believe a strong America must no longer rely on the cooperation of regimes that do not share our values. We believe a strong America must move toward
energy independence. In the Bush Administration, energy independence doesn't get a thought. Their energy policy is simple: government by big oil, of big oil, and for big oil. This Administration let oil industry lobbyists and executives write our
nation's energy policy in secret. They even went to the Supreme Court to stop the public from learning what they were doing. This President's approach to energy policy leaves America shackled to foreign oil, dependent, vulnerable, and exposed.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.14
On Energy & Oil:
Develop renewable energy and efficient vehicles
Harnessing American ingenuity to create renewable energy. Our plan begins with commonsense investments to harness the natural world around us-the sun, wind, water, geothermal and biomass sources, and a rich array of crops-to create a new
generation of affordable energy for the 21st century. We support tax credits for private sector investment in clean, renewable sources of energy, and we will make ethanol credits work better for farmers. Creating the energy-efficient vehicles of
tomorrow. We support improving fuel standards, and because of the challenges this poses, we will offer needed incentives for consumers to buy efficient vehicles, and for manufacturers to build them. We are also committed to developing hydrogen as a
clean, reliable domestic source of energy. Our economy cannot convert to hydrogen overnight, so we will fund research to overcome the obstacles to hydrogen fuel and continue our other efforts to achieve energy independence.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.14-15
On Energy & Oil:
We cannot drill our way to energy independence
A balanced energy policy must create real incentives for energy conservation in our homes, our offices, our factories, and our infrastructure, saving money and improving security even as it creates good jobs
and rebuilds our communities.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.15
On Homeland Security:
Focus on cargo containers and border security
More secure borders. We will improve security at our borders and entry-points to block the individuals and weapons that would harm us. We will strengthen container security rules, improve the detection equipment in our shipping systems,
ensure that private companies are providing adequate information about the goods they are shipping, and work with other nations to increase inspection levels abroad. We will put an end to political delays in adopting tighter controls on air cargo,
tons of which goes uninspected every day. We will increase perimeter inspections at U.S. airports and work with international aviation authorities to make sure the same standards are in place overseas.
Working with our Northern and Southern neighbors, we will strengthen controls at border crossings, and use modern technology and better staffing to improve the quality of border inspections while enhancing commerce.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.16-17
On Civil Rights:
Strengthen some parts of Patriot Act and change other parts
Guarding liberty. We must always remember that terrorists do not just target our lives; they target our way of life. And so we must be on constant guard not to sacrifice the freedom we are fighting to protect.
We will strengthen some provisions of the Patriot Act, like the restrictions on money laundering. And we will change the portions of the Patriot Act that threaten individual rights,
such as the library provisions, while still allowing government to take all needed steps to fight terror. Our government should never round up innocent people only because of their religion or ethnicity, and we should never stifle free expression.
We believe in an America where freedom is what we fight for - not what we give up.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.18
On Crime:
Crack down on gangs and drugs
We are proud that Democrats led the fight to put more than 100,000 cops on the beat through the COPS program, and we will continue our steadfast support for COPS and community policing.
To keep our streets safe for our families, we support tough punishment of violent crime and smart efforts to reintegrate former prisoners into our communities as productive citizens.
We will crack down on the gang violence and drug crime that devastate so many communities, and we will increase drug treatment, including mandatory drug courts and mandatory drug testing for parolees and probationers,
so fewer crimes are committed in the first place. We support the rights of victims to be respected, to be heard, and to be compensated. We will help break the cycle of domestic violence by punishing offenders and standing with victims.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.18
On Gun Control:
Reauthorize assault weapons ban, close gun show loophole
We will protect Americans' Second Amendment right to own firearms, and we will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists by fighting gun crime,
reauthorizing the assault weapons ban, and closing the gun show loophole, as President Bush proposed and failed to do.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.18
On Jobs:
A strong America begins with good jobs that support families
A strong America keeps the promise of opportunity for all and heeds the warning of special privileges for none. That's the America we believe in. George Bush values wealth over hard work, lavishes special treatment upon a fortunate few at the expense of
most businesses and working people, and defends policies that weaken America's competitive position and destroy American jobs.
We believe that a strong America begins at home, with good jobs that support families and an equal chance for all our people.
We believe in progress that brings prosperity for all Americans, not just for those who are already successful. We believe that good jobs will help strengthen & expand the strongest middle class the world has ever known. We believe the private sector,
not government, is the engine of economic growth and job creation. Government's responsibility is to create an environment that will promote private sector investment, foster vigorous competition, and strengthen the foundations of an innovative economy.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.19
On Jobs:
Change tax system to not encourage shipping jobs overseas
Tax reform to create jobs. Today's tax law provides big breaks for companies that send American jobs overseas.
Current "deferral" policies allow American companies to avoid paying American taxes on the income earned by their foreign subsidiaries.
John Kerry and John Edwards will end deferral that encourages companies to ship jobs overseas, and they will close other loopholes to make the tax code work for the American worker.
They'll use the savings to offer tax cuts for companies that produce goods and create jobs here at home. Under John Kerry and John Edwards, 99 percent of American businesses will pay lower taxes than today.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.20
On Free Trade:
Knock down barriers to free, fair and balanced trade
Exports sustain about 1 in 5 American factory jobs. Open markets spur innovation, speed the growth of new industries, and make our businesses more competitive. We will make it a priority to knock down barriers to free, fair and balanced trade so other
nation's markets are as open as our own. We will stand up for American workers & consumers by building on Pres. Clinton's progress in including enforceable, internationally recognized labor & environmental standards in trade agreements.
We will build
on and strengthen the progress made in the Jordan agreement to include strong and enforceable labor & environmental standards in the core of new free trade agreements. And no trade agreement should stop government from protecting the environment, food
safety or the health of its citizens. Nor should an agreement give greater rights to foreign investors than to US investors, require the privatization of our vital public services, or limit our government's ability to create good jobs in our communities.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.20-21
On Free Trade:
Review all trade agreements; investigate China rights abuses
We will aggressively enforce our trade agreements with a real plan that includes a complete review of all existing agreements; immediate investigation into China's workers' rights abuses and currency manipulation; increased funding for efforts to
protect workers' rights and stop child labor abuse; new reforms to protect the innovations of high-tech companies; and vigorous enforcement of U.S. trade laws. We will use all the tools we have to create new opportunities for American workers,
farmers, and businesses, and break down barriers in key export markets, like the Japanese auto market and the Chinese high-technology market. We will effectively enforce our trade laws protecting against dumping, illegal subsidies,
and import surges that threaten American jobs. New trade agreements must protect internationally recognized workers' rights and environmental standards as vigorously as they now protect commercial concerns.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.20-21
On Corporations:
Tax credits and investment support for small business
Promoting small businesses. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy. We will encourage small business growth with a plan to make it easier for small businesses to secure capital and loans. We support tax credits and
energy investments that slash overall operating costs for small businesses and encourage them to grow and expand here in America. For America's 350,000 small manufacturers, which account for over half the total value of U.S. industrial production and
employ 11 million people in high-skill, high-wage jobs, we will double funding to use technology to grow. We will help businesses cope with the skyrocketing cost of health care by reforming our health care system & cutting taxes to help small businesses
pay for health insurance. Retiree health costs impose major burdens on many employers, particularly manufacturers, and we will push for reform so that companies are not forced to choose among retirees, current workers, and their own ability to compete.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.21
On Technology:
Put science ahead of ideology in research and policymaking
Investing in technology to create good jobs. We will invest in the technologies of the future, from renewable energy to nanotechnology to biomedicine, and will work to make permanent the research and development tax credit.
We will achieve universal access to broadband services, which could add $500 billion to our economy, generate 1.2 million jobs, and transform the way we learn and work. And we will put science ahead of ideology in research and policymaking.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.21
On Technology:
Vigorous federal highway and transit initiatives
Enhancing Our Transportation System. Our nation's transportation network is an integral part of our economy and an engine for economic expansion that must be strengthened.
We are committed to vigorous federal highway and transit initiatives that put Americans to work, relieve traffic congestion, and foster long-term projects at state and local levels.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.21
On Education:
Support lifelong learning and Distance Learning
In addition to reforming K-12 education, we will expand training and opportunities for Americans of all ages. We will support regional skills alliances, workforce development conducted at community colleges, and other initiatives that prepare workers for
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.22
On Welfare & Poverty:
Raise EITC & minimum wage to $7 & expand middle class
The dream of the middle class should belong to all Americans willing to work for it. We still have work to do as long as millions of Americans work full-time, fulfill their responsibilities, and continue to live in poverty.
We will offer these Americans a ladder to the middle class. That means raising the minimum wage to $7.00, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit and extending child credits so that parents who work full-time don't have to raise their children in poverty
And it means continuing on the path of welfare reform. We must match parents' responsibility to work with the real opportunity to do so, by making sure parents can get the health care, child care, and transportation they need.
And we must expect increased responsibility from fathers as well as mothers by increasing child support enforcement and promoting responsible fatherhood together with religious and civic organizations.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.22
On Social Security:
Bar practice of keeping retirement funds in company stock
We must protect the retirement security of America's workers and their families. Workers should never lose all their savings because their employer locked those savings into the company's own stock.
We will bar that practice. We need to require honest information and full disclosure, and protect older workers from unfair treatment when their benefits are converted to cash balance plans.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.23
On Tax Reform:
Cut taxes for middle class, not the wealthy
Cutting taxes for middle class Americans. First, we must restore our values to our tax code. We want a tax code that rewards work and creates wealth for more people, not a tax code that hoards wealth for those who already have it.
With the middle class under assault like never before, we simply cannot afford the massive Bush tax cuts for the very wealthiest.
We should set taxes for families making more than $200,000 a year at the same level as in the late 1990s, a period of great prosperity when the wealthiest Americans thrived without special treatment.
We will cut taxes for 98 percent of Americans and help families meet the economic challenges of their everyday lives. And we will oppose tax increases on middle class families, including those living abroad.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.23
On Social Security:
Oppose privatization and oppose raising retirement age
We are absolutely committed to preserving Social Security. It is a compact across the generations that has helped tens of millions of Americans live their retirement years in dignity instead of poverty. Democrats believe in the progressive, guaranteed
benefit that has ensured that seniors and people with disabilities receive a benefit not subject to the whims of the market or the economy. We oppose privatizing Social Security or raising the retirement age.
We oppose reducing the benefits earned by workers just because they have also earned a benefit from certain public retirement plans. We will repeal discriminatory laws that penalize some retired workers and their families while allowing others to receive
full benefits. Because the massive deficits under the Bush Administration have raided hundreds of billions of dollars from Social Security, the most important step we can take to strengthen Social Security is to restore fiscal responsibility.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.23-24
On Budget & Economy:
Cut the deficit in half over the next four years
We will roll back the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $200,000. We will restore commonsense budget rules that this Administration has abandoned, like "Pay-As-You-Go" rules that require the government to pay for new initiatives.
We will commit to living within tough budget caps-real and enforceable limits on what the government can spend. We are committed to cutting the deficit in half over the next four years.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.25
On Corporations:
Transparency in corporate accounting
Economic growth and job creation depend on free markets and competition, but competition and free markets depend on trust, transparency, and integrity. We are committed to requiring honesty in corporate accounting effective corporate governance,
a fair shake for small investors and worker pension funds, a level playing field and competitive bidding practices for those who wish to transact business with the government, and vigorous prosecution of criminal conduct in executive suites.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.25
On Corporations:
End corporate welfare as we know
Ending corporate welfare. Many American corporations today pay less than ever in taxes because of tax loopholes secured by powerful lobbyists. We will end corporate welfare as we know it. We will eliminate the indefensible loopholes in our
tax code- from tax deals that have no purpose but avoiding taxes to the very shelters that Enron used to drive so many lives toward financial ruin. And we will eliminate the corporate subsidies that waste taxpayer dollars and undermine fair competition.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.25
On Government Reform:
Line-item veto to root out pork-barrel spending
We will enact a Constitutional version of the line-item veto to make it easier to root out pork-barrel spending.
And we will make our government more efficient by cutting the waste of taxpayer dollars in the federal budget, from unneeded travel budgets to crony contracting.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.25
On Families & Children:
Family is the center of American life
Family is the center of everyday American life. Our parents are our first protectors, first teachers, first role models, and first friends. Parents know that America's great reward is the quiet but incomparable
satisfaction that comes from building their families a better life. Strong families, blessed with opportunity, guided by faith, and filled with dreams are the heart of a strong America.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.27
On Health Care:
Bush's Medicare Rx program helps companies more than seniors
The current Medicare drug program serves drug companies more than seniors. It allows these companies to change the price of prescriptions more frequently than seniors can change their plans. It does virtually nothing
to bring down prescription drug costs. It forces seniors into HMOs. Elderly Americans deserve a real prescription drug benefit - one that uses the government's purchasing power to lower costs and ensures access to new therapies for their illnesses.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.28
On Health Care:
Expand coverage and cut healthcare costs
Expanding coverage. Under the leadership of John Kerry and John Edwards, we will offer individuals and businesses tax credits to make quality, reliable health coverage more affordable. We will provide tax credits to Americans who are approaching
retirement age and those who are between jobs so they can afford quality, reliable coverage. We will expand coverage for low income adults through existing federal-state health care programs.
And we will provide all Americans with access to the same coverage that members of Congress give themselves.
Cutting health care costs. At the center of our efforts will be a plan to reduce health costs.
We will lift a financial burden on families, businesses, and the self-employed by picking up the tab for the highest-cost medical cases. That will save America's families up to $1,000 on their premiums.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.28
On Abortion:
Pursue embryonic stem cell research
Pres. Bush has rejected the calls from Nancy Reagan, Christopher Reeve & Americans across the land for assistance with embryonic stem cell research. We will reverse his wrongheaded policy. Stem cell therapy offers hope to more than 100 million Americans
who have serious illnesses-from Alzheimer's to heart disease to juvenile diabetes to Parkinson's. We will pursue this research under the strictest ethical guidelines, but we will not walk away from the chance to save lives and reduce human suffering.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.29
On Education:
Bush broke promise of NCLB by not funding it
For this White House, education is an easy promise - easy come, and easy go. When President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act, he said the right things - asking more from our schools and pledging to give them the resources to get the job done.
And then he promptly broke his word, providing schools $27 billion less than he had promised, literally leaving millions of children behind.
The President also gets a failing grade for higher education. Over the last three years, college tuitions have risen by 35 percent, pricing 220,000 students out of college.
Yet while then- Governor Bush promised to increase college aid, President Bush tried to charge more for student loans and eliminate Pell Grants for 84,000 students.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.30
On Education:
Standardized tests to advance learning, not bureaucracy
We will use testing to advance real learning, not undermine it, by developing high-quality assessments that measure the complex skills students need to develop.
We will make sure that federal law operates with high standards and common sense, not just bureaucratic rigidity.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.31-32
On Education:
Charter schools OK, vouchers not
Instead of pushing private school vouchers that funnel scarce dollars away from the public schools, we will support public school choice, including charter schools and magnet schools that meet the same high standards as other schools.
And at a time when so many schools charged with our future are relics of the past, we will build new schools and offer the technology and equipment for a 21st century education.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.31-32
On Environment:
Reject choice of healthy economy vs. healthy environment
These are our commitments: we will make our air cleaner and our water purer. We will ensure our children can safely play in our neighborhoods, our families can enjoy our national parks, and our sportsmen can hunt and fish in our lakes and forests.
We will foster a healthy economy and a healthy environment by promoting new technologies that create good jobs and improve our world.
And we will work with our allies to achieve these goals and to protect the global environment, for this generation and future generations. We reject the false choice between a healthy economy and a healthy environment.
We know instead that farming, fishing, tourism, and other industries require a healthy environment. We know new technologies that protect the environment can create new high-paying jobs. We know a cleaner environment means a stronger economy.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.33
On Environment:
Honor hunting & fishing heritage via more conservation lands
Honoring our hunting and fishing heritage. We are committed to protecting the lands used by hunters and anglers, and we will open millions of new acres of land to public hunting and fishing.
We will conserve and restore the habitats where wildlife flourish, expanding use of voluntary, incentive-based programs that target private landowners.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.33-34
On Civil Rights:
Support affirmative action to redress discrimination
Our commitment to civil rights is ironclad. We will restore vigorous federal enforcement of our civil rights laws for all our people, from fair housing to equal employment opportunity, from Title IX to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
We support affirmative action to redress discrimination and to achieve the diversity from which all Americans benefit. We believe a day's work is worth a day's pay, and at a time when women still earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men,
we need stronger equal pay laws and stronger enforcement of them. We will enact the bipartisan legislation barring workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. We are committed to equal treatment of all service members and believe all patriotic
Americans should be allowed to serve our country without discrimination, persecution, or violence. We support the appointment of judges who will uphold our laws and constitutional rights, not their own narrow agendas.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.35
On Government Reform:
Ensure accessible, independently auditable, accurate voting
Voting is the foundation of democracy, a central act of civic engagement, and an expression of equal citizenship. Voting rights are important precisely because they are protective of all other rights. We will call for legislative action that will fully
protect & enforce the fundamental Constitutional right of every American to vote-to ensure that the Constitution's promise is fully realized and that, in disputed elections, every vote is counted fully and fairly. To advance these goals, and to guarantee
the integrity of our elections and to increase voter confidence, we will seek action to ensure that voting systems are accessible, independently auditable, accurate, and secure. We will support the full funding of programs to realize this goal.
Finally, it is the priority of the Democratic Party to fulfill the promise of election reform, reauthorize the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and vigorously enforce all voting rights laws. Every vote must count & every vote must be counted
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.35-36
On Abortion:
Support right to choose even if mother cannot pay
Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay.
We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right. At the same time, we strongly support family planning and adoption incentives. Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.36
On Civil Rights:
Racial and religious profiling is wrong
Racial and religious profiling is wrong and we will work to stamp it out. Hate crimes desecrate sacred spaces and demean good people, and we support a strong national law to punish them.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.36
On Civil Rights:
Keep marriage at state level; no federal gay marriage ban
We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years,
and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush's divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a "Federal Marriage Amendment." Our goal is to bring Americans together, not drive them apart.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.36
On Immigration:
Path for undocumented aliens to earn citizenship
We will extend the promise of citizenship to those still struggling for freedom. Today's immigration laws do not reflect our values or serve our security, and we will work for real reform. The solution is not to establish a massive new status of
second-class workers; that betrays our values and hurts all working people. Undocumented immigrants within our borders who clear a background check, work hard and pay taxes should have a path to earn full participation in America. We will hasten family
reunification for parents and children, husbands and wives, and offer more English-language and civic education classes so immigrants can assume all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. As we undertake these steps, we will work with our
neighbors to strengthen our security so we are safer from those who would come here to harm us. We are a nation of immigrants, and from Arab-Americans in California to Latinos in Florida, we share the dream of a better life in the country we love.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.36
The above quotations are from The Democratic Platform for America: Strong at Home, Respected in the World, the Party Platform of the Democratic National Committee, approved July 2004.
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