Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Thursday, 20 Aug 1992 19:35:05 CDT
From: Mary Jacobs <U45301@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.bush,alt.politics.elections
Subject: DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PLATFORMS COMPARED

(This information is posted for public education/information purposes.
It does not necessarily represent the views of The University.)
========================================================================
The Gannet News Service prepared and the Seattle Times printed
the following comparison of the Republican and Democratic Party
Platforms on various issues.  Thanks to a Microsoft employee
for scanning it and making available.

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Comparing Republican, Democratic Party Platforms

ABORTION

Republicans - "We believe the unborn child has a
fundamental individual right to life which cannot be
infringed. We therefore reaffirm our support or a human
life amendment to the Constitution, and . . . we reaffirm
our support for appointment of judges who respect
traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent
human life."

Democrats - We "stand behind the right of every woman to
choose. consistent with Roe vs. Wade. regardless of ability
to pay.... The goal must be to make abortion less necessary.
not more difficult or more dangerous."

CIVIL RIGHTS

Republicans - Support "vigorous enforcement of statutes to
prevent illegal discrimination on account of sex race creed
or national origin. . . We reject efforts to replace equal
rights with quotas or other preferential treatment."

Democrats - Say they'll lead the fight against
"discrimination or deprivation of rights on the basis of
race. gender. language, national origin, religion, age,
disability, sexual orientation or other characteristics
irrelevant to ability."

CRIME

Republicans - "Republicans defend the constitutional right
to keep and bear arms. We call for stiff mandatory
sentences for those who use firearms in a crime." Party is
committed to a drug-free America.... As a result (of
Republican efforts). overall drug abuse is falling.... Dope
is no longer trendy."

Democrats - Call for "reasonable waiting period" for
handgun buyers, "as well as assault weapons controls to ban
the possession. sale. importation and manufacture of the
most deadly assault weapons." Back community service and
boot camps for first-time offenders: attack Republican
"leniency" on white-collar crime.

DEFICIT

Republicans - "At the heart of the Democrats' corruption of
Congress is a fraudulent budget process.... The lords of
the Capitol still play the old shell game. Republicans
vigorously support a balanced budget, a balanced budget
constitutional amendment and a line-item veto for the
president."

Democrats - Call for "fair and shared sacrifice of all
Americans for the common good," but offer few specifics.
Would "control soaring health-care costs, cut federal
administrative costs by 3% annually, and limit budget
increases to growth rate of the average paycheck."

EDUCATION

Republicans - "The Republican strategy is based on sound
principle - that parents have the right to choose the best
schools for their children; that schools should teach right
from wrong. that schools should reinforce parental
authority, not replace it.... We support the right of
students to engage in voluntary prayer in schools." Back
parents right to educate children at home.

Democrats - "We oppose the Bush administration's efforts to
bankrupt the public school system...through private school
vouchers. Vow to make college "affordable to all
students...regardless of family incomes.... Governments
must ensure that teachers pay measures up to their decisive
role in children's lives."

ENVIRONMENT

Republicans - "Environmental progress must continue in
tandem with economic growth. Crippling an industry is no
solution at all. Bankrupt facilities only worsen
environmental situations."

Democrats - "We reject the Republican myth that energy
efficiency and environmental protection are enemies of
economic growth." Vow to protect old-growth forests and
wetlands and oppose new offshore drilling. Promise a
civilian conservation corps.

FAMILIES

Republicans - "For more than three decades. the liberal
philosophy has assaulted the family or every side....
Republicans trust parents and believe they, not courts and
lawyers. know what is best for their children." Opposes
legislation which legally recognizes same-sex marriages and
allows such couples to adopt children and provide foster
care."

Democrats - "Governments don't raise children, people
do.... Children should not have children. We need a
national crackdown on deadbeat parents. an effective system
of child-support I enforcement."

FOREIGN POLICY

Republicans - "Never in this century has the United States
enjoyed such security from foreign enemies. With President
Bush leading the free world, the Soviet empire has
collapsed." Defend Bush's decision to grant
most-favored-nation trade status to China as "based on
support for democratic reform. We need to maintain the
relationship with China so that we can effectively
encourage such reform."

Democrats - "Under President Bush, crises have been managed
rather than prevented." Call for foreign aid to be targeted
at democracies, not tyrants. Call for swifter action to
help former communist nations; want to maintain sanctions
on South Africa until "full accommodation" with black
majority. Would condition "favorable trade terms for China
on respect for human rights in China and Tibet, greater
market access for U.S. goods, and responsible conduct on
weapons proliferation."

HEALTH CARE

Republicans - "Believe government control of health care is
irresponsible and ineffective. We believe healthcare
choices should remain in the hands of the people. not
government bureaucrats.... AIDS should be treated like any
other communicable or sexually transmitted disease, while
at the same time preserving patient confidentiality.... We
reject the notion that the distribution of clean needles
and condoms are the solution to stopping the spread of
AIDS."

Democrats - "All Americans should have universal access to
quality. affordable healthcare - not as a privilege, but as
a right." Promise, without specifics "tough controls on
health costs" and to "cover all Americans, regardless of
pre-existing conditions." Will implement recommendations of
the National Commission on AIDS.

TAXES

Republicans - "The only safeguard" between taxpayers and
"Democrat tax increases is the use of the veto by George
Bush and enough Republican votes in Congress to sustain
it.... We believe the tax increases of 1990 should
ultimately be repealed.... The proper path to create jobs
and growth is tax rate reductions."

Democrats - "We will relieve the tax burden on middle-class
Americans by forcing the rich to pay their fair share. We
will provide tax relief to Families with children."

Gannet News Service
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.bush,talk.politics.misc