From: StarOwl@uiuc.edu (StarOwl)
Subject: Re: 1992 REPUBLICAN PLATFORM (1/5)
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Reply-To: StarOwl@uiuc.edu
Organization: Actuarial Science Program at UIUC
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 14:56:08 GMT
Keywords: significant words from a document used as an index to content

(Distribution: usa?  What's the matter; are we trying to keep our
dirty laundry to ourselves?)

General comment on the platform: Why do I get the impression that this
is a document glorifying the Bushwacker and Danny Boy, attacking
the party of Slick Willie, with a few issues thrown in for good
measure?

At least the Democrats' and Libertarians' platforms stuck pretty much
to the issues.  You didn't have to slog through a bunch of BS to find
out what the official position on issue X is.

More specific comments (typos are mine):

: Just as spiritual principles -- our moral compass -- help guide
: public policy, learning must have a moral basis.

Do I hear warning bells?

: America must remain neutral towards particular religions, but we must
: not remain neutral towards religion itself or the values religions
: supports.  Mindful of our country's Judeo-Christian heritages and rich
: religious pluralism, we support the right of students to engage in 
: voluntary prayer in schools and the right of the community to do so
: at commencements and other occasions.

While all this is well and good, what protections will be taken to
protect the rights of atheists and agnostics.

: We will strongly enforce the law guaranteeing equal access to school
: facilities.  We also advocate recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance
: in schools as a reminder of the principles that sustain us as one
: Nation under God.

So, the Republicans want to force people to say a pledge they may not
necessarily believe in.  I'm sorry, but I personally have a lot of
trouble pledging allegiance to a piece of cloth, or to a country that
has a history of committing genocide against people of my race (Native
American).

[...]
: We also stand united with those private organizations, such as the Boy
: Scouts of America, who are defending decency [and homophobia] in 
: fulfillment of their own moral responsibilities.

OK, fine.  Private organizations have the right to discriminate.  No
problems there so long as I'm still entitled to think those organizations
bigoted and scum.  But wait!  There's more....

: We reject the irresponsible position of those corporations that have
: cut off contributors to such organizations because of their courageous
: stand for family values.

So it's not OK to discriminate against groups that agree with Uncle George?
Can we say "double standard by a quasi-governmental body" boys and girls?

: Moreover, we oppose efforts by the Democrat Party to include sexual
: preference as a protected minority receiving preferential status
: under civil rights statutes at the federal, State, and local level.
[...]
: We oppose any legislation or law which legally recognizes same-sex
: marriages and allows such couples to adopt children or provide foster
: care.

While there are a lot of things in the platform I have no problems with.
This paragraph and a half is the sole reason I cannot support the
Republican Party.  I may vote for Republicans, but I refuse to support
the party itself while it holds this position.

Also, you could make an issue later on in the platform, about whether
the Fourteenth Amendment can apply to the unborn.  It just says
"nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property
without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its 
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws"  The word 'person' in 
there may or may not apply to the unborn.  Also, this does not
answer the issue raised by the Fourth Amendment ("The right of the people
to be secure in their persons....").  This could suggest that
the rights of the mother are NOT superceeded by the rights of the
unborn child.

Well, that's my two bucks' worth....

--
Michael Adams (aka StarOwl)	 		"Republicans understand the
Internet:  StarOwl@uiuc.edu			 importance of bondage between
Bitnet:    FREE1217@UIUCVMD			 parent and child."
Anonymous: wi.5467@n7kbt.rain.com			-- Dan Quayle
UUCP:      ...!uiucuxc!uiuc.edu!StarOwl                                    

Marrou/Lord in '92



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