THE DEMOCRACTIC CONVENTION 2004 Platform to be approved today

[papau]

THE DEMOCRACTIC CONVENTION 2004 Platform to be approved today

Homeland security

Summary: Favors improved intelligence sharing and analysis, tighter security domestically and at the nation's air, land and sea entry points — in part through more and better-equipped first responders to emergencies.

Terrorism

Summary: Calls for diplomatic collaboration to create peace in Iraq and prevent terrorist recruitment, comprehensive nuclear antiproliferation policies and the appointment of an international "high commissioner" to work with the Iraqi government to oversee the nation's rebuilding.

Military

Summary: Calls for 40,000 more active-duty personnel, better equipment and training of troops and more effective veterans' health services.

Taxes

Summary: Seeks to eliminate tax cuts for families making more than $200,000 annually and end corporate tax loopholes.

Economy

Summary: Proposes fiscal discipline and increasing the federal minimum wage to $7 from $5.15 an hour; advocates tax credits and loans to small businesses, the preservation of Social Security and programs to revitalize manufacturing in the U.S.

Foreign policy

Summary: Backs investment in Africa and the global fight against AIDS, repairing the U.S. alliance with Europe and creating a Palestinian state.

Healthcare

Summary: Proposes tax credits to make health insurance more affordable and providing healthcare to all children by strengthening Medicaid. Embraces in general terms Kerry's proposal that the federal government pay catastrophic medical bills that exceed $50,000 a year to reduce insurance premiums. Supports stem cell and other medical research, lower prescription drug costs, legalizing the importation of cheaper drugs, and streamlining Medicare to lower costs.

Education

Summary: Seeks tax credits for college tuition. Supports public school choice, in which families can elect which local school their child attends, as opposed to providing vouchers that can be used to pay private-school costs. Also favors charter schools, the Head Start program and professional development for teachers.

Abortion (safe, legal and rare)

Summary: Supports a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, regardless of ability to pay, but also supports family planning and adoption initiatives.

Gay marriage

Summary: Supports equal rights for gay and lesbian couples, with the definition of marriage left to the states.

Immigration

Summary: Calls for citizenship for undocumented workers who pass background checks, have jobs and pay taxes; encourages the reunification of families.

Energy

Summary: Favors tax credits for private investment in renewable fuels, incentives to buy energy-efficient vehicles and new oil-production partnerships with nations such as Russia and Canada.

Environment

Summary: Supports more rigorous water and air pollution standards and protection of public lands.

Source: Democratic National Committee

[Mistress Quickly]

1. I get first spin spin spin!!!!

Military

Summary: Calls for 40,000 more active-duty personnel, better equipment and training of troops and more effective veterans' health services.


SPIN:
The Democrats are calling for a DRAFT, a DRAFT I tell you!

[Warpy]

2. Screw that healthcare plank

The problem with tax credits for insurance is that those of us with serious chronic illness can't GET insurance. Unless there's a high risk pool with subsidized premiums, we'll NEVER get insurance.

Personally, I think anyone who leaves bloodsuckers like insurance companies in the mix is on the wrong track, entirely. It's what I hated about Hillary Clinton's plan, and this one isn't any better. There is NO mechanism to make insuance affordable for people over 45 and people with chronic illness. None. There is no mechanisn to force companies to insure people over 45 or with chronic illness.

Having Uncle Sugar cover catastrophic care is one step. However, the insurance companies have always been pretty good at covering temporary conditions that can be cured with surgery or chemotherapy. What they refuse to do is maintain people who have no cure on the medications that help them to live prolonged and full lives.

The healthcare system needs radical reform. This is a bandaid.

[papau]

3. I agree - Why the Medicare extension is not front and center is

beyond my understanding.

[derby378]

4. Enough with the "Homeland," already

Ich bin ein Homelander! Sieg heil! Bush und Cheney uber alles...

[genius]

5. The delegates should vote it down

And then come up with a platform that says something. It is a long platform and it calls for an expansion of USA-PATRIOT.

[no name no slogan]

6. It really makes me wonder where they pull this out of

Especially considering that so many state party platforms are 100 times more liberal than this thing.

The one bright light I see in it is that the US acknowledges the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Other than that, it's damn near indistinguishable from the ones the Repubs churned out in the 1970s.