Contrary to the popular belief that national party platforms tend to blur rather than clarify the differences between the two major political parties, and are so vague that they don’t mean much anyway, the 1976 party platforms offer the voters a clear cut choice on many major issues.
The Democratic Platform favors hiring the unemployed to work for the Federal Government, That means passing the Humphrey-Hawkins bill. The Republican Platform favors the creation of new jobs by the “private sector” instead of carrying them on the backs of the American taxpayers.
The Democratic Platform favors a “comprehensive national health insurance system with universal and mandatory coverage,” financed and administered by the Federal Government (e.g., the Kennedy-Gorman Bill). The Republican Platform opposes “compulsory national health insurance.”
The Democratic Platform proposes a welfare system of “income maintenance,” funded by the Federal Government. This is polite language for a guaranteed annual income plan, which the Republican Platform specifically opposes. The Democratic Platform favors federalizing welfare; the Republicans are opposed.
The Democratic Platform supports splitting up the major oil companies. The Republican Platform “vigorously” opposes this.
The Democratic Platform supports “mandatory transportation of students beyond their neighborhoods for the purpose of desegregation as “a judicial tool of last resort.” The Republican Platform flatly opposes “forced busing.”
The Democratic Platform supports detente, more agreements with the Soviets, a $5 to $7 billion reduction in defense spending, and a delay of the B-1 bomber. The Republican Platform criticizes detente and endorses a “superior national defense,” including the B-1 bomber.
The Democratic Platform encourages recognition of Red China. The Republican Platform promises that we will keep our commitments “such as the mutual defense treaty with the Republic of China.”
The Democratic Platform pledges support for a new Panama Canal treaty. “The only treaty now under consideration is the one negotiated by Henry Kissinger and Ellsworth Bunker which would abandon U.S. sovereignty over the Canal. The Republican Platform says that “negotiators should in no way cede, dilute, forfeit, negotiate or transfer any rights, power, authority, jurisdiction, territory or property that are necessary for the protection and security of the United States.” The difference between the two Platforms may well be the difference between whether we continue to own the U.S. Canal or not.
The Democratic Platform calls for “a coordinated Federal and state effort” to control the manufacturer, distribution and possession of handguns. The Republican Platform flatly opposes “Federal registration of firearms.”
The Democratic Platform opposes a Human Life Amendment to prohibit abortions, while the Republican Platform favors passage of “a constitutional amendment to restore protection of the right to life for unborn children.”
Ronald Reagan was correct in saying that the Republican Platform is “a banner of bold, unmistakable colors with no pale, pastel shades.” The big question is: will Gerald Ford run on the Republican Platform, or will he obey Henry Kissinger who defiantly says it “won’t have any effect on the conduct” of his policies?
