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JUN 1998

State GOP, Demos promote platforms

By David Ammons --and Libertarians

OLYMPIA (6-15-98)---No more vanilla.

That's how state Democrats describe their scrappy new party

platform that takes tough, controversial stands on dozens of

issues, seemingly oblivious to the risk of provoking the

L-word--liberal--in this cautious, relentlessly centrist era.

 

Not to be outdone, state Republicans have produced a

take-no-prisoners platform that unabashedly embraces economic

and social conservatism, albeit with a less in-your-face tone than

in years past.

 

A common rap on the two major parties is that there often isn't

much difference between them. This common rap often originates

from Libertarians--both large and small "L".

 

But the platform and resolutions adopted by grassroots activists at

the state conventions this month show vastly different approaches

to government, taxes, the environment, schools, family and other

central issues facing Washington voters.

 

Democrats got a bit friskier than usual and the Republicans toned

down rhetoric from the religious right, but both parties threw

caution to the wind.

 

In both cases, the platforms seem designed to activate each party's

central core of followers. That's been as particularly important in

this midterm election year, when turnout will probably be

miserably low and the party that can get voters to the polls will

win the close ones.

 

Herewith a side-by-side comparison of the official positions of the

Republicans and Democrats: And we've added Libertarian insights

and positions to Ds and Rs. Both Ds and Rs take it for granted

government should play a great role in individual matters. Ls

would prefer government to butt out to any extent possible

consistent with a free but patriotic society.

 

Abortion: Democrats staunchly embrace abortion rights and resist

all efforts to restrict the procedure. Republicans oppose abortion,

seek a ban on the late-term procedure they call "partial-birth"

abortion and support a parental-consent requirement for minors.

Libertarians: A woman's body is her own. The state should stay

neutral on personal matters such as this.

 

Affirmative Action: Republicans support Initiative 200, which

would roll back most state affirmative-action programs. Democrats

oppose 200, saying "We support affirmative action policies that

enable everyone to have true equal opportunity." Libertarians:

Libertarians very much support Initiative 200, and are staunchly

against giving any group tax-funded preferences of any kind over

any another. Preferences of any kind must remain personal choice.

 

Campaign Finance: Democrats urge public financing of campaigns,

time limits on campaigning, "vigorous" public disclosure of gifts,

mandatory free broadcast time for all candidates and tighter

restrictions on so-called soft money and issue ads. Republicans

say gift limits are unnecessary if there is fully enforced and

speedy disclosure. Libertarians: Libertarians fiercely oppose

government financing of campaigns, or campaign time limits.

Private broadcasters must remain free to use air time as they see

fit. This should remain a free market--not government--issue. But

public--tax funded--broadcasters must yield air time to non-R and

non-D candidates and viewpoints as well. To do otherwise is

tyranny, the Supreme Court notwithstanding.

 

Crime: Democrats say "prevention of crime is as important as

reaction to crime." They call for public funding of

substance-abuse programs as an alternative to prosecution and

reform of the juvenile-justice system. Republicans call for limiting

criminals' appeals, a new plea of "guilty but insane", better

funding for the criminal-justice system, establishment of boot

camps for juvenile offenders and legislation allowing parents to

detain "out of control" children in secure facilities. The GOP

opposes "any attempt to legalize or decriminalize illicit drugs."

Libertarians: Crime prevention begins in the home and family,

period. The state should not become involved in any way until a

crime is committed. We already have all children in secure prison

facilities--we call them public schools. In reality they are

government schools, and teachers are forced to toe the government

line in class.

 

Death Penalty: Democrats oppose capital punishment. "Since the

state should not be empowered to take human life." Republicans

support it. Libertarians: We oppose capital punishment, except for

the on-the-spot variety toward the guy breaking into our homes or

vehicles, and putting our families and ourselves in danger.

 

Defense: Democrats oppose defense budget increases" during this

time of peace." Republicans call for a stronger military and an

anti-missile system. Libertarians: Our defense budget should be

exactly that. We should protect our shores alone. We should

immediately withdraw from any extra-national military

entanglements

 

Divorce: Republicans call for alternatives to the state's no-fault

divorce laws. Democrats are silent on the issue. Libertarians:

Divorce is a private matter. The state should have no viewpoint at

all. Families alone should be responsible for children.

 

Education: Democrats oppose charter schools and vouchers, and

support bilingual education, a simple-majority approval

requirement for school bonds and levies, higher teacher salaries

and smaller class sizes. Republicans urge abolition of the U.S.

Dept. of Education and an end to all federal funding of education.

They reject federal and state education reform laws, and back

merit pay for teachers and use of school vouchers. Libertarians:

Libertarians oppose tax-funded government schools. Educating

children should be a matter of parent-child choice. Government

schools today are becoming more and more like prisons. And

prisons are becoming more like schools.

 

Gays: Democrats say gays should be allowed to marry and should

face no job discrimination. Republicans say they oppose any

policies or laws that "encourage, condone, or legitimize

homosexual behavior in any way." The GOP also insists schools

not present homosexuality as acceptable, and opposes allowing

gays and lesbians to adopt or be foster parents. The Republican

resolution says its position should not be taken as hostility or

hatred toward gays or their defenders. Libertarians: Marriage is a

contract between two consenting individuals, gay or not gay. The

state has no cause and no right to enhance the relationship or

interfere with it in any way.

 

Growth Management: Republicans call for repeal of the state's

Growth Management Act. Democrats support it. Libertarians:

Erase the Growth Management Act, and fire central planners.

 

Guns: Democrats oppose sale of military-style assault weapons

and semiautomatic weapons. Republicans support gun rights and

oppose any attempts to restrict them. Libertarians: We support gun

rights and oppose any attempts to restrict them.

 

Health Care: Democrats urge creation of a national health-care

system and support universal health care at the state level until the

federal system is ready. Republicans flatly reject government-run

health care--or any deeper government involvement. Libertarians:

We flatly reject government run health care--and the "big-brother

knows all" calamity to which this would surely lead.

 

Medical Marijuana: Democrats support a ballot measure allowing

medical use of pot. GOP says no drugs should be legalized.

Libertarians: A person owns his or her own body. Whether a

person uses or doesn't use drugs, is none of the government's

business. All drug laws should immediately be repealed. One

result: A kilo costs a nickel; smoke it at your own health risk.

 

Minimum Wage: Democrats endorse an increase in the minimum

wage. Republicans don't mention it. Libertarians: Wages are an

element in a contract between two individuals--the employer and

employee. Government should butt out as surely as it has butted

in.

 

Prayer In School: Democrats call for strict separation of church

and state and oppose mandatory prayer in public schools.

Republicans support "religious expression in our public schools

that is neither mandated nor prohibited by government."

Libertarians: Last century's government instrusion into schools is

the source of this Gordian knot. Oust government from schools,

not prayer. When schools are no longer state owned, the problem

is moot. In our present pickle, however, all persons must be able

to choose to pray--or not pray--whenever they want and wherever

they are, in any way they choose. Let's keep the state out of

education, and we'll simultaneously keep it separate from religion.

 

Prostitutes: Democrats support programs to move women and men

out of prostitution into mainstream society. Republicans call for

"full enforcement of existing laws against pornography and

prostitution." Libertarians: A woman's body is her own. A man's

body is his own. Prostitutes are well paid. Personal

contracts--verbal or written--are between individuals. The state

has no place in personal contracts or activities between or among

consenting adults. Period. Repeal laws against prostitution and

pornography.

 

Salmon: Democrats endorse the Endangered Species Act and want

government to "give high priority to preservation and restoration

of wild salmon and other endangered species." Republicans say

recovery programs should not include dams spills, drawdowns or

removal. They want major restrictions on the ESA. Libertarians:

Libertarians are "green". But we believe private individuals can do

a better job than government in preserving the land. The ESA is

generally fraudulent.

 

Social Security: Republicans would provide private option for

Social Security and Medicare. Democrats want Social Security left

as it is, but support raising the income cap for employer and

employee payments into the system. Libertarians: A man's old age

and health are his own concern, and perhaps those of his loved

ones. The state should butt out of it altogether.

 

Taxes: Republicans call for repeal of the state business and

occupation tax and the federal inheritance tax. They seek lower

state taxes on families and small businesses, reduction of the

federal capital gains tax, elimination of the federal income tax in

favor of a flat tax or national sales tax, and a goal of limiting

state, federal and local taxes to 25 percent of personal income.

Democrats back a progressive federal income tax, opposing both a

flat tax and a national sales tax. Libertarians: We despise taxes,

and would shrink government duties to protecting our borders,

providing courts of law, and protecting us from each other only

when we cannot do so as individuals. A small flat tax or sales tax

are far more conducive to liberty than a progressive income tax

with a patently totalitarian IRS. Libertarians would immediately

repeal the B&O tax, federal inheritance tax, the capital gains tax,

and eliminate the U.S. income tax and IRS. So vote for us.

 

Tobacco: Democrats oppose any limits on consumer rights to sue

any company and on damages a plaintiff may seek. They also call

for an end to tobacco subsidies and urge the state to sell off its

tobacco investments. Republicans oppose acting against the

tobacco industry or any other industry with a potentially risky but

legal product. Libertarians: To use tobacco is an individual

decision. We have always known that tobacco is harmful. There

should be NO subsidies to tobacco farmers or cigarette

manufacturers; there should be NO open season on them, either.

 

Trade: Democrats oppose trade pacts that "allow displacement of

American jobs without creating better jobs in the United States"

and urge U.S. companies to pay offshore employees a living wage

and preserve the environment. Republicans support "free but fair

trade." Libertarians: We support truly free trade--fairness will take

care of itself at the local and individual level.

 

Transportation: Democrats back a gasoline tax increase to fix state

roads and by inference oppose a GOP ballot measure to shift some

general funds to the highway budget. Republicans obliquely

support the referendum. Libertarians: Democrats and Republicans

will tax for anything they favor. They are essentially

authoritarian, and pay lip service alone to individual liberty. Since

government CREATES NOTHING, an aggregate of individuals

already pays for highways. Let's take government out of the road

business altogether, and create incentives other than coercion for

building them.

 

United Nations: Democrats support "the global vision of the

United Nations," including peace-keeping, adding that "the United

States cannot and should not unilaterally enforce world peace."

Republicans say U.S. military and foreign policy must never be

determined by the UN, NATO, or other external entity.

Libertarians: We believe the U.S. should stay out of all foreign

entanglements. If U.S. corporations overseas want their holdings

protected, they should protect them themselves, and leave us out

of it. Other countries should take care of their own peace; we

should have nothing to do with their wars nor their peace. The

U.N. is an expensive, socialist farce.

 

ET CETRA: Democrats favor gradual, normalizing of relations

with Cuba, U.S. ratification of the international land-mine treaty,

humanitarian aid to Iraq, better housing for migrant farmworkers,

and improved state funding of school construction. Republicans

oppose teen work rules, the global-warming treaty, protection of

harbor seals and sea lions, and the proposed Northern Straits

Federal Marine Sanctuary. They suggest moving the state primary

from September to June. Libertarians favor: normalizing relations

with any country we're not at war with, we don't like land mines,

migrant farmworkers should take care of their own housing, and

families should choose and financially support their own schools.

We oppose teen work rules, the phony global warming treaty,

would let nature take care of seals and sea lions, and let those who

use it buy the NSFMS. We believe we should move the state

primary to April 15, the same day we are all forced to pay federal

taxes.