THE PLATFORM

By George Smith

A FBook friend and a well-informed observer and writer questioned my use of a certain verb in a recent post when referring to the fact the GOS “insists” the party is behind a balanced budget.

Just as the Dem platform always “insists” on the Equality of All People, the GOP puts business success over the rights of workers, even business success over human life.

This is from the 2020 Republican platform (which is the same as the 2016 version):

1. We believe America is exceptional because of our historic role — first as refuge, then as defender, and now as exemplar of liberty for the world to see.

(My reaction: But, but what about aslyum seekers? What about the rights of peaceful protestors? What about gays? What about Muslims?)

2. We affirm, as did the Declaration of Independence: that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

(Yeah, right, whatever. Tell that to those in our country who are the living oppressed and who are favorite targets of conservatives — minorities, all, including women, members of the LBGTQ community, and interracial couples.)

3.We believe our constitutional system — limited government, separation of powers, federalism, and the rights of the people — must be preserved uncompromised for future generations.

(Limited government? I just threw up in my mouth. Separation of powers? See comment above. Rights of the people? “People” over rich people? “People” over big business? Get real)

4. We believe political freedom and economic freedom are indivisible.
When political freedom and economic freedom are separated — both are in peril; when united, they are invincible.”

(It is a fact that actions by the federal government, positively or adversely, affect the country’s economic pulse. The elected GOPers in Congress, with one stalwart exception, seem to feel they do not have freedom to march along the best path for their constituents; they are attached mouth to buttocks of a lightning rod president who craves three things: Money, power and loyalty.)

5. We believe that people are the ultimate resource — and that the people, not the government, are the best stewards of our country’s God-given natural resources.

(No Republican, no voter, who can read or hear the spoken word cannot know this is three kinds of male bovine offal. The GOP is for big business wants over despoiling public lands, encouraging drilling for oil and natural gas, timber production and for grazing land for big cattle operations. Trump’s troops just re-approved the use of a cancer-causing insecticide for farmers, opened up logging on public lands, diminishes the benefits of non-fossil fuel sources — wind, solar and wave — thus protecting the oil and gas interests and approved “cyanide bombs” to kill predators, regardless of the damage is does to other animals, including domestic cats and dogs.)

6. As Americans and as Republicans we wish for peace — so we insist on strength. We will make America safe. We seek friendship with all peoples and all nations, but we recognize and are prepared to deal with evil in the world.

(This administration seeks peace as long as our potential enemies agree to do things “our” way. If some country “bobbles” in abject support of Trump’s ideas or demands, it becomes the nation’s enemy or next economic punching bag.)

To use a little contrived literary dyslexia, the U.S. is in a “melluva hess”. And the only way out is an affirmation of real American principles — the rights of ordinary people over the political and business gentry — in November.

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