– “2024 GOP Platform – Some Thoughts” Sydney Williams
http://www.swtotd.blogspot.com
The Platform, predictably bland and clichéd but positive in tone, carries the title “Make America Great Again.” It is an expression of both traditional conservativism and conservative populism. It is dedicated “To the Forgotten Men and Women of America,” those made famous by Hillary Clinton’s term “deplorables.” The dedication reflects the new base of the Republican Party, not the coastal elites who in places like Connecticut a couple of generations ago dominated the Party. Today’s Republican Party is more representative of America’s middle class – working men and women, of every race, nationality, and religion. The Platform’s preamble is titled “America First: Return to Common Sense,” an expression of nationalism and a reference to judgement based on practical observations and universally accepted facts.
A political party’s platform must be generic, as it must appeal a large swath of voters. There are, approximately, 162 million registered voters in The United States. According to an April 2024 study by Pew Research Center, registration is about equally divided between Democrats and those who lean Democratic (49%) and Republicans and those who lean Republican (48%). Keep in mind, America is noted for its individualism, citizens who, historically, have not marched to assigned drummers. Republicans, especially, tend to be free-thinkers, more difficult to lasso and corral.
The over-arching tone of the Republican Platform is “America first,” as regards trade and the border, and a return to common sense, as regards manufacturing, the border, energy independence, military strength, and equal treatment of all under the law. This analysis does not pretend to be complete, but among its subjects, the document addresses the economy, defense/national security, education, culture and size of government.
- The Platform recommends energy independence, reducing regulation, and making the 2017 tax cuts permanent, while imposing tariffs on some imported goods. Without providing solutions, the document reflects inherent contradictions between free markets of traditional conservatives – Jospeh Schumpeter’s theory of creative destruction – and economic populism, the protection of jobs, industries and communities affected by globalization and changes in technology. Finding the balance between these competing forces will be the job of Congress, through debate and discussion. In his speech following acceptance of the GOP nomination, Donald Trump spoke of the need for improvements in education to help people become more competitive in today’s dynamic economy, i.e. a focus on community colleges. The document encourages innovation in emerging industries, such as Crypto, Artificial Intelligence and Space. It argues for the reduction of interest rates, without explaining whether that will be a function of government or markets. And it promises to do away with taxes on tips.
- It calls for ‘Peace through Strength,’ re-building the military to counter China, and to ensure that our military remains “the most modern, lethal and powerful force in the world.” It calls for building an Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield to cover the United States, but at what cost it leaves unsaid. It advocates securing our border against illegal immigration, strengthening alliances (including NATO), and championing “strong, sovereign, and independent nations in the Indo-Pacific…” Echoing President Obama in November 2011, the Platform calls for a pivot to Asia. But little was said of current, explicit threats from China, Russia and Iran.
- In terms of education, the Platform call for an environment “free from political meddling” and the restoration of parental rights. It supports school choice, and encourages merit pay for teachers in place of tenure. It advocates overhauling standards on school discipline, including the suspension of violent students. It ensures students are taught fundamentals like reading, math, science, history, civics, and the “restoration of a classical liberal arts education.” The Platform notes that the U.S. spends more per pupil than any other country in the world, yet results have been mediocre. It suggests the Department of Education in Washington be shut down, and return responsibility for education to the states.
- As for culture, the document promotes the “sanctity of marriage, the blessings of childhood and the foundational role of families…” While the document says abortion rights belong with the states, it opposes late term abortions but supports mothers and policies that advance prenatal care, access to birth control and IVF. The Platform would keep biological men from participating in women’s sports, and it would stop taxpayer-funded schools from promoting gender transition and taxpayer funding for sex change surgeries. Parents’ rights include knowledge of their children’s attitudes toward a possible sex change. It calls for the cutting of federal funding for sanctuary jurisdictions that release criminals onto the streets, and it would require that local authorities cooperate with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). It promises to deport illegal aliens who have violated our laws.
- The Platform quotes Mr. Trump in his promise not to “cut one penny” from Medicare or Social Security: “Republicans will restore economic stability to ensure long-term sustainability of Social Security.” “Republicans will protect Medicare’s finances from being financially crushed by the Democrats plan to add tens of millions of new illegal immigrants to the roles of Medicare.” Nothing was said about the enormous deficits both plans generate. However, there is a promise to slash “wasteful” government spending, and to reinstate President Trump’s deregulation policies from his first term, “which,” the Platform claims without providing proof, “saved Americans $11,000 per household.”
The Platform reflects a changed Republican Party, something that has been underway for a long time. It has become what Peggy Noonan recently described in The Wall Street Journal: “a populist, working-class, nationalist party.” It is a Party that puts less emphasis on living within our means and on free-market economics and reflects more of what George W. Bush in 2000 called “compassionate conservativism.” Columbia professor of economics Glenn Hubbard described the differences in last Friday’s The Wall Street Journal: “Conservative economic policy traditionally has emphasized the openness of markets and growth. By contrast, the populist conservative ideas under discussion at the Republican National Convention focus on people and places hard hit by the disruption that accompanies openness and growth.” Finding the balance is what democracy is about.
The concern of free-market capitalism is understandable, as the United States has out-sourced much of its manufacturing to places where labor costs are less. While that has harmed labor in the U.S. with the disappearance of manufacturing jobs, consumers have benefitted from lower prices. An imposition of tariffs, to limit imports, will cause affected countries to retaliate with their own tariffs, which will limit exports and possibly cause a global recession. But the Platform recognizes innovation, which reflects an understanding that economies are dynamic, that change is constant, that old industries die and new ones are formed. As mentioned above, Mr. Trump, in his speech to delegates, did talk of the need to improve education, saying that individuals should “raise their expectations.” Nevertheless, there is no perfect way to protect all people from changing economic conditions. An open border is distinctly not in our interest, and closing the border is not xenophobic when accompanied by increasing the number of legal immigrants. Unfortunately, while immigration reform was mentioned, increasing legal immigration was not mentioned.
As for the Platform and the Republican nominee, Nikki Haley spoke for many of us in her Convention speech: “We should acknowledge that there are some Americans who don’t agree with Donald Trump 100% of the time. I happen to know some of them. My message to them is simple: You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him. We agree on keeping America strong. We agree on keeping America safe. And we agree that Democrats have moved so far to the left that they’re putting our freedoms in danger. I’m here tonight because we have a country to save and a unified Republican Party is essential for saving her.” I want to close with words Mr. Trump expressed in his acceptance speech, because they echo my beliefs, and they suggest a more sober and reflective man: “None of us know God’s plan, or where life’s adventure will take us. But if the events of last Saturday make anything clear, it is that every single moment we have on earth is a gift from God. We have to make the most of every day for the people and the country we love.”
This essay reflects my understanding of the Republican Platform, which may be fallible. I don’t agree with all parts of it, but that is understandable. We are a large and diverse country with millions of individual opinions funneled into two political parties. We never vote for the perfect candidate but for the one that most closely mirrors our beliefs and ideals.
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