DFL values v. GOP values

Robert Kutter and I had an interesting email conversation this week.

He told me that protesting was all fine and good but that we should focus our energies on getting out the vote this fall. 

I said getting out the vote was all fine and good but what is the DFL going to say to uncommitted  voters who are discouraged by the swampyness of politics and politicians.

Here’s what Robert said:

“The most difficult thing to change is what people value. I wouldn't put much time into trying to change people who hold the value that the country is made of winners and losers. I would, however, explain what DFL candidates value and how that may be different from the opposition. The DFL platform gives one a fairly good idea about what is important to people who see the world from a progressive viewpoint. Perhaps that is easier to accomplish if one reads the Republican platform. The differences are stark.”  

“That said, I believe that whenever the conversation turn to politics, we need to make clear what we value and why. We don't have to denigrate the opposition; we need to be persuasive about what we stand for in our communities, districts, and state.”

I really liked Robert’s thoughts about speaking up about our values. I heard similar talk from Alex Hering, Stephen Browwning, and Tim Walz at the Todd County DFL  convention.

So, I wrote Robert back.

“I like what you say. I’ve been sharing your thoughts with my son and wife. We all go to precinct caucuses and occasionally county conventions. We generally introduce platform resolutions. But you know what? We’ve never read the platform.

“I get Sue’s (DFL Secretary Sue Stine) minutes from the monthly meetings. In the minutes there’s never anything about DFL values or platform planks. What if somebody read a platform plank at each meeting and encouraged five or ten minutes of discussion at each meeting? What if that was put in the minutes?

“On a separate note, my family would be willing to be part of a DFL phone bank to get out the vote on election day. If you all want to get a voters list we’ll make some calls.

Best regards,

Tim

Robert didn’t reply to that so I took it upon myself to review the DFL and GOP platforms, as he suggested. I had some help from twincities.com.

twincities.com has the only link to the Minnesota Republican Party platform that I can find. Both it and a short summary of it at the GOP website are dated 2016. The DFL platform is easy to find at the DFL website. It’s not dated, however. 

According to the GOP platform the Republicans want to repeal the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. That constitutional amendment, among many other things, has allowed for the blossoming of small public libraries across Minnesota. Since the amendment was passed by Minnesota voters in xx small town libraries have regularly hosted magical shows, polka parties, and scientific expositions. We’ve all been enriched by these events.

The Grand Old Party also wants to outlaw gay marriage again and to forbid talk about gay marriage in school classrooms. They believe that our families and communities will be strengthened by outlawing and not talking about same sex marriage.

The DFL doesn’t refer to either gay marriage or the Legacy Amendment, presumably because they are both accomplished fact.

The DFL platform does say, however, “We oppose discrimination against any person on the basis of race, creed, religion, immigration status, sex, sexual or affectional orientation, HIV status, gender identity or expression, marital or homemaker status, disability, or age.”

The GOP platform calls for phasing out Social Security and affirms a pre-existing belief in the wonders of a free market medical care system.

The DFL supports the creation of a single payer medical insurance program. The platform also states that the Party supports “the independent status of Social Security”. I’m not sure what that means.

The DFL supports the elimination of electricity generated by nuclear generating plants. The GOP supports “clean nuclear power”. Whatever that means?

The GOP wants the U.S. out of the United Nations while the DFL urges that the U.N. be used as a mediator in times of global crisis.

The Republicans want English to be the official Minnesota language and to limit the use of other languages in public schools. 

Both parties support balancing the federal budget and reducing the federal debt. Really!

And this takes me back to my suggestion to Robert Kutter. Can the leadership and membership of the Todd County DFL articulate how the DFL position on a balanced budget differs from the GOP position? Can the leadership explain why the DFL opposes clean nuclear power? Is there such a thing?

I think these things are worth talking about.