In preparation for tonight’s U.S. Presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, hosted by ABC News and airing on most news channels at 6:pm Pacific Time, the Mountain Top Times has attached Strand Consulting’s 10-sector platform comparison check-sheet to follow the questioning.
According to Strand, both political party platforms focus on eight categories: lowering costs, the economy, the border, communities, industry, civics, government, and foreign policy/defense. The most significant change to either party’s platform versus 2020 is the Democrat’s elimination of a chapter on education and the policy reversal that Democrats are now committed to: “We must fund, not defund, the police.”
We objectively expect that tonight’s debate will also emphasize candidate policy differences to reigning in Big Tech political influence, Artificial Intelligence impact on personal privacy and America’s rapidly escalating trade war with China.
Both parties prioritize “lowering costs” on consumers. While the Republicans declare increasing the energy supply and stopping wasteful government spending will reduce prices; Democrats target a list of price controls that include energy. While Republicans economic focus is on cutting taxes, reciprocal trade, low-energy-cost and promoting innovation (for AI, crypto and space); Democrats focus on promoting small business, agriculture, ending poverty, and punishing corporate greed.
Both parties promise to address the border. While Republicans pledge building walls and deporting foreign criminals; Democrats want to expand legal immigration. While Republicans promote the American Dream affordability of housing, higher education, healthcare, and lowering costs; Democrats focus on protecting communities, ending gun violence, and for first time have eliminated opposition to the death penalty.
Both parties emphasize the industrial sector. While Democrats focus on addressing the climate crisis by promoting clean and green energy jobs; Republicans focus on workers and farmers with pledges to become a Manufacturing Superpower, secure independence from China, revive the US auto industry, and buy and hire American.
Both parties promote civics, the rights and duties of citizens, and “American values,” While Democrats promote a “Unity Agenda” to beat the opioid epidemic, address mental health, protect kids online, end cancer, and care for military families; Republicans emphasize Common Sense and American Civilization as empowering families, rebuilding cities, respecting veterans, restoring America’s beauty, law and order, and honoring American history.
Both parties have chapters on the role of government. Democrats focus on “Strengthening Democracy, Protecting Freedoms, Advancing Equity” by promoting different groups based on race, gender, and other unique characteristics. Democrats support restoring the abortion provisions of Roe v. Wade, support statehood for the District of Columbia (DC), and enacting the Equal Rights a Constitutional Amendment. Republicans call for “Government of, for and by the people” with an end to weaponization of federal policy, stopping censorship, protecting freedoms of speech and religion, promoting fair elections, and empowering voters to address abortion at the state level.
Both parties support strong military and the role of diplomacy. While Republicans emphasize the US economic strength; Democrats emphasize the importance of global engagement with foreign countries and regions.
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