US election manifestoes - are they mere promises and platitudes?
World
Americans are going to choose their head of state on Nov 5
By Mudassar Ali Iqbal
The presidential election in the United States is the most important political event and Americans are going to choose their head of state on Nov 5.
There are many political parties on the US political firmament but the massive support for two major parties - Democrats and Republican – makes it similar to a two-party system.
Amid electioneering by the two mainstream parties the significance of manifestoes or political roadmap cannot be over-emphasised.
Let’s have a bird’s eye view of the manifestoes of the two parties over the years.
2024
In the election year 2024 both parties are entering the fray with their manifestoes covering the latest national issues.
Economy
According to Democrats’ manifesto, the economic development can be ensured by reducing taxes on the middle class.
Democrats’ presidential candidate Kamala Harris in a recent debate called the small businesses and middle-class main focus of her economic policies.
Democrats promise tax cut to middle class and more taxes on the rich and large businesses.
The Republicans, on the other hand, are of the opinion that tax reforms are crucial to benefit the middle class.
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They prefer market deregulation and encourage big corporations to flourish to enable them to contribute to national economy.
Healthcare
Democrats favour the accessibility to the basic health facilities. They support Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide basic health facilities to a greater number of people.
The Republicans who are the promoters of free market are in the favour of free market health solutions and many of them are against ACA.
Environment
Democrats prioritise renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions in their manifesto. They are of the view that climate change is a major threat to economy and health. They consider it a threat to national security as well.
The Republican Party supports energy independence and focuses on fossil fuel production. It is climate sceptic. The Republicans consider the climate change a propaganda and do not prioritise it as an issue of national or international level.
The US withdrawal from Paris Agreement in 2017 manifests Republicans’ lack of seriousness about climate change.
Education
Democrats promote an idea of affordable education for all. They believe in making the higher education more affordable for the betterment of future generations.
Whereas Republicans advocate increasing school choices and reducing federal influence on educational matters of public to let people decide their own education plans.
Social Justice
Democrats emphasise the systemic reforms and equality. In their manifesto they discard the belief of non-intervention for social justice and welfare.
Republicans emphasise support for law enforcement and limited intervention in social issues.
Immigration
The Democratic Party always supports a pathway to citizenship. It has always shown a soft corner for the outsiders and immigrants whereas Republicans always focus on tightened border security and firm immigration control. They believe that immigrants bring nothing but crimes to American society.
Abortion
A study of manifestoes shows Democrats support reproductive rights. They advocate the idea that the individuals have the right to make decisions about their reproduction capacities.
On the other hand, the Republican Party advocates more restrictions on abortion. They consider abortion equivalent to “killing of human infants”.
2020
Economy
In the elections of 2020, the Republican Party focused on low taxes and reducing federal regulations of businesses.
They supported free-market policies in their manifesto.
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The Democratic Party focused on clean energy job investment and increasing the minimum wages as their main focus has always been the middle class and low wagers.
Healthcare
In 2020, the Republicans’ manifesto included repealing ACA and promoting free-market healthcare reforms.
Democrats promised to expand the healthcare (ACA) and control drug prices in their manifesto.
Environment
The Republican Party emphasised energy independence and supported fossil fuel production in 2020 also.
Donald Trump appointed Rex Wayne Tilerson as the 69th US secretary of State. Tilerson was the former CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the leading global fossil fuel suppliers.
Democrats' manifesto included re-joining the Paris Agreement from which the Trump administration withdrew in 2017.
Democrats in their manifesto decided to make the net zero carbon emissions in US.
Education
In the manifesto of 2020 the Republicans promoted school choice and opposed federal education policies.
Republicans are prone to avoid interference in the matters of social welfare.
Democrats included increasing federal student aid and waiving student loans to some extent.
Social Justice
In 2020, Republicans supported law enforcement and opposed cuts to police budgets.
Democrats resolved in their manifesto of 2020 to address the systemic racism and supported criminal justice reforms.
Immigration
In the 2020 manifesto, Republicans opposed the idea of sanctuary cities. A sanctuary city is a state or a municipality which denies to implement the government’s immigration laws and make policies favourable for the citizenship of new immigrants.
One of the widely known points of manifesto of Republicans was the construction of a border wall.
This idea was criticised by Democrats and civil societies as Democrats advocated a pathway to citizenship for immigrants.
Abortion
In 2020, Republicans strongly opposed abortion and supported the rights of unborn children while Democrats defended reproductive rights as they always do.
2016
Economy
In the manifesto of 2016 presidential election, the Republican Party announced tax cuts for businesses and reduced regulations.
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The Democratic Party focused on increasing wages for the middle class which has always been the targeted audience of Democrats. They promised to raise the minimum wages.
Healthcare
In 2016, Republicans wrote in their manifesto that they would repeal ACA. They promoted private insurance.
But, on the other hand, Democrats were emphasising the protection and expansion of ACA.
Environment
As Democrats considered the climate change an issue of national security back in 2016 also, they placed emphasis on combating climate change and promoting renewable energy.
Republicans focused on increasing fossil fuel production and achieving energy independence.
Education
In the 2016 education manifesto, Republicans included school choice through vouchers and opposition to federal involvement.
Democrats focused on reducing college fee and addressing student debts via federal assistance.
Social Justice
In the realm of social justice in 2016 the Republicans’ manifesto revolved around empowering the law-enforcement agencies to maintain law and order whereas Democrats included police reforms and promoted equal rights.
Immigration
Republicans continued to focus on strengthening borders and opposing illegal immigration.
Democrats supported Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) policy. DACA is an administrative relief from deportation of eligible young immigrants.
Democrats also emphasised the need for comprehensive immigration reforms.
Abortion
In the 2016 manifesto, Republicans supported restriction on abortion.
Democrats being moderate and liberal in their policies promised the protection of women’s rights about reproduction including the right to abort.
Both parties in the US elections have always been determined to address the issues America face but their policies and ideological differences give varying solutions to the national issues.
Although in the post-Covid world the dynamics and issues are much different today than they were in, say, 2012, certain issues such as economy, health and immigrant policies persist.
The party with more appealing manifesto is likely to make it to ‘Oval office’.
