Shortcomings of the Democratic Party Platform

A party platform should serve to attract the uncommitted and expand the party’s base. Unfortunately, the Democratic platform is deficient.

8/22/24

One of the first aphorisms learned in Econ 101is that man has unlimited wants but limited resources. I’m reminded of that while I listen to the speeches at the Democratic National Convention and as I review the Democratic party platform. I no longer expect it, but it would be nice if our elected leaders could be counted on to operate responsibly. I fear the Democratic party is falling short.

Governing requires not only articulating a vision as to what the government should be delivering, but also clearly detailing how those goods and services will be paid for. This latter detail seems to be almost entirely absent from the Democratic platform, a 91-page document that puts forth a wish list of programs and policies with barely a mention of where the funds critical to these initiatives would come from. A partial list of those initiatives includes guaranteed health care and free Covid testing for all Americans, increased funding for public health departments and public health research, expanded unemployment insurance, more funding for low-income communities and communities of color, universal early childhood education, and relief from student debt.