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Seeing through the Fog
It's not always clear what the Democratic and Republican parties truly
stand for. Commercials blur the difference, and the media tend to focus on
matters that aren't of core significance.
Even an administration's record isn't always a reliable indicator,
given the need for compromise, especially when the president or governor
is of one party and the other party has a majority in Congress or a
legislature.
One good way to learn what parties work for is to consider the
achievements — rather than rhetoric — when the president (or governor) and
the legislative branch are of the same party.
Currently, Republicans control the presidency, Senate, House and a
majority of governorships (including Massachusetts). It's a good time to
look at the Republican record and contrast it with Democratic
accomplishments.
Here's a quiz about politics of the past 75 years (for space reasons
I'm keeping it brief).
Which party held the presidency and had the majority in Congress when
the following occurred?
1. Cut taxes for multimillionaires while waging an expensive war.
2. Protected millions of Americans from poverty in their old age.
3. Won the greatest foreign war in U.S. history.
4. Gave Americans the right to access government records.
5. Regulated air emissions to reduce illnesses caused by smog.
6. Prohibited discrimination in voting, education and employment.
7. Helped millions of retirees get medical care.
8. Created opportunities for millions of veterans to go to college.
9. Banned child labor.
10. Prohibited paying women less than men for the same job.
11. Helped unemployed workers survive while looking for a job.
12. Shrank the middle class and increased poverty.
What do the answers say about the core values of the parties?
Democratic achievements demonstrate a push for a fairer and more tolerant
society, and a better future for all — working for the common good. What
does the Republican record say about its values?
My previous column discussed how 15 years of Republican governors have
hurt our Commonwealth. In future columns, I'll provide more reasons to be
a Democrat and vote Democrat.
Answers:
1. Republicans. Tax cuts during the current Republican administration
have given the biggest breaks to multimillionaires. We've gone from a
budget surplus under Democrat Clinton to the largest deficit in history.
Today's babies are inheriting this debt, which will reduce their future
standard of living.
2. Democrats. Social Security was enacted by Democratic President
Roosevelt and a Democratic Congress. Most Republicans voted against it
then, and now Republicans are attempting to weaken it. Without Social
Security, huge numbers of older Americans would be living in poverty, and
most workers would be struggling to help support our retired parents as
well as our children.
3. Democrats. It was under the leadership of Democratic President
Roosevelt that the United States planned and won the most difficult — and
most morally justified — foreign war (World War II), and then advanced
international security by leading the world into the United Nations.
4. Democrats. The Freedom of Information Act was passed by Democratic
President Johnson and a Democratic majority in Congress.
5. Republicans and Democrats. Occasionally some progress has been made
when government was divided. The Clean Air Act became law under Republican
President Nixon, but Democrats then outnumbered Republicans in the Senate.
The Republicans now are weakening air quality rules, despite global
warming.
6. Democrats. Democratic President Johnson and a Democratic Congress
passed the Civil Rights Act.
7. Democrats. Under Democratic President Johnson and a Democratic
Congress, Medicare was enacted. Because of compromises, some Republicans
supported the final legislation, but a majority of Republican senators
still noted Nay.
8. Democrats. The GI Bill was passed under Democratic President
Roosevelt and a Democratic Congress. Many of our families climbed into the
middle class as a result of the opportunities it gave to our parents or
grandparents.
9. Democrats. Under Democratic President Roosevelt and a Democratic
Congress, the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed. Until then, many
children worked in manufacturing and mining!
10. Democrats. Under Democratic President Kennedy and a Democratic
Congress, the Equal Pay Act was signed.
11. Democrats. The unemployment insurance program was enacted by
Democratic President Roosevelt and a Democratic Congress.
12. Republicans. Since Republican President Bush took office, many
Americans have seen a decline in income, and there are millions more in
poverty. The economy can worsen under either party's administration, but
how they handle the challenge is very different!
Catherine Bayliss is chairwoman of the Gloucester Democratic City
Committee and a member of the Democratic State Committee. |
Gloucester
