CT

Political Party Platforms - Democrat vs Republican (Parsed Notes)

Abortion

  • Democrat: Restore Roe protections; federal right to choose; protect contraception + IVF; fight state bans/restrictions
  • Republican: Leave abortion policy to the states; cite 14th amendment interests; oppose late-term abortion; explicitly support IVF and access to birth control

Gay Rights

  • Democrat: Pass the Equality Act; protect marriage equality and anti-discrimination; combat bans/hostility in schools & public life
  • Republican: Emphasize “equal treatment for all,” parents’ rights; cut federal funds for schools teaching “radical gender ideology;” keep men out of women’s sports

Income Taxes

  • Democrat: ext{No tax increases under } \$
    400{,}000\text{; } expand refundable credits (CTC/EITC); raise taxes on billionaires & large corporations; close loopholes
  • Republican: ext{Large tax cuts for workers}; make 2017 tax cuts permanent; no tax on tips; pursue additional cuts

Other Taxes

  • Democrat: Expand IRS enforcement on wealthy/corporate tax cheats; increase stock buyback tax
  • Republican: Broader deregulatory/tax-cut posture; oppose new green-linked taxes/mandates

Social Security

  • Democrat: Protect and oppose privatization; strengthen by asking highest earners to pay more; expand Medicare benefits (vision/dental/hearing)
  • Republican: Fight for and protect…with no cuts and no change to retirement age

Minimum Wage

  • Democrat: Raise federal minimum to at least \$15/\text{hour}; higher pay for public educators; expand overtime eligibility
  • Republican: Platform does not endorse a federal increase; focus on jobs/training/apprenticeships/ and deregulation to raise wages via growth

Crime (Reducing)

  • Democrat: Fund the police+ community violence prevention; national gun-violence strategy; police reform/standards; more mental-health responders
  • Republican: “Lock up violent offenders”; demolish cartels; rebuild safe, clean cities; tougher enforcement

Gun Control

  • Democrat: Universal background checks; national red-flag law; safe-storage; revive assault-weapons ban; increase ATF/FBI resources
  • Republican: Defend Second Amendment; enumerate right “to keep and bear arms”; oppose restrictions framed as infringements

Death Penalty

  • Democrat: 2024 platform focuses on criminal-justice reforms; (prior Dem platforms opposed federal death penalty)
    • Explicit “Death Penalty” line: Democrats (2020 platform) called for abolishing the federal death penalty; the 2024 GOP platform doesn’t add a specific death-penalty plank but stresses harsher penalties and incarceration
    • 2024 platform centers on punishment for violent crime; no explicit death-penalty plank
  • Republican: No explicit death-penalty plank in 2024; stresses harsher penalties and incarceration

Education

  • Democrat: Invest in public schools, Title 1, counselors; raise teacher pay, expand community college access; relieve student debt; oppose book bans
  • Republican: Cultivate grade K-12 schools; expand parental control; cut federal funding to schools teaching CRT/”radical gender ideology"; consider closing/downsizing Dept. of Education

Healthcare

  • Democrat: Strengthen/expand ACA; lower Rx costs (Medicare negotiation); protect Medicaid; consider Medicare benefit expansion
  • Republican: Replace Biden-era health rules; price transparency; deregulation; oppose “socialist” health policies

Illegal Immigration

  • Democrat: “Secure the border & fix the system”; more agents/judges; faster asylum decisions + removals for ineligible; expand lawful pathways; keep families together; DACA path
  • Republican: Finish the wall; end releases; restore Remain-in-Mexico; largest deportation operation; cut funding to sanctuary cities; tougher vetting; prioritize merit-based immigration

National Security

  • Democrat: “Peace through alliances”; strengthen NATO; diplomacy + strong military; targeted global leadership
  • Republican: “Peace through strength”; rebuild/modernize military; missile-defense shield; avoid “globalism”

Trade

  • Democrat: “Worker-centric” trade enforcement; rebuild supply chains (CHIPS/IRA); global minimum tax; protect labor & environment standards
  • Republican: “America First” trade; favor tariffs/ pressure on cheaters; reshore supply chains; prioritize US producers

Environment vs. Energy Needs

  • Democrat: Climate action + clean-energy build-out; lower energy costs via clean tech; polluter pays; Paris leadership
  • Republican: “Drill, baby, drill”; unleash oil, gas, coal & nuclear; cancel EV mandates; slash environmental regulations

Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment

  • Democrat: Emphasize deficit reduction via fair-share taxes and targeted savings; no BBA plank
  • Republican: Emphasize spending cuts. 2024 platform doesn’t explicitly call for a BBA

Foundational Concepts and Implications

  • Federalism and role of government: Democrats push more federal standards (e.g., Roe protections, Equality Act, ACA expansion), Republicans emphasize state control (e.g., abortion policy, education curriculum) and deregulation
  • Individual rights vs. collective goods: Abortion, gun rights, LGBTQ rights, and immigration reflect tensions between personal autonomy and societal regulation
  • Economic philosophy: Democrats favor targeted tax increases on high earners and corporations with expanded credits; Republicans push broad tax cuts and deregulation to spur growth
  • National security posture: Democracts favor alliance-based, diplomacy-forward strategy; Republicans emphasize military strength and deterrence
  • Climate and energy: Democrats advocate clean-energy build-out and environmental protections; Republicans prioritize domestic fossil fuels and reduced regulatory barriers
  • Fiscal strategy: Democrats seek revenue via taxes and certain protections; Republicans prioritize spending restraint and tax cuts

Real-world relevance and potential implications

  • Policy implementation depends on Congress control and executive alignment; many planks require funding, regulatory changes, or constitutional interpretation
  • Some proposals interact with state policies (federal vs. state roles): abortion, education standards, immigration enforcement
  • Ethical questions: balancing safety and civil liberties (gun policy, death penalty, policing), human rights (marriage, contraception, IVF access), and intergenerational equity (fiscal policy, Social Security)

Key definitions and terms

  • Equality Act: federal civil rights legislation aiming to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
  • CTC/EITC: Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit; refundable tax credits designed to reduce poverty and support low- to middle-income families
  • Red-flag law: law enabling temporary removal of firearms when a person is deemed a credible danger to themselves or others
  • CHIPS/IRA: CHIPS Act (semiconductor manufacturing) and Inflation Reduction Act (energy/climate/auditing incentives)
  • DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; policy providing temporary relief from deportation for eligible undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children

Notable contrasts to remember for exam-style questions

  • Abortion: Roe protections and federal rights vs. states’ rights and 14th Amendment considerations
  • Gun policy: Universal checks and red-flag laws vs. defending broad Second Amendment rights
  • Taxes: Targeted tax increases and credits for Democrats vs. permanent tax cuts and further cuts for Republicans
  • Immigration: Comprehensive reform and pathways vs. border walls and merit-based focus
  • Education: Federal funding and standards vs. local control and parental authority
  • Energy: Clean-energy build-out vs. expanded fossil fuel resources
  • Budget: No explicit balanced-budget amendment vs. emphasis on spending cuts

Quick references (LaTeX-friendly)

  • Minimum wage benchmark: ext{
    $15/hour$}
  • Tax threshold for no increases: ext{
    $400{,}000$}
  • Key policy acronyms: CTC, EITC, ACA, CHIPS, IRA, DACA