Posted on: Monday, June 14, 2004
Differences are in the details of two platforms
By Bruce Dunford
Associated Press
It would be hard for either side to argue against the other's major tenets in the respective platforms of the Hawai'i Democratic and Republican parties.
"We are the party of values and ideals. We believe in strong families and communities," declare the Democrats.
"Hawai'i's Republicans are committed to the belief that all people are created equal with unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," declare the Republicans.
While those quotes might easily be uttered with equal fervor by the opposing party, the formally adopted party platforms reveal contrasts in emphasis and differences in the details.
At their conventions this year, Hawai'i Democrats and Republicans tweaked and tinkered with the language of the documents that define what they stand for, providing updates that reflect changing times. But the basics have remained unchanged for decades and reflect the platforms of the respective national parties.
For prospective voters looking beyond sign-waving, brochures, door-to-door visits, TV and radio ads and the personalities of the candidates for office this fall, a look at the platforms may shed some light on the political philosophy the individual candidates presumably would bring to office if elected.
One clear difference relates to the respective party's emphasis on the government's roles related to business, to employers and to employees.
"We are the party of the working women and men of Hawai'i and we are dedicated to continue to support and expand the rights of labor," the Democrats say.
The GOP says: "We want everyone to earn enough to provide more than just the necessities for all families. We can do that if our economy is free from restrictive regulation and high taxes so that anyone with a vision can start a business that meets their needs and provides jobs."
While the Democrats put emphasis on labor and training workers to get good jobs, they also "believe in a free enterprise economy and recognize the need for government to provide a business friendly environment which will generate jobs for our citizens."
Business friendly to the GOP means "elimination of unnecessary government regulation and layers of bureaucracy that increase the cost of government, the cost of living, the cost of conducting business and the cost of creating jobs in Hawai'i."
Some planks in the Democratic Party's platform open the opportunity for the Republicans to nail a rebuttal plank into their own.
"We are a party united in our dedication to electing to public and appointive office leaders of the highest character, integrity, ability and vision," say the Hawai'i Democrats, whose party has been plagued by a campaign-contributions scandal and a number of public officials going to jail.
Hawai'i Republicans say their goal "is to create a vibrant multiparty system of moral, ethical and law-abiding leaders that will restore integrity to government" and "create an open, honest form of government free of cronyism and favoritism where every citizen can expect equal opportunity and respect and have their faith in government restored."
Crime and punishment find a different emphasis from the two parties — the Republicans seeking strong enforcement and tough penalties and the Democrats expressing concern for "equal treatment" of suspects.
"The maintaining of public safety, while upholding individual freedoms, is of paramount importance in a civilized society," the Democrats say, but caution that "the U.S. Constitution guarantees equal treatment under the law and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin in the exercise of police powers."
The Republican platform strikes a different tone, calling for strict penalties and stronger emphasis on victims' rights in trials, longer sentences for predatory criminals, mandatory treatment of drug-addicted convicts and more monitoring of probationers and parolees.
One curiosity of the GOP's platform this year is the deletion of a long-standing call for an elected state attorney general, possibly reflecting Hawai'i getting its first Republican governor in 40 years, since it's the governor who makes the appointment.
Education is a key component of both parties' platforms, the Republicans' refreshed this year with features of GOP Gov. Linda Lingle's education-reform package she says was largely thwarted by the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
"Hawai'i's Republicans support a restructuring of public education in our state from a top-heavy, unresponsive statewide bureaucracy to a community-based, locally administrated school system," the Republicans say, outlining new initiatives.
They include giving principals near total control over spending decisions, locally elected school boards, funding based on student body needs, more funding for charter schools and increased student discipline.
The Democrats focus on providing "a well-rounded curriculum" and "believe that other subjects like vocational education, fine arts, physical education, family life education, Hawaiian culture studies in addition to academic studies should be taught in our schools."
"We celebrate diversity in education, knowing that exposure to different cultures enhances character and repels prejudices," their platform says.
