Every four years, Democrats from across the country join together to develop the party’s platform. The platform is created to uplift working people and write out the values that will guide the Democratic Party for years to come.

The product of those efforts is the Democratic Party Platform.  The last platform was considered by the 2020 Platform Committee at its meeting on July 27, 2020, and was approved by the Democratic National Convention August 18, 2020.

The Preamble does a couple of important things, it reminds us of who Americans are and spells out the huge challenge we have before us:

“America is an idea—one that has endured and evolved through war and depression, prevailed over fascism and communism, and radiated hope to far distant corners of the earth. Americans believe that diversity is our greatest strength. That protest is among the highest forms of patriotism. That our fates and fortunes are bound to rise and fall together. That even when we fall short of our highest ideals, we never stop trying to build a more perfect union.”

“…The challenges before us—the worst public health crisis in a century, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the worst period of global upheaval in a generation, the urgent global crisis posed by climate change, the intolerable racial injustice that still stains the fabric of our nation—will test America’s character like never before.

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare deep-seated problems in our society—the fragility of our economy and social safety net, the risks posed by growing inequality, the impacts of racial and economic disparities on health and well-being, and the profound consequences of deepening polarization and political paralysis.”

Looking at where we are today, it seems to me that those who put this work together understood fully the challenges we as a country were facing.  And yet, with eyes wide open they forged ahead with attempting to right the ship and meet those challenges head on.

Each section of the platform details the reasoning and the goals of the Democratic Party for our country:

• Protecting Americans and Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Building a Stronger, Fairer Economy
• Achieving Universal, Affordable, Quality Health Care
• Protecting Communities and Building Trust By Reforming Our Criminal Justice System
• Healing the Soul of America
• Combatting the Climate Crisis and Pursuing Environmental Justice
• Restoring and Strengthening Our Democracy
• Creating a 21^st Century Immigration System
• Providing a World-Class Education in Every Zip Code
• Renewing American Leadership

I challenge everyone to read this document from beginning to end.  You will find it is not kind to the former President, Donald J. Trump, or his administration…the history/background is what it is.  You will also find there will be some things that do not align with your beliefs whether or not you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. You will also find that it is forward-looking, bold, responsive, and compassionate…the pandemic happened.  You will see that President Biden has read it and is certainly trying to meet the challenge (although no man is perfect) but some things require the help of Congress (House and Senate)…and he needs us do our part as American citizens. Use the power of the pen and your keyboard to communicate with your leaders and use your vote. 

 I also challenge everyone to locate and read the Republican platform.