American Election Chapter 3: Trump Harris Debate Prep. Comparing the Party Platforms
The US Presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris will air Tuesday 10 September at 9pm ET. ABC News details how to watch the event which takes place at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a battleground state. Given the reported difficulty to finalize debate rules (the microphone will be muted when it is not the respective candidate’s turn; no props, prewritten notes, or questions shared in advance), this 90-minute event may be the only time the candidates face off in the election season. It could tip what is a close race for the Presidency. There are two moderators but no audience, and the format is 2 minutes to answer questions, 2 minutes for rebuttals, and 1 minute for follow up. Based on a coin toss between the candidates, Harris selected stage left podium position, and Trump will offer the final closing statement.
Strand Consult focuses on how the election could impact tech and telecom policy. While these topics may not be center stage at the debate, we seek clues from how the candidates address other policy issues. For example, the type and level of regulation in an economy is critically important to investment, whether operators can consolidate, and the selection of cabinet and regulatory leaders. It will be interesting to see whether and how the candidates discuss Big Tech, security, China, and AI.
To give its audience additional context for the debate, Strand Consult analyzed the respective party platforms, also called political programs. Readers can check out Strand Consult’s research notes with takeaways for tech and telecom policy on Republicans and Democrats. This research note compares to the two platforms side by side with a user-friendly table below. Strand Consult does not endorse any candidate or party. Strand Consult attempts an objective representation of the platforms and policies for the benefit of its readers.
The platforms have remarkably similar structure focusing on 8 categories: lowering costs, the economy, the border, communities, industry, civics, government, and foreign policy/defense. Over years and elections, the parties mash-up each other’s ideas and keywords. To get the essence for 2024, one must look more closely to see emphasis, tone, and vocabulary. For example. Republicans added two special chapters to their 2024 platform: Seniors and Schools/Jobs. The Democrats‘ platform opens with a land acknowledgement to tribal nations.
In 2020, education had its own chapter in the Democrat platform; there is no such chapter in 2024, but the specific education proposals are interspersed in the other chapters. Another key change is Democrats assertion, “We must fund, not defund, the police.” Their 2020 platform portrayed the institution negatively.
Both parties prioritize “lowering costs” on consumers but with different methodologies and solutions. Republicans contend that increasing the energy supply and stopping wasteful government spending will reduce prices. Democrats, on the other hand, list targeted areas in for price controls. On the economy, Republicans focus on cutting taxes, reciprocal trade, low-cost energy, and promoting innovation (for AI, crypto and space). In this cycle, only Republicans have made technological innovation a key the theme in the platform, which heretofore Democrats asserted as their domain.
On the economy, Democrats provide a list of areas to promote including small business, agriculture, ending poverty, and tax cuts. Importantly the Democrats see high prices as the result of corporate greed, something which they believe should be met with rules against price gouging. Democrats also call for tax increases, notably on wealthy individuals and corporations which should “pay their fair share.”
The border is a hot-button issue. Both parties have promised to address it. Republicans pledge deportation of foreign criminals. Democrats say they will expand legal immigration, while the GOP prefers that immigration be merit-based.
Both parties have a program on improving communities. Republicans promote the American Dream for all with a focus on affordability–for housing, higher education, healthcare, and lower everyday costs. Democrats define the issue as one of protecting communities and ending gun violence. Another change to the Democrat platform is removing the party’s opposition to the death penalty.
Each party selects an industrial sector for special emphasis. For Democrats, it is the climate crisis. They promote clean, green energy jobs and associated pledges for climate leaderships. Republicans focus on Workers and Farmers with pledges to become a Manufacturing Superpower, secure strategic independence from China, revive the US auto industry, and buy and hire American. Separately check out John Gardner’s Manufacture Local for a blueprint on revitalizing manufacturing and its benefits for workers, security, the city, and nation.
While both parties focus on social security, home care, and Medicare, the GOP emphasizes active, healthy lifestyles for seniors in a dedicated chapter. The GOP has another chapter dedicated to Schools and Jobs, underscoring their conceptual policy view that education should prepare students for the workforce with real world skills. It mentions school choice, safe schools, parents’ rights, and a promise to move shift educational authority to the states, away from the federal government.
Both parties promote civics, the rights and duties of citizens, and both have elements which voters would recognize as “American values,” though the party emphasis is different. For example, Republicans describe Common Sense and American Civilization as empowering families, rebuilding cities, respecting veterans, restoring America’s beauty, law and order, and honoring American history. Democrats promote a “Unity” agenda to beat the opioid epidemic, address mental health, protect kids online, end cancer, and care for military families.
Similarly for the chapters on the role of government, there is both common ground and points of difference. Republicans call for “Government of, for and by the people” with an end to weaponization of federal policy, stopping censorship, protecting freedoms of speech and religion, promoting fair elections, and empowering voters to address abortion at the state level.
Democrats have a detailed set of proposals under the heading “Strengthening Democracy, Protecting Freedoms, Advancing Equity,” noting that judges should be diverse in race and gender, easing barriers to vote, regulation on finance in the political process, and proposals to promote different groups based on race, gender, and other characteristics: Black, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaii and Pacific Islander Americans, LGBTQ+ , disability, and tribal nations. Freedoms of the press and religion are emphasized and pledges to support the arts and statehood for the District of Columbia (DC). The platform promises to enact the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution and make a federal law to restore the abortion provisions of Roe v. Wade.
On foreign policy and defense, both parties support a strong military and the role of diplomacy. Republicans emphasize a strong industrial US economy with border security and infrastructure improvements. While Democrats note the importance of the US economy, they discuss the global economy and specific proposals for foreign countries and regions.
Both parties want lower costs for consumers. particularly for healthcare, housing, and consumer goods. Republicans promote innovation in emerging industries like AI; whereas Democrats are skeptical and want ex ante regulation. In general, Republicans want to reduce federal bureaucracy and regulation which they perceive as making goods and services more expensive and deterring enterprise, whereas Democrats want specific interventions to lower prices. Importantly Democrats emphasize online safety for children as bipartisan bills are making their way through Congress. Republicans tend to favor mergers as beneficial for competition, innovation, and investment, whereas Democrats are skeptical of market concentration.
For comprehensive election information on both parties, check out the American Presidency Project at the University of California Santa Barbara with archived documents on campaigns, conventions, platforms, and transitions. They have archived the transcripts of all US Presidential debates since 1960. The Vice-Presidential Debate between J.D. Vance and Tim Walz takes place on October 1.
Strand Consult will study the debate closely for takeaways on tech and telecom, though such issues are unlikely to take center stage at the debate. The focus will probably be on prices, the economy, international conflicts and controversial questions to pin down candidates on abortion, election integrity, and the border.
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