Climate Corner: Parties and their platforms

Sep 14, 2024

Giulia Mannarino

Although, the Democrats (DNC) and the Republicans (GOP) are presently the two dominant political parties in the USA, our country has additional political parties. These include the Green Party, the Libertarians, the Constitution Party and more. All other parties are referred to as “Third Parties” and they often have presidential candidates in the race. Third party candidates rarely win but may have a spoiler effect on the outcome. Abraham Lincoln’s Republicans were a third party when he won the 1860 presidential election as the traditional parties at that time were the Democrats and the Whigs. In that race, there were four major candidates and Lincoln wasn’t even allowed on the ballot in the Southern states. Although, some other third-party candidates have done really well, no others have ever won an outright victory. The last president that was not a Democrat or Republican was Whig party candidate Millard Fillmore. At that time, whoever came in second was elected Vice President. Fillmore became vice president in 1848 and upon the death of Republican President Zachary Taylor served as president.

Political party “platforms,” as we know them today, began in 1840, with DNC candidate Martin Van Buren. In 1856, the GOP issued their first platform. In the 2020 election year, the GOP made the decision to skip platform drafting, citing the pandemic as the reason. Although, it would have been possible for the GOP to draft a platform virtually, as the DNC did that year, they chose not to. Their reasons remain unclear but may have been related to a controversy, within the party at that time, about what its length should be. That year, their candidate’s campaign, rather than a platform committee, issued a 600-word document of 50 items that mirrored the GOP’s 2016 platform. This election year, as usual, both parties have adopted official party platforms. In both cases, the documents were developed by large committees prior to the recent conventions. The platforms provide concrete examples of where the time and energy of the party will be devoted if elected. The platforms are available to review online. Both party platforms begin with an introductory Preamble and are then comprised of the “planks” that build it. Ten “points” are listed by the DNC and twenty “promises” are listed by the GOP.

Media coverage of the platforms have pointed out noticeable fundamental differences regarding the future planned for the country. A very important election issue for me, personally, is the climate. The DNC’s platform devotes an entire chapter to a plank titled “Combating the Climate Crisis and Pursuing Environmental Justice.” On the other hand, the word “climate” can’t be found anywhere in the GOP’s platform. Their Preamble states “We will DRILL, BABY, DRILL…” (GOP’s caps). In my opinion, it is dangerous to ignore the very real and urgent crisis of global warming being faced by mankind. Scientific evidence for warming of the climate is unequivocally indisputable!

Consensus among actively publishing climate scientists on human caused global warming has grown to one hundred percent. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase flooding as well as the recent HOTTEST YEAR EVER (my caps), the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale.

In-person voting for a presidential election used to occur every four years in November, only on official Election Day. Voting has changed through the years. Presently 47 states provide early voting options. Early voting may be offered in person at select sites, or by mail-in voting. There are several benefits to early voting including the fact that it offers more flexibility for your schedule and is usually more pleasant and less crowded. Both Ohio and West Virginia provide early voting options. For more specific information regarding these options, as well as poll locations, hours and absentee ballot information, contact the County Board of Elections offices of Washington or Wood County or check their websites. Although paper forms are still accepted, voter registration for both states can be done online through the Secretary of State websites: VoteOhio.gov and GoVoteWV.com. Residents must meet certain criteria, as well as register by a specific date; Oct. 7 for Ohioans and Oct. 15 for West Virginians. I encourage all voters to exercise their right to vote.

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Giulia Mannarino of Belleville, is a grandmother concerned about her two granddaughters’ futures and a member of Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action.