We all know, now, what the GOP platform for 2012 is. We know it contains planks seemingly chosen to cement unity within the already Red states: no reproductive rights for women, no civil or human rights for homosexuals, no compromises on immigration. (I know I’m being abrasive, aggressive, and abusive–I’ll do the same with the Democratic platform once it’s published.)
The Affordable Health Care Act will go down the tubes even though a lot of it is based on the Mass. health care plan. Medicare and medicaid would go private, with block grants to the states which will “given the flexibility to determine the best programs for their residents.”
The Energy plank says,"The party is committed to domestic energy independence and an “all-of-the-above” energy policy, backing the exploration and development of the Outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. It criticizes the Obama administration for picking winners and losers in the energy sector and expresses support for new coal-fired plants that will be low-cost, environmentally responsible and efficient.
It adds: “We will end the EPA’s war on coal and encourage the increased safe development in all regions of the nation’s coal resources.” It calls on Congress to prohibit the EPA from moving forward with new greenhouse gas regulations “that will harm the nation’s economy and threaten millions of jobs over the next quarter century.” This comes a few days after satellite measurements show a huge decrease in the Arctic Ice mass due to both natural global warming and pollutants in the air. (Washington Post)
As for taxes, “The party backs constitutional amendments to balance the federal budget and require a super majority for any tax increases.” It will extend Bush’s tax cuts “pending reform of the tax code.”
Does this all sound good to you?