As I read through Democratic platform, I find it hard to believe that what it says will be done, will actually be done. Probably cause advocates/Dems are currently saying different, if not the opposite, of those things. Like one example, from a topic I'm interested in, but is actually not high on my priorities (or why I would vote for a candidate, cause I think POTUS and national party will have very little say in this):
(From the "Reforming Our Criminal Justice System" part, small excerpt):
We will work with police chiefs to invest in training for officers on issues such as de-escalation and the creation of national guidelines for the appropriate use of force. We will encourage better police-community relations, require the use of body cameras, and stop the use of weapons of war that have no place in our communities. We will end racial profiling that targets individuals solely on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin, which is un-American and counterproductive.
I don't believe Dems will work with all police chiefs. I don't believe they'll come up with an actual document of "national guidelines for the appropriate use of force," or if they will, it won't be met with much approval from most LEA's. I don't believe they'll spearhead "better police-community relations" and think such an effort is underway, but mainly because police realize they are getting lots of unwanted, sometimes unwarranted, attention. I believe Dems will be completely ineffective in stopping use of 'weapons of war' from LEA's, and that those will be in our communities for the foreseeable future. I believe Dems will not end racial profiling and regardless of political bent of LEA personnel, that racial profiling will continue, indefinitely.
As I read through other parts of the document, I had similar take.
I do like / prefer Dem platform on say marijuana legalization, but up to a point. I see Dems looking at it as a cash cow for both regulations (galore) and research. Politically, they'll play the game that would entice someone like me, but given their stance on smoking/vaping, I find it so hypocritical I simply can't get on board such a platform. I also know, from lots of research, that many anti-smoking factions are anti-marijuana use, but vaping has provided them a new target to not make it so they (Dems) appear so anti-marijuana.
If I look at what Pub Platform says regarding marijuana, I find:
The progress made over the last three decades against drug abuse is eroding, whether for cultural reasons or for lack of national leadership. In many jurisdictions, marijuana is virtually legalized despite its illegality under federal law. At the other end of the drug spectrum, heroin use nearly doubled from 2003 to 2013, while deaths from heroin have quadrupled. All this highlights the continuing conflicts and contradictions in public attitudes and public policy toward illegal substances. Congress and a new administration should consider the long- range implications of these trends for public health and safety and prepare to deal with the problematic consequences.
I see this calling for consistency and saying Congress and new admin ought to ensure it stays consistent between federal and local/state jurisdictions. I feel I get the majority opinion among Pubs that this consistency would call for outlawing all illegal substances, seemingly ignoring how well Prohibition (didn't) work out for America. When it comes to losses by the State (read as Feds) in the war on drugs, I do not shed a tear. At same time, I do think it makes sense for Congress to weigh in and make it consistent, but if I am giving benefit of doubt to Pub platform, I think they are saying make marijuana legal across the board while keeping harder drugs like heroin illegal.
As vaping is big deal to me, I already know what the Pub platform says on this. Couldn't find anything on Dem platform regarding this (I think cause they are embarrassed to hold the position they hold). But the Pub one is music to my ears, even while it ain't saying much:
The FDA needs to return to its traditional emphasis on hard science and approving new breakthrough medicines, rather than divert its attention and consume its resources trying to overregulate electronic health records or vaping. We pledge to restore the FDA to its position as the premier scientific health agency....
Currently, I think the FDA is as close to actual science as Creationists.
