Interesting! The Democratic Party Platform from 1948

[Mrs. Overall]

The Democratic Party adopts this platform in the conviction that the destiny of the United States is to provide leadership in the world toward a realization of the Four Freedoms:

Freedom of speech and expression
Freedom of every person to worship God in his/her own way
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear (I added the Four Freedoms from Wikipedia)


We chart our future course as we charted our course under the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman in the abiding belief that democracy—when dedicated to the service of all and not to a privileged few—proves its superiority over all other forms of government.

Ours is the party which was entrusted with responsibility when twelve years of Republican neglect had blighted the hopes of mankind, had squandered the fruits of prosperity and had plunged us into the depths of depression and despair.

Ours is the party which rebuilt a shattered economy, rescued our banking system, revived our agriculture, reinvigorated our industry, gave labor strength and security, and led the American people to the broadest prosperity in our history.

Ours is the party which introduced the spirit of humanity into our law, as we outlawed child labor and the sweatshop, insured bank deposits, protected millions of home-owners and farmers from foreclosure, and established national social security.

Ours is the party under which this nation before Pearl Harbor gave aid and strength to those countries which were holding back the Nazi and Fascist tide.

Ours is the party which, during the war, prepared for peace so well that when peace came reconversion promptly led to the greatest production and employment in this nation's life.

Ours is the party under which the framework of the world organization for peace and justice was formulated and created.

Ours is the party which first proclaimed that the actions and policies of this nation in the foreign field are matters of national and not just party concern. We shall go forward on the course charted by President Roosevelt and President Truman and the other leaders of Democracy.

We reject the principle—which we have always rejected, but which the Republican 80th Congress enthusiastically accepted—that government exists for the benefit of the privileged few.

To serve the interests of all and not the few; to assure a world in which peace and justice can prevail; to achieve security, full production, and full employment—this is our platform.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/showplatforms.php?platindex=D1948

[bluestateguy]

1. An interesting document

Because of a relatively minor civil rights plank in the 1948 platform, four southern state delegations walked out of the convention hall, waving Confederate flags, and backed Strom Thurmond's candidacy for president that year. It's a shame that party platforms do not get the attention that they should.

[HereSince1628]

2. Agreed, but we don't run parties for office, we run individuals

and it is individuals that typically choose for themselves what it is they want to run on.

When they run far away from the platform and party principles, we are left to ponder about the effectiveness of the voters in primaries in selecting candidates "representative" of the party rather than those they see as "attractive."

[flaminbats]

3. where has our party gone?

we can still have these four freedoms, but Democrats better start fighting for them soon. Republicans believe in four fears..fear of bin Laden, fear of reality, fear of being called unpatriotic, and fear of no heaven or hell.

[Selatius]

4. You think that's something? You should read FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_of_Rights

Basically, the 2nd Bill of Rights states you have a right to...

* A job with a living wage
* Freedom from unfair competition and monopolies
* Homeownership
* Medical care
* Education
* Recreation

The notion of universal health care in the US came as far back as Roosevelt, and before Roosevelt, socialists and trade unionists had argued for it.