2024 Election Platforms
Election Day is November 5, less than nine months away. Republicans and Democrats do not typically know who their presidential standard-bearers will be this far in advance. But this is not a normal election. Plenty has been written and said to comprise lists of what the likely candidates propose to accomplish in a second term in office. For President Joe Biden:
Restore woman’s right to abortion
Address climate change through regulation and market forces; lower gasoline prices
Defend the NATO alliance; support Ukraine
Protect LGBTQ rights; support gender-affirming care
Ban firearms known as assault rifles; enact universal background checks; document sales in gun shows
Protect access to the ballot box; defend, protect, and preserve democracy in the United States
Increase funding for border patrol and enforcement; provide a path for people in the United States to apply for legal status and citizenship
Support workers organizing unions and their right to bargain
Provide two years of free community college education; offer free pre-school education; limit cost of child care based on family income; restore child tax credit to levels of American Rescue Plan Act
Cap monthly cost of insulin for all patients
Raise taxes on households earning over $400,000 a year and on businesses; narrow the gap in tax rates between earned income and capital gains
De-risk supply chains from China and invest in economies of target nations
Modify or end the filibuster
How much of this Biden can achieve will depend on the balance of power in the Senate and House of Representatives after the election. A defeat for Trump may free more moderate Republicans to return to bipartisanship and enact Biden’s programs. For Former President Donald Trump:
Roll back efforts to encourage adoption of electric cars; reverse proposed new pollution limits; exit the Paris Climate Accords
Cut off aid to Ukraine; re-evaluate NATO’s purpose and mission
Pass a bill that there are only two genders
Allow trained teachers to carry concealed weapons
Begin deportation operation against unwanted immigrants
Build more of the border wall; secure the U.S.-Mexico border by moving thousands of troops currently stationed overseas
End birthright citizenship
Reimpose travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries
Repeal the Affordable Care Act
Institute tariffs of 10% on most foreign goods; phase out import of Chinese essential goods, including electronics, steel, and pharmaceuticals
Terminate the Department of Education; cut funding for any school that has a vaccine or mask mandate
Promote prayer in public schools
Eliminate civil service protections for selected federal employees; require federal employees to pass a new civil service test
Approve federal takeover of Washington, DC
The two campaigns have one thing in common: Each candidate plans to continue the agenda he followed in his first term in office. Now that voters know what to expect, they have one question to answer to know how to vote in November: Do they want a repeat of 2017-2021? Or do they want a repeat of 2021-2025?