Bad news: I Googled "Democratic Party National Platform 2014".

[Scuba]

Apparently we have no 2014 national platform worthy of a Google link. I'm not even sure there is a national Democratic Party anymore.

[MineralMan]

1. As of now, the 2012 platform is still in effect.

Platforms are set at the national convention and are in force for four years.

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

[Scuba]

3. More bad news: I Googled "democratic party 2014 national convention"

[Skidmore]

5. ....

Last edited Wed Mar 12, 2014, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

You should learn about the rules of the system before you start lobbing grenades.

[MineralMan]

6. There is no national convention in 2014.

They are held every four years, since that's the only time there is a national candidate - The President.

It seems to me you should Google something else and find out how the Democratic Party functions.

There's no need for a national convention except in Presidential election years. There are state conventions every two years, though. Each state also has a platform, which is updated every two years. That's because there are Congressional candidates every two years. The Minnesota state DFL Convention will be at the end of May this year. I submitted a resolution to the platform committee at my precinct caucus meeting, and voted for it at the state senate district 67 convention.

I won't be a delegate at this year's state convention, because I can't go to Duluth for two days when it is held.

When's your state's Democratic Convention? Do you know?

[kelliekat44]

39. I thought these guys wrote for the Onion. I was enjoying their "spoof?" nt

[MineralMan]

41. No. They're trying to be serious.

They're just not very good at it. Clumsiness often looks like satire.

[msanthrope]

21. Oh....it's gonna happen. We just aren't telling you where. nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

51. LMAO!

[Scuba]

59. Yeah, I thought that was pretty good too.

[treestar]

58. Second try also a fail

[Scootaloo]

2. Okay.

[tridim]

7. Worry not. Scuba and the Snowjobs have it covered.

They've been screaming for years about whatever it is they want to scream about that particular day.

[riqster]

4. Not supposed to be one, either.

New platforms only come around in Presidential elections.

[djean111]

8. Just look at the Third Way website.

[MineralMan]

11. No. If you want to see the platform for the national

Democratic Party, go here:

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

That's where you can find it. This whole thread is a smokescreen. The national platform is created every four years at the national convention.

[Scuba]

13. Here's the very first text on your link: "In 2008, Democrats, independents, and many Republicans...

In 2008, Democrats, independents, and many Republicans came together as Americans to move our country forward.

Yeah, that'll inspire volunteers in 2014.

[MineralMan]

14. And then it introduces the 2012 Democratic Party Platform.

There will be a new platform in 2014. I showed you how to find the current party platform. What you do with that information is completely up to you. You wrote an OP wanting to know how to find the current party platform. I gave you a link to it. What more would you like? I'm pretty good with Google, and will be glad to help you find things.

[Scuba]

16. Too late baby. People looking for current info see "In 2008" and they're off to a new link.

[MineralMan]

17. I'm not your baby, Scuba.

I read. Lots of people read. Serious people read. You do not appear to be serious in this thread. I sent you to the current platform on the source website. Did you read it? Do you care what's in it? Apparently not.

I'm not sure where you're coming from in this thread, but you're obviously not interested in the National Democratic Party Platform. So, I'm no longer interested in your thread. I thought it was a serious thread.

[Scuba]

20. Im interested in how we promote our policies, the basis for which we might get candidates elected.

It doesn't seem unreasonable to me that my Google queries should come up with links to a current Party platform, highlighting key issues and where the Party stands on them. Apparently you feel that's not important but for some reason you are compelled to reply multiple times in this thread anyway.

[MineralMan]

22. Actually, your search would have led you to the same

page I gave you to visit. That is the current Party platform.

It's the first result in the search results:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Democratic+Party+National+Platform+2014

Since there is no 2014 platform, clicking the first link in those results will get you to the current platform. I think you're messing with us.

[Scuba]

25. Then our efforts to get our message out on the internet need great improvement.

[MineralMan]

28. Then I suggest you contact the party and get involved in

that project. You can start in Wisconsin. I'm sure they're looking for people with Internet experience and knowledge to help them in 2014. When you say "our" efforts, I assume you want to participate in those efforts. There's plenty of work to do, you know. Every election in 2014 is a state election and a local election.

Volunteer to help "get our message out." The Democratic Party will welcome your assistance, I'm sure.

[pangaia]

53. Whoops.. no reply to THAT suggestion.

I wonder why..

[Brother Buzz]

9. The Democratic National Committee Platform Drafting Committee is working on it as we speak

Until it is released, feast your eyes on The California Democratic Party 2014 Draft Platform:

http://www.cadem.org/admin/miscdocs/files/Draft-2014-Platform-v.3.pdf

[liberal_at_heart]

18. Well the education platform better be way different than it is now or they can forget about my vote.

[Brother Buzz]

27. What faults do you find in this draft? Should something be added or deleted?

Education

California's education system was once the envy of America. Our K-12 schools were among the best funded
in the country. The California Master Plan for Higher Education made our community colleges, California
State Universities, and University of California institutional systems models to emulate throughout the world.
Our continual disinvestment from education, along with rising tuition and educational costs, threatens our
ability to offer our youth the education they require to usher our state into the future.
California's students must have access to free, fully accessible, and equitable world-class public education.
Early childhood education and postsecondary education must be available and affordable to all interested
students and families. Our early childhood, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions must be
well resourced and they must provide a well rounded, balanced curriculum that includes music and the arts,
which will prepare students for success in a globally interconnected world.
To help educate California's young leaders for the 21st century, Democrats will fight to:

• Provide an excellent and equitable education for all California's students, in which they have access to
quality instruction in all content areas, including math, science, English, history, social studies, health,
physical education, the arts and music, and foreign languages; are assessed through multiple means
that are valid and reliable for all students; and have the resources they need to be prepared for
postsecondary education, career technical education, and active citizenship in the 21st century; provide
linguistically and culturally relevant educational opportunities so that our diverse students can draw
upon their knowledge and experience as they acquire academic content knowledge and master
essential skills;

• Ensure adequate preparation of students and affordable access to career technical education,
community college, or university-level educational opportunities of the highest caliber at minimal
personal expense, including opportunities for lifelong learning and career retraining to enable all
Californians to succeed in the global economy;

• Target reforms and resources to close the achievement gap, with specific emphasis on promising
practices supporting English learners, students from generational poverty, and special populations;

• Support multiple measures in evaluating efficacy of administrators, teachers, schools, and districts;

• Ensure that teachers and support staff are well compensated, have opportunities for professional
growth and training, and will be able to work in safe learning environments in modern facilities with
access to up to date curricular materials and technology for students;

• Ensure data and accountability measures are transparent for ALL schools receiving public funds so that
these schools are held to the same set of standards, and are open to all students regardless of their
race, skill level, economic status, and/or special needs;

• Ensure that educational policy and practices are researched based and derived from educational
professionals, and free from the influence of corporations and donors lacking expertise in education;

• Invest in per student funding at above the national average in order for California school districts to
have the necessary resources to provide a quality education that meets the individual needs of all
students;

• Ensure that districts local accountability plans for Local Control Funding Formula Supplemental and
Concentration Grant monies reach the students with the greatest needs (English language learners,
foster youth and low-income students) for which they are intended;

• Ensure that teachers and support staff be involved in and play central roles in the selection and creation
of curricula, and be able to adapt curricula as appropriate for the needs of their students;

• Ensure a safe educational environment and school culture where students and staff do not feel
threatened, and are free from bullying and harassment, by providing training and education in,
tolerance, mediation, peaceful conflict resolution, and counseling;

• Ensure that California's four-year-old children have universal preschool;

• Support existing criteria for Pell Grants and Cal Grants; expand financial aid to students from "middle
class families;"

• Support comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education designed to help stem the
spread of sexually transmitted diseases and to prevent teen pregnancy; and,

• Protect the inclusion in Pre-K to Higher Education curriculum of age-appropriate, factual information
about social movements, current events and the contributions of both men and women, people of all
races and ethnicities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and
other historically underrepresented groups, and discharge materials that perpetuate stereotypes or
reflect adversely on persons or groups based solely on their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,
disability, religion or other characteristics.

[liberal_at_heart]

43. I'm talking about the national Democratic platform. I live in WA.

The CA draft sounds good but I I guess we will have to wait and see just how far these objectives go. How much above the national average will they invest in per student funding? Why just expand college grants? CA used to have tuition free college. They should do that again. I do like that they included that teachers should be able to be involved in creating the curricula. It sounds good but I just have a hard time trusting the democrats on education. I guess we will see. I hope I am proven wrong in thinking this is only talk. Nationally, the democrats still have their pockets full of charter school lobbyist money and probably wouldn't go for some of these changes that CA is proposing.

[FSogol]

10. Bad news: I googled "Democratic Wood Scupper Pipe Wrench"

Apparently there is no such thing.

[MineralMan]

12. Here, go look at the Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention

schedule for 2014. They'll be creating their 2014 platform there. Will you be a delegate? Are you involved with the Party in Wisconsin?

http://wisdems.org/events/convention

[Scuba]

15. Yes, I'm involved with the Party here. No, I have not been invited to be a delegate.

My point however, is about the National Party. Hopefully the incredibly inept leadership of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is not the standard-bearer for our Party on the national scene.

I find it very disheartening that we have no national platorm that anyone can articulate. No wonder we can't win elections.

[MineralMan]

19. We do have a national platform.

I led you to it. You apparently aren't interested in reading it.

[geek tragedy]

23. shit, the 2014 Convention Committee really screwed the pooch.

How does it compare to the 2010 and 2006 platforms?

[JI7]

24. who cares ? people don't vote based on that anyways , when trying to get votes

i have never told them to check out the platform.

usually it's just about informing people to vote . making sure they get out there. making sure they have someone to take them if they need a ride . it's better now with early voting in some places .

[Scuba]

26. So you tell them "go vote for Joe, but I can't give you a reason"?????

[JI7]

29. there are different candidates for different areas, people's concerns are different, you don't go to

some national platform for that. you have to see what the important issues in that state, district etc are.

it depends on who is running and you tell them about that person and what they have done, what they themselves have said they will do/support etc.

but as i said, later on much of it is just getting people to the polls. a large percentage of people already know how they will vote but it's a matter of just getting out there and voting.

this is why republicans oppose anything that makes it easier to vote like early voting .

[Scuba]

31. You know that half the electorate doesn't bother to vote, don't you?

Guess how many of that half we would need to inspire to tip a few more elections our way.

[JI7]

33. yes, and i try to get new voters, but it's more difficult as many just don't have interest

in politics. just getting them to stop and listen is something. it's not even that they have a negative veiw of politics but they just find it boring .

anyways, my point is about GOTV as we get closer to election day. it becomes very much about getting the vote out.

[Scuba]

34. Maybe if we had an interesting platform they could find they might become active.

[JI7]

45. most don't even want to hear the issues in the first place

they have to get to the beach, bars, etc.

[Scuba]

48. Well let's write all of them off, 'cause if we can't get most of them, why bother?

Then when we lose elections by a half percent we can say we should have done more GOTV.

[JI7]

55. there IS a point at where some will just have no interest, nothing is 100 percent

you move on to the next person . it's a continuing process.

[MineralMan]

30. No. You talk to Joe. You find out Joe's positions.

You get his website URL. You get his campaign brochure.

Then, you give them all of that stuff and answer their questions, based on what you have learned. Campaign basics.

Does Joe have a social media campaign. If not, volunteer to set one up and keep it current. That's what you do. Or not. It's up to you.

Why would you say what is in your post title to anyone? Go find out what to say, and say that. That's how you do it.

[Scuba]

32. So you don't think a unified national message would be useful?

The Republicans sure do.

[JI7]

35. that's why the republicans did horribly in the last pres elections and are hanging on to the house

based on gerrymandered districts.

[Scuba]

37. No, they do so poorly because they're greatly outnumbered.

Yet they still win elections.

[JI7]

47. yes, that's my point, becauese of gerrymandered districts

[MineralMan]

36. We have one. I gave you a link to it.

However, every race is a local race. Every locality has its own issues, and that's what people vote on - their issues. So, if you're trying to get people to vote for a candidate, finding out what the local issues are and telling people why the candidate is the best choice actually works to get people to the polls.

Local candidates, local issues, local voters. It's all local in the mid-term elections, except for Senate seats, and that's a matter for the state party organization. You probably won't meet your Senate candidate, but you might. If you do, find out what he or she thinks the biggest issues are in your state and sell the candidate on those.

People vote based on their own concerns. The first step is to find out what those are and then show them why the candidate you support is the best answer for their concerns.

Have you not campaigned for a local or congressional district candidate? Go volunteer. They'll show you what will work.

Every Congressional and state legislative race is a local race. Every single one. Senate races are somewhat different, but not so much, really.

The only national election race we have in this country is for President. All the rest are local.

[Scuba]

38. Yes, I've campaigned, worked the phones, made speeches and other volunteer work.

The main thing I learned is that our Party leadership, tools, and methods are a disaster.

Fortunately, here in my County we have a new Party Chair, and he's really turning things around, despite a total lack of support from the State and National Party.

I absolutely disagree that the "only national election race we have in this country is for President. All the rest are local." US Senator and Representatives to the House are national offices. To not have a national platform for them to stand on is foolish.

[MineralMan]

40. They are national offices, but the elections are local.

Local issues matter. In fact, they matter more than most people think. Congress members and Senators win if they work for the people who elect them. That is job one. Make no mistake about that. Any congressional candidate must have demonstrated that he or she will bring benefits to constituents.

Good luck in your local elections. I'll be over here in Minnesota working on mine.

[Scuba]

44. Jesus, don't you think I know that? But they represent all Americans in Washington ....

... are we supposed to tell voters our candidates won't vote on a national minimum wage because it's not a local issue?

[MineralMan]

49. Ask the candidate?

You do realize that any national minimum wage will only apply to federal workers and contractors, right? Right now, our state legislature is hashing out a minimum wage bill for Minnesota. Our minimum wage is lower than the national one right now. The federal minimum wage doesn't apply to Minnesota. It only applies to federal workers and contractors working for the federal government.

Your congress member will explain that to you. It's up to your state legislature to raise the minimum wage in Wisconsin, not Congress.

But any Democratic congressional candidate should be in favor of raising the national minimum wage. Yours will, I'm sure. Ask. Then you can tell the voters you talk to. If you don't know, you can't tell them.

I don't know what you know and don't know. How would I? I know what you ask, and try to provide answers, since your question indicates that you don't know. With this current question, it appears that you do not know how the federal minimum wage works, so I have explained that, as well.

Any other questions?

[Scuba]

66. "You do realize that any national minimum wage will only apply to federal workers and contractors.."

Wrong.

[JI7]

54. it IS a local issue for many, maybe less so in states that may already have that minimum wage

or that people are already doing well in.

[Drunken Irishman]

42. I googled "Scuba has sense" and nothing came up...

[Scuba]

46. I'll bet something comes up under drunken irishman.

[1000words]

50. The platform in five words:

"What ... you gonna vote Republican?"

[Laelth]

52. There never has been a "national" Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party is like McDonald's. It's a franchise operation, and there are 50 Democratic Parties--one in each state. Mine, here in Georgia, is little more than a piece of paper sitting in an attorney's office in Atlanta. Other states have parties that are more substantive and actually generate a little cash.

As for the national platform, I'd be scared to see it if we did have one. If I actually liked it, I wouldn't believe it.

-Laelth

[jeff47]

56. It almost looks like you are just trying to stir up shit

National party platforms are set every 4 years. That's why there isn't one for 2014.

I noticed you didn't bother to mention "Republican Party National Platform 2014" doesn't come up with any links either. Odd. Almost like you're just trying to stir up shit.

[treestar]

61. +1

[Scuba]

63. The R's can fix their own Party.

Yes, I'm trying to stir things up. I'm tired of losing the mid-terms every single time.

[jeff47]

65. So which mid-term election is a national election?

Golly....there isn't one.

Your complaints are a symptom of a problem. You are demanding national solutions to winning local elections. That's quite dumb.

But it does mean you don't have to expend the massive effort of including a state name in your Google search.

[Scuba]

68. "So which mid-term election is a national election?" Any with a Congressional seat on the ballot.

Yes, it's a local race, but the Senator or Representative who fills that seat votes for federal laws, not city ordinances.

[JI7]

69. federal laws affect local areas , which federal laws are important to people depends on

how those laws will affect those areas.

[jeff47]

70. And that person is elected locally.

The platform needs to be better tailored to the voters. A platform that does very well in CA will do very poorly in NC.

The national platform process essentially writes off "red" states, because the goal is to elect a president. You are arguing we need to write off those red states in a midterm election, when there is no national office holder on the ballot.

[JI7]

64. yes, ususally i would ignore but thought those with real interest

might find some of the campaign methods i mention to be useful.

[Gothmog]

57. For 2014, each state party will have a convention and adopt its own platform

I know that we got a marijuana plank in the 2012 Texas Democratic Party platform and intend to have a similar plank this year. The Texas convention will be in Dallas and I am planning on attending

[RobertEarl]

60. Well, if DU had any sense

We'd all write a party platform. Like that'd happen, right?

[JoePhilly]

67. Endlessly complaining is far easier than doing that.

Just spin the wheel of outrage and write a disgruntled OP on whatever topic it lands on.

[RobertEarl]

72. Did ya notice that?

It shouldn't be hard to write a platform. Look over the past, do some re-writes, add in a few modern day concerns, and there it is.

Too bad some of the 100,000 plus big posters, who must be popular as all get out, don't lead the way. But that may put a crimp in their numbers, eh? Oh well. I'd try it but nobody here likes me, so what's the use?

[JoePhilly]

73. You'd figure one of the more disgruntled folks would take exactly that

approach.

Grab the last Democratic Platform, keep much of the boiler plate stuff, then make modifications. If they were really industrious, they'd keep the old sections and create proposed modifications with strike-through.

Some of them, given how prolific they are, could probably do it in less time than it takes to post snips from a commondreams article, or build the next strawman for why Dems are just like Republicans.

[RobertEarl]

74. We have a volunteer?

Heh.

Well, we either put aside our minor squabbles until December and get something done, or we will all be moaning and groaning that the pubbies won again.

It's our party and we'll do what we want!! I heered that somewhere...?..?

[JoePhilly]

75. I'm not nearly disgruntled enough.

[Beaverhausen]

62. Did you google the other party's platform?

guess what? They don't have one yet either.

[Rex]

71. Awww you made the US get a sadz...

Called the party on it's own laziness and you got 1000 excuses as to why you should go stand in a open fire pit.

Funny that eh? Yeah...can't all be organized and ready to battle with a cohesive message, might get more moderates out and actually vote in the midterms. Did you know that in 2010 it was the MODERATES that stayed home and lost us a lot of seat in Congress?

Yeah...you don't hear about THAT one much.