Peter G. Mayberry, Contributing Editor10.10.16
As this column went to press, the race for President of the U.S. was still about 55 days from closure and, as everybody knows, it has been an unprecedented contest for multiple different reasons. Historically, this Capitol Comments column—the one printed just before the conclusion of each Presidential race—has been dedicated to an objective recitation of the expressed views of both major party candidates regarding issues of interest to the nonwoven fabrics industry as could best be determined at the time.
With this election, however, where one candidate routinely adds caveats to his policy stances; and his rival changes some of her stances seemingly based on daily news cycles—and both candidates are more than adept at courting controversy—it appears a better place to look when it comes to discerning potential impacts of the election on nonwoven is the party platforms.
Indeed, both major parties have adopted broad and far-reaching platforms for the election which can easily be found with a browser search. At the flip of a coin, this column begins its review with the first words of the preamble to the Republican party platform:
We believe in American exceptionalism. We believe the United States of America is unlike any other nation on earth. We believe America is exceptional because of our historic role — first as refuge, then as defender, and now as exemplar of liberty for the world to see. We affirm — as did the Declaration of Independence: that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We believe in the Constitution as our founding document.
This can be contrasted with the first words of the preamble that the Democratic party adopted for this election:
In 2016, Democrats meet in Philadelphia with the same basic belief that animated the Continental Congress when they gathered here 240 years ago: Out of many, we are one. Under President Obama’s leadership—and thanks to the hard work and determination of the American people—we have come a long way from the Great Recession and the Republican policies that triggered it. American businesses have now added 14.8 million jobs since private sector job growth turned positive in early 2010.
Both statements speak to history—specifically constitutional history—but they clearly offer differing priorities: exceptionalism, safety and security under the GOP versus hard work, determination and economic recovery for the Democrats.
Beyond the preamble, again, both documents are multi-pronged and cover issues related to what appears to be the entire spectrum of political debate. As such, both documents are worthy of scrutiny overall but, with regard to U.S. nonwovens, two specific issues stand out: international trade and economic recovery.
With regard to trade, the GOP platform states, “We envision a worldwide multilateral agreement among nations committed to the principles of open markets, what has been called a ‘Reagan Economic Zone,’ in which free trade will truly be fair trade for all concerned. We need better negotiated trade agreements that put America first. When trade agreements have been carefully negotiated with friendly democracies, they have resulted in millions of new jobs here at home supported by our exports. When those agreements do not adequately protect U.S. interests, U.S. sovereignty, or when they are violated with impunity, they must be rejected. We cannot allow foreign governments to limit American access to their markets while stealing our designs, patents, brands, know-how and technology. We cannot allow China to continue its currency manipulation, exclusion of U.S. products from government purchases, and subsidization of Chinese companies to thwart American imports.”
Democrats, according to their party platform, “…acknowledge that for millions of Americans, global trade has failed to live up to its promise with too many countries breaking the rules and too many corporations outsourcing jobs at the expense of American workers and communities. Over the past three decades, America has signed too many trade deals that have not lived up to the hype. Trade deals often boosted the profits of large corporations, while at the same time failing to protect workers’ rights, labor standards, the environment and public health.”
The Democrat platform continues, “We need to end the race to the bottom and develop trade policies that support jobs in America. That is why Democrats believe we should review agreements negotiated years ago to update them to reflect these principles. Any future trade agreements must make sure our trading partners cannot undercut American workers by taking shortcuts on labor policy or the environment. They must not undermine democratic decision-making through special privileges and private courts for corporations, and trade negotiations must be transparent and inclusive.” One conclusion: “Democrats will use all our trade enforcement tools to hold China and other trading partners accountable because no country should be able to manipulate their currencies to gain a competitive advantage.”
A takeaway from this is that, with regard to international trade issues, it appears both parties are united in a shared desire to revisit some of our existing trade agreements and both agree that alleged currency manipulations by China, along with efforts by other countries to “break the rules,” need to be addressed.
When it comes to economic recovery, the Republican platform notes, “We are the party of a growing economy that gives everyone a chance in life, an opportunity to learn, work and realize the prosperity freedom makes possible. Government cannot create prosperity, though government can limit or destroy it. Prosperity is the product of self-discipline, enterprise, saving and investment by individuals, but it is not an end in itself. Prosperity provides the means by which citizens and their families can maintain their independence from government, raise their children by their own values, practice their faith and build communities of cooperation and mutual respect.”
After citing some apparently dire, although undocumented, statistics—since 2009 the number of Americans living in poverty has increased by 7 million; our nation’s economy has lost nearly $8 trillion of cumulative output—the GOP platform notes, “We repudiate the absurd idea this is the best America can do. The American people rejected that nonsense the last time it was offered, in the historic election of 1980, and we ask them to join us now to again repudiate the false gospel of America’s diminishment and retreat. We offer instead our vision of an opportunity society based on the economics of inclusion.”
The Democratic party platform counters: “Democrats believe we must break down all the barriers holding Americans back and restore the basic bargain that built America’s mighty middle class: If you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead and stay ahead. The system is not working when we have a rigged economy in which ordinary Americans work longer hours for lower wages, while most new income and wealth goes to the top one percent.”
Putting personalities, politics and preferences aside when it comes to evaluating Presidential candidates, party platforms offer a good means of choosing who to vote for on November 8. But the important thing is to make the effort and cast a ballot for whichever candidate or party offers the better option as you see it. Just vote!
With this election, however, where one candidate routinely adds caveats to his policy stances; and his rival changes some of her stances seemingly based on daily news cycles—and both candidates are more than adept at courting controversy—it appears a better place to look when it comes to discerning potential impacts of the election on nonwoven is the party platforms.
Indeed, both major parties have adopted broad and far-reaching platforms for the election which can easily be found with a browser search. At the flip of a coin, this column begins its review with the first words of the preamble to the Republican party platform:
We believe in American exceptionalism. We believe the United States of America is unlike any other nation on earth. We believe America is exceptional because of our historic role — first as refuge, then as defender, and now as exemplar of liberty for the world to see. We affirm — as did the Declaration of Independence: that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We believe in the Constitution as our founding document.
This can be contrasted with the first words of the preamble that the Democratic party adopted for this election:
In 2016, Democrats meet in Philadelphia with the same basic belief that animated the Continental Congress when they gathered here 240 years ago: Out of many, we are one. Under President Obama’s leadership—and thanks to the hard work and determination of the American people—we have come a long way from the Great Recession and the Republican policies that triggered it. American businesses have now added 14.8 million jobs since private sector job growth turned positive in early 2010.
Both statements speak to history—specifically constitutional history—but they clearly offer differing priorities: exceptionalism, safety and security under the GOP versus hard work, determination and economic recovery for the Democrats.
Beyond the preamble, again, both documents are multi-pronged and cover issues related to what appears to be the entire spectrum of political debate. As such, both documents are worthy of scrutiny overall but, with regard to U.S. nonwovens, two specific issues stand out: international trade and economic recovery.
With regard to trade, the GOP platform states, “We envision a worldwide multilateral agreement among nations committed to the principles of open markets, what has been called a ‘Reagan Economic Zone,’ in which free trade will truly be fair trade for all concerned. We need better negotiated trade agreements that put America first. When trade agreements have been carefully negotiated with friendly democracies, they have resulted in millions of new jobs here at home supported by our exports. When those agreements do not adequately protect U.S. interests, U.S. sovereignty, or when they are violated with impunity, they must be rejected. We cannot allow foreign governments to limit American access to their markets while stealing our designs, patents, brands, know-how and technology. We cannot allow China to continue its currency manipulation, exclusion of U.S. products from government purchases, and subsidization of Chinese companies to thwart American imports.”
Democrats, according to their party platform, “…acknowledge that for millions of Americans, global trade has failed to live up to its promise with too many countries breaking the rules and too many corporations outsourcing jobs at the expense of American workers and communities. Over the past three decades, America has signed too many trade deals that have not lived up to the hype. Trade deals often boosted the profits of large corporations, while at the same time failing to protect workers’ rights, labor standards, the environment and public health.”
The Democrat platform continues, “We need to end the race to the bottom and develop trade policies that support jobs in America. That is why Democrats believe we should review agreements negotiated years ago to update them to reflect these principles. Any future trade agreements must make sure our trading partners cannot undercut American workers by taking shortcuts on labor policy or the environment. They must not undermine democratic decision-making through special privileges and private courts for corporations, and trade negotiations must be transparent and inclusive.” One conclusion: “Democrats will use all our trade enforcement tools to hold China and other trading partners accountable because no country should be able to manipulate their currencies to gain a competitive advantage.”
A takeaway from this is that, with regard to international trade issues, it appears both parties are united in a shared desire to revisit some of our existing trade agreements and both agree that alleged currency manipulations by China, along with efforts by other countries to “break the rules,” need to be addressed.
When it comes to economic recovery, the Republican platform notes, “We are the party of a growing economy that gives everyone a chance in life, an opportunity to learn, work and realize the prosperity freedom makes possible. Government cannot create prosperity, though government can limit or destroy it. Prosperity is the product of self-discipline, enterprise, saving and investment by individuals, but it is not an end in itself. Prosperity provides the means by which citizens and their families can maintain their independence from government, raise their children by their own values, practice their faith and build communities of cooperation and mutual respect.”
After citing some apparently dire, although undocumented, statistics—since 2009 the number of Americans living in poverty has increased by 7 million; our nation’s economy has lost nearly $8 trillion of cumulative output—the GOP platform notes, “We repudiate the absurd idea this is the best America can do. The American people rejected that nonsense the last time it was offered, in the historic election of 1980, and we ask them to join us now to again repudiate the false gospel of America’s diminishment and retreat. We offer instead our vision of an opportunity society based on the economics of inclusion.”
The Democratic party platform counters: “Democrats believe we must break down all the barriers holding Americans back and restore the basic bargain that built America’s mighty middle class: If you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead and stay ahead. The system is not working when we have a rigged economy in which ordinary Americans work longer hours for lower wages, while most new income and wealth goes to the top one percent.”
Putting personalities, politics and preferences aside when it comes to evaluating Presidential candidates, party platforms offer a good means of choosing who to vote for on November 8. But the important thing is to make the effort and cast a ballot for whichever candidate or party offers the better option as you see it. Just vote!