The 1992 Democratic Party Platform, which then-nominee Bill Clinton ran on, advocated for smaller government, economic growth, and the empowerment of communities. Today, the Biden-Harris administration has taken the party in a different direction, with policies that have expanded government, stifled economic growth, and centralized power in Washington.
As the Democratic National Convention convenes in Chicago, it is an opportune time to reflect on the stark transformation that the Democratic Party has undergone in recent years. The party that once espoused values of limited government, economic growth, and individual empowerment has been hijacked by a radical left that prioritizes big government, identity politics, and social engineering.
A striking contrast can be drawn between the 1992 Democratic Party Platform and the current party's agenda. In 1992, Democrats pledged to "take power away from Washington bureaucrats" and "put it back in the hands of ordinary people." Today, the Biden-Harris administration has imposed a staggering $1.5 trillion worth of new regulations, which have cost the average American household nearly $16,000 per year.
The 1992 Democratic Platform: A Stark Contrast to Today's Radical Left
In 1992, Democrats proposed to reduce the deficit and drive economic growth through smaller government and federalism. They promised to "eliminate unnecessary layers of management, cut administrative costs, give people more choices in the service they get, and empower them to make those choices." In contrast, the Biden-Harris administration has added roughly $8 trillion in debt in just three-and-a-half years, and President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are currently adding $1 trillion to the debt every 100 days.
The 1992 Democratic platform rejected a tax-and-spend philosophy and promised to promote free enterprise and support American businesses. It stated that "we honor business as a noble endeavor, and vow to create a far better climate for firms and independent contractors of all sizes that empower their workers, revolutionize their workplaces, respect the environment, and serve their communities well." Today, the Biden-Harris administration has imposed record regulatory costs and sought to dramatically increase taxes on American businesses. Harris has even advocated for price controls, which would cripple American companies and harm consumers.
The 1992 Democratic Platform: A Stark Contrast to Today's Radical Left
In 1992, Democrats saw families, churches, and local organizations as the bedrock of American democracy, not the federal government. They believed that "government's best role is to enable people and communities to solve their own problems." By contrast, the Biden-Harris administration has sought to federalize election laws and weaponized federal government agencies to promote its own partisan agenda. Their conception of "democracy" seems to involve using federal power to jail political opponents.
Even on the issue of education, Democrats in 1992 embraced accountability and the essential role of parents in their children's education. They recognized that "education is a cooperative enterprise that can only succeed if everyone accepts and exercises personal responsibility." Today, the party is pushing for policies that would undermine parental choice and autonomy in education.
The 1992 Democratic Platform: A Stark Contrast to Today's Radical Left
The 1992 Democratic platform advocated for a strong police presence to maintain public safety. It stated that "the simplest and most direct way to restore order in our cities is to put more police on the streets." Today, the party has embraced a "defund the police" movement that has led to a surge in violent crime in many Democrat-controlled cities.
In 1992, Democrats espoused basic American values such as personal responsibility, individual liberty, tolerance, faith, and family. These values are at odds with the progressive agenda that the party embraces today, which prioritizes identity politics, victimhood, and the suppression of dissenting views.
The 1992 Democratic Platform: A Stark Contrast to Today's Radical Left
The contrast between the 1992 Democratic Party Platform and the current party's agenda is stark and undeniable. It is a testament to the radicalization of the Democratic Party that it would now be unrecognizable to its own members of just three decades ago.
If the Democrats regain control of both Congress and the White House, there will be nothing to stop them from implementing their radical agenda in its entirety. This would have disastrous consequences for America's economy, its freedoms, and its future.
The 1992 Democratic Platform: A Stark Contrast to Today's Radical Left
