ANGELO LYNN

As the Democratic Convention gets under this coming Monday through Thursday in Chicago it’s worth a moment to reflect on the status of both parties, the leadership at the top and why voters interested in choosing a candidate based on policy and facts, rather than a “gut instinct,” might want to catch a night or two of the convention to learn more about the Democrats’ vision for America.

Interestingly, a recent study showed that most of us vote for political officeholders from a “gut instinct” and then “rationalize” our choices afterward with the facts we gather. That suggests we first size up candidates based on what we like or don’t — their appearance, body language, attitude, speech, the ability to connect, and the “bubba factor” — that person we’d like to have a beer with at the local bar or perhaps coffee or tea at a café.

At base, almost all of us know that Trump’s pitch is to create a dark and gloomy image of America in decline that only he, as the Messiah, can fix. It’s a premise devoid of facts and built on a continuous repetition of lies, but it’s appealing to those who know things cost too much and they face daily struggles meeting their needs.

Democrats under Harris have adopted a more optimistic message that reflects the nation’s strong economy, our numerous advantages as a free and creative democracy, one of the world’s best systems of higher education and a productive workforce, while acknowledging the financial struggles many among the middleclass face. Harris has adopted the mantle as a happy warrior and is bringing to that fight a pledge to work hard to benefit middle-income Americans. As a long-time teacher, football coach, military vet, congressman and governor, Walz is a good complement to Harris’ optimistic persona.

But to the extent policy matters, and governance matters, and the law matters, we’d all do well to understand what both parties stand for and intend to do.

Trump’s biases and upcoming agenda are well-known as defined by his embrace of Project 2025, which basically believes in creating a stronger role for the president, weakening the authority of Congress, and replacing the current non-partisan bureaucratic workforce with partisans in lockstep with Trump’s rule. Project 2025 would eliminate the federal department of education to give states and local governments more control (including the ability to ban more books, drop academic standards, and promote religious schools at the expense of the public school system). The plan also advocates for cutting federal agencies like the IRS, agencies that regulate the environment (mining, logging, drilling and other exploitations of the land); and increase partisan oversight of the Department of Justice and FBI. The plan would spend billions on building more of the border wall and would deport millions of immigrants. The plan abandons any concerns with climate change and would pursue maximum fossil fuel use and development.

Naturally the party would continue to amplify cultural concerns like banning transgender athletes, denying abortion procedures, limiting birth control, and promoting white nationalism — among many other radical ideas that would transform government into a one-party ruling regime. At least that is the hope of the conservative Heritage Foundation which conceived of the 180-day playbook to radically change America’s form of government. (If you think that’s an overstatement, read the plan.)

Americans should also know that Trump and Republicans would exact more tax cuts that mostly benefit the very wealthy and create additional tax dodges for that same group. The result of the 2017 tax cuts passed under Trump created over a trillion dollars in debt, expanded the wealth gap between the rich and middle class, and failed to goose what was an already healthy economy. A similar tax cut in 2025 would only widen the wealth gap, create a larger national debt, and fail to significantly strengthen what is currently one of the most robust economies in the world.

In foreign affairs, Trump’s emphasis on isolationism in his first term dramatically undermined America’s status as a trustworthy world power, weakened NATO and the United Nations, while befriending numerous dictators. A second term could be worse, including selling out Ukraine to Russia and undermining European security along its eastern borders, and may well give China the green light to invade Taiwan and dominate the South China Sea. Trump’s unequivocable support of Israel’s Netanyahu could push the Middle East into war, or at the very least he would do very little to stop it or to help the Palestinian cause.

As for his running mate, JD Vance, he has very little experience governing anything and has some of the cookiest political ideas to ever cross the political stage (not counting Trump’s), including a wacky idea to give more votes to adults with kids, penalizing voters who don’t have children. Seriously?

Democrat Kamala Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota would continue to build on President Biden’s foreign policy initiatives, continue the successful fight to bring inflation under control (now under 3%), expand the economy in technology that’s critical to keeping a leading edge, create tax benefits to help middleclass families, expand affordable health care and work to create more affordable housing (in addition to encouraging the fed to reduce interest rates now that inflation is under control). Tax cuts would be extended for specific areas like the 2023 child tax credit of $3600 per year for kids under 6 and $3,000 per year for kids 6-17, as passed by Congress under President Biden with bipartisan support.

Harris and Walz would also recognize the threat of climate change and do what the nation can to reduce its carbon footprint.

On foreign policy, Harris and the Democrats would continue to support Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression, strengthen NATO and the United Nations, and counter the tide of anti-democratic behavior across the world that is strengthened when leaders like Trump attack and denigrate America’s system of justice and the very essence of our democracy.

The comparisons on policy could go on and on. It’s a worthy discussion that is too rarely tackled in the national media. For those interested, search Project 2025 online and read what it says, understanding that the document itself is a propaganda tool from a conservative perspective. There are ample critiques of Project 2025, which should be read as well to understand the opposite perspective and the dire consequences of its implementation.

For more about how Harris and Walz would govern, tune into coverage of the Democratic Convention this Monday through Thursday to get a clearer picture of their party’s stances on the issues and the direction they hope to take the country.

And to borrow a closing phrase from one of our Middlebury College summer interns in an op-ed she writes on what the upcoming election means to her, she boils it down to this: “This is not a battle between liberals and conservatives or the elites and the working class. This is a battle for decency. This is our chance to again become a nation whose political divide is of policy, not identity and empathy. This is our chance to make America great again.”

Angelo Lynn