The Iowa Democratic and Republican party conventions are Saturday, and
draft copies of the party platforms offer a glimpse of just how
different the rival parties view the role of government. Work on the
platform drafts has been going on since the precinct caucuses in
January. The process will finish this weekend at the state
conventions, where the platforms will be debated, possibly rewritten
and eventually ratified. Observers are quick to point out that the
platforms are drafted by party activists and not elected officials, so
they usually represent views that are more extreme than those of the
majority of the party. For example, in education, the GOP draft favors
teacher- or student-led prayer in public schools, as well as the use
of the Bible as a textbook.

Labels: IDP, RPI