WHAT IOWA PARTIES BELIEVE: IT JUST MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

When the Democrats and Republicans crown their parties' nominees at
national conventions this week and next, they will also adopt party
platforms. The principles outlined in those platforms will explain a
lot about why there's so much gridlock in Congress.

These people don't agree on much.

The differences are perhaps even greater in the parties' state
platforms, which address national issues but also include a host of
Iowa issues where approaches diverge.

Both Iowa party platforms are worth a skim for anyone interested in
state policy and politics. Sometimes candidates on the stump can start
sounding the same. But the Iowa platforms set forth unequivocally the
principles each party stakes out as its own. They also shed light on
which ideologies are gaining strength or ebbing within each party, and
what issues state legislators are likely to push in the next session.

The Iowa Republican Party platform bears the unmistakable stamp of the
social conservatives who have gained control of party leadership. The
Iowa Democratic Party platform pays careful devotion to the wishes of
teachers and other union members who form one of its most active
constituencies.

If either platform were adopted in whole, operations of the federal
and state government would change a lot - and so would life for Iowans.

In their drive to limit government, Iowa Republicans would abolish the
Internal Revenue Service and the federal departments of agriculture,
education, energy and homeland security. They would replace the Social
Security system with private accounts and also privatize Medicare.
They favor withdrawing from the United Nations.

Iowa Democrats would make health care a constitutional right, cut
Pentagon spending by a minimum of 15 percent, allow terminally ill
patients to commit suicide with physician-prescribed medications,
legalize marijuana, impose a moratorium on constructing new state
prisons and extend the state bottle bill to all drink containers.

How the platforms are written says a lot, too. The Republican platform
repeatedly pays homage to religion. Its first four words are, "With
trust in God," and it expresses "respect for the Judeo-Christian
ethic." Its first plank: a right to life.

Democrats make their commitment to labor crystal clear. In this past
legislative session, Democrats were stung by public backlash to an
effort to expand issues that are subject to collective bargaining.
There's no missing the issue's emphasis in this year's platform. The
writers separate it out ahead of the usual listing of issues, saying
the party "reaffirms its 34-year commitment to labor by supporting
'broad scope' in collective bargaining in the strongest possible terms."

Beyond the expected standoffs over hot-button social issues such as
abortion, the death penalty and gay marriage, here's a sampling of
other differences, federal and state:

BULLYING [A 2007 law supported by Gov. Chet Culver requires school
boards to include sexual orientation and gender identity in
anti-bullying policies.] - Republicans: "We strongly oppose Governor
Culver's 'Bully Bill' " ... Democrats: "We support enforcement of
statewide 'anti-bully law.'"

CLIMATE CHANGE - Republicans: "We are highly skeptical of the
scientific claims regarding 'Global Warming' and demand that any
government actions taken in regards to them must be based upon sound
scientific evidence." Democrats: "We support financing research
through a carbon tax... [a] cap on carbon emissions and the trade on
carbon credits ... a moratorium on new coal power plants."

EDUCATION/RELIGION - Republicans: "We believe the biblical account of
Creation and the supporting scientific arguments should be presented
to all students as part of a well-rounded curriculum." ... "We
support voluntary prayer in government schools and the use of the
Bible as a textbook." Democrats: "We support separation of church and state."

GUNS: Republicans: "We strongly believe in the Second Amendment..."
."We believe public school buildings should not restrict possession
of firearms for those legally possessing a concealed-carry permit."
Democrats: "We support fair, responsible and reasonable gun control."

HEALTH CARE - Republicans: "We support consumer-based/nongovernment
solutions to our health-care needs." Democrats: "We support a
national, universal, single-payer health-insurance program."

MINIMUM WAGE - Republicans: "We call for the repeal of all mandatory
minimum-wage laws." Democrats: "We support 'living wage' as minimum wage."

SMOKING BAN - Republicans: "We believe that all individuals and
business owners have the freedom to choose the quality of air in
their home and establishments." Democrats: "We support statewide
public smoking ban ... "

TAXES - Republicans: "We support the repeal of the Sixteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution [authorizing the income
tax], the elimination of the IRS and replacing all federal income
taxes with a fairer tax system." Democrats: "We support taxing all
income fairly and relying on a simplified, progressive income tax."

But just when a reader falls into a rhythm of pinging back and forth
between polar-opposite positions, surprising agreement emerges.
Democrats back a $250,000 limit on farm subsidies. Perhaps to the
dismay of Farm Bureau-cap-wearing Republicans, their platform goes
further, opposing "any and all federal agricultural subsidies."

Similarly, it's not surprising that Democrats support local control
for siting of livestock confinements. But to the consternation of some
members of the state platform committee, the Republicans also adopted
language stating: "We support local control of agricultural zoning
practices."

On one of the state's most vexing, long-running conflicts, might that
offer a glimmer of hope for common ground?