Ahead of the Texas Democratic Party’s official posting of the platform, a blog called Who’s Playin’ has a .pdf of the working copy used by delegates last Saturday at the Convention. There were not a lot of changes, and nothing of substance was changed in the education parts of the platform.
So, for the next several posts, Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub presents you the unofficial Preamble and education planks of the Texas Democratic Party Platform 2010. The Preamble includes mentions of general philosophy of Texas Democrats regarding education.
2010 Texas Democratic Party Platform
Report of the Permanent Committee on Platform
Preamble
“The Democratic Party is not a collection of diverse interests brought together only to win elections. We are united instead by a common heritage – by a respect for the deeds of the past and a recognition of the needs of the future.”
— John F. Kennedy, from a speech he was to deliver in Austin on November 22, 1963Texas Democrats believe government can be as good as the people. We have faith that democracy, built on the sacred values of family, freedom and fairness, can afford every Texan, without exception, the opportunity to achieve their God-given potential.
We believe democratic government exists to achieve as a community, state, and nation what we cannot achieve as individuals; and that it must not serve only a powerful few.
We believe every Texan has inalienable rights that even a majority may not take away
…the right to vote
…the right to fair and open participation and representation in the democratic process
…the right to privacy.We believe in freedom
…from government interference in our private lives and personal decisions
…to exercise civil and human rights
…of religion and individual conscience.We believe in equal opportunity for all Texans
…to receive a quality public education, from childhood through college
…to have access to affordable, comprehensive health care
…to find a good job with dignity
…to buy or rent a good home in a safe community
…to breathe clean air and drink clean water.We believe a growing economy should benefit all Texans
…that the people who work in a business are as important as those who invest in it
…that every person should be paid a living wage
…that good business offers a fair deal for customers
…that regulation of unfair practices and rates is necessary
…that the burden of taxes should be fairly distributed
…that government policy should not favor corporations that seek offshore tax shelters, exploit workers, pollute our environment, or spend corporate money to influence elections;We believe that our lives, homes, communities and country are made secure
…by appropriately staffed and trained law enforcement and emergency agencies
…by retirement and pension security
…by encouraging job security where it is possible and providing appropriate assistance and re-training when it is not
…by the preservation of our precious natural resources and quality of life
…by compassionate policy that offers a safety net for those most vulnerable and in need.We believe America is made stronger by the men and women who put their lives on the line when it is necessary to engage our military to secure our nation.
We believe America is made more secure by competent diplomatic leadership that uses the moral, ethical, economic assets of a powerful, free nation to avoid unnecessary military conflict.
We believe in the benefits derived from the individual strengths of our diverse population. We honor “family values” through policies that value all our families.
We believe an honest, ethical state government that serves the public interest, and not the special interests, will help all Texans realize economic and personal security.
We believe many challenges require national solutions, but talented and resourceful Texans, blessed with opportunities provided by agriculture, “old” and “new” energy sources, renowned medical and research institutions and high tech industries, should not need federal action to make progress in providing quality education, affordable health care, a clean environment, a strong economy and good jobs.
Based on our belief in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, we recommend specific policy goals to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
Education planks from the platform immediately follow the Preamble, a salute to the importance Democrats attach to education and students. Those planks follow in successive posts.
All of the education sections of the 2010 Texas Democratic Party Platform appear here at Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub , in eleven sections, listed in reverse chronological order of posting:
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Diversity
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Community Colleges
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Higher Education
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Making Our Schools Safe Havens for Learning
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Reform of the Unbalanced State Board of Education
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Effective Teachers for Every Student
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Solving the Dropout Crisis
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Excellent Schools for Every Student
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Public Education Funding
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Education (preface)
- 2010 Texas Democratic Platform: Preamble
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[see Zogby’s original post, here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/two-failed-efforts-at-mus_b_634676.html ]
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