Issues, Positions, and Viewpoints

When you ask people the difference between Democrats and Republicans, one answer you may get is that a Republican is not happy until someone's ox is gored, and that a Democrat is happy only when everyone is doing well. That may be a bit simplistic, but It states a difference in the current parties. Democrats really are for minimal government interference, and using government to make things possible that are otherwise difficult to achieve. The modern Republican Party does not want to use money to improve our status. The modern Republican Party wants to enforce moral issues it believes in.

I am a lifelong Democrat, and I am running to support the Democratic Party Platform and its ideals.

Democratic Party candidates support the party platform. Each state, and the National oganization, write their own platforms, and update them frequently. They are different, but they all tend to be uplifting and positive, and they are meant to be easy to read.

You can read the Platform of the Democratic Party of Arkansas and the Platform of the National Democratic Party (DNC) in these links. PDF files will open. Or you can visit the websities of these organizations to read more about the Democratic Party and our values. Arkansas (ArkDems) -or- National (DNC).

The Arkansas party platform is short (6 pages) and easy to read: "It is a plan, a call to action, and a collective commitment to doing the hard work to create a healthier, safer, fairer, and brighter Arkansas for all of us."

"Democrats are working for a healthier Arkansas with improved health care and expanded access, better health outcomes, and a healthier environment. We are working for a safer Arkansas with better roads and bridges, clean air and water, less crime in our communities, and safe places to live and work. We are working for a fairer Arkansas with rights protected for everyone and systems that work for all of us. And we are working for a brighter Arkansas with a world-class education for every child, a growing economy, and economic opportunity for all."

The national party platform is lengthy (92 pages) and covers many issues. The Preamble begins: "Our nation is at an inflection point. What kind of America will we be? A land of more freedom, or less freedom? More rights or fewer? An economy rigged for the rich and powerful, or where everyone has a fair shot at getting ahead? Will we lower the temperature in our politics and come together, or treat each other as enemies instead? The stakes in this election are enormously high."

The Preamble concludes: "History has shown that nothing about democracy is guaranteed. Every generation has to protect it, preserve it, choose it. We must stand together to choose what we want America to be."

I like the preamble used by my former state of Wisconsin. It began: "The Democratic Party strives to build an open, just, and strong society where all people have equal rights and equal opportunities to live meaningful, secure lives. We work actively for open, honest, and responsive government that is accountable to the needs and will of the people." That wonderful preamble could be used by any Democratic Party platform. It is positive and uplifting and tells what our goals are for our nation.

The Democratic Party agenda strives to work for all of us.

To the extent that our dreams may be hard to achieve, this is because we want so much good for our country. Contrast that with the current Republican party. I think you will recognize that the Republican Party, under President Trump, and supported by Representative Steve Womack and our two Republican US Senators, are harming our nation (and world) and not treating all people with dignity and respect. We can do better. I, Diana Lawrence, as your Representative, promise to work for you, for a better Arkansas and a better United States, and a better world.

During my campaign I intend to write "papers" on various issues. They may evolve over time as I learn more, so please notice the date on each document. Each document opens as a PDF. If you wish me to write about other issues please let me know.

Environment | Farmers | Healthcare | Services | Working Class Poor

I hope you will learn about me. If you agree with me, and want me as your next Representative then I need your support. I can lead, and will work harder in this campaign than I ask from anyone else, but I cannot accomplish it without the support of many of you.

I grew up in a Democratic family and have been a voting Democrat all my life. My husband was already involved in Democratic Party activities, including helping candidates, and he brought me along after we married. For many years we were members of the Democratic Party of Wisconsins and the Democratic Party of Outagamie County. For some of those years I was a Delegate at the Party State Convention. One important aspect of the State Conventions was updating the Party Platform. Resolutions were solicited from membership across the state prior to the convention. During the convention we reviewed, revised, and approved a new platform. In small part, I helped write the platform.

While living in Wisconsin I ran in three elections as a Democrat, and as the "liberal" in the non-partisan County Supervisor election.

I am pleased that my opponent in the Democratic Primary for this race has "Seen the Light", abandoning his life-long affiliation with the Republican Party after his election loss as a Republican candidate in 2018. But I am suspicious of his ability to discard his life-long adherence to the Republican Party Platform. Has he replaced his world-view, and can he support the Democratic Party Platform while working under pressure in Congress? He ran as a Republican in 2018 because he was unhappy with President Trump, yet he told the newspaper that in the 2016 general election he voted third party rather than for the Democratic candidate. Voting Democrtatic was a strategy that might have prevented Trump from winning, but his third-party vote seems to have demonstrated his strong dislike for the Democratic Party.

We need many other voters to follow his example, but some would view a person who has so radically changed their party affiliation to be a "Probationary Democrat" because his background was as a political outsider, until very recently.