So far, the "ideas'' that have been pitched at the platform hearings have been about as predictable as those advanced in the platform-drafting circles of the Democratic Party. Indeed, the once adventurous process of platform writing has become such a cautious endeavor that even the candidates dismiss the documents; remember the 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole's proud announcement that he didn't even plan to peruse his party's official agenda, let alone campaign on its tenets?

Perhaps Thompson and his Democratic counterparts should take a cue from the authors of the new platform of Washington state's Democratic Party. Delegates to the party's mid-June convention were in a rambunctious mood -- as an example, they booed Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, a prospective Democratic vice presidential pick, for his nuclear policies. And they drew up a campaign canon that made news.

Big news, as it turns out. "Democrats take big step to left in their platform,'' announced the headline in the Seattle Times.

In addition to affirming that "food, shelter, medical care, education and jobs are basic human rights,'' the delegates declared that they "oppose all discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, military service, insurance, licensing or education based on race, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, size, political affiliation, and/or national origin.''

They came out for "the creation of a single, universal, publicly funded, accountable Washington state health care system including prenatal and preventive care, hospital and ambulatory care, prescription drugs, vision and hearing care, substance-abuse counseling and treatment, and funding for confidential family planning and reproductive choice.''

The delegates backed complete separation of church and state, condemned "any law, regulation or government action restricting legal rights and private matters regarding one's reproductive functions,'' and stated that "because marriage is a basic human right and individual personal choice, the state should not interfere with same-gender couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of civil marriage.''

In the criminal justice section of the platform, the delegates declared, "Prevention of crime is as important as reaction to crime. We believe that government has the responsibility to help alleviate the social conditions which contribute to crime.'' Of course, they opposed capital punishment -- this is a civilized state, not Texas.

It was actually in the area of drug policy that the Washington state Democrats really pushed the limits of contemporary politicking. "We believe drug use to be a concern for the medical community, not a criminal issue,'' they declared, going on to state their full support for decriminalization of marijuana.

A resolution adopted by a close vote of the convention went even further, proposing that legalized marijuana be sold through cafes, bars and state liquor stores with the tax money raised from the sales "spent in the fulfillment of health and human needs.''

Radical? Maybe. But no more radical than the reforms ordinary people talk about all the time. And, say Washington state Democrats, they're betting that by standing for positions that are controversial rather than cautious, they'll draw thousands of disengaged citizens back to the polls. Says Party Chairman Paul Berendt, the best way to get people to the polls is to give them a platform designed to "get people fired up.''

© 2000 The Capital Times

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