They would require prison inmates to perform meaningful work and yet, isn't that slavery? They support the embargo against Cuba until democracy is restored and yet China, our biggest trading partner, is the worst human rights violator in the world. They support the dissolution of the Federal Reserve and yet no large, modern economy can function without a central bank. They support elimination of day labor work centers and yet isn't that how many construction workers find work?
Some of the planks support policies which have been shown to be ineffective or just plain wrong. Making abortion or drug use illegal doesn't stop it. It only creates a black market for it so that criminals can thrive. Then some otherwise ordinary citizens become criminals and we spend a lot of time and money building and filling prisons. Education and treatment programs are much more effective than prohibition.
Republicans "oppose any sex education other than abstinence until heterosexual marriage." Statistics show that this only causes higher teen pregnancy rates and then a myriad of issues for the people involved who then have to turn to government assistance, sometimes for the rest of their lives.
The platform also states: "We pledge our influence toward dispelling the myth of separation of church and state." It is just plain fact that the author, James Madison, borrowed from Thomas Jefferson's similar law in Virginia. Jefferson was Madison's mentor and subsequently wrote the words "wall of separation between church and state" when explaining the first amendment in the "Danbury Letter".
Republicans still claim that the death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime. "Capital punishment is legitimate, is an effective deterrent." Yet research proves otherwise. "The results of the more than 200 studies done on capital punishment are either inconclusive or adverse to the claim that it is an effective deterrent to murder." (www.deathreference.com)
Then, of course, there is the hatred for certain groups of people. If you're gay, Black, or an immigrant, you should fear the Republican Party of Texas. They support making it a "felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple or to perform a marriage ceremony for such. We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases." We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values." We urge repeal of the Hate Crimes Law, "disqualification of homosexuals from military service; immediate discharge of HIV positive individuals." We oppose the repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy" In other words, it is alright to discriminate against gays and lesbians and only gay sex spreads disease.
Concerning immigrants and Blacks, legal or otherwise: "One nation, one flag, one language, one loyalty. "This is predicated upon the fact the person is in every facet an American, and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance. Anyone who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't American at all."
While claiming to reach out to Hispanics, the Republican Party clearly must do a better job. Not one of the state's 181 legislators is a Hispanic Republican.
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