In her letter “What it means to be a Democrat” (Aug. 30, TribLIVE), Diana Steck listed the core values of Democrats. They are noble statements, but I don’t think they represent the policies of Democrats today, which I see as:
1. Blocking voter ID laws that would protect your vote by ensuring there is no fraud.
2. Proposing universal health care without a realistic means of funding.
3. Opposing online learning opportunities even though they provide quality education.
4. Signing agreements like the Paris climate accord where America would pay for China’s pollution.
5. Failing to stop riots, which is leading to anarchy, which threatens our democracy.
6. Banning fossil fuels, but not offering a reasonable clean energy alternative.
7. Hindering economic growth — the last Democratic president had a 33% increase in food stamp recipients.
8. Disrespecting veterans — if Democrats really respected veterans, they would encourage everyone to stand for the national anthem.
9. Violating religious freedom — Obamacare violated the religious freedom of the Little Sisters of the Poor by mandating that they pay for birth control.
10. Violating the Second Amendment — the only thing I see Democrats promote concerning gun ownership is outlawing firearms.
Democrats’ plans to impose taxes on wealth is de facto communism, and the Democratic platform has few restrictions on abortion, so in my opinion, it does sanction killing babies.
In today’s world, Democrat means radical.
David Plank
Murrysville