Erm.. I mean, I’m a proud 1950’s era Republican… Which is to say, I’m a modern Democrat

From the 1956 Republican Platform:

Continued balancing of the budget, to assure the financial strength of the country which is so vital to the struggle of the free world… and to maintain the purchasing power of a sound dollar, and the value of savings, pensions and insurance.

• Gradual reduction of the national debt.
• Then, insofar as consistent with a balanced budget, we pledge to work toward these additional objectives:
  • Further reductions in taxes with particular consideration for low and middle income families.
  • Initiation of a sound policy of tax reductions which will encourage small independent businesses to modernize and progress.
  • Continual study of additional ways to correct inequities in the effect of various taxes.

Small business now is receiving approximately one-third, dollar-wise, of all Defense contracts. We recommend a further review of procurement procedures for all defense departments and agencies with a view to facilitating and extending such participation for the further benefit of Small Business.

We also propose:

• Additional technical research in problems of development and distribution for the benefit of small business;
• Legislation to enable closer Federal scrutiny of mergers which have a significant or potential monopolistic connotations;
• Procedural changes in the antitrust laws to facilitate their enforcement;
• Simplification of wage reporting by employers for purposes of social security records and income tax withholding;
• Continuance of the vigorous SEC policies which are providing maximum protection to the investor and maximum opportunity for the financing of small business without costly red tape.

“Labor is the United States. The men and women, who with their minds, their hearts and hands, create the wealth that is shared in this country—they are America.”

The Federal minimum wage has been raised for more than 2 million workers. Social Security has been extended to an additional 10 million workers and the benefits raised for 6 1/2 million. The protection of unemployment insurance has been brought to 4 million additional workers. There have been increased workmen’s compensation benefits for longshoremen and harbor workers, increased retirement benefits for railroad employees, and wage increases and improved welfare and pension plans for federal employees.

All workers have gained and unions have grown in strength and responsibility, and have increased their membership by 2 millions… Furthermore, the process of free collective bargaining has been strengthened by the insistence of this Administration that labor and management settle their differences at the bargaining table without the intervention of the Government. This policy has brought to our country an unprecedented period of labor-management peace and understanding.

We applaud the effective, unhindered, collective bargaining which brought an early end to the 1956 steel strike, in contrast to the six months’ upheaval, Presidential seizure of the steel industry and ultimate Supreme Court intervention under the last Democrat Administration.

• Stimulate improved job safety of our workers, through assistance to the States, employees and employers;
• Continue and further perfect its programs of assistance to the millions of workers with special employment problems, such as older workers, handicapped workers, members of minority groups, and migratory workers;
• Strengthen and improve the Federal-State Employment Service and improve the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance system;
• Protect by law, the assets of employee welfare and benefit plans so that workers who are the beneficiaries can be assured of their rightful benefits;
• Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex;
• Clarify and strengthen the eight-hour laws for the benefit of workers who are subject to federal wage standards on Federal and Federally-assisted construction, and maintain and continue the vigorous administration of the Federal prevailing minimum wage law for public supply contracts;
• Extend the protection of the Federal minimum wage laws to as many more workers as is possible and practicable;
• Continue to fight for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex;
• Provide assistance to improve the economic conditions of areas faced with persistent and substantial unemployment;
• To protect more effectively the rights of labor unions, management, the individual worker, and the public. The protection of the right of workers to organize into unions and to bargain collectively is the firm and permanent policy of the Eisenhower Administration.

The Republican Party believes that the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of the people is as important as their economic health. It will continue to support this conviction with vigorous action.

The Republican Party will renew its efforts to enact a program based on sound principles of need and designed to encourage increased state and local efforts to build more classrooms.

We have fully resolved to continue our steady gains in man’s unending struggle against disease and disability.

Republican leadership has enlarged Federal assistance for construction of hospitals, emphasizing low-cost care of chronic diseases and the special problems of older persons, and increased Federal aid for medical care of the needy.

We have asked the largest increase in research funds ever sought in one year to intensify attacks on cancer, mental illness, heart disease and other dread diseases.

We demand once again, despite the reluctance of the Democrat 84th Congress, Federal assistance to help build facilities to train more physicians and scientists.

We have encouraged a notable expansion and improvement of voluntary health insurance, and urge that reinsurance and pooling arrangements be authorized to speed this progress.

We have strengthened the Food and Drug Administration, and we have increased the vocational rehabilitation program to enable a larger number of the disabled to return to satisfying activity.

We have supported measures that have made more housing available than ever before in history, reduced urban slums in local-federal partnership, stimulated record home ownership, and authorized additional low-rent public housing.

We initiated the first flood insurance program in history under Government sponsorship in cooperation with private enterprise.

We shall continue to seek extension and perfection of a sound social security system.

We pledge close cooperation with State, local and private agencies to reduce the ghastly toll of fatalities on the Nation’s highways.

The Ike-era Republican party is the party of Obama! If this is what the Republican party looked like today, I’d be a proud Republican… but it’s not. Today’s Republican party is the party of Newt, Rush and Santorum.

Read what the Republican party used to be here.