Click Here to go to the Current Draft (2/21/06) Maine Democratic Party Platform for 2006   by Par Kettis at HCDC meeting on 16 June 2005 The work on a new Platform will be based on the Maine Democratic Platform of 2004. As many of you remember there were complications in connection with the adoption of the last Platform. Because of time constraints at the Convention the adopted text is not complete but has many holes; for details see below. The new Platform Committee will review the existing Platform to see what should be changed and added. The DSC and its Chair are considering the format of the Platform to make it more comprehensive than the present rather lengthy document. The work will start in the summer of 2005, the most intensive drafting will take place from October to March and will be over when the 2006 Convention adopts the new Platform. Click here to read a draft version of the amendments. Sections that in my view could be considered for rewriting include but are in no way limited to: Protection of human, civil and women's rights Elections, the electorate system, run-off elections Social and health issues Environment, clean air, clean water, pollutants incl. mercury, global warming Energy International trade incl. WTO, CAFTA, NAFTA Foreign and security policy: termination of the occupation of Iraq, how to fight terrorism, support for UN. You may raise your issue at HCDC meetings, or email. My experience is that many members are engaged and knowledgeable in the issues. The HCDC members who will be elected to the new Platform Committee welcome your input. They will form a working group and invite interested members to join for a specific issue or at large. It is recommended that you inform one of the Platform Committee members about your interest as soon as possible so they can discuss how to pursue your idea. It is difficult to introduce new issues in the Platform work after October. Coming HCDC meetings will be briefed about the progress of the Platform work. There are ongoing discussions to reform the process for preparing and adopting the Maine Democratic Platform but for the time being the old rules apply, available at www.mainedems.org. The Rules Committee is close to recommend DSC a new Platform Chapter. More information about this is available from the HCDC representative in the Rules Committee (326-4548 or pkettis@verizon.net). Due to lack of a quorum at the 2004 Convention and a consecutive decision by DNC the existing Platform of 2004 was "published without an introductory paragraph for the "Environment" section, without the final sentence of the globalization paragraph and without planks relating to air pollution generated out of the state and air pollution generated by motor vehicles; water resources; United Nations conventions and treaties; Palestine / Israel; international trade treaties; support for our troops; and response to terrorism." The full draft Platform 2004 and the list of Proposed Amendments to the 2004 Draft Platform are available as document files for download: 2004 Platform Proposed Amendments