DENVER—Summary of the 10-point “manifesto” Gary Hart gave Democrats on winning the West:
—Protect the sanctity of property. The Democratic Party should condemn the Supreme Court decision allowing eminent domain for commercial use.
—Protect natural resources. Except in the most rock-ribbed, pro-development areas, westerners are for balancing resource development with resource conservation. Most want minerals, timber, and other resources developed at a reasonable pace on a reasonable timetable.
—Energy and the environment. Development of coal, oil shale and other fossil fuels, uranium, nuclear power and hydro projects should be undertaken with maximum attention to the environment. Encourage renewables such as solar, wind and biomass.
—Public lands. The federal government is the dominant landlord in the West. National forests, public lands, national parks and wilderness areas put the federal government front and center in planning for the region.
—Recreation. Recreational industries are crucial to the region’s economy. Their profits are tied to preservation.
—Growth and the economy. Westerners want to maximize contradictory values. Life-stylers want growth controlled and often limited. Entrepreneurs want resources developed to achieve maximum profit.
—Technology. The West is the technology base of America, and the Democratic Party should promote regional high technology education and training centers to stimulate this trend.
—Mediation and arbitration. All of this balancing requires political leadership which understands the history and culture of the region. The party has been seen almost exclusively as a captive of the environmental movement.
—National security. The West is keenly focused on national security issues, having been the base for much of the nation’s Cold War military structure and defense contracts. Democrats are not seen as having a coherent outlook on America’s military role in the 21st century.
—Principles and values. Westerners do not like the beliefs of others imposed on them and are people who believe in principles: integrity, honor, courage, accountability. The religious right preaches values. Democrats should espouse principles.
