Which political party’s platform supports “the preservation of the Maine Woods and open spaces through public and private initiatives” and which asserts “Democracy is the belief that the best repository of wisdom lies in the hands of an informed and educated electorate”?

The first statement can be found in the Maine Republican Party platform. The second comes from the state’s Democratic Party platform.

Platforms – which function like mission statements – may not be as critical as they were when conventions featured party power brokers wheeling and dealing in smoke-filled back rooms. But as assertions of values, they are worth examining, especially in Maine, where anyone willing to put in time volunteering with the party can have a voice in the process.

Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine, said if he had his way, everyone would have to read party platforms before they could vote. “Even though the vast majority of people never lay eyes on them, they’re still very important documents,” he said. “There is no other statement where a party lays out what they stand for and what they will do if they gain control of government.”

The state GOP’s platform is a brief three pages and focuses mostly on state issues, along with general value and belief statements. The Democratic platform is nearly twice as long, and tackles national and international issues. The documents were created at the parties’ state conventions in the spring.

The third statement in the Republican platform seems to have anticipated the recent Supreme Court ruling: “We believe in the individual’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment.”

Bolstering the free enterprise system, espousing family and religious values, and striking a blow against political correctness are among the platform’s highlights. “We believe in gaining economic prosperity and freedom for all Maine people by adopting responsible pro-business laws that will encourage investment and create higher paying quality jobs,” it states. And: “We believe the expression of religious faith must not be excluded from the public forum.” And: “We believe Maine’s college and university classrooms should be a marketplace of ideas where all individuals’ political and religious beliefs are respected.”

Highlights of the state Democratic platform include: advocating for “a living wage” and affordable housing, food and fuel; a nonprivatized Social Security program; a national, universal single-payer nonprofit health care system; the right of workers to form unions; and the “separation of church and state.”

The platform also calls for diversification of communications media and restoring the Fairness Doctrine. It favors extending to gay and lesbian couples “the same legal and social rights and protections that other couples now receive through civil marriage and opposes any constitutional amendment or legislation that would deny these rights.”

On state issues, the Democrats call for a commission to explore the creation of a “Department of Peace in Maine for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety … [whose purview may include] environmental sustainability [and] oversight of corporate empires…” The Democrats also call for “fair and equitable” legislator pay and longer terms of service, and oppose contracting public employee jobs to profit-making businesses.

The full platform statements are available on the state party Web sites.