What can we expect from President Elect Trump? I believe the best way to approach the next four years of a Republican-controlled legislature and executive branch is to read the Republican Party Platform, adopted by the Republican National Committee in July 2016.

This 66-page document is easily accessed online by searching “RNC.” It is a long read, but worth the effort.

The most interesting section is “Government Reform.” It appears the use of market forces (privatization) will be used to limit federal, state and local levels of government in their traditional role and function of providing services to the American people.

Since the 1980s, Congressional Republicans have steadily moved forward with legislation to move government services from the public to private sector, with some modest strides made in the area of overseeing national parks, public education and prisons (among other services).

I personally oppose further privitation of public education, the military, national parks, federal lands, municipal/mutual water systems, and current policies under consideration, which seek to privatize the Veterans Administration, U.S. Postal Service and Social Security.

When government functions are privatized, market forces add profit motives into the cost of doing business, which increases the cost of receiving these services.

Other problems, like national security concerns, arise when government services are handed over to the private sector, for example, airport security.

Inherent in privatizing are increases in the cost of regulation, to ensure services are legally and fairly provided to the American people.

Before we give portions of our government away to large corporations, the American people need the time to intelligently discuss these essential matters relating to our democracy.

So read the Republican Party Platform. It will help all of us understand the next four years of legislation and policy changes in America.

Anna Rose Ravenwoode lives in Kelseyville, Calif.