Kuro Morfos
10th June 2006, 09:49
I'm looking at the platform from the Socialist Party.
Socialist Party USA Paltform: International Policy
1. We call for the closing of all U.S. military facilities at home and abroad that train foreign military and paramilitary personnel.
To ambiguous, what do they mean by this and what is the point? And how much of the budget do we save? Can someone explain this position to me?
2. We call for the United States to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.
It seems that Iraq is screwed. I don't know if we should withdraw from Afghanistan yet, we should try to leave as soon as possible. They do have a government there now and the Taliban is gone. I am undecided on this. Afterall, I am only 18.
3. We call for an end to the U.S. occupation of the province of Guantanamo, Cuba.
Don't know enough, never heard of this occupation. Somebody please specify.
4. We call for an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank-East Jerusalem and Gaza, and an end to all U.S. aid to Israel, as a precondition for peace.
I believe we should be a nuetral arbiter between the two instead of taking sides. Of course, if I said this outloud I would be screamed at and called a traitor and a "hater of Jews". <_<
5. We support an immediate cutoff of all U.S. military aid to Colombia, and all other recipients.
This doesn't sound Socialist, please specify.
6. We call for the abolition of the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and all other institutions of covert warfare.
I believe we should eliminate all those new useless programs invented by the Bush Admin. I think we should keep the CIA though, they can't be that bad. Perhapse they could be reformed. To be honest I don't know enough to take a real position on this.
7. We stand for unconditional disarmament by the United States.
By how much? Can someone give a specific amount we should disarm. Leaving a couple nukes could be usefull for blowing up asteroids and comets so I wouldn't disarm all of them.
8. We call for an international treaty outlawing all weapons of mass destruction, including the use of depleted uranium in conventional weapons.
Using depleted uranium sounds stupid, what if we had to fight on home? SPUSA is right about his one, if war came to home, I wouldn't want high radiation levels all ove rthe cities. No more depleted uranium. As for WMDs, that is a term that can mean millions of things, what if we had to deflect a comet in short notice?
9. We call for an immediate 50% cut in the military budget, followed by additional cuts, with the aim of rapidly reducing the military budget to less than 10% of its current level, with the "peace dividend" directed to essential social services and to the cost of cleaning up contaminated military sites.
I agree, but would never admit outloud. This is a good idea, but I think that most of that 10% should involve robotic warfare, lets not be too weak. The human race may unite some day afterall. Anything we have may eventually become a part of the International Military (necessary for preventing succession and alien invasions).
10. We call for the disbanding of NATO and all other aggressive military alliances, and the closing of all overseas bases.
Don't know enough about them to take a position.
11. We call for an end to U.S. arms sales throughout the world.
What about to Japan? What about allied countries? Sure, selling them to dictators is dangerous and should be illegal. Some countries like Japan lack a military, and are very close allies that do so much good for us. Perhapse selling to them would be a good thing. Although it certainly should be taxed and publically regulated, not just by CEOs.
12. We call for the U.S. to pay off its debts to the United Nations, an end to veto power in the UN, and an end to permanent membership on the UN Security Council.
Huh? Become more seperated from the world, no way.
13. We call for a constitutional amendment requiring a binding vote of the people on all issues of war or military intervention.
Not such a bad idea, allthough we'll need better education to help people think better.
14. We support the right of soldiers to form unions to represent their views and interests.
I agree with this one! In fact, more would join if we did! ^_^
Socialist Party USA Paltform: Labor
1. We support the right of any number of interested workers in a workplace to form a union with no limits on the subjects upon which employees and unions may bargain with employers.
I don't see what is wrong with bargaining, doesn't mean employers will except though. Also, there are many who may work for less of a bargain as well. More education though, would lower amounts of people available for manual labor, which would then make union bargains more effective.
2. We support the right of public sector workers to strike.
3. We call for recognizing a union based on cards signed.
No comments, I don't know about cards. And I don't know about laws reguarding public sector striking.
4. We call for the democratic control of all unions by their membership, and independent of employer domination and influence.
I agree with this. If union leaders are elected, corruption would go down. As for employers, they do still have 1st amendment rights do they? You know, advertisements? Surely they can get their opinion in. Other than that, sure people should vote for them.
5. We support the right of all workers to engage in collective action and self-representation regardless of union status.
Be more specific, how is this political? I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to unions, I never been in one. Afterall, I'm just a college student.
6. We support militant, united labor action including hot cargo agreements, and boycotts, factory committees, secondary and sympathy strikes, sit-down strikes, general strikes, and ultimately the expropriation of workplaces.
A little extreme? Minimum wage laws would prevent that from being necessary wouldn't they?
7. We support the right of workers to hold shop meetings on company premises, elect their immediate supervisors, and administer health and safety programs through the formation of shop councils.
8. We call for the repeal of the Hatch Act and the Taft-Hartley Act, the "hot cargo" provision of the Landrum-Griffin Act, and all so-called "right-to-work" laws.
I don't know about these, don't have an opinion.
9. We call for the same benefits for part-time workers as for full-time workers.
No need.
10. We call for increased health and safety regulation of business, and for increasing the size and enforcement power of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
I agree. Also, I believe we should add incentives that encourage the private sector to communicate with workers more and tell them how they are contributing and making them feel like they are a part of the process and not some insignificant little machine. Increased worker enthusiasm is a good thing.
11. We support the creation of a fund for workers which would pay a worker’s full wages and health insurance as well as necessary educational and/or retraining costs if that worker loses a job due to environmental transition, down-sizing, corporate dismantlement, or capital flight.
I agree, but either exclude small businesses or publically provide it for them.
12. We call for a 30 hour work week at no loss of pay, with six weeks annual paid vacation.
Thats just six hours a day, the other is eight ours a day. Seven ours is reasonable, why not a 35 hour work weak? Afterall, you don't need anything divisible by ten, something that ends with a five may be better. Six hours a day is oftly short, eight is oftly long, but inbetween is Goldylox.
13. We call for unions to stop using union funds for electing candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties.
FUCK YEAH!
Socialist Party Platform: Economics
1. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and oppose the creation of a widened Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
What do these do exactly? And why are they bad? If they are good, why are they good?
2. We call for worker and community ownership and control of corporations within the framework of a decentralized and democratically determined economic.
I agree that workers should have partial say, however if corporations don't have any say, why would they choose to exist? This is perhapse too big to lauch, afterall we don't want to destroy the corporations, but only get them to respect the community more. Remember, I am open minded and will listen to what any of you say.
3. We call for a minimum wage of $15 per hour, indexed to the cost of living.
I agree, but the minimum wage should remain the same for small businesses as well as rural areas. Perhapse the national minimum can be $8 while another law could state that with in cities with at least 100,000 people, the wage is $15 unless you are a small business.
4. We call for a full employment policy. We support the provision of a livable guaranteed annual income.
...
5. We call for all financial and insurance institutions to be socially owned and operated by a democratically-controlled national banking authority, which should include credit unions, mutual insurance cooperatives, and cooperative state banks. In the meantime, we call for re-regulation of the banking and insurance industries.
Just have public and private. If banks are to be public, I think that should be at a city or state level, the nation is a bit too big to regulate such a thing and you don't really need those in lets say South Dakota.
6. We call for a steeply graduated income tax and a steeply graduated estate tax, and a maximum income of no more than ten times the minimum. We oppose regressive taxes such as payroll tax, sales tax, and property taxes.
I agree with the part about the income tax and estate tax. However, I believe that funding to science, technology, and charity should count against your taxes to the point of 20% to 1% depending on your income. Also, maximum income only being 10 times higher is a bit low, how about a 100? Meaning no more than $800 an hour.
7. We call for the restoration of the capital gains tax and luxury tax on a progressive, graduated scale.
I agree. Unfortunately, most Americans consider this evil.
8. We call for compensation to communities-- and compensation, re-training, and other support service for workers-- affected by plant and military base closings as stop-gap measures until we reach our goal of creating a socialist society totally separate from the global capitalist economy.
Perhapse some of it, I won't agree or disagree.
9. We oppose the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization as instruments of capitalist oppression throughout the world.
Are you suggesting that we no longer trade with other countries? What exactly do those three programs do? What would happen if we left them. We shouldn't get penalized by other countries for refusing to perticipate.
10. We demand cancellation of Third World debt.
How much do they owe us?
11. We call for a National Pension Authority to hold the assets of private pension funds, and a levy against corporate assets for any pension fund deficits.
I don't even know what this is.
12. We call for increased and expanded welfare assistance and increased and expanded unemployment compensation at 100% of a worker's previous income or the minimum wage, whichever is higher, for the full period of unemployment or re-training, whichever is longer.
I agree.
13. We support a program of massive federal investment in both urban and rural areas for infrastructure reconstruction and economic development.
Definately, YES! Make sure the infrastructure looks futuristic and fantastic too!
14. We support tax benefits for renters equal to those for homeowners.
I agree!
15. We call for the elimination of subsidies and tax breaks that benefit corporations and all other forms of corporate welfare.
Disagree, better just to add more scrutiny into these subsidies.
Socialist Party Platform: Human Rights
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer People
The Socialist Party recognizes the human and civil rights of all, without regard to sexual orientation.
1. We call for the end of all anti-gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBTQ) restrictions in law and the work place, the repeal of all sodomy laws, and the legalization of same-sex marriage.
2. We call on all schools to adopt policies and procedures to address and prevent student violence and to ban discrimination against GLBTQ people throughout the educational system.
3. We call for a federal ban on all forms of job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
4. We are committed to confronting the heterosexism that provides the fertile ground for homophobic violence, and support all efforts toward fostering understanding and cooperation among persons and groups of differing sexual orientations.
People of Color
The Socialist Party recognizes the intimate link between racism and capitalism and demands the elimination of all forms of discrimination in housing, jobs, education, health care, etc. We are committed to the creation of a pluralistic society that defends and promotes a multicultural/multiethnic presence in both the public and private spheres. The Socialist Party rejects the social construction of race and we commit ourselves to the eradication of racism.
1. We strongly support affirmative action, civil rights, and anti-discrimination laws and programs to end institutional racism.
2. We call for reparations from the federal government for its role in the slave trade and the genocide of Native American nations, with the reparations programs administered by the oppressed communities themselves.
3. We support the efforts of people of color to self-defense, self-determination, and to organize independently for their liberation.
4. We oppose all efforts to declare English an official language, and call for an end to all language discrimination. We demand that all public and private institutions provide services and materials in the languages of their communities.
5. We call for enforcement of Native American treaty rights, support for tribal schools and colleges, living wages on Native American reservations, and democratization of power and wealth in tribal governments.
6. We call for strict legal penalties for the police practice of racial profiling, and we particularly condemn the targeting of Arabs and Muslims since September 11.
7. We demand an end to police brutality and all forms of harassment against people of color and ethnic minorities.
People with Disabilities
The Socialist Party recognizes the human and civil rights of all, without regard to physical or psychological differences. We deplore media stereotypes that focus on a person's disability rather than on their strengths and abilities, and the physical and social barriers that prevent the full participation by people with disabilities in vital spheres of life.
1. We call for full enforcement of all sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act so that all public and private buildings, facilities, and modes of transportation are accessible to disabled people, and every effort is made to employ persons with disabilities.
2. We oppose any effort to limit the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act by restricting the definition of who is considered a person with a disability, and we call for an amendment to the act that would permit punitive damages for the complainants in ADA cases.
3. We call for enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that mandates equal employment practices and physical accessibility for entities receiving federal funding; and call for the removal of the prohibition against the right of private action presently contained in Section 504.
4. We call for full funding for a network of support for people with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities, including home assistance, recreation centers, guaranteed income, voting access, and quality control in residential facilities; and for the inclusion of people with disabilities on all local and state governing boards and commissions.
5. We call for the continuation of full Social Security benefits for people with disabilities who are able to work part-time, and affirmative action quotas for hiring people with disabilities at union wages.
6. We oppose the efforts of the Social Security Administration to further limit access to SSDI (Supplemental Security Disability Income) by restricting their definitions of who is considered a person with a disability.
7. We call for the full funding of high-quality education and training programs for people with disabilities, and an expansion of the Individuals With Disabilities In Education Act (IDEA) which would include greater funding for the hiring of paraprofessionals in public schools.
8. We call for an amendment of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to include a prohibition against the denial of credit based on disability.
Seniors
The Socialist Party recognizes the right of seniors to a dignified life, free from economic hardship, social isolation, and discrimination in employment and credit. Sufficient income, housing, health care, medication, and access to social services must be guaranteed to all elders.
1. We oppose the privatization of the Social Security system and the use of Social Security trust funds for any other purpose, such as offsetting the federal deficit.
2. We demand that the Social Security system remain entirely within the public sector, with funding derived from a steeply graduated income tax on all income, earned and unearned.
3. We call for the inclusion of all state and local government workers within the Social Security System.
4. We call for the right of retirement at age 55 a minimum annual retirement income of $25,000, tax free, and protected from inflation by cost of living increases.
5. We call for a cap on Social Security benefits so that no beneficiary receives more than three times the income of those receiving the minimum.
6. We support an increase in home service, including home-delivered quality meals and the provision of personal aid devices and physical therapy, so that older people can remain independent in their homes and community.
7. We call for jobs and training for seniors who do not wish to retire.
8. We support the formation of publicly funded and democratically controlled senior centers that provide opportunities for social and recreational activities and community involvement.
9. We call for the election of advocates and ombudspersons by assemblies of seniors and caregivers to ensure the protection of residents’ rights in nursing homes and a stimulating environment in group and nursing home situations.
10. We support hospice care, and a person's right to die with dignity in a manner of their choosing.
Women
The Socialist Party is a socialist feminist organization that recognizes that a struggle against habitual male dominance and patriarchy must go hand in hand with any struggle against capitalism. Therefore, we pledge our opposition to all forms of sexism, and demand equality in all aspects of life.
1. We demand full support for every woman's right to choose when, if, and how to have children, including the right to free abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy, without interference or coercion. Clinics providing abortion services must have the full protection of the law.
2. We call for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and all other legislation that limits access to abortion services, thus denying "the right to choose" to millions of women, particularly low-income women, women of color, and young women. We demand full reproductive freedom for all women by removing all discriminating barriers to reproductive rights and reproductive health care.
3. We call for the banning of all involuntary sterilizations. We oppose the performing of any medical research or medical procedure without a woman's full knowledge and consent.
4. We demand that local governments place a priority on preventing violence toward women, with coordinated programs to educate, provide shelter for women and children, and vigorously protect women from their abusers.
5. We call for the decriminalization of prostitution and demand that sex workers, just like all women workers, are guaranteed a full range of health, social, and legal services; and working conditions free from harassment, violence, and exploitation
6. We call for 16 months paid leave to be shared by new parents or in its entirety by a single parent, and the expansion and full-funding of high-quality child care facilities.
7. We support comprehensive educational and training opportunities, comparable worth laws, and affirmative action for women. We believe that women should be able to enter any occupation they choose, without hindrance.
8. We believe that women should be free to improve their working lives through unions and other organizations, and that work at home, including child care, should be shared to enable women to fully participate in society.
9. We call for organizational structure based on mutual consideration and respect, rotating leadership, gender balance, and processes that welcome and enable open and equitable participation in discussion and decision-making.
Youth
The Socialist Party believes that the right of all children to nurturing, protection, and education by caring adults must be staunchly upheld, and that a young person does not have fewer rights because he or she is a minor. Therefore, we believe that all Constitutional and human rights belonging to older people belong to younger people as well, and must be defended with equal vigor and determination
1) We support the immediate ratification by the United States of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
2) We call for children's allowances that will help ensure that every child's basic rights and needs are satisfied in a stimulating, empowering, and caring environment.
3. We support free, quality care and education for all children and young people, federally financed and community controlled through democratically elected local boards that will include youth members.
4. We support the rights of minors to be free of any kind of child abuse or neglect whether physical, mental, emotional, or sexual.
5. We oppose measures that increase responsibilities and penalties on youth ostensibly to curb crime.
6. We call for an end to military draft registration, and an end to military recruiting in educational institutions.
7. We call for the abolition of parent consent and notification laws for reproductive health services, including abortion.
8. We call for the right to comprehensive sex education in school that includes birth control methods, STD protection, and information about being GLBTQ.
9. We call for the lowering of the voting age to 15
10. We oppose age-based curfew laws.
I AGREE STRONGLY!
Arts and Culture
The Socialist Party believes that art is an integral part of daily life, and should not be treated as a commodity produced by the activity of an elite group. All members of society should have ample opportunities for participation in art and cultural activities.
1. We support the formation of collectives, arts centers and schools, independent media, theaters and festivals to advance such cultural endeavors as music, poetry, prose, drama, dance, storytelling, visual art, and videography.
2. We support guaranteed incomes and grants for artists and performers.
3. We support making schools and workplaces available as cultural centers.
4. We call for full funding of community and school arts programs for people of all ages.
5. We call for full funding to keep libraries, museums, cultural centers, and historic sites open and accessible to all.
6. We call for the preservation of literature, art, music, dance, oral traditions, and audio and video recordings that have arisen out of people's experiences: young and old, of all nationalities and colors, sexual preferences, working, un- and under-employed, and disabled.
7. We support the autonomy of artists of color, women artists, and disabled artists in their creative work.
8. We support the right of artists to join and form unions to protect their labor rights and to form collectives to advance common artistic visions.
Education
The Socialist Party recognizes the right of students of all ages to a free, quality education in a safe and supportive environment, and of all school employees to good wages, benefits, and working conditions.
1. We call for full and equal funding of public education; for the restoration of a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, including art, music, world languages, and physical education; for an end to all public funding of private schools; and for free tuition and full-time teachers with full benefits (not "adjuncts") at the post-secondary level.
2. We support public child care starting from infancy, and public education starting at age three, with caregivers and teachers of young children receiving training, wages, and benefits comparable to that of teachers at every other level of the educational system.
3. We oppose merit pay for teachers, standardized testing, competition between schools within the same district, the sale of on-campus advertising in order to raise funds, and the increasing dependence of post-secondary institutions on corporate funding.
4. We call for an egalitarian educational system with teaching methods that accommodate the wide range of teaching and learning styles, and that provides all students with the means to obtain the post-secondary education they desire. We call a maximum of 15 students per teacher for grades K-12, and a maximum of 50 students per teacher at the post-secondary level.
5. We call for vigorous affirmative action programs so that the faculty and student-body of all schools reflect the community at large in terms of race/ethnicity, gender, and economic background. We support multicultural, multilingual, experimental education at all levels.
6. We support student, parent, and teacher control of curriculum formation, and in the hiring and dismissal procedures of school personnel, through the formation of local school/community committees.
7. We call for student representation on school boards, and for those boards to be fully accountable to students, parents, teachers, and school workers.
8. We call for opportunities for lifelong self-education, with retraining programs and transitional financial support for workers displaced by technological advances.
9. We support full and unrestricted health education programs, including sex education, with curriculum input from parents, students, teachers, and health care professionals.
10. We oppose school-sponsored prayer or any other religious practice in public schools, and all efforts to limit the teaching of evolution or to combine it with non-scientific theories.
11. We call for free and open access to information, including the public ownership of all large databases.
Health Care
The Socialist Party stands for a socialized health care system based on universal coverage, salaried doctors and health care workers, and revenues derived from a steeply graduated income tax.
1. We support a national health program with full standard and alternative medical, dental, vision, and mental health coverage for all, publicly funded through progressive taxation and controlled by democratically elected assemblies of health care workers and patients. The National Health Program should extend, and replace, Medicare and Medicaid.
2. We call for a health care system that emphasizes preventive care, respects patients' privacy, gives special attention to the needs of the physically and mentally disabled, and conducts treatment and research unimpaired by sexism, racism, or homophobia.
3. We call for full funding for AIDS research, prevention, and treatment. We demand full civil rights for people living with AIDS.
4. We call for public ownership and worker and community control of the pharmaceutical industry.
5. We call for educational programs to help prevent drug addiction; for voluntary treatment programs for addicts and alcoholics; and for the availability of free, sterile needles for those still using IV drugs.
6. We call for the reinstatement of funding to community mental health services so that low-cost or no-cost treatment is available on a voluntary basis, with clients' rights respected. We oppose involuntary incarceration for treatment without due process.
7. We support the right to choose or refuse medical treatment, the right to die, and the right to assisted suicide.
Housing
The Socialist Party recognizes the right of all people to high quality, low cost housing.
1. We call for a vast increase in Section 8 housing subsidies as one element of major public investment in the construction of low cost, scattered site, community-based, high quality housing.
2. We call for rent control for all rental units, and the right of tenants to organize.
3. We support the formation of non-profit land trusts and of socially owned, tenant controlled housing cooperatives.
4. We call for the organization of a housing rehabilitation program aimed at renovating and remodeling existing homes to bring them up to housing and safety codes, as part of a broader public works program.
5. We call for an end to home foreclosures
Transportation
The Socialist Party calls for extensive public transportation in both urban and rural areas.
1. We call for the creation of a fully funded high-speed national rail system with fares set low enough to be a viable alternative to the use of the automobile.
2. We call for an end to the expansion of the interstate highway system and the reduction of combustion engine/auto based transport.
3. We call for government subsidized programs to expand safe routes for foot and bicycle paths.
4. We call for pedestrian ways, accessible by mass transit, which exclude vehicles from the downtown area of cities and towns.
5. We support publicly funded development of renewable fuels.
6. We support federally funded auto insurance.
7. We call for public ownership and worker control of the airline industry.
I agree with most. Except for car insurance, no need to publically provide that. I also disagree with controling the airline industry, but if the people want to have a public airliner, sure (but they should vote on it by proposition). Healthcare should be univeral whether be public or private. There is no reason for coercion against people who do have healthcare, but there is no good reason for other people to die.
Bill of Rights
1. We condemn the so-called War on Terrorism and call for the immediate repeal of the U.S.A.P.A.T.R.I.O.T Acts and the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.
I agree.
2. We call for the elimination of the Department of Homeland Security and the sweeping police powers accorded to it.
I agree.
3. We demand the exclusion of the military from domestic law enforcement.
Why can't they be intertwined? Can military engage in domestic law enforcement? Please specify. There should be constitutional limits to any policing, but I don't see how officers being soldiers makes any difference.
4. We call for the abolition of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
I don't know what those are.
5. We oppose so-called anti-terrorist measures and criminal code reforms that restrict legitimate dissent.
6. We oppose all forms of censorship both legislative and institutional
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE! NO MORE CENCORSHIP!
7. We call for an end to the militarization of the United States/Mexican border, and an increase in the service budget instead of the "military" budget of the INS.
8. We demand an end to police raids in areas where immigrants congregate.
9. We defend the rights of all immigrants to education, health care, and full civil and legal rights and call for an unconditional amnesty program for all undocumented people. We further call for full citizenship rights upon demonstrating residency for six months.
10. We call for an end to the use of “secret evidence” in deportation hearings, a ban on all immigration detentions and military tribunals, and full due process and habeas corpus rights in U.S. courts for all non-citizens on U.S. territory or in U.S. custody
I agree.
11. We support secular democratic states, assuring equal rights to every citizen and resident in accord with the Universal Declaration of Rights.
I agree!
Free and fair elections
1. We support the public financing of candidates for public office as long as this funding extends to the candidates of alternative political parties.
2. We call for strict limits on the use of personal funds in elections, either for one's own campaign or for that of another candidate.
2. We oppose representation based on anything other than population.
3. We support the introduction of proportional representation at every level of government.
4. We call for uniform ballot access laws for all states that give all political parties a chance to have their candidates on the ballot.
5. We call for the closing of the loophole sanctioned by the Supreme Court which allows candidates to spend an unlimited sum of their personal wealth on their own campaigns.
6. We call for the elimination of the Electoral College and support instant run-off voting of all elected officials.
7. We stand opposed to the disenfranchising of any U.S. citizen by the federal, state, or local government.
8. We demand greater access to media for all political parties and free, equal access to all forms of mass media for all candidates
9. We call for full representation for the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, all Native American reservations, and the District of Columbia.
10. We call for the restoration of the right to vote for all citizens incarcerated in jails and prisons
11. We call for a mandatory paper trail of all votes to allow for recounts and verification.
I agree!
Legal justice
1. We call for free, quality, legal and court services with skilled and experienced attorneys of choice for all.
Impractical. We spend hundreds of billions of the justice system how it is. And people are known for pressing charges on others for bogus reasons. (EG: Spilling hot cofee on your lap, even though you purposely disobeyed what was written on the cup)
2. We call for prosecution of the criminal activities of politicians, corporate managers, and other privileged individuals, rather than the over-emphasis on minor infractions by working class people and for a sliding scale of fines based on income
I agree.
3. We call for the expansion of community release programs and other alternatives to prisons, and for a moratorium on new prison construction.
4. We call for support services for prisoners and prisoners' families to reduce ostracism, maintain family ties, and provide for non-degrading visitation policies.
I agree.
5. We call for the immediate closure of all “Supermax” prisons and abolition of “prisons for profit”.
6. We call for the abolition of prison labor for profit, forced labor (“chain gangs”) and the use of prison labor to perform state services.
7. We call for the right of prisoners to organize unions and cooperative groups to negotiate for better living conditions
Disagree. Too much burden. We are going broke because of those people. I agree with your earlier policies that would decrease prison population though.
8. We call for the immediate establishment of completely independent and democratically elected police control and oversight councils, with full power to fire police and to arrest, detain, and indict police officers who brutalize or abuse people or who commit any violation of laws or civil rights and liberties.
9. We call for the ultimate replacement of the police with community residents trained in conflict resolution who live in and serve the community under community control
10. We call for community response services for crime victims, including the establishment of crisis centers and shelters for victims of domestic violence, spousal and child abuse, and rape and incest.
11. We support federal buyout programs for arms, federal safety standards and licensing for arms, and community-based public training for gun owners.
I agree, but please specify what you mean by "incest". Should cousins go to jail for engaging in sexual activity?
12. We call for the decriminalization of drug use and the regulation of narcotics by doctors through the use of prescriptions rather than by the criminal justice system.
13. We call for the redirection of funds spent on the "war on drugs" to comprehensive community-based, client-controlled rehabilitation programs.
I AGREE!
13. We call for the abolition of the death penalty.
I agree!
Media and Intellectual Property
1. We support the breakup of large media companies so that no one company or individual owns more than one newspaper, radio or television station, or television channel. We call for the re-regulation of the communications industry
I agree!
2. We call for government ownership of satellite and cable companies with revenues generated by these operations allocated to a publicly controlled fund to finance innovative visual and audio programming (including movies), over the air radio and television, and cable and satellite programming. The fund would also greatly increase the money going to community cable programming.
I disagree with most of that. However I do believe that we should increase funding to community cable programming.
3. We support public funding of newspapers and magazines. Any non-profit organization that publishes a journal would receive public funding in proportion to its paid subscriber list.
I agree, more information, better Democracy.
4. We oppose all efforts to trim "fair use" rights, such as the right to excerpt a copyrighted work in a review.
5. We call for the repeal of all existing copyright extension laws.
Don't know about those.
6. We oppose legislation to force electronics manufacturers to build "Digital Rights Management" into computers and appliances.
7. We oppose private ownership of the Internet backbone. We call for direct public ownership of at least 50% of the total bandwidth and for democratic ownership and control of the Internet domain naming system.
I agree with 50% of bandwith being without ownership, but I don't know what you mean by "Internet domain naming system".
Socialist Party Platform: Environment
1. We call for public ownership and democratic control of all our natural resources in order to conserve resources, preserve our wilderness areas, and restore environmental quality.
I agree, sort of. We shouldn't be too strict. But there certainly should not be anarchy when it comes to land and the environment. It should be considered "public domain" unless specified otherwise.
2. The U.S. must immediately return to participation in international agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol, limiting carbon emissions, and accept a major role in worldwide efforts to control global warming.
I agree.
3. We call for placing full financial responsibility on private companies for prevention and clean up of their own toxic wastes and for full compensation of workers and residents adversely affected by environmental hazards.
I agree.
4. We oppose policies that target minority communities for placement of local landfills, toxic waste disposal sites, or incinerators.
Then where do we put it?
5. We call for strong, enforceable endangered species protection that focuses on habitat-centered protection for plants and animals.
I agree, I mean why not?
6. We oppose any new nuclear power projects and call for the rapid phasing out of all nuclear power plants, and a ban on the export of nuclear technology.
Agree and Disagree.
7. We support the recycling of glass, metals, plastic, paper, and chemicals and the use of recycled materials for public works projects such as roadways, parks, and playgrounds.
I agree, especially when it comes to metals.
8. We call for shutting down waste incinerators and phasing out landfills and especially oppose targeting minority communities for hazardous waste disposal sites.
I don't have much of an opinion on this.
9. We oppose open-pit mining operations and support the reclamation of land used by mining operations at the company’s expense.
Sorry, but mining is important to the economy as well as human progress.
10. We support large-scale environmental restoration efforts.
I agree, a healthy planet, a healthy human race.
Socialist Party Platform: Energy
1. We call for strong organic standards, gradually lessened government price supports for non-organic food production, and strong government incentives for conservation initiatives.
Don't know.
2. We call for public ownership and worker control of existing corporate farms, support exiting state bans on corporate farms, and support a federal ban on the establishment of new corporate farms.
3. We call for a parity system that guarantees farmers a full return on the cost of production
4. We call for the repudiation of all current farm debts for working farmers.
5. We call for family farmers whose land was taken in foreclosures to be given their land and equipment back, or be given comparable land and equipment or monetary compensation
I disagree, they voted for Bush, they have it commint to them. Besides, if farmers loose their lifestyles, that means less traditional values and conservatism to worry about.
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