What We Believe

 

During the increasingly rancorous Democratic primary battles, it is important to remind ourselves that many common beliefs bind all Progressives together. Both Bernie and Hillary share those beliefs. There are many more policy similarities between Hillary and Bernie than differences. In November, it is imperative to support the Democratic nominee for President, no matter who wins the nomination.

As Democrats, we believe that all companies must pay their share of costs for educating their workers, defending the country, and providing basic infrastructure. Allowing companies to pay little or no federal income tax is not acceptable in times of huge US deficits.

We believe in fiscal responsibility in government. Borrowing money to give tax cuts is an unsustainable insanity. Income must balance with outflow, as it did during the Clinton administration. Elected officials should only pledge to our country, our flag, and to the people who they represent. They should never sign a pledge to a Washington lobbyist named Grover.

We want a government that works for all citizens, not just for a few ultra-rich donors. And certainly not just for corporations. The Citizen's United decision was wrong and should be overturned through a constitutional amendment. We need to get our government back.

We believe that Social Security and Medicare are benefits that were earned by taxpayers throughout their working lives. These earned benefits are not to be taken away, privatized, or replaced with discount coupons.

We believe that there are things that the government can do better than for-profit corporations. These include teaching our children, incarcerating our prisoners, maintaining public safety, and waging our wars. Funneling taxpayer money to private companies to conduct these critical functions should not be tolerated.

We believe that health care is a basic human right, not a privilege for the well-off. The Affordable Care Act was a compromise position, but is a good start at joining the rest of the First World in providing universal care for our citizens. Returning to the prior status quo is not an option.

We believe that people should be able to make personal decisions without interference from Big Government. A woman should control her own reproductive destiny. Adults should be able to marry who they want. People should not be arrested for smoking marijuana.

We believe that investment in our people leads to a more prosperous and affluent country. Public schools, universities, and technical schools should be adequately funded. Loans and grants must be available for higher education. Teachers should be heroes, not scapegoats or villains.

We believe that government should work to build a strong middle class, not destroy it. This includes going after other countries for predatory trade practices, working with rather than busting unions, legislating a living minimum wage, and providing tax incentives to keep jobs in the United States.

We believe that financial companies and polluters cannot be relied on to police themselves. We need strong regulatory watchdog agencies to protect the economy and environment.

We believe in the importance and veracity of science. World scientific leadership is one of America's greatest strengths. We must maintain that leadership. Policy decisions must be made based on scientific facts. The Republican/Tea Party anti-science platform is not healthy for our survival.

Either Hillary or Bernie will continue to move a progressive agenda forward for America. Either one deserves our support in November. We cannot afford a Republican President. Not this time.

Our critical choice in this election is between two opposing world views. In one, there are important roles for government. In the other, government would be shrunk to non-existence. One party believes in an affluent society of mutual cooperation. The other party would implement an Ayn Randian, social Darwinist dystopia. One party reflects the “social contract” of Hobbes, in which each individual operates under enlightened self-interest. The other party's policies would result in the Hobbesian nightmare of every man against every man, in which life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”