Let's write a DU platform!

[Ken Burch]

We could write one, put it up online for petition signing, and then present it at the next convention as a document that had mass support.

Whatever candidates we might individually support, we as DU'ers seem to have a more or less common set of progressive values, and it would help if we could codify them.

[leftupnorth]

1. let's do it up

i have a raw manifesto that i could contribute

[Ken Burch]

8. Let's see it. We need to spark up some interest here. nt

[Botany]

2. All posts from Botany are as if from God .....

.... never to be questioned and to be read and studied as if
scripture.

[knowbody0]

3. start with the constitution

and literally translate the bill of rights.

[ewagner]

4. Actually should do it by committee

off-line and then present it to the DU membership for acceptance, modification or rejection by vote.

[Ken Burch]

7. My idea was that those who posted in this thread could effectively BE

the committee.

That way, the development of the Platform is open to all.

[Ken Burch]

5. A few points to start with:

1)Economy: DU Democrats support an economic platform of full employment, strong unions, and fair trade policies.

2)Energy: DU Democrats support a major push for energy conservation,
sharply expanded use of alternative energy, and programs to make new energy technologies available to all Americans regardless of income.

3)Foreign policy: DU Democrats support a real fight against terror by apprehending those who have committed it and addressing the issues which have caused it.
DU Democrats support ratification of the Kyoto protocol, the International Criminal court and the convention against torture
DU Democrats support establishing global order by solving the conditions that create global disorder. This means a global war against poverty.

4)Defense: DU Democrats support an adequate national defense, and will make sure that, should we be forced into future wars AFTER AND ONLY AFTER exhausting all non-violent means of resolving the conflicts in question, we will make sure our troops are properly equipped BEFORE they are sent into battle.
DU Democrats will also be extremely wary about the use of force in any situation where the U.S. is not under direct attack.

5)Social Policy:
DU Democrats support the end of ALL forms of discrimination within the US.
DU Democrats recognize that there are MANY types of families and we will provide whatever support is necessary for all of America's families to function properly.
DU Democrats support the right of all Americans to a free education up through undergraduate level and a right to an affordable graduate education for those who will need one.
DU Democrats believe the educational system exists to help Americans grow intellectually, creatively and morally as well as to acquire job skills. We believe funding decisions on education should reflect this idea.

DU Democrats work for the reconciliation of all the races of America. We recognize that this reconciliation can only come when justice for all has truly been established.


This is open for revisions, suggestions, et al.,

[Bacchus39]

10. pretty good

on foreign policy: the apprehension of terrorists is fine, but how do you go about doing that if they are protected by foreign states?

the Kyoto treaty is a start too. but since it waives emissions requirements for developing countries like India and China how does it really reduce green house gases. The goal should be a reduction in emissions not simply moving them around.

on defense: what about situations like Haiti, Rwanda, Somalia, Bosnia or other humanitarian crisis when the USA is not directly attacked. will the platform include a humanitarian exception?

[Fovea]

6. Education Sub-thread

Public secular education is the core of a free civil society.
It must be treated as such. Further, education, and a changing, technologically driven world must be life long.

Therefore, free public education to the baccalaureate level is a right of all capable citizens. For non-academically inclined citizens, vocational training should also be an ongoing process.

Realizing that education challenges the mind and pre-conceived notions, educators must be free to engage in all fair and responsible debate, with nothing forbidden, and no topic too sacrosanct to be examined critically. Without this guarantee, critical thinking cannot be fostered. Faith based teaching is inappropriate to public education, and must remain the purview of the home and religious community environment.

Standardized testing is a tool, but only one tool among several to measure the effectiveness of an educational system. Therefore, the NCLB act must be curtailed, and a responsible set of policies put in its place.

For any system of education to work, it must be sufficiently funded. In order to secure this funding, employers will pay a portion the adult education benefits for employees beyond the baccalaureate level, or advanced technical training. To burden the employee with this cost, when the primary beneficiary is their employer is unfair, and morally wrong.

[sendero]

9. While I like the idea..

.... don't we need Skinner's (or whoever owns this thing) approval and support?

[Ken Burch]

14. Perhaps.

Uh, whomever runs this, do you see what we're doing here and do you mind if we continue with it?

[Zodiak]

11. I'll join in....seriously

We need to have this debate and lay out the platform, as well. Bloggers are now listened to (although with the bad ear), and we have time to develop and disseminate this.

I would contend, however, that there are different factions on DU that all contribute positively to this site, and I do not wish for any that are a minority to be excluded. Would it be wise to not call it a "DU" platform per se, but rather a platform that has its own name? In this way, it can be copied and posted throughout the blogosphere without individual site attribution.

We have liberals, progressives, moderates, populists, and right-moderates on this board. Each could have their own platform because I am pretty sure that any one of them will disagree with whatever platform is agreed to by majority.

Perhaps a consensus platform determined by popular vote would look like the current Democratic party platform. Wouldn't that be an eerie discovery?

[AbbyR]

12. Can we have something about...

voting rights, paper verification, or whatever is needed to assure that our votes are counted?

Someone can surely word that better than I did, but I believe it's essential.

[Leftest]

13. Here's a few

Whereas: During the last six years while under the Bush regime, the working poor and middle classes have (comparatively) unfairly been taxed and not enjoyed fair compensation for their labor due to corporate friendly laws passed by the neo-cons and Bushco.

Whereas: While under the Bush regime, gas and oil prices have grotesquely inflated beyond any measure of inflation or supply/demand factors.

Whereas: Considering environmental concerns and rapidly dropping world petroleum supplies.

Whereas: The fact that U.S. Foreign policy of U.S. multinational corporations backed by CIA manipulation, intimidation and enforcement has caused much strife and resentment to the United States and its citizens from around the world - creating very real concerns about security.

Be it resolved: To facilitate fair and just compensation and taxation, strong union labor supporting laws and a heavy progressive taxation will be drafted along with heavy fines and penalties against any products from business who outsource offshore or attempt to hide profits in an offshore banks.

Be it resolved: To relive the unfair burden effecting the poor and middle classes due to price gouging of oil and gas (a shameful scheme to transfer wealth from the poor to the rich oil monopolies), a price cap and regulatory act supervising the oil industry from further exploiting the public will be drafted.

Be it resolved: To restore damage done and maintain the rights of the public to live in a healthy and clean environment, all environmental loose laws that have been enacted during the Bushco regime will be overturned and all laws prior to the Bushco regime will be re-implemented.

Be it resolved: To restore the good name of the United States Of America and restore the principles and high standards of Freedom and Justice the United States and its citizens stand for, new laws placing heavy restrictions on CIA covert activities that go beyond intelligence gathering, re-implementing federal mandates to all federal employees to be legally bound to report any crime witnessed of another federal employee.

Be it further resolved: To make it a mandatory life imprisonment sentence to any and all persons who are U.S. citizens and connected to offshore activities to manipulate, bribe, coerce, intimidate or to participate in any other way to overthrow, remove or eliminate foreign leaders and governments.

Be it further resolved: To make it a mandatory life imprisonment sentence to any and all persons who are U.S. citizens and connected to offshore activities to manipulate, bribe, coerce, intimidate, exploit or to in any other way violate citizens of foreign countries of any and all laws protecting individuals within the United States.