Reply #7: Ok my list [View All]

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1. I believe the Government has a duty to regulate the power of
corporations when the corporate interests conflict with public
interests. Deregulation in vital sectors of the economy in the public interest is dangerous.

2. I believe that the full protection of the Bill of Rights outlined in the Constitution should not be curtailed. Repeal the Patriot Act and the material witness laws. Stop the hypocritical crusade for imposed morality with the FCC and protect and keep the government out of our bedrooms and our private lives. No MI5 in America, ever!

3. I believe in a woman's right to choose. The right to privacy as outlined by the Supreme Court must be upheld for women's rights in America to mean anything.

4. I believe that universal healthcare is a moral imperitive and can
benefit both the public and the corporate structure of this country. Small businesses cannot afford to offer healthcare and big companies spend far too much money for healthcare. Universal healthcare will help America's businesses but far more importantly will increase the health and well being of all Americans while reducing costs.

5. I believe in the seperation of church and state and that public money should not go to fund religious organizations. Keep government money out of private schools and church groups. It hurts the private groups by making them dependant on the government for funds and it blurs the lines between church and state.

6. I believe in the social safety net. I believe that government can
give a hand up and not just a hand out. Work programs to strengthen the infrastructure, retraining, and childcare where women do not have to choose between going hungry or abandoning their children to go to work. I believe in insuring that the current programs will continue into solvency and protecting those funds and sealing them off from the whims of those who would raid unemployment and social security funds.

7. I believe in proper education funding. Federal block grants to areas of states with the most need while insuring that a plan and some sort of real critieria is given. Accountability cannot simply be summed up in some sort test, test, test mantra but a full range of critieria for success based on the region and the situation must be given.

8. I believe in morality in foreign policy. Too often, being pragmatic
has turned to being opportunistic and bullying. In the end, we always
pay for it. How many times must we support a dictator or a terrorist to have him attack us or his neighbors later. How long must the cycle of violence continue before we realize we have to live up to our own bullshit.

9. I believe in protecting the environment and this can be done without being proxies for industry and without destroying industry. We have to have Clean Air and Water bills that are not just Orwellian bills meant to promote more pollution but laws that insure that a real cleaner environment. When will we be able to once again eat the fish that the sports fishermen catch in our streams? Will the forests you hike in be there for your kids? How many times will you have to pause before the tv and consider whether or not to let your children out to play because the clean air index indicates the smog is dangerously high in your city? This is about the environment and conservation and protecting this place in the world we live.

10. I believe that election finance reform is necessary to preserve the integrity of the electoral process. Also, the privatization of the election process has to stop. A receipt for electronic balloting is essential. Every vote must count.

11. Gun safety laws need to be strengthened but a ban on firearms is
not practical or workable in America at this time. Americans love their guns and what works in the city does not wash on the national stage. Tougher safety laws but no gun bans.

12. Corporate welfare should end. It is not the government's job in a capitalist society to bail out or give aid to failing corporations or to fatten corporations with ties to key officials in the government. That is not democracy or even capitalism. It is corporatism like the fascists loved and it has to end.

13. However, aid for small businesses through initiatives and tax breaks helps competition in a capitalist society. It is not the same and it is essential to make sure that every business owner no matter how small has a real shot at the American dream.

14. I believe in a military strong enough to defend the nation. Petagon budgets are packed with pork and waste. I think we should pledge to take half of all such savings in the Pentagon budget and apply it directly to better veteran's benefits and better benefits for military families.

15. Independence from nonrenewable energy sources should be a national goal with a set real deadline.

16. Bring the UN and hand over power to Iraq to UN forces. Then get the hell out. If the UN does not want it, then hold elections as soon as possible hand over power to whoever the Iraqi people choose and then get the hell out.

16. I believe the right of workers to organize and collectively bargain. Outlaw as much of the union busting tactics used by corporations like Wal-Mart as possible and stop demonizing both teachers and their unions. Make union leadership core advisors for all labor decisions.

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