would you support this platform?

[welshTerrier2]

"The most important issue government must tackle is special interest campaign financing and the reform of the electoral system. The present system of campaign donations leads to the purchase of access for wealthy individuals and corporations and neglect of the needs of the ordinary citizen. Without an independent legislature, one funded by the public rather than special interests, the legislature WILL NOT reform the tax code, but will continue to grant more and more tax benefits to corporations and extremely wealthy individuals. This pushes more and more of the tax burden onto poor, middle class and upper middle class taxpayers, while at the same time the government is drowning like New Orleans in a sea of red ink."

Impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney: Support the investigation of charges that the President and Vice-President have committed acts amounting to 'high crimes and misdemeanors.' Upon impeachment by the House, if evidence proving the allegations is presented to the Senate, they should be removed from office.

Immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq

Repeal the USA Patriot Act

Enact universal single-payer health care for all

Take money out of politics and government with public financing of election campaigns

Adopt "instant runoff voting" (IRV) to expand voter choice

Renegotiate global trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA to protect labor and the environment from abuses by international business interests

Enact serious measures to combat global warming, promote development of clean, secure alternative energy, and promote mass transit and pedestrian, bicycle and rail transportation sources

Prohibit "privatization" of government functions

Prohibit hiring of permanent replacements for striking workers; make locked-out workers eligible for unemployment compensation

Protect reproductive freedom, including a woman's unrestricted right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy

[silverweb]

1. Absolutely.

n/t

[babylonsister]

2. I haven't read the whole thing, but I'm all for including potential

candidates into your campaign reform. There are many good people out there; too bad you have to be a millionaire with clout to get anywhere in this country. I wish that was a lot fairer.

[Massacure]

3. I would support that for the most part.

I'd draw the line for abortion at when the baby has a hear beat and brain waves though. I'd also let a company hire replacement workers. If workers want to strike, fine. But that shouldn't mean that a company should be banned from hiring new workers while a group of them is striking. Let the company start over in terms of experience.

You cannot prohibit privatization of government functions by the way. Any such law can easily be overturned later on. We can dictate how the government is run today, but not 50 years from now.

[nealmhughes]

4. I think something is missing: restoration of moral authority to implement

reform and a progressive agenda.

Although that is tied to stopping the monied campaigns and campaigns to start campaigns... In other words, the small crowd of Party insiders who select whom to fund in the local as well as national primaries then elections has to end. We cannot let the Party continue to be held hostage to a small group of lawyers, businessmen and cronies who decide to whom to hand their largesse.

In short, Purification of the Party and the Nation. It won't be easy, as status quo is too comfortable for most to rise against, and blindly accept a few personalities who speak vaguely towards them instead of setting the agenda themselves.

That means no more triangulating, spinning or deals: a return to platform and the stick-to-it-edness to stick to it -- in short backbones.
No more better of two evils, or "it's the best we can do." No, it isn't the best our congress can do, and if people have to cross the aisle or get defeated after the Democrats have taken the House and the Senate and the Presidency, then goodbye.

Frankly I am ready to burn barns, throw bombs and run with scissors...

[havocmom]

5. I'm in

Works for me.

[derby378]

6. Hey, from what I've seen, count me in

I work in the health care industry, and some of the changes that have creeped into the system are really stunning. It's time for doctors to throw off the shackles that corporate bean counters put on them.

[McCamy Taylor]

7. "Instant runoff voting"? How? If there are computers involved, then no.