Foreign Policy

End The Genocide in Palestine

Since October 7th, 2023 we have been watching a genocide unfold, perpetrated by Israel and supported by US arms and funds. We demand an immediate arms embargo, an end to the apartheid state, and safe aid distribution for Palestinians.

• Arms Embargo

• End the occupation and apartheid

• Right of return for Palestinians

• Human rights and liberation

• Ceasefire Now

• Divest from Israel
  Trials for war criminals in the US and Israel

Our global presence does not enhance the safety of our citizens; in fact, it puts U.S. soldiers at risk. We must prioritize protecting our own country rather than projecting power abroad.

• Uphold the UN Charter: Avoid wars of aggression and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other nations.

• Cease Funding Foreign Media: Stop providing financial support to news organizations in other countries, whether directly or indirectly.

• Eliminate War Profiteering: War should serve our defense, not corporate interests. Establish a state-owned weapons manufacturing industry, demonstrating that a publicly funded military complex can innovate and produce more efficiently than private companies at a lower cost.

• No Unilateral Sanctions: Promote diplomacy rather than punitive measures that undermine international relations.

Treaties and Agreements

• Rejoin and Reinstate Treaties:

  • INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces)

  • Open Skies Treaty (Unarmed surveillance)

  • ABM Treaty (Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty)

• Renew the START Treaty: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty discussions due to expire in February 2026.

Democratic Economy

Employee-Owned & Consumer-Owned Businesses

• Financial Support: Provide tax-funded resources specifically for 100% employee-owned and consumer-owned cooperatives.

• Business Acquisition Grants: Provide grants and low-interest loans to assist employees in buying their businesses.

• Board Representation: Ensure representation for employees on company boards to influence decisions.

• Board Selection: Allow boards to be selected by both workers and customers to challenge monopolistic corporations like Walmart, Target, and Amazon. For example REI, a larger consumer co-op employs this model.

• Hybrid Membership Model: Establish a hybrid model involving both worker members and consumer members. Distribute dividends based on contributions, whether monetary or in labor, with a cap on investments to maintain accessibility.

• Food Desert Initiative: Expand funding for the Food Desert Prevention Act, currently underfunded at $50 million annually, to support the establishment of grocery stores in underserved areas. Recognize that thousands of grocery stores may be necessary to effectively eliminate food deserts.

• USDA Support: Leverage the USDA's food co-op seed money grant program to facilitate the creation of grocery cooperatives.

Unions

• Unionization Rights: Guarantee the right to unionize to enhance employee rights.

• Support Nationwide Right to Unionize Act (H.R. 5159): Introduced in 2023, aims to eliminate “right to work” laws and reinforce the legal framework established by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

• NLRB Funding: Increase funding for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by at least 3%.

Wealth Tax

• Constitutional Wealth Tax: Implement a constitutional wealth tax to limit the accumulation of wealth among billionaires.

• Tax Rate: Establish a wealth tax rate between 15% and 25% to gradually decrease billionaire wealth over time.

• Capital Gains Tax Equality: Tax capital gains (e.g., stocks, investment properties) at the same rates as ordinary income to ensure fair taxation.

• Top Marginal Income Tax Rate: Increase the top marginal income tax rate for those earning over $3.7 million per year to 94%, up from the current 37%. Historically, this rate was over 70% from the 1930s to 1981.

Public Services & Programs

Healthcare for All

Americans currently owe at least $220 Billion in medical debt and is the number one cause of bankruptcy in America. Every individual deserves access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare, with decisions driven by patient needs rather than profit. Full stop. A Medicare for All system would eliminate the unnecessary costs associated with the insurance industry, reduce overall care expenses and increase quality of care.

Healthcare should be as accessible as roads, libraries, and schools—a basic societal need. Private insurance lacks real value; it creates inefficiencies and increases costs. A single-payer system is not only more fair, but would decrease healthcare expenditures by around $650 billion per year. [CBO.gov]

With a unified healthcare plan, everyone, regardless of income, can access necessary care, ensuring that wealth disparities do not determine access to essential services. Moreover, private insurance often confines individuals to their jobs, limiting their ability to pursue better opportunities.

• Implement a Medicare for All system to eliminate insurance industry costs.

• Lower the cost of care and prevent medical debt.

• Expand coverage to include vision and dental.

• Cancel existing medical debt.

• Eliminate federal barriers to state-run single-payer systems.

Housing for All

A university education should be as accessible as K-12. Education benefits the whole society. By making educational opportunities freely available to all from birth through PhD, we strengthen our communities, our economy, and our democracy.

• Tuition-free public universities, community colleges and trade schools.

• Cancel student debt (public and private).

• Invest in scholarships and grants for non-tuition costs (e.g. books, housing, transportation, and food).

Housing is a basic human right and should not be used to generate more wealth for Wall Street. The purpose of the housing sector should be to provide quality, affordable, safe housing for all. Housing costs are soaring, leaving average Americans unable to afford rent or own a home.

• Establish a robust social housing program with income-based rent.

• Implement a corporate excess profits tax on investment properties.

• Create public banking options for affordable loans.

• Utilize community land trusts to manage affordable housing and defend tenants' rights through rent control.

• Reallocate military spending to community programs for fair housing solutions.

  2025: Housing for All in CA’s District 19- Virtual Town Hall

Childcare for All

Education for All

Invest in a society where every child has access to high-quality, affordable childcare, fostering early development and enriching family life.

• Public Investment: Secure government funding to ensure sustainable childcare services.

• Accessibility: Provide free childcare for all families, with no financial barriers.

• Quality Standards: Maintain high-quality standards for childcare facilities and support provider training.

• Support Services: Integrate childcare with early education, health screenings, and parental resources.

• Flexible Options: Offer various childcare settings and hours to meet diverse family needs.

• Equity Focus: Address disparities in access, ensuring services meet diverse cultural and linguistic needs.

Publicly Owned Infrastructure

• Publicly Owned Water: Studies have shown the privatization of water is significantly more expensive. [Water Privatization]

  Access to clean and safe water is a basic human right. Public ownership of water systems safeguards this right, guaranteeing affordability, sustainability, and community control over our most vital resource.
  

• Publicly Owned Energy: Prioritize the needs of the people over special interests (e.g. Data Centers). Transitioning to publicly owned energy sources allows us to prioritize renewable resources and equitable distribution. Public energy systems can invest in infrastructure that meets community needs while combating climate change and promoting sustainability.

• Publicly Owned Transportation: Public ownership of transportation systems promotes reliable, affordable, and environmentally friendly transit options. By investing in public transit, we improve accessibility for all residents, reducing reliance on personal vehicles and encouraging sustainable urban development.

• Publicly Owned Banks: Public banks can prioritize low-interest loans for housing, education, and small businesses, contributing to broader economic stability. By creating public banks, we can provide equal access to financial services while investing in local communities.

Low prices and stability should be prioritized over profits for essential services and infrastructure like water, transportation, energy and banking. This is best accomplished through public ownership. Five Ways Privatization Degrades America

Environment & Climate

Safe Renewable Energy

Transition away from fossil fuels through safe, renewable energy to prevent further damage to the environment, while also reducing our collective energy consumption.

• Prioritize long-term environmental health over short-term profits.

• Transition to renewable energy to combat climate change.

• Keep remaining fossil fuels in the ground.

• Nationalize the fossil fuel industry.

• Reduce reliance on extractive industries including lithium mining.

• Invest in electric public transportation.

• Ban private jets.

• Investment in renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric) to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

• Create jobs in emerging industries related to renewable energy.

Our current industrial food system is a massive source of emissions and toxic chemicals, harming the very communities it feeds. We need to invest in organic and regenerative farming to create safer, healthier, and more affordable food. We should protect the health of people who work to harvest our produce and who are exposed to harmful pesticides and unsafe and unfair labor practices

• Shift subsidies from agribusiness and conventional monocrop farming to regenerative and organic practices.

• Uplift organic and regenerative farming practices

• Subsidize the cost of transitioning fields to organic.

• Implement strict regulations on pesticide use to protect ecosystems and communities.

• Invest in regenerative farming practices and organic alternatives.

• Reduce reliance on harmful pesticides for healthier food systems.

• Prevent long-term health issues associated with chemical exposure.

End Pesticide Abuse