SwiftVets.com

[docford]

Look at the the election platform for the Communist Party of the US. If there is anything different between this and Kerry's positions, someone please tell me.

http://www.cpusa.org/article/articleview/589/1/3/

Build Unity! Defeat Bush and the Ultra Right!
What we need today -- a program for working people
ELECTION PLATFORM 2004, COMMUNIST PARTY USA

This is no ordinary election year. Across our country, people are searching for security, hope and peace.

The George W. Bush administration and the Republican controlled Congress have delivered unemployment, economic insecurity, inequality, fear and war. Instead of freedom and democracy, the people of our country and the world have been subjected to unilateral military aggression and curtailment of democratic rights based on lies and deceit. The young generation is being shut out of education and good job opportunities.

These policies are not accidents. They flow from a campaign by the biggest, most aggressive capitalist interests for complete control over all the world’s resources, markets and labor. The shocking disparity between wealth and poverty worldwide, and the never-ending search for new sources of profit, set the stage for sharp conflict.

The 2004 elections are a test of history in our country’s quest to build a democracy “of, by and for the people.” For too long, big money corporate politics has turned away millions of voters from participation. In 2000 the Supreme Court disregarded the voters’ choice and installed George W. Bush. Now is the time for all democratic minded people to stand united, march on ballot boxes and vote in massive numbers to defeat right-wing Republican control of the White House and Congress.

Nothing can be taken for granted. No state should be conceded in this national crusade to take our country back from extremist, life-threatening policies.

The power of the movement to defeat Bush on November 2 goes far beyond this election. The new alliance of labor, African American, Latino, women, youth, seniors, glbt, peace and environmentalists who make up this movement holds in its hands the potential to win much bigger change. The upsurge of independent activity to defeat the ultra-right opens new possibilities toward a people’s party free of transnational domination.

The need for a system free of exploitation, racism, militarism and profit-driven policies that burden our country today is on the agenda for consideration, discussion and action.

Throughout our history, the Communist Party has recognized the need for fundamental change with a vision of a socialist United States built on the foundations of our Bill of Rights. In 2004, we project a program to meet the immediate needs of the people of our country.

The bottom line in this election year is that the devastating, dangerous, anti-human, Bush/ultra-right agenda be delivered a resounding defeat. The entire world is watching.

A 2004 People Before Profits Program

Living wage unionized jobs, health care, decent affordable housing, quality public education, racial equality, equality for women, a clean and peaceful environment, and civil liberties should all be basic human rights.

Tax cuts for the rich and limitless funds for war are bankrupting our government and making our nation less safe. A complete change in priorities is necessary to meet human needs, insure a certain future for the young generation and provide real security. No one should be forced into poverty in our wealthiest nation.

We offer the following People before Profits Program as a basis for movement-building. We support the many efforts of labor, community, civil rights, youth, peace and environment coalitions that move toward these goals.

JOBS AND ECONOMIC SECURITY

Almost 10 million workers are unemployed, 3 million more than when Bush took office. Millions more, including many youth, are stuck in low-wage, part-time jobs. Emergency action is needed to create good jobs.

Support the Employee Free Choice Act to allow workers to gain union representation without harassment or recrimination.

Create living wage, union jobs with a massive program to rebuild the bridges, schools, water treatment plants, and parks of our nation, while sending funds to cities and states to fully staff education, childcare, health care and other peoples’ needs.

Special measures for federal spending and job creation in the African American and Latino communities where jobless rates are up to twice as high because of overt and institutional racism.

Expand aid and job creation in rural areas with disproportionately high unemployment. Protect family farmers with price supports and no curtailment of subsidies.

Expand federal funding of youth jobs, vocational and apprenticeship programs and higher education especially geared toward low income and racially oppressed youth.

Raise the minimum wage to living wage standards taking into account cost of housing and other essentials.

Provide adequate federal funding to cities and towns for first responders and emergency personnel.

HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE
Health Care for All

Over 43 million now have no health coverage, 4 million more than when Bush took office. The fake “Medicare reform” will not deliver prescription drugs, but will undermine the entire program. No one should be without healthcare.

Support the Medicare for All bill, HR 676, which provides full health coverage for everyone including prescription drugs.

Allow bulk government purchase of prescription drugs and re-importation of drugs as an emergency measure. Curb price gouging by the pharmaceutical industry.

Access to reproductive health care for young women. Expand funding for HIV/AIDS prevention programs.

Equal, Quality Public Education

The Bush administration eliminated $8 billion in funding to public education after creating new, costly mandates in the “No Child Left Behind” act, which undermines public education in favor of vouchers for some children to attend private or religious schools. Every child should have the best possible public education.

Guarantee full dedicated federal funding for quality, equal public education from pre-K through college.

Enact the DREAM Act and Student Adjustment Act to increase access to education for immigrants.

Increase Pell Grants. Repeal provisions that deny funds to students with drug convictions.

Social Safety Net

The Bush administration has slashed funding for human needs and
privatized services. The social safety net should be expanded and secured.

Extend unemployment compensation to include entire time without a job.

No privatization of Social Security or Medicare. Use the Social Security surplus to increase benefits instead of funding the Bush tax cuts and war in Iraq. Protect retirement funds.

Restore and expand the social safety net for women and children and victims of economic dislocation. Emergency measures to end child poverty.

Expand Section 8 and other affordable housing measures. Federal funding of construction and maintenance of housing for working class families.


END RACISM, DISCRIMINATION AND BIGOTRY – FOR FULL EQUALITY

The gap in equality of health care, education and employment has widened for African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian-Pacific Islanders. Immigrants, women and gays have been targeted. Winning equality is a vital interest for all working people.

Enforce and expand affirmative action to end racism and achieve equality in jobs, housing, health care, education (including university admissions), and all areas of life.

Outlaw racial profiling. Enact federal hate crime legislation.

Alternative sentencing for non-violent crimes. Abolish the death penalty.

Enact the SOLVE ACT (HR 4264/SB 238)to fulfill the goals of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride including a clear path to citizenship, equal rights on the job and civil liberties protections.

End the wage gap for women. Equal pay for equal work. Reject efforts to repeal Roe V. Wade which would restrict women’s reproductive rights.

Reject the Bush proposed Marriage amendment to the Constitution which would prohibit gay marriages. End discrimination because of sexual orientation.

PEACE AND FOREIGN POLICY

End the United States unnecessary and illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Hundreds of young soldiers have been killed, and thousands wounded, along with many thousands of Iraqi civilians, while giant military contractors reap financial benefit.

Bring the troops home from Iraq. US out, UN in. Full funding for veterans benefits. Support HR 690 for a full investigation into prison abuses in Iraq, especially at Abu Ghraib.

End the policy of pre-emptive war, war without end and world domination and occupation. Foreign policy based on cooperation and negotiations utilizing the United Nations.

Stop procurement and testing of nuclear weapons. Stop deployment of nuclear weapons to outer space.

End the harmful buildup of the military budget. Transfer funds to human needs.

Repeal NAFTA and negotiate enforceable labor and environmental rights into the body of all new agreements.

Support Department of Peace as cabinet level position.

Remove military recruiters from public schools and campuses. Require parental agreement before students names are given to the military.

End the policy of promoting regime change in Cuba, Venezuela and other countries. End support for repressive governments around the world.


PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT

The Bush administration’s “Healthy Forests” and “Clear Skies” initiatives only further pollute land and water and deplete our natural resources. The environment should not be destroyed for profits.

Protect our natural resources. Repeal the Healthy Forests and Clear Skies acts. Prosecute corporate polluters.

Develop renewable clean energy alternatives.

Support the Apollo Project of labor and environment organizations to create environmentally friendly jobs in transportation and infrastructure.

Enact energy price controls and public ownership with investment in renewable and sustainable energy.

Ratify the Kyoto Treaty.


DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

The large-scale disenfranchisement of African American voters and the stoppage of the vote count in Florida in 2000 was an assault on the integrity of the entire election. Extreme infringements to democratic rights have escalated during this administration. Democratic rights and civil liberties make our nation strong.

Repeal the USA Patriot Act, which limits constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech and dissent.

End appointments of right-wing, extremist judges to Federal Courts.

Funding for enforcement of the Voting Rights Act to ensure that no voters are denied their rights. Restoration of Voting Rights to ex-felons in every state. Same day voter registration to allow for the largest turnout.
Pass the Voter Confidence And Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 to require a verifiable paper trail for every electronic voting machine. (HR 2239)

Publically financed elections to take big money influence out of politics.

Expand opportunities for minority candidates by replacing the “winner take all” election system with Instant Runoff Voting and Proportional Representation which allow voters to rank candidates by choice and elect the candidate with the most overall support.

End monopoly control and censorship of the media.


TAX THE RICH

The Bush administration tax cuts to the rich forced a budget deficit and severe funding cuts to states, cities and towns for human needs and services. A fair tax system can provide the resources for strong communities and healthy families.

Repeal Bush tax cuts for the rich.

Restore tax rates on the rich and corporations to 1970 levels.

Restore and increase federal funding for human needs. Enact a refundable child tax credit.
_________________
Doc Ford
HMC (SW) USN

[cipher]

Geeze, doc!

You should know better than to post the Kerry Talking Points on this site by now.

Oh, wait. That's the Commies.

Never mind.
_________________
USMC 69-72, 7th Comm, 3rd MarDiv, FMFPAC
US Army 75-79, 97th Sig, SHAPE, NATO
Arkansas National Guard 79
Defense contractor for US Navy, SSPO, SP-20, SP-24, OP-12 84-92

[docford]

Wait, I may have made a mistake. Does Kerry have any position on any issue?
_________________
Doc Ford
HMC (SW) USN

[2ndamendsis]

somebody please explain this to me! I've been trying to figure out how one would accomplish this. Am I stupid?

[dusty]

I think the Bill of Rights is gone and just the foundation remains for them to build on. That must be what they mean.

Makes me wonder who's writing who's stuff.

Wake up America, the commies are coming. Hell what am I saying, the commies are here. Masters of deceit and mind control. Notice how they all snap on their 'talking points'. It's like they are all connected through telepathy or something.

Dusty

[God and Country]

I told a friend 30 years ago that the communist are coming to America, he said that is impossible. I asked him why? He said this is America.

Now 30 years later, we have communist in congress and all walks of life.

Today, I say traitor Kerry is a communist. Some would say that is impossible because this is America.

I just hate all communist pigs.

God bless America and President Bush.


_________________
Conservative and proud

[docford]