************************* Action Alert
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Please read and endorse this agenda. Please forward to possible supporters.
Send Endorsement and/or Comments to:
Karen Dolan or John Cavanagh
Institute for Policy Studies
733 15th St. NW, Suite 1020
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 234-9382, ext 228
Fax: (202) 387-7915
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The "Progressive Challenge" Continues
Fairness Agenda for America
For more information :
The full document can be found at: http://www.cnypeaceaction.com/agenda.htm
Dear Friends:
We ask that you take a few minutes to read the enclosed summary of the
"Fairness Agenda for America," drafted by several dozen progressive
organizations. There is an accompanying 11 page document which articulates
positions put forth by the progressive Challenge Working groups in
Washington, DC. These represent but one of many supporting positions for
each agenda item. You will find the complete text of the agenda at
www.cnypeaceaction/agenda.htm Please plan to join us when hundreds of other
citizen leaders present a final version of the Agenda to Congress at a
conference in Washington, DC at the beginning of the year. Please send us
the form at the bottom of this message by October 30th to offer comments
and to indicate your endorsement. We seek endorsements from organizations,
or, if you cannot sign on as an organization, by a leader of the
organization. The form indicates to what you are agreeing by signing on.
(And, yes, you are endorsing a draft of the Agenda; we are not anticipating
major changes and we will send a final copy to you before the launch).
The Fairness Agenda grows out of a process that began in January when some
40 progressive organizations collaborated to co-sponsor weekly "Progressive
Challenge" briefing sessions with Members of the Congressional Progressive
Caucus and their staffers. At least 40 more organizations have
participated in various ways. Topics have included defense and
intelligence issues , jobs and wages, social security, welfare reform,
civil rights, corporate responsibility, health care reform, campaign
finance reform, tax policy, international trade, globalization, sustainable
communities and other issues. Working groups have grown out of these
sessions aimed at building broader educational and advocacy campaigns.
These working groups have drafted much of the Fairness Agenda.
Thank you. We look forward to your comments and to working with you on
this exciting endeavor!
The Progressive Challenge
A FAIRNESS AGENDA FOR AMERICA: Executive Summary
PRINCIPLES:
*Dignified Work *Environmental Justice *Economic Redistribution *Democratic
Participation *Community Empowerment *Global Non-Violence *Social Justice,
including Racial and Gender Justice
Our challenge for the 21st century is to provide economic security for all,
reverse entrenched discrimination, achieve a sustainable use of both human
and environmental resources and build a society that values and embraces
all its members. Towards this end, dozens of progressive organizations
have joined forces with the Congressional Progressive Caucus to launch a
series of dialogues and working groups entitles "The Progressive
Challenge." A centerpiece of this effort has been the drafting of the
following 8-point "Fairness Agenda for America." Goals
1. Enact a Fairness Budget for America
America's abundant resources must be used to build a decent society. We
propose cutting military spending and corporate giveaways and reinstating
progressive taxation, while redirecting revenues to invest in human
resources, such as schools and health clinics, and in infrastructure, such
as mass transit.
2. Ensure Jobs, Living Wages, Benefits and Worker Rights for All
Our nation depends on a vigorous, creative and innovative workforce that is
assured basic rights. We propose government job creation in areas of high
unemployment, laws requiring profitable companies to compensate workers and
communities affected by job cuts, elimination of tax breaks for companies
that provide excessive executive compensation, and stronger protections
against labor rights violations and all forms of discrimination.
3. Fight for Equality for All
Despite recent progress, widespread discrimination, wage gaps by sex and
race, and de facto segregation still exist. Two means of addressing these
problems include sufficient funding for agencies that administer
anti-discrimination laws and reinforcing affirmative action, while
exploring the integration of class-based criteria into such programs.
4. Promote a Just and Sustainable Economy
Free trade agreements and World Bank/IMF structural adjustment programs
have increased inequalities at home and abroad. We propose an
international dialogue to develop an alternative trade and development
initiative that encompasses the protection of worker and women's rights,
environmental standards, and food security, and tackles the issues of
immigration and the need to reduce inequalities.
5. Support Demilitarization, Human Rights & a New Internationalism
We propose: cutting the defense budget; negotiating with Russia to
eliminate nuclear weapons; shifting R&D priorities towards pressing
domestic needs; stopping NATO expansion; ending subsidies for arms
exporters; banning covert operations; shifting from unilateral military,
aid, and peacekeeping missions abroad to multilateral responses; and
promoting real human rights abroad, which include economic, social, and
cultural rights.
6. Guarantee Sustainable Communities & Environmental Justice
The federal government has given states and localities more
responsibilities without more power or money. We propose: distribution of
more no-strings federal funds, especially to poor communities; revisions in
trade agreements to allow communities to enact strong environmental and
labor laws; and re-targeting federal insurance, subsidies, and loans for
community development. On environmental justice, we propose: promoting the
right to a clean environment and replacing subsidies for polluters with
subsidies for ecologically sound products and services.
7. Provide Adequate Social Investment
We propose: preserving social security and protecting it from
privatization, remaking economic security structures to address the needs
of the poor, expanding Medicare eligibility to people of all ages and
income, creating a bill of rights to protect health care consumers,
increasing funds for low-income housing assistance, and providing adequate
funding for quality public education.
8. Get Private Money out of Politics
Public outrage is increasing over the abuse of loopholes, systematic
influence peddling, and political favors granted to special interests. We
support initiatives to limit campaign spending, prohibit private campaign
contributions to candidates, eliminate the need for fundraising, provide a
financially level playing field, and tighten loopholes.
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______YES! We Endorse the 7 Principles that guide the Agenda, and we
endorse the 8 items in their GENERAL form, with the understanding that
there may be differing positions on the particularities.
Name of Organization______________________________________
Address_________________________________________________
Contact_____________
Phone/Fax__________
E-mail________________________________
Comments:
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