What would an ideal progressive policy platform look like? We spend a lot of time talking about framing and defining the party, but I tried to come up with specific policy proposals. Here are some ideas organized in three parts in order of importance. The first step is to restore democracy (election reform, campaign finance reform, media reform), until we do that, we are not going to have an honest debate. Next we can turn to restoring the middle class (Education, Health Care, Economy), and then we can work on quality of life issues (Environment, National Security, Personal Freedom). Let me know what you think.
Step 1. Reclaim Democracy
A. Campaign Finance and Election Reform
Public Financing of Elections
Free Use of Public Airwaves for campaigns
Set number and format for debates
Eliminate campaign contributions from corporations
$250 limit on individual contributions
Abolish electoral college
Instant Runoff Voting for congressional seats
Voter verified paper trails
Use computers for redistricting to end gerrymandering
B. Media Reform
Institute strict limits on ownership
Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine
Tax broadcasters for use of airwaves, use funds for endowment for public media
allow more low-watt broadcasters
C. End Corporate Control
Eliminate campaign contributions from corporations
No federal contracts for corporations with offshore tax havens or multiple felonies
End revolving door between lobbyists and Congress
Strict limits on mergers
Strengthen the SEC
Step 2. Restore the Middle Class
A. Education Bill of Rights
Maximimum limits on class size
Increased funding for teachers, teacher certification, and teacher training
Repair of school buildings ($127 billion)
Internet and technology enhanced classrooms
Remove disparity between inner city and suburban schools
Support federal funding and local control
Fully fund head start
B. Health Care
Institute single payer Health care independent of employers
Use government purchasing power to limit drug prices
C. Economic Opportunity
Repeal Bush tax cuts
Simple Progressive Income Tax
Institute a living wage
Protection for unionization and whistle-blowers
Fair trade policies
Restore Fiscal Discipline
Step 3. Protect American Quality of Life
A. Environmental Protection
Remove subsidies for extractive industries,
Tax incentives for green energy and products
Charge producers for cost of disposal of their products
Tax incentives to slow urban sprawl
B. National security
Audit military- realign for current threats and eliminate waste and fraud
Be honest broker of peace in Mideast
Increase Foreign aid
Support Democracies not Corporations
Revoke Preemption Doctrine
Support nuclear disarmament and protect Russian nukes
C. Protect Personal Freedom
Revoke sections of PATRIOT Act
Revoke Mandatory sentencing