Today, we live in the richest country in the history of the world, but that reality means little because much of that wealth is controlled by a tiny handful of individuals. To address income inequality, we support living wages and insist that the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share in taxes. We must work to fundamentally restructure our society to one that is cooperative, democratic, and sustainable, and to build a world in which everyone’s needs are met. 

We must ensure that all Americans are guaranteed an effective right to vote, and that every vote is counted. We reject all attempts at voter suppression and uphold the necessity of integrity when it comes to vote counts.   

We must reject corporate constitutional rights, including rejecting the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United and other related cases, and move to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.   

Healthcare is a human right. We must guarantee universal healthcare by enacting a single-payer healthcare system, as well as lowering the price for prescription drugs. Furthermore, we must protect reproductive rights and expand access to reproductive care and services.      

We acknowledge that nature has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles. And we – the people – have the moral authority and responsibility to enforce these rights on behalf of ecosystems. Humboldt County and California must be leaders in keeping this planet habitable for our children and grandchildren. We must rebuild our crumbling infrastructure to transform our energy system away from polluting fossil fuels, and toward energy efficiency and sustainability. We must also plan and act now to adapt to the impacts of climate change locally.      

We must demilitarize our police forces, support strong and well-resourced civilian oversight of police, especially of investigations into alleged officer misconduct, and ensure public access to police camera footage. We must dismantle the prison industrial complex by banning for-profit prisons, turning back from the War on Drugs, eliminating mandatory minimums, and improving reintegration services, mental health care and substance abuse treatment.      

No human being is illegal – we support the full human rights of our undocumented friends and neighbors. Inhumane deportations must be stopped by closing down private detention centers, offering humane treatment and asylum to victims of violence and minors fleeing from dangerous circumstances. We must do everything we can to keep families together and support DACA students. Sanctuary cities are vitally needed, with non-cooperation with ICE as a critical component. We support a legalization law as the most sensible and humane way forward.      

We need to support union organizing in both the public and private sectors. We should make it easier for all Americans to join unions and collectively bargain for better wages and benefits. “Right to work” policies take away rights from working people and must be opposed. Prevailing wage laws benefit blue-collar workers and their communities. Increasing union jobs helps to reduce income and wealth inequality and rebuild the middle class.      

Free, quality public education forms the bedrock of democracy, economic mobility and social justice. We support strong preschool through high school public schools and free tuition at public colleges.      

A racial equity lens must center our approaches, guiding all our strategies to erase damaging social inequities. We support Black Lives Matter and similar movements working toward truly eradicating racism and view them as the modern day continuation of the Civil Rights movement. We support Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination and the sovereignty of Native nations.