My Major Issues

By Howard Beeman

My Major Issues

Healthcare and Education: I will vote to reverse President Bush's tax cut, which mostly benefited corporations and the wealthiest Americans. I propose that we use the saved funds to pave the way to universal health care for every American. We can also use the money to establish a superpower-class education system that includes programs for an equal start, and funding through college.

Helping Our Elders: I will be a leader in the fight to keep Social Security as retirement insurance, and I will support a truly affordable prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Supporting Labor: We must empower our Unions to negotiate a fair wage for the working class, and I support raising the minimum wage to ensure a decent living for working families. Constitutional Rights: The War Against Drugs and Homeland Security initiatives threaten to undermine our Constitutional rights. I will protect against further erosion of these rights, such as our right to bear arms, our right to due process, our right to equal treatment, and our right to privacy.

America's Foreign Policy: Our foreign policy needs a vigorous change of direction from the last 20 years. We are now the undisputed Great Power, and should use our international might to make life better for the billions of people around the globe living in misery. This will do more to undermine terrorism than all the bombs and missiles at our disposal.

Saving Our Water: Water as a market commodity is not acceptable. Those who wish to control the water supply make bogus scientific claims and predictions about underground storage. Polluters of our precious water must be made to pay for making contaminated groundwater safe (such as in Rancho Cordova).

Women's Rights: Women, if they choose, should have access to safe, affordable abortion services. Women and men around the world must have access to birth control education and methods. We must guarantee pregnant women comprehensive prenatal services, and the birthing experience of their choosing.

Protecting Our Environment: We need to preserve our Natural Resources for the benefit of future generations. Our finest soils must be designated for agriculture and wildlife for perpetuity. We must learn to live within our ecological limits, and we must never lose our capacity to feed ourselves. I will work to increase housing density around our public transportation to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

Energy Policy: It is time to eliminate all nuclear weapons and the nuclear industry. I want to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and convert ASAP to Hydrogen. I will work to increase our public investment in solar and other renewable resources, and push conservation. I will fight to ensure that both water and energy remain in public ownership, allocated through public utilities, not owned by investors out to maximize profits.