“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine
We assert the right of all people to participate in the government which oversees their lives.. We reject the march towards authoritarianism accepted by the two major parties. We believe that it is clear that the United States has lost this same commitment to democratic principles; we stand ready to reinstate them in our government if elected.
Voting Rights & Political Equality
Right to Democracy
Our country was founded on the notion that, if our government fails to fulfil its duties, it is our right and obligation to resist and reform their government. This right must be exercised, fought for, and defended at all costs, and we assert that portions of our country have the right to pursue that right outside the Union if the Union fails to adhere to democratic institutions and principles.
Promotion of Democracy in Other Countries
We believe the people across the globe have a fundamental right to democracy. We condemn any electioneering by the United States government in foreign elections, and we condemn the United States’ past actions to overthrow legitimately elected leaders. We believe that the United States has abused the privilege of having powerful military and intelligence agencies operating overseas and has wreaked havoc on the international system as a result. Our government officials will not interfere with overseas affairs unless they threaten the peace of our nation or its allies, or if help in stabilizing free and fair elections is sought by the current government of the country in question.
Equal Districting Processes
In cases where lines are drawn for the purposes of establishing legislative districts, both on the state and national level, we insist that fair processes be used to determine where the lines fall. We will not tolerate gerrymandering for the purposes of political gain by any one party, and we denounce the practice.
Electoral College Reform
We call for the abolishment of the Electoral College and a re-work of the House of Representatives. The Senate already functions to ensure each state has a say, there is no reason for states to also be guaranteed additional House seats and disproportionate say in the election of one official. If our least populous state is to be guaranteed a House Representative, then each Representative should only represent roughly the number of citizens residing in that least-populous state
Proportional Representation
It is not enough to aim to represent people who live in a given geographic region; we must follow in the footsteps of other developed nations and provide a diverse representation of ideas. We call for changes, up to and including a Constitutional amendment, that will allow local, state, regional, and federal elections to adhere to proportional representation, where voters are able to vote for a party who most closely aligns with their views the percentage of votes attributed to that party will equal the percentage of seats that party obtains within the given legislative body. Proportional representation will ensure that all members of our society feel like their views and opinions are well represented within their legislature, whereas currently our legislatures are designed to only reflect two basic points of view.
Ranked-Choice Voting
In our current first-past-the-post system of voting, a 3-way race could result in someone being elected with as little as 34% of the vote. This two-party system causes minor parties to be perceived as harmful to the overall race, subsequently squashing any opportunity for nuance outside this system. Thus, this system of voting not only allows for candidates to be elected without a mandate of the majority, it also forces the country to think of each election as a two-sided fight, with any third-party insurgency as only causing harm to one of those two major parties whose umbrellas are far too wide to truly represent everyone in their camp.
Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) ensures that the candidate with the greatest level of support always wins, and it allows for people to vote for third-party candidates without fear of “spoiling” any election. RCV is compatible with Proportional Representation, and we will seek for both to be enacted in tandem. RCV is the next step we must take to ensure our democracy remains true and valid. We have all been witnesses to the level of dysfunction first-past-the-post voting has brought to Washington, and we will not stand for it any longer.
Our country was founded on the notion that, if our government fails to fulfil its duties, it is our right and obligation to resist and reform their government. This right must be exercised, fought for, and defended at all costs, and we assert that portions of our country have the right to pursue that right outside the Union if the Union fails to adhere to democratic institutions and principles.
Promotion of Democracy in Other Countries
We believe the people across the globe have a fundamental right to democracy. We condemn any electioneering by the United States government in foreign elections, and we condemn the United States’ past actions to overthrow legitimately elected leaders. We believe that the United States has abused the privilege of having powerful military and intelligence agencies operating overseas and has wreaked havoc on the international system as a result. Our government officials will not interfere with overseas affairs unless they threaten the peace of our nation or its allies, or if help in stabilizing free and fair elections is sought by the current government of the country in question.
Equal Districting Processes
In cases where lines are drawn for the purposes of establishing legislative districts, both on the state and national level, we insist that fair processes be used to determine where the lines fall. We will not tolerate gerrymandering for the purposes of political gain by any one party, and we denounce the practice.
Electoral College Reform
We call for the abolishment of the Electoral College and a re-work of the House of Representatives. The Senate already functions to ensure each state has a say, there is no reason for states to also be guaranteed additional House seats and disproportionate say in the election of one official. If our least populous state is to be guaranteed a House Representative, then each Representative should only represent roughly the number of citizens residing in that least-populous state
Proportional Representation
It is not enough to aim to represent people who live in a given geographic region; we must follow in the footsteps of other developed nations and provide a diverse representation of ideas. We call for changes, up to and including a Constitutional amendment, that will allow local, state, regional, and federal elections to adhere to proportional representation, where voters are able to vote for a party who most closely aligns with their views the percentage of votes attributed to that party will equal the percentage of seats that party obtains within the given legislative body. Proportional representation will ensure that all members of our society feel like their views and opinions are well represented within their legislature, whereas currently our legislatures are designed to only reflect two basic points of view.
Ranked-Choice Voting
In our current first-past-the-post system of voting, a 3-way race could result in someone being elected with as little as 34% of the vote. This two-party system causes minor parties to be perceived as harmful to the overall race, subsequently squashing any opportunity for nuance outside this system. Thus, this system of voting not only allows for candidates to be elected without a mandate of the majority, it also forces the country to think of each election as a two-sided fight, with any third-party insurgency as only causing harm to one of those two major parties whose umbrellas are far too wide to truly represent everyone in their camp.
Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) ensures that the candidate with the greatest level of support always wins, and it allows for people to vote for third-party candidates without fear of “spoiling” any election. RCV is compatible with Proportional Representation, and we will seek for both to be enacted in tandem. RCV is the next step we must take to ensure our democracy remains true and valid. We have all been witnesses to the level of dysfunction first-past-the-post voting has brought to Washington, and we will not stand for it any longer.
Freedom of Information
Right to Speech & Expression
The right to free speech must be protected at all costs, now more than ever. We will always uphold the 1st Amendment rights of every citizen, even those that stand in opposition to us, and will never threaten individuals who speak in opposition to our viewpoints, ideology, or government.
Media Reform
Everyone has the fundamental right to information, education, and civic engagement that is universally accessible, regardless of frontiers, through a healthy, pluralistic, and independent media environment dedicated to public service. The present state of journalism and the media, threatened by changes that service the algorithm rather than the citizen, and by consolidation leading to fewer voices being heard, is currently not an ideal situation for ensuring the media functions in its proper roles.
Consistent with our beliefs in strengthening the protection of freedom of speech, the press, and of expression, we believe good, evidence-based, public-interest journalism should be supported and encouraged at the community and regional levels, where diverse perspectives can be expressed within reason and engagement with the community fostered. We also propose a comprehensive restructuring and overhaul of the present media landscape so as to support the creation of new media outlets at the local and regional levels, support existing independent broadcasters and media outlets to develop their full potential, upgrade our telecommunications system to encourage all outlets are accessible to everyone regardless of technological and geographic barriers, and the development and expansion of a comprehensive system of public and community media outlets serving as content hubs for New England and the wider Northeastern region.
Public & Community Media
Public and community media, when fully functioning within a public service-oriented media environment that encompasses public and private elements, provides an important resource that goes far beyond the existing marginal role our media environment assigns them. Fostering the artistic and creative talents of our residents, encouraging fresh perspectives, providing reliable news and information, and educating and engaging citizens about society are among the many functions public and community media does best. While acknowledging the achievements of National Public Radio, the Public Broadcasting Service, the Independent Television Service, and numerous community radio and public-access television stations in advancing the cause of public and community media in the United States, we also believe the system can be expanded at the local and regional levels to include new voices and talents and move from the margins to the center of community life. Existing public and community media outlets within our region should cooperate more fully with each other just as we encourage regional cooperation and integration among our states.
The right to free speech must be protected at all costs, now more than ever. We will always uphold the 1st Amendment rights of every citizen, even those that stand in opposition to us, and will never threaten individuals who speak in opposition to our viewpoints, ideology, or government.
Media Reform
Everyone has the fundamental right to information, education, and civic engagement that is universally accessible, regardless of frontiers, through a healthy, pluralistic, and independent media environment dedicated to public service. The present state of journalism and the media, threatened by changes that service the algorithm rather than the citizen, and by consolidation leading to fewer voices being heard, is currently not an ideal situation for ensuring the media functions in its proper roles.
Consistent with our beliefs in strengthening the protection of freedom of speech, the press, and of expression, we believe good, evidence-based, public-interest journalism should be supported and encouraged at the community and regional levels, where diverse perspectives can be expressed within reason and engagement with the community fostered. We also propose a comprehensive restructuring and overhaul of the present media landscape so as to support the creation of new media outlets at the local and regional levels, support existing independent broadcasters and media outlets to develop their full potential, upgrade our telecommunications system to encourage all outlets are accessible to everyone regardless of technological and geographic barriers, and the development and expansion of a comprehensive system of public and community media outlets serving as content hubs for New England and the wider Northeastern region.
Public & Community Media
Public and community media, when fully functioning within a public service-oriented media environment that encompasses public and private elements, provides an important resource that goes far beyond the existing marginal role our media environment assigns them. Fostering the artistic and creative talents of our residents, encouraging fresh perspectives, providing reliable news and information, and educating and engaging citizens about society are among the many functions public and community media does best. While acknowledging the achievements of National Public Radio, the Public Broadcasting Service, the Independent Television Service, and numerous community radio and public-access television stations in advancing the cause of public and community media in the United States, we also believe the system can be expanded at the local and regional levels to include new voices and talents and move from the margins to the center of community life. Existing public and community media outlets within our region should cooperate more fully with each other just as we encourage regional cooperation and integration among our states.
Voting Accessibility
Digital Citizenship
Secure, effective digital citizenship allows citizens to confidently vote, pay taxes, renew driver’s licenses, apply for a business license, view vital records, or check on the status of applications for unemployment benefits, without having to travel long distances or stand in line at an office during business hours.
While recognizing the challenges to digital citizenship, we support the digitization of many important government services on a regional basis. Paramount to achieving this goal is a coordinated effort amongst the Northeastern states to ensure every citizen has access to a reliable, high-speed internet connection. This would unlock opportunities for digital civic participation in many forms. This type of initiative has enjoyed great success in countries where it has been implemented, and a gradual transition to a digital-hybrid citizenship could be achieved in New England as well.
Expanded Voting Opportunities
The people of our country deserve better than to be told that they only have 14 hours to vote. We support making Election Day a national holiday, allowing for early voting, same-day voter registration, affidavit/provisional ballots, and no-excuse absentee voting. The right to choose one’s own destiny is perhaps the most sacred opportunity we have as sentient beings, and we will fight fiercely to ensure that the right to vote is protected and expanded.
Secure, effective digital citizenship allows citizens to confidently vote, pay taxes, renew driver’s licenses, apply for a business license, view vital records, or check on the status of applications for unemployment benefits, without having to travel long distances or stand in line at an office during business hours.
While recognizing the challenges to digital citizenship, we support the digitization of many important government services on a regional basis. Paramount to achieving this goal is a coordinated effort amongst the Northeastern states to ensure every citizen has access to a reliable, high-speed internet connection. This would unlock opportunities for digital civic participation in many forms. This type of initiative has enjoyed great success in countries where it has been implemented, and a gradual transition to a digital-hybrid citizenship could be achieved in New England as well.
Expanded Voting Opportunities
The people of our country deserve better than to be told that they only have 14 hours to vote. We support making Election Day a national holiday, allowing for early voting, same-day voter registration, affidavit/provisional ballots, and no-excuse absentee voting. The right to choose one’s own destiny is perhaps the most sacred opportunity we have as sentient beings, and we will fight fiercely to ensure that the right to vote is protected and expanded.
