“Love is a great beautifier.” Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Our Party believes the Northeast can be a model for placing humanity at the center of how we create a society where everyone benefits, providing moral guidance where the United States falters in achieving these ideals. We aspire to a Northeast, and a United States, where the beauty of our common humanity can flourish and everyone’s dignity is respected and valued.
Human Rights & Necessities
Right to Health Care
We assert health and healthcare are human rights. We are committed to ensuring universal healthcare coverage for all. These rights have already been provided by the majority of other developed nations around the world, and are provided at a lower cost per patient than the United States is able to boast through its privatized system.
Our Party supports a transition to a single-payer healthcare system where the government would be responsible for both paying medical bills issued by doctors’ offices and bargaining with pharmaceutical companies over drug prices. This could save the United States billions in administrative costs alone, and other countries that bargain with pharmaceutical companies, such as Norway, have demonstrated that collectivizing purchasing power into a single hand can lower costs by thousands of dollars per dose for life-saving treatments. This move will lower the operating costs to hospitals and other treatment centers by millions, who will no longer need to pass those costs on to their patients. Furthermore, employers will not have to spend time and money managing their own health programs, while the employee’s single-payer coverage will follow them regardless of where they choose to work.
Right to Reproductive Safety and Care
Our Party additionally recognizes the unique requirements of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Our Party values an individual’s ability to make informed and personal decisions regarding reproductive health. We additionally believe the government can promote responsible reproductive and sexual health choices by ensuring access to education and resources.
Reproductive safety and care starts with a robust health education system that prioritizes factual and non-judgemental information sharing for all children. Our Party supports comprehensive and developmentally appropriate health education which addresses all facets of human sexuality including but not limited to contraception, STI prevention, sexual orientation, gender identity, and healthy relationships.
Given the profound cost associated with reproductive products, and given the profound impact sexually-transmitted diseases have had on our population in recent history, we support a universal provision of both such products to all those who need them. These products may include contraception--including barrier, long-acting, hormonal, and emergency methods--as well as preventative STI medications, at-home pregnancy testing, and menstrual products. The provision of these products can reduce the strain of poverty, improve health outcomes, reduce the transmission of STIs, and reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, even leading to the lowering of our national abortion rate.
Right to Build a Family
We believe that family building is a deeply personal and profound expression of optimism. The current costs and barriers associated with childraising are evidence that the United States has little interest in raising the next generation of leaders, scientists, artists, and laborers. Our Party would work to secure the needs of growing families, even before birth with a universal health system capable of supporting pregnant people with robust pre-natal care.
Upon the birth of the child, our Party supports the implementation of a family leave policy at the national level as currently the United States is one of the only high income countries in the world without such a policy. We support a parental leave duration of a full year immediately following the birth or adoption of a child during which time parents are compensated with a portion of their paycheck. We support a non-gendered family leave system similar to the one offered in Sweden. Under this system, both parents are guaranteed 90 days of infant caregiving, with the additional time available to be split as the parents see fit.
We support families in their return to work. As such, we would work to greatly expand access to affordable and high quality childcare. To accomplish this, we propose a partnership between private childcare facilities and the government, in which the government subsidizes childcare on a sliding scale.
Right to Sustenance
We believe that government must guarantee access to quality food and clean water in order to secure our people’s right to life. The YNP supports passing laws and creation of government programs that support people’s ability to meet their daily nutritional needs. Programs such as free breakfast/lunch in schools, public option grocery stores, and SNAP benefits serve to increase the individuals access to food. Additional reforms can be made to increase the availability of food including laws addressing food waste and low-income, low-access food areas. Furthermore, we affirm an individual's right to choose how to support their nutritional needs and to enjoy the food they eat. We reject nutritional assistance systems which place arbitrary limits on the food an individual can purchase by banning sweets, sugary drinks, or prepared foods.
Public Utilities
In the 21st century, necessary utilities such as electricity, water, and internet connectivity can no longer be treated as consumer commodities. The responsible and consistent delivery of these services is required for the livelihood of everyday people and not for the enrichment of the shareholder. We are committed to protecting and expanding public utilities wherever possible and expanding the government’s role in identifying, tracking, maintaining, and protecting the resources needed to sustainably support our population.
Right to Affordable Housing
Decisions on where and how to live are an individual’s expression of their dreams for the future. Our Party believes in an individual’s right to choose the living arrangement that best suits their needs. In today’s economy, that choice is increasingly out of reach for everyday citizens. Whether pursuing a rental or considering homeownership, consumers are priced out of the market. Therefore, our elected officials will direct housing authorities on all levels of government to create programs that support rental affordability and attainable paths to homeownership. We are particularly interested in policies that address underlying exclusionary sentiments such as addressing restrictive zoning policies, streamlining development approval processes, and improved housing voucher systems. Furthermore, we support policies which restrict private equity and corporate landlords from acquiring large swaths of residential properties and negatively impacting established communities.
Rights of the Unhoused
Individuals who shelter - whether by choice or by necessity - in a manner different from the established norm of home or apartment are no less deserving of self-determination and empathy. Our Party supports housing first policies, an evidence-based approach which prioritizes the individual’s need for housing before all other considerations. We reject housing support systems which place prerequisites and conditions upon the individual's ability to receive support.
We support an individual’s right to make their own decisions about how and where to live. We oppose legislation which criminalizes public camping. While we recognize the necessity of closing homeless encampments in some instances, we are steadfast in the belief that such closures should be done in collaboration with the individuals who reside in such areas and with respect for the communities they have built.
We assert health and healthcare are human rights. We are committed to ensuring universal healthcare coverage for all. These rights have already been provided by the majority of other developed nations around the world, and are provided at a lower cost per patient than the United States is able to boast through its privatized system.
Our Party supports a transition to a single-payer healthcare system where the government would be responsible for both paying medical bills issued by doctors’ offices and bargaining with pharmaceutical companies over drug prices. This could save the United States billions in administrative costs alone, and other countries that bargain with pharmaceutical companies, such as Norway, have demonstrated that collectivizing purchasing power into a single hand can lower costs by thousands of dollars per dose for life-saving treatments. This move will lower the operating costs to hospitals and other treatment centers by millions, who will no longer need to pass those costs on to their patients. Furthermore, employers will not have to spend time and money managing their own health programs, while the employee’s single-payer coverage will follow them regardless of where they choose to work.
Right to Reproductive Safety and Care
Our Party additionally recognizes the unique requirements of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Our Party values an individual’s ability to make informed and personal decisions regarding reproductive health. We additionally believe the government can promote responsible reproductive and sexual health choices by ensuring access to education and resources.
Reproductive safety and care starts with a robust health education system that prioritizes factual and non-judgemental information sharing for all children. Our Party supports comprehensive and developmentally appropriate health education which addresses all facets of human sexuality including but not limited to contraception, STI prevention, sexual orientation, gender identity, and healthy relationships.
Given the profound cost associated with reproductive products, and given the profound impact sexually-transmitted diseases have had on our population in recent history, we support a universal provision of both such products to all those who need them. These products may include contraception--including barrier, long-acting, hormonal, and emergency methods--as well as preventative STI medications, at-home pregnancy testing, and menstrual products. The provision of these products can reduce the strain of poverty, improve health outcomes, reduce the transmission of STIs, and reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, even leading to the lowering of our national abortion rate.
Right to Build a Family
We believe that family building is a deeply personal and profound expression of optimism. The current costs and barriers associated with childraising are evidence that the United States has little interest in raising the next generation of leaders, scientists, artists, and laborers. Our Party would work to secure the needs of growing families, even before birth with a universal health system capable of supporting pregnant people with robust pre-natal care.
Upon the birth of the child, our Party supports the implementation of a family leave policy at the national level as currently the United States is one of the only high income countries in the world without such a policy. We support a parental leave duration of a full year immediately following the birth or adoption of a child during which time parents are compensated with a portion of their paycheck. We support a non-gendered family leave system similar to the one offered in Sweden. Under this system, both parents are guaranteed 90 days of infant caregiving, with the additional time available to be split as the parents see fit.
We support families in their return to work. As such, we would work to greatly expand access to affordable and high quality childcare. To accomplish this, we propose a partnership between private childcare facilities and the government, in which the government subsidizes childcare on a sliding scale.
Right to Sustenance
We believe that government must guarantee access to quality food and clean water in order to secure our people’s right to life. The YNP supports passing laws and creation of government programs that support people’s ability to meet their daily nutritional needs. Programs such as free breakfast/lunch in schools, public option grocery stores, and SNAP benefits serve to increase the individuals access to food. Additional reforms can be made to increase the availability of food including laws addressing food waste and low-income, low-access food areas. Furthermore, we affirm an individual's right to choose how to support their nutritional needs and to enjoy the food they eat. We reject nutritional assistance systems which place arbitrary limits on the food an individual can purchase by banning sweets, sugary drinks, or prepared foods.
Public Utilities
In the 21st century, necessary utilities such as electricity, water, and internet connectivity can no longer be treated as consumer commodities. The responsible and consistent delivery of these services is required for the livelihood of everyday people and not for the enrichment of the shareholder. We are committed to protecting and expanding public utilities wherever possible and expanding the government’s role in identifying, tracking, maintaining, and protecting the resources needed to sustainably support our population.
Right to Affordable Housing
Decisions on where and how to live are an individual’s expression of their dreams for the future. Our Party believes in an individual’s right to choose the living arrangement that best suits their needs. In today’s economy, that choice is increasingly out of reach for everyday citizens. Whether pursuing a rental or considering homeownership, consumers are priced out of the market. Therefore, our elected officials will direct housing authorities on all levels of government to create programs that support rental affordability and attainable paths to homeownership. We are particularly interested in policies that address underlying exclusionary sentiments such as addressing restrictive zoning policies, streamlining development approval processes, and improved housing voucher systems. Furthermore, we support policies which restrict private equity and corporate landlords from acquiring large swaths of residential properties and negatively impacting established communities.
Rights of the Unhoused
Individuals who shelter - whether by choice or by necessity - in a manner different from the established norm of home or apartment are no less deserving of self-determination and empathy. Our Party supports housing first policies, an evidence-based approach which prioritizes the individual’s need for housing before all other considerations. We reject housing support systems which place prerequisites and conditions upon the individual's ability to receive support.
We support an individual’s right to make their own decisions about how and where to live. We oppose legislation which criminalizes public camping. While we recognize the necessity of closing homeless encampments in some instances, we are steadfast in the belief that such closures should be done in collaboration with the individuals who reside in such areas and with respect for the communities they have built.
Economic Mobility & Security
Economic Bill of Rights
In 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt outlined what has come to be known as an “Economic Bill of Rights,” and challenged Congress to ensure these rights. We believe wholeheartedly in FDR’s proposal, and we believe that the rights he outlined are not only important to the welfare of our people and a free society, but we believe they are moral imperatives. Our elected officials will work to get an Economic Bill of Rights adopted.
Unionization
We believe the workers of our country have a right to seek the best and most favorable conditions in the workplace. While unions have, historically, been loosely protected by law, we believe our Constitution needs to specifically ensure the right to unionize. Our Party will encourage all employees, public and private, to unionize in an effort to better their places of work and their own quality of life.
Modern Working Conditions
The 20th century brought us the 40-hour work week, and we believe that societal standards should keep pace with technological advancements. We propose the government facilitate a shift to a 32-hour work week in both the public and private sectors. A strong work-life balance not only offers more opportunity for the pursuit of happiness, it creates more efficient and stress-free workers to provide services to their communities.
Universal Basic Income
Corporations in the United States have worked hard to increase profit margins at quite literally any cost. The endless pursuit of automation, and now artificial intelligence, are eliminating jobs from the workplace at such a rate that we must act to mitigate damage to our communities.
In an effort to ensure that all may thrive and live their best lives in our country, we believe all basic necessities should be guaranteed by the government. To guarantee this while keeping the government’s footprint as small as possible, we propose the implementation of a universal basic income–a monthly stipend given to all residents regardless of age or other factor.
This basic income would ease, if not completely resolve, the cost burden of necessary goods, in turn giving individuals a greater opportunity to pursue personal growth such as education, community building, and other forms of innovation. We will help facilitate local and state governments to pilot these programs to determine their feasibility on different levels of government and help determine whether or not this is a policy we wish to implement in the long-term as a nation.
Desegregating Communities
We support the right of people to live where they work, and believe unequal housing opportunity is a major factor perpetuating segregation in many of our communities. Racial and income segregation persists in the Northeast, Boston being an area experiencing this issue with particular intensity. This is perpetuated largely by local zoning laws which effectively prevent lower-income families, as well as people of color, from accessing housing in many would-be-exclusive communities.
One crucial part of this solution falls to the states to create fair-share housing laws. Legislation which reduces the ability of communities to crush proposed affordable housing developments if less than 10% of the housing stock in the community is affordable may be a path forward. Contrary to popular belief, such legislation does not entail the end of all local control, but if maintaining the character of a community means preventing low income families and people of color from accessing the high-quality schools and opportunities provided there, fundamental change is necessary. Even in our most progressive communities, we must not be afraid to call out segregation where it exists, and to try and remedy this fundamental societal ill.
Desegregating Schools
A result of segregated communities is segregated schools and classrooms. We believe one of the best ways to fight bigotry and expand economic opportunity is to ensure that our children grow up in an environment that is diverse, tolerant, integrated, and loving, and we believe working to desegregate classrooms is a crucial step in achieving this end.
We believe children deserve equitable access to the same resources, and subsequently propose centralizing education funds at the state level and distributing them to school systems equally per enrolled pupil. We oppose school choice programs which serve only to divert public school funding into charter, private, and selective magnet schools. This will ensure that students will not be left behind and it will help to provide a more equitable experience for all.
Eliminating Regressive Taxation
Regressive taxes are those that disproportionately impact individuals with lower incomes; these include property taxes, flat sales taxes, and payroll taxes. In some states, like Connecticut, the lowest 20% of income earners (less than $25,600 per year) pay 7.3% of the property taxes in the state while the top 1% of income earners (making over $1.3 million per year) contribute only 1.4%. Progressive taxes are designed to account for income and wealth in a way that guarantees the top 1% wealthiest pay their fair share in taxes. We will abolish regressive taxes in our states and towns and seek to replace revenue streams with progressive taxes, lifting the burden off of people in need and asking more from people who have abundance.
Free Public College and Trade School
We believe that our citizens have a right to education so that they may hold jobs of their choosing and feel empowered to engage with the world-at-large. In the modern era, most jobs require either a college degree or a good amount of technical training in a specific field; a high school diploma alone is no longer sufficient. Our Party supports guaranteeing all citizens the right to attend institutions of higher learning free of charge.
In 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt outlined what has come to be known as an “Economic Bill of Rights,” and challenged Congress to ensure these rights. We believe wholeheartedly in FDR’s proposal, and we believe that the rights he outlined are not only important to the welfare of our people and a free society, but we believe they are moral imperatives. Our elected officials will work to get an Economic Bill of Rights adopted.
Unionization
We believe the workers of our country have a right to seek the best and most favorable conditions in the workplace. While unions have, historically, been loosely protected by law, we believe our Constitution needs to specifically ensure the right to unionize. Our Party will encourage all employees, public and private, to unionize in an effort to better their places of work and their own quality of life.
Modern Working Conditions
The 20th century brought us the 40-hour work week, and we believe that societal standards should keep pace with technological advancements. We propose the government facilitate a shift to a 32-hour work week in both the public and private sectors. A strong work-life balance not only offers more opportunity for the pursuit of happiness, it creates more efficient and stress-free workers to provide services to their communities.
Universal Basic Income
Corporations in the United States have worked hard to increase profit margins at quite literally any cost. The endless pursuit of automation, and now artificial intelligence, are eliminating jobs from the workplace at such a rate that we must act to mitigate damage to our communities.
In an effort to ensure that all may thrive and live their best lives in our country, we believe all basic necessities should be guaranteed by the government. To guarantee this while keeping the government’s footprint as small as possible, we propose the implementation of a universal basic income–a monthly stipend given to all residents regardless of age or other factor.
This basic income would ease, if not completely resolve, the cost burden of necessary goods, in turn giving individuals a greater opportunity to pursue personal growth such as education, community building, and other forms of innovation. We will help facilitate local and state governments to pilot these programs to determine their feasibility on different levels of government and help determine whether or not this is a policy we wish to implement in the long-term as a nation.
Desegregating Communities
We support the right of people to live where they work, and believe unequal housing opportunity is a major factor perpetuating segregation in many of our communities. Racial and income segregation persists in the Northeast, Boston being an area experiencing this issue with particular intensity. This is perpetuated largely by local zoning laws which effectively prevent lower-income families, as well as people of color, from accessing housing in many would-be-exclusive communities.
One crucial part of this solution falls to the states to create fair-share housing laws. Legislation which reduces the ability of communities to crush proposed affordable housing developments if less than 10% of the housing stock in the community is affordable may be a path forward. Contrary to popular belief, such legislation does not entail the end of all local control, but if maintaining the character of a community means preventing low income families and people of color from accessing the high-quality schools and opportunities provided there, fundamental change is necessary. Even in our most progressive communities, we must not be afraid to call out segregation where it exists, and to try and remedy this fundamental societal ill.
Desegregating Schools
A result of segregated communities is segregated schools and classrooms. We believe one of the best ways to fight bigotry and expand economic opportunity is to ensure that our children grow up in an environment that is diverse, tolerant, integrated, and loving, and we believe working to desegregate classrooms is a crucial step in achieving this end.
We believe children deserve equitable access to the same resources, and subsequently propose centralizing education funds at the state level and distributing them to school systems equally per enrolled pupil. We oppose school choice programs which serve only to divert public school funding into charter, private, and selective magnet schools. This will ensure that students will not be left behind and it will help to provide a more equitable experience for all.
Eliminating Regressive Taxation
Regressive taxes are those that disproportionately impact individuals with lower incomes; these include property taxes, flat sales taxes, and payroll taxes. In some states, like Connecticut, the lowest 20% of income earners (less than $25,600 per year) pay 7.3% of the property taxes in the state while the top 1% of income earners (making over $1.3 million per year) contribute only 1.4%. Progressive taxes are designed to account for income and wealth in a way that guarantees the top 1% wealthiest pay their fair share in taxes. We will abolish regressive taxes in our states and towns and seek to replace revenue streams with progressive taxes, lifting the burden off of people in need and asking more from people who have abundance.
Free Public College and Trade School
We believe that our citizens have a right to education so that they may hold jobs of their choosing and feel empowered to engage with the world-at-large. In the modern era, most jobs require either a college degree or a good amount of technical training in a specific field; a high school diploma alone is no longer sufficient. Our Party supports guaranteeing all citizens the right to attend institutions of higher learning free of charge.
Law & Justice
Rehabilitative and Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice is the practice of working to rehabilitate criminal offenders by helping them to understand the harm their actions caused others and the community-at-large. This is a movement away from retributive justice, which seeks to punish offenders in equal measure to the crime they committed. We believe society has a responsibility to help offenders understand their wrongs and work to rehabilitate them rather than condemn them to extended periods of imprisonment. Wherever possible, our Party will advocate for criminal justice policies which prioritize growth of the individual, dignity of the victim, and restoration of the community at large. Our Party will work to abolish the death penalty, eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and increase prisoner access to education and rehabilitative services.
Policing Reform
We support a reform of modern law enforcement to focus on keeping the peace and serving the people. We know our local police departments are better prepared to face the issues of the day when they are supported by social workers, a working healthcare system, and policies that keep people out of poverty. To that end, we support a significant decrease in funding for initiatives which serve only to militarize our police such as the purchase of armored vehicles, firearms, crowd control devices, and surveillance. We propose reallocating those funds to areas that prevent violence in the first place, such as mental health facilities, social workers, universal healthcare, or housing. We support civilian oversight boards to monitor and encourage the monitoring of local departments by the communities they serve. Finally, we expect that all public officials, including police officers, be held to the highest of standards and will work to enact procedures which ensure that those officers who break the law are accountable.
Immigration Enforcement Reform
We believe ICE has become the foremost example of the federal government’s tendency to violate civil liberties. They frequently operate under the color of law without abiding by those laws. We believe the commonly cited police reforms are not enough. The organization needs to be uprooted and countered. We support laws that both protect people's rights and restrict ICE’s actions. These include bills like “New York for All” and “Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered.”
Decriminalization of Substance Use
America’s “War on Drugs” has by and large been a movement to incarcerate people of color, particularly Black and Hispanic Americans. It is a crusade against our country’s minorities under the guise of a legitimate protection operation, and has done very little to solve the crisis of substance abuse. Outlawing drugs has criminalized too many individuals and crowded our jails. Interdiction, foreign and domestic, has been ineffective in stemming the flow of drugs. The U.S. Government has immorally used the drug war to justify foreign military intervention. The time has come to put an end to these draconian practices.
We call for the immediate decriminalization of cannabis possession, distribution, and use, and call for pardons to be issued for all individuals that are or have been incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses. Our elected officials will advocate for medical and recreational marijana to be legalized and regulated, using taxes gained from the sale of such products for education, prevention, and treatment efforts related to substance abuse disorder.
We call for a decriminalization of substance use and possession for all substances. Violent and destructive actions, as well as actions taken to sell and distribute harmful substances, can and should be policed separately from the use of the substance itself.
Abolishing Human Trafficking
We condemn the institution of human trafficking in the harshest possible terms. This includes all forms of human trafficking. Whether it be trafficking of children or adults, for labor or for sexual exploitation, trafficking of any form directly violates our Party’s values. Our Party calls on the federal, state, and even local governments to help educate the public about the countless individuals trafficked today, and to redouble efforts to break up trafficking rings at home and abroad.
Restorative Justice is the practice of working to rehabilitate criminal offenders by helping them to understand the harm their actions caused others and the community-at-large. This is a movement away from retributive justice, which seeks to punish offenders in equal measure to the crime they committed. We believe society has a responsibility to help offenders understand their wrongs and work to rehabilitate them rather than condemn them to extended periods of imprisonment. Wherever possible, our Party will advocate for criminal justice policies which prioritize growth of the individual, dignity of the victim, and restoration of the community at large. Our Party will work to abolish the death penalty, eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and increase prisoner access to education and rehabilitative services.
Policing Reform
We support a reform of modern law enforcement to focus on keeping the peace and serving the people. We know our local police departments are better prepared to face the issues of the day when they are supported by social workers, a working healthcare system, and policies that keep people out of poverty. To that end, we support a significant decrease in funding for initiatives which serve only to militarize our police such as the purchase of armored vehicles, firearms, crowd control devices, and surveillance. We propose reallocating those funds to areas that prevent violence in the first place, such as mental health facilities, social workers, universal healthcare, or housing. We support civilian oversight boards to monitor and encourage the monitoring of local departments by the communities they serve. Finally, we expect that all public officials, including police officers, be held to the highest of standards and will work to enact procedures which ensure that those officers who break the law are accountable.
Immigration Enforcement Reform
We believe ICE has become the foremost example of the federal government’s tendency to violate civil liberties. They frequently operate under the color of law without abiding by those laws. We believe the commonly cited police reforms are not enough. The organization needs to be uprooted and countered. We support laws that both protect people's rights and restrict ICE’s actions. These include bills like “New York for All” and “Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered.”
Decriminalization of Substance Use
America’s “War on Drugs” has by and large been a movement to incarcerate people of color, particularly Black and Hispanic Americans. It is a crusade against our country’s minorities under the guise of a legitimate protection operation, and has done very little to solve the crisis of substance abuse. Outlawing drugs has criminalized too many individuals and crowded our jails. Interdiction, foreign and domestic, has been ineffective in stemming the flow of drugs. The U.S. Government has immorally used the drug war to justify foreign military intervention. The time has come to put an end to these draconian practices.
We call for the immediate decriminalization of cannabis possession, distribution, and use, and call for pardons to be issued for all individuals that are or have been incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses. Our elected officials will advocate for medical and recreational marijana to be legalized and regulated, using taxes gained from the sale of such products for education, prevention, and treatment efforts related to substance abuse disorder.
We call for a decriminalization of substance use and possession for all substances. Violent and destructive actions, as well as actions taken to sell and distribute harmful substances, can and should be policed separately from the use of the substance itself.
Abolishing Human Trafficking
We condemn the institution of human trafficking in the harshest possible terms. This includes all forms of human trafficking. Whether it be trafficking of children or adults, for labor or for sexual exploitation, trafficking of any form directly violates our Party’s values. Our Party calls on the federal, state, and even local governments to help educate the public about the countless individuals trafficked today, and to redouble efforts to break up trafficking rings at home and abroad.
Peace & International Relations
Right to Peace
At home and abroad, we believe wholeheartedly that all human beings have a right to live peaceful lives free from threat of violence. To that end, we are an anti-war Party.
We understand the best way to ensure peace is to cultivate robust diplomatic relationships with other countries and to stand resolutely against violations of international law. We will always stand with those that support democracy against the aggressive nature of tyrannical nations and actors and be prepared to defend ourselves, but we do this in the interest of maintaining peace, not entering and exiting conflicts around the globe.
Free Haven
Refugees are those who flee their home country because of violence and war - wars often instigated by the United States or an agent thereof. Individuals who possess “refugee” status have a reasonable belief they will be harmed or persecuted if returned to their home country. It is our moral obligation to do whatever it takes to see that these displaced refugees are cared and provided for. We stand in support of streamlining our refugee application process to ensure those in need can enter the country and receive aid in a timely manner. We will work to support refugees as they come to the Northeast so that they are able to transition into their new life here easily and become a productive part of the local economy. Our willingness to accept outside thinking is not only something that’s made America great, but has often preserved the very existence of our country.
Responsibility to Protect
The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is a global political commitment endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit in order to address its four key concerns of preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.
The doctrine is regarded as a unanimous and well-established international norm over the past two decades, yet the United States has wielded its power in the international community to allow and, in some cases, even encourage genocide, war crimes, and other prohibited and morally bankrupt activities in other countries. Our Party condemns these atrocities in the strongest terms and stands with the international community that would take decisive action to end such crimes from being committed. Our nation would commit its military, economy, and general administration to ending such atrocities around the world in collaboration with other nations. We support the Responsibility to Protect doctrine and call for the United States to adhere to it immediately.
Revoking Permanent Veto Status
At the United Nations, the United States and four other countries were given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and, in turn, have permanent veto power on actions of the Security Council. We reject the notion that any one country has more of a right to decide the course of world events than another. We assert that this power has led to the outsized influence of these five countries, allowing for the prioritization of their own interests over the needs of the wider international community. Our elected officials would move to build consensus within the United Nations to amend the agency’s charter to revoke this power.
Combating White Supremacy, Fascism, & Extremism
The authoritarian right is resurgent across the world, and many appear to forget the horrors of fascism experienced by previous generations.. We have not forgotten, and we will not be complacent. We must do more to combat all hateful progress, and take steps to address white supremacy, Nazi ideology, Christian nationalism, and the crusade against transgender people.
Restricting Overseas Military Activity
The United States Congress has not voted to approve a war since 1942. . Since then, each military action taken has been done at the President’s discretion or upon passage of an “authorization for the use of military force” by Congress The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, but it says no such thing about authorizing a level of military force outside of that declaration. We feel that the power of Congress has been usurped by war-hawks in Washington. We call for the immediate cessation of all US hostilities overseas. We demand that the right to levy a foreign invasion force be more strictly limited and support the passing of legislative action to better define overseas use of military force outside of declarations of war.
Ending Nuclear Proliferation
Nuclear proliferation around the world is a threat to the survival of our species, and, in a world where we aim to promote peace and human rights, we believe there is no need for nuclear arms. Our elected officials will not only work to stop nuclear proliferation around the world, but they will work to dismantle the stockpile in the United States for all time.
At home and abroad, we believe wholeheartedly that all human beings have a right to live peaceful lives free from threat of violence. To that end, we are an anti-war Party.
We understand the best way to ensure peace is to cultivate robust diplomatic relationships with other countries and to stand resolutely against violations of international law. We will always stand with those that support democracy against the aggressive nature of tyrannical nations and actors and be prepared to defend ourselves, but we do this in the interest of maintaining peace, not entering and exiting conflicts around the globe.
Free Haven
Refugees are those who flee their home country because of violence and war - wars often instigated by the United States or an agent thereof. Individuals who possess “refugee” status have a reasonable belief they will be harmed or persecuted if returned to their home country. It is our moral obligation to do whatever it takes to see that these displaced refugees are cared and provided for. We stand in support of streamlining our refugee application process to ensure those in need can enter the country and receive aid in a timely manner. We will work to support refugees as they come to the Northeast so that they are able to transition into their new life here easily and become a productive part of the local economy. Our willingness to accept outside thinking is not only something that’s made America great, but has often preserved the very existence of our country.
Responsibility to Protect
The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is a global political commitment endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit in order to address its four key concerns of preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.
The doctrine is regarded as a unanimous and well-established international norm over the past two decades, yet the United States has wielded its power in the international community to allow and, in some cases, even encourage genocide, war crimes, and other prohibited and morally bankrupt activities in other countries. Our Party condemns these atrocities in the strongest terms and stands with the international community that would take decisive action to end such crimes from being committed. Our nation would commit its military, economy, and general administration to ending such atrocities around the world in collaboration with other nations. We support the Responsibility to Protect doctrine and call for the United States to adhere to it immediately.
Revoking Permanent Veto Status
At the United Nations, the United States and four other countries were given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and, in turn, have permanent veto power on actions of the Security Council. We reject the notion that any one country has more of a right to decide the course of world events than another. We assert that this power has led to the outsized influence of these five countries, allowing for the prioritization of their own interests over the needs of the wider international community. Our elected officials would move to build consensus within the United Nations to amend the agency’s charter to revoke this power.
Combating White Supremacy, Fascism, & Extremism
The authoritarian right is resurgent across the world, and many appear to forget the horrors of fascism experienced by previous generations.. We have not forgotten, and we will not be complacent. We must do more to combat all hateful progress, and take steps to address white supremacy, Nazi ideology, Christian nationalism, and the crusade against transgender people.
Restricting Overseas Military Activity
The United States Congress has not voted to approve a war since 1942. . Since then, each military action taken has been done at the President’s discretion or upon passage of an “authorization for the use of military force” by Congress The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, but it says no such thing about authorizing a level of military force outside of that declaration. We feel that the power of Congress has been usurped by war-hawks in Washington. We call for the immediate cessation of all US hostilities overseas. We demand that the right to levy a foreign invasion force be more strictly limited and support the passing of legislative action to better define overseas use of military force outside of declarations of war.
Ending Nuclear Proliferation
Nuclear proliferation around the world is a threat to the survival of our species, and, in a world where we aim to promote peace and human rights, we believe there is no need for nuclear arms. Our elected officials will not only work to stop nuclear proliferation around the world, but they will work to dismantle the stockpile in the United States for all time.
Faith & Culture
Separation of Church & State
Our Party stands with America’s root of religious freedom, as well as the stipulation that any and all religion must be kept out of government. We believe the freedom to practice one’s religion, and to form community with those who share that religion free from fear of harm, is a basic right. We recognize the harm being done in our government by the far right under the guise of “Christian values”, notably including transphobia, racism, misogyny, and homophobia.
While we support the ability of congregations and religious groups to speak out on policy issues related to their values, we reject any action by the government to exempt houses of worship and religious organizations from the Johnson Amendment, which clearly prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing partisan political candidates for public office. We further reject any government action taken which appears to favor one faith system over another.
Freedom of Culture
Our Party believes the ultimate goal of any society is to provide for its citizens in such a way that they can enjoy the world and all its offerings to the fullest. In government, we will strive to provide all the basic essentials one needs to be able to more thoroughly appreciate life.
We believe cultural family traditions should not only be permitted, but should be celebrated. Local governments can devote time, space, and funds to uplift the diverse languages, holidays, fashions, and art forms present in their communities. Immigration has made the Northeast strong, and we embrace all those who wish to seek the Northeast as a place to make their home in peace.
Supporting the Arts
Freedom of artistic expression is a fundamental right; it is a key element in empowering communities and promoting a celebration of culture and diversity. Artists can create in ways that foster healthy, non-alienating relationships between people and their daily environments, communities, and the earth. As a government, our elected officials will invest in the arts and ensure that our nation remains a place of artistic creation and celebration.
The people of other modernized countries have long enjoyed affordable access to art and culture, and we feel that our country should have the same opportunity. We support creating a subsidy program, in the style of those seen in England and France, to lower admission prices to theatrical performances, museums, concert halls, and more. We believe that the arts are an integral part of a holistic education, and we support expansion of art programs in public schools.
We will fight against laws to censor artists and encourage community-funded programs, employing local artists to enrich communities through public art programs. We will incorporate arts education studies and activities into every school curriculum with appropriate funding and staffing. We also encourage local artists and the community to contribute time, experience, and resources to these efforts.
Our Party stands with America’s root of religious freedom, as well as the stipulation that any and all religion must be kept out of government. We believe the freedom to practice one’s religion, and to form community with those who share that religion free from fear of harm, is a basic right. We recognize the harm being done in our government by the far right under the guise of “Christian values”, notably including transphobia, racism, misogyny, and homophobia.
While we support the ability of congregations and religious groups to speak out on policy issues related to their values, we reject any action by the government to exempt houses of worship and religious organizations from the Johnson Amendment, which clearly prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing partisan political candidates for public office. We further reject any government action taken which appears to favor one faith system over another.
Freedom of Culture
Our Party believes the ultimate goal of any society is to provide for its citizens in such a way that they can enjoy the world and all its offerings to the fullest. In government, we will strive to provide all the basic essentials one needs to be able to more thoroughly appreciate life.
We believe cultural family traditions should not only be permitted, but should be celebrated. Local governments can devote time, space, and funds to uplift the diverse languages, holidays, fashions, and art forms present in their communities. Immigration has made the Northeast strong, and we embrace all those who wish to seek the Northeast as a place to make their home in peace.
Supporting the Arts
Freedom of artistic expression is a fundamental right; it is a key element in empowering communities and promoting a celebration of culture and diversity. Artists can create in ways that foster healthy, non-alienating relationships between people and their daily environments, communities, and the earth. As a government, our elected officials will invest in the arts and ensure that our nation remains a place of artistic creation and celebration.
The people of other modernized countries have long enjoyed affordable access to art and culture, and we feel that our country should have the same opportunity. We support creating a subsidy program, in the style of those seen in England and France, to lower admission prices to theatrical performances, museums, concert halls, and more. We believe that the arts are an integral part of a holistic education, and we support expansion of art programs in public schools.
We will fight against laws to censor artists and encourage community-funded programs, employing local artists to enrich communities through public art programs. We will incorporate arts education studies and activities into every school curriculum with appropriate funding and staffing. We also encourage local artists and the community to contribute time, experience, and resources to these efforts.
