“I believe there is a subtle magnetism in nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us alright.” -Henry David Thoreau
The Northeast is a region with a unique geography and a variety of resources at our disposal for the flourishing of our democracy and the exercise of our self-determination. Because of our historical role in economic and human development, from the work of our indigenous peoples to the Industrial Revolution, the development of the knowledge economy, and beyond, we have a unique responsibility at the present moment to create and demonstrate a model for ethical and equitable flourishing of our society. At the present moment, our region, as well as the US in general, have become symbols of mass consumption and waste, but our Party aspires to far greater ends. More than just simply enforcing greater environmental standards, we aspire for a more responsible stewardship of our potential for a more just region.
Sustainable Environment
Carbon Neutrality
Our Party fully accepts the overwhelming evidence scientists have presented demonstrating that our globe’s climate is changing, largely as a result of human activity and carbon emissions. We will develop a comprehensive plan to eliminate our region's reliance on fossil fuels. We know for certain that a reduction of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere can help to stabilize the earth’s natural systems as we have come to know them over the past several thousand years of human history. The time has come to put away debate and to take decisive action to achieve total carbon neutrality in a reasonable timeframe. To achieve this end, we will invest heavily in renewable resources, explore the possibility of installing more solar technologies on our roadways and buildings, invest in more green infrastructure, and study and utilize new carbon sequestration technologies. Our Party supports the exploration of all non-fossil fuel energy technologies, including peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
Climate Resilience
The Northeast needs holistic solutions that address the legacy of environmental damage and its ongoing effects with respect to climate change. Our coastal and lowland communities cannot manage hurricane devastation alone, nor can our towns and cities be left to deal with floods and drought on their own. We must strive to create more resilient communities that are capable of handling disasters in real time. To achieve this end, we will invest heavily in assisting waterfront communities in mitigating erosion and mass-flooding, incentivize drought-resistant agricultural practices, and support wildlife revitalization efforts.
Biodiversity
Sustaining unique ecosystems and biodiversity, ensuring they thrive in balance and harmony, is not only a moral obligation, but also of paramount importance to the survival and betterment of humanity and ecology alike. Beyond the obvious benefits that biodiversity can offer our planet’s ecosystems, humanity also relies on a multitude of other organisms for the development of new food, medicine, and other technological breakthroughs. We do not yet know what endless possibilities may still await our discovery as we continue to research different species, but we do know that our options become increasingly more and more limited as species go extinct. We will work to protect biodiversity through the preservation of ecosystems, the protection of aquatic resources, and decreasing demand on resources whose harvest harms habitats.
Agriculture
We call for the development and expansion of sustainable agricultural practices in both rural and urban communities as a focal point not only for establishing food sovereignty, but as a support for revitalizing community life. To that end, our Party supports enacting policy that will promote eco-friendly, efficient farming practices. We will seek to support small farms and protect the individual’s right to farm as a means of creating sustenance for themselves. We call for the further expansion of agriculture into urban areas through vertical and hydroponic farming, empowerment of indigenous peoples to develop their food sovereignty, and ensuring those who wish to sustainably farm are protected and encouraged.
Prioritizing Local Knowledge
The Northeast is more than just a collection of natural environments, but also a mosaic of inter-connected communities of all types. Prior attempts by governments and organizations to implement standardized solutions on all environments did not take into account unique peculiarities of each area. The results have been obvious for all to see, whether it be reduced diversity of species, increased levels of pollution, and communities under increased stress from natural disasters and temperature extremes. Our Party believes in a Northeast where local knowledge of our environmental challenges combine with best practices to equip us with the tools to best serve our communities and preserve the biodiverse ecosystems which make the Northeast so beautiful. Every community has an identity, a history, and culture that is cherished and celebrated, and we affirm the right of all communities to develop sustainable practices to ensure future generations thrive. Local knowledge is valuable in addressing specific needs and circumstances otherwise not understood, and is vital in helping bring our environment back into a sustainable balance.
Our Party fully accepts the overwhelming evidence scientists have presented demonstrating that our globe’s climate is changing, largely as a result of human activity and carbon emissions. We will develop a comprehensive plan to eliminate our region's reliance on fossil fuels. We know for certain that a reduction of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere can help to stabilize the earth’s natural systems as we have come to know them over the past several thousand years of human history. The time has come to put away debate and to take decisive action to achieve total carbon neutrality in a reasonable timeframe. To achieve this end, we will invest heavily in renewable resources, explore the possibility of installing more solar technologies on our roadways and buildings, invest in more green infrastructure, and study and utilize new carbon sequestration technologies. Our Party supports the exploration of all non-fossil fuel energy technologies, including peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
Climate Resilience
The Northeast needs holistic solutions that address the legacy of environmental damage and its ongoing effects with respect to climate change. Our coastal and lowland communities cannot manage hurricane devastation alone, nor can our towns and cities be left to deal with floods and drought on their own. We must strive to create more resilient communities that are capable of handling disasters in real time. To achieve this end, we will invest heavily in assisting waterfront communities in mitigating erosion and mass-flooding, incentivize drought-resistant agricultural practices, and support wildlife revitalization efforts.
Biodiversity
Sustaining unique ecosystems and biodiversity, ensuring they thrive in balance and harmony, is not only a moral obligation, but also of paramount importance to the survival and betterment of humanity and ecology alike. Beyond the obvious benefits that biodiversity can offer our planet’s ecosystems, humanity also relies on a multitude of other organisms for the development of new food, medicine, and other technological breakthroughs. We do not yet know what endless possibilities may still await our discovery as we continue to research different species, but we do know that our options become increasingly more and more limited as species go extinct. We will work to protect biodiversity through the preservation of ecosystems, the protection of aquatic resources, and decreasing demand on resources whose harvest harms habitats.
Agriculture
We call for the development and expansion of sustainable agricultural practices in both rural and urban communities as a focal point not only for establishing food sovereignty, but as a support for revitalizing community life. To that end, our Party supports enacting policy that will promote eco-friendly, efficient farming practices. We will seek to support small farms and protect the individual’s right to farm as a means of creating sustenance for themselves. We call for the further expansion of agriculture into urban areas through vertical and hydroponic farming, empowerment of indigenous peoples to develop their food sovereignty, and ensuring those who wish to sustainably farm are protected and encouraged.
Prioritizing Local Knowledge
The Northeast is more than just a collection of natural environments, but also a mosaic of inter-connected communities of all types. Prior attempts by governments and organizations to implement standardized solutions on all environments did not take into account unique peculiarities of each area. The results have been obvious for all to see, whether it be reduced diversity of species, increased levels of pollution, and communities under increased stress from natural disasters and temperature extremes. Our Party believes in a Northeast where local knowledge of our environmental challenges combine with best practices to equip us with the tools to best serve our communities and preserve the biodiverse ecosystems which make the Northeast so beautiful. Every community has an identity, a history, and culture that is cherished and celebrated, and we affirm the right of all communities to develop sustainable practices to ensure future generations thrive. Local knowledge is valuable in addressing specific needs and circumstances otherwise not understood, and is vital in helping bring our environment back into a sustainable balance.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Investing in the Circular Economy
Our Party believes that sustainable business practices are an important part of ensuring our environment is resilient and sustainable. We advocate for business practices and standards that create a circular economy, where products are designed in a sustainable manner, recycled materials are used, products are designed for longevity and durability, and we minimize the use of additional resources and toxic and harmful materials. We advocate for an economy that allows for the regeneration of resources so as to ensure mutual benefit. We also advocate for business practices that minimize the harm done to species diversity and encourage the rehabilitation of environments where past harmful practices have destroyed ecosystems and habitats.
Producer-Responsible Recycling
We support utilizing extended producer recycling (EPR) as a means of enforcing greater environmental standards on all purchased products and packaging. EPR is a legal requirement dictating that the producers of any product are financially responsible for the disposal of that produced material. This change in our recycling system would encourage production companies to create items that are more easily recyclable and it encourages a total decreased use in packaging, ultimately leading to a more eco-friendly marketplace.
Our Party believes that sustainable business practices are an important part of ensuring our environment is resilient and sustainable. We advocate for business practices and standards that create a circular economy, where products are designed in a sustainable manner, recycled materials are used, products are designed for longevity and durability, and we minimize the use of additional resources and toxic and harmful materials. We advocate for an economy that allows for the regeneration of resources so as to ensure mutual benefit. We also advocate for business practices that minimize the harm done to species diversity and encourage the rehabilitation of environments where past harmful practices have destroyed ecosystems and habitats.
Producer-Responsible Recycling
We support utilizing extended producer recycling (EPR) as a means of enforcing greater environmental standards on all purchased products and packaging. EPR is a legal requirement dictating that the producers of any product are financially responsible for the disposal of that produced material. This change in our recycling system would encourage production companies to create items that are more easily recyclable and it encourages a total decreased use in packaging, ultimately leading to a more eco-friendly marketplace.
Infrastructure & Transportation
Regional Infrastructure Cooperation
Although our region was among the pioneers in developing modern infrastructure as we know it, today we have an aging and vulnerable system functioning on autopilot rather than continuous renewal and improvement. Our Party believes in the creation of people-centric infrastructure that enhances our autonomy as a nation while ensuring the resources needed to sustainably support our population are available. We advocate for cooperation among states and communities for full use of the latest technological advances in infrastructure resilience and renewable energy development. Aging and obsolete infrastructure should be replaced with newer systems that allow both for decentralized networks and “smart grids” within our public utilities to ensure fair and efficient access to our resources. We call for developing an infrastructure replacement and expansion program that will help better connect our more rural communities.
Integrated, Multi-Modal Public Transportation
The present state of the Northeast’s public transit system is not one that is conducive to people exercising their fundamental rights to travel and mobility. Rural and urban areas alike do not have access to a network that is clean, safe, convenient, and runs frequently to any destination. Our Party believes there is potential for improving our existing transportation network, and how access to the system is designed, to create a better and more sustainable system that achieves the best of human creativity and community development. We call for a shift in focus on transit at the community, state, and regional levels, both to encourage more financially sustainable development and to return funds back to our communities. As an alternative to current planning models that prioritize certain modes over others, we propose an integrated, multi-modal public transportation system. This type of system ensures that all types of transportation, whether rail, busses, or ferries, are integrated which allows riders to seamlessly transition between transportation systems as needed . This will entail a high degree of coordination and fare integration between states and transit agencies and a high degree of investment in our transit networks, in order to ensure we have the system we need to realize everyone’s full potential.
Renewing Our Railways
Among the modes of transportation that form part of the integrated system, our Party takes note of the recent revival towards rejuvenating our railways. Our freight and passenger railway systems form an important link connecting communities, as well as linking together other modes we want to form part of the network. We call for enhanced improvements and expansion of our commuter and inter-city passenger railway services and reforms to our freight systems to ensure a complementary relationship in terms of scheduling and worker safety. This includes the expansion of rural routes, development of rapid transit networks, and a comprehensive assessment of repair and reconstruction needs.
Complementary Transit Modes
Our Party believes no one should be forced to choose one form of transportation over another, but that all form an equal part of the system we want. The goal is to meet people where they are and ensure they remain connected to their communities and throughout the Northeast as a whole. For example, in very rural areas, the Essential Air Service program could be enhanced to provide fast transit options and improved to include environmentally-friendly technology. Where transit options are currently limited, access may be enhanced through locally provided door to door services and even improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Overall, our Party believes in a Northeast where transportation is not a competition between prioritizing certain modes over others but as a holistic and comprehensive network of arteries that advance sustainable development of our communities, environment, and infrastructure.
Although our region was among the pioneers in developing modern infrastructure as we know it, today we have an aging and vulnerable system functioning on autopilot rather than continuous renewal and improvement. Our Party believes in the creation of people-centric infrastructure that enhances our autonomy as a nation while ensuring the resources needed to sustainably support our population are available. We advocate for cooperation among states and communities for full use of the latest technological advances in infrastructure resilience and renewable energy development. Aging and obsolete infrastructure should be replaced with newer systems that allow both for decentralized networks and “smart grids” within our public utilities to ensure fair and efficient access to our resources. We call for developing an infrastructure replacement and expansion program that will help better connect our more rural communities.
Integrated, Multi-Modal Public Transportation
The present state of the Northeast’s public transit system is not one that is conducive to people exercising their fundamental rights to travel and mobility. Rural and urban areas alike do not have access to a network that is clean, safe, convenient, and runs frequently to any destination. Our Party believes there is potential for improving our existing transportation network, and how access to the system is designed, to create a better and more sustainable system that achieves the best of human creativity and community development. We call for a shift in focus on transit at the community, state, and regional levels, both to encourage more financially sustainable development and to return funds back to our communities. As an alternative to current planning models that prioritize certain modes over others, we propose an integrated, multi-modal public transportation system. This type of system ensures that all types of transportation, whether rail, busses, or ferries, are integrated which allows riders to seamlessly transition between transportation systems as needed . This will entail a high degree of coordination and fare integration between states and transit agencies and a high degree of investment in our transit networks, in order to ensure we have the system we need to realize everyone’s full potential.
Renewing Our Railways
Among the modes of transportation that form part of the integrated system, our Party takes note of the recent revival towards rejuvenating our railways. Our freight and passenger railway systems form an important link connecting communities, as well as linking together other modes we want to form part of the network. We call for enhanced improvements and expansion of our commuter and inter-city passenger railway services and reforms to our freight systems to ensure a complementary relationship in terms of scheduling and worker safety. This includes the expansion of rural routes, development of rapid transit networks, and a comprehensive assessment of repair and reconstruction needs.
Complementary Transit Modes
Our Party believes no one should be forced to choose one form of transportation over another, but that all form an equal part of the system we want. The goal is to meet people where they are and ensure they remain connected to their communities and throughout the Northeast as a whole. For example, in very rural areas, the Essential Air Service program could be enhanced to provide fast transit options and improved to include environmentally-friendly technology. Where transit options are currently limited, access may be enhanced through locally provided door to door services and even improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Overall, our Party believes in a Northeast where transportation is not a competition between prioritizing certain modes over others but as a holistic and comprehensive network of arteries that advance sustainable development of our communities, environment, and infrastructure.
Technology
Research and Funding
Developing technology that achieves our goals for sustainable resource use at all levels, as well as programs and policies that ensure we realize the society our Party wants, requires a considerable amount of research to plan and put into practice. Creating the environment and infrastructure for research into beneficial, sustainable, and ethical uses of technology, and new technological advances, is of utmost importance. We advocate for subsidizing a public system of civilian research that seeks to place technology at the service to society. We will look to provide grants to state agencies and non-profit organizations that seek to conduct research and develop products that will be given over to the public domain upon completion. Our Party will advocate for redirecting funding from the military-industrial complex and predatory private business towards research for the benefit of all citizens rather than unsustainable uses that cause worldwide harm.
Space Exploration
In 1961, the first human being went to space. While we have made progress in the realm of space technology since that time, we have not put those advances to good or practical use in many decades. Our Party advocates for increasing funding for further scientific exploration of our solar system and what lies beyond, and generally supports efforts to sustainably manage the resources of other celestial bodies within our solar system. We support the demilitarization and strictly peaceful use of space as part of our commitment to seeing outer space as the common legacy of the whole of humanity.
Automation Tax
In order to account for the income tax that is lost every year to jobs replaced by AI and other automation processes, we support enacting an automation tax. This is a tax that would be levied against employers to make up for the amount of income tax lost in the aforementioned way to ensure that the government can continue to provide for its residents even after jobs are lost to a changing economy. Our Party will not tolerate technological advancement which reduces the dignity and labor power of the working public.
Corporate Carbon Taxation
Our Party is one that values the earth and our limited natural resources very greatly. We propose enacting a steep carbon tax on businesses and other organizations that disproportionately consume more carbon fuels on an annual basis. This will both protect ourselves from climate change and increase funding to combat the consequences of it.
Developing technology that achieves our goals for sustainable resource use at all levels, as well as programs and policies that ensure we realize the society our Party wants, requires a considerable amount of research to plan and put into practice. Creating the environment and infrastructure for research into beneficial, sustainable, and ethical uses of technology, and new technological advances, is of utmost importance. We advocate for subsidizing a public system of civilian research that seeks to place technology at the service to society. We will look to provide grants to state agencies and non-profit organizations that seek to conduct research and develop products that will be given over to the public domain upon completion. Our Party will advocate for redirecting funding from the military-industrial complex and predatory private business towards research for the benefit of all citizens rather than unsustainable uses that cause worldwide harm.
Space Exploration
In 1961, the first human being went to space. While we have made progress in the realm of space technology since that time, we have not put those advances to good or practical use in many decades. Our Party advocates for increasing funding for further scientific exploration of our solar system and what lies beyond, and generally supports efforts to sustainably manage the resources of other celestial bodies within our solar system. We support the demilitarization and strictly peaceful use of space as part of our commitment to seeing outer space as the common legacy of the whole of humanity.
Automation Tax
In order to account for the income tax that is lost every year to jobs replaced by AI and other automation processes, we support enacting an automation tax. This is a tax that would be levied against employers to make up for the amount of income tax lost in the aforementioned way to ensure that the government can continue to provide for its residents even after jobs are lost to a changing economy. Our Party will not tolerate technological advancement which reduces the dignity and labor power of the working public.
Corporate Carbon Taxation
Our Party is one that values the earth and our limited natural resources very greatly. We propose enacting a steep carbon tax on businesses and other organizations that disproportionately consume more carbon fuels on an annual basis. This will both protect ourselves from climate change and increase funding to combat the consequences of it.
