What We Look For
Our Initatives
Progress Americana searches for the candidates who best fit our vision of what America should be--an America with universal health care, strong cap-and-trade legislation, marriage rights for all Americans, strong regulation of financial institutions, partial amnesty for undocumented persons, withdrawing our military from Iraq and defeating al Qaeda in Afghanistan. To see detailed list of our policy initiatives, please continue reading below.
Health Care
In our current health care debate, right-wing, extremist demonstrations and Republican obstructionism have taken out much of the substance. We know that more than thirty million Americans are living right now without health insurance, and about twenty-five million Americans are underinsured. Health insurance providers are making record profits while they drop their customers based on pre-existing conditions and raise premiums. The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee basic, quality health insurance to all its citizens, and the time has long passed for our government to do so. In turn, Progress Americana supports candidates who believe in
- an individual mandate;
- an employer mandate for all businesses with revenues greater than $1 million;
- a national health insurance exchange where Americans can purchase any plan of their choosing;
- the prohibition of insurance companies' dropping customers based on pre-existing conditions; and
- federal subsidies for American individuals and families who have incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level.
Environment
One of the most neglected areas of mainstream political debate is the environment. As much as many would like to deny its existence, the effects of climate change are undeniable: the global temperature has increased one degree Celsius over the last century, increased irregularities in seasonal behavior, the melting of the Polar Ice Cap, and more. Energy independence, another element of the environmental debate, is not only an economic issue but a national security issue. America lacks the ability to meet its energy demands with its own oil, so it purchases oil from countries who may fund anti-American terrorist organizations. Research for and usage of renewable sources will lead to the creation of "green collar" jobs that will help our economy. We support candidates who believe in the following initiatives:
- the cap-and-trade legislation that effectively limits emissions of greenhouse gases;
- investment in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy;
- a reduction in emissions of 20% over the next decade;
- the creation of more than five million green collar jobs over the next decade;
- the inclusion of environmental provisions in current and future free trade agreements;
- funding that helps cities develop and/or enhance their mass transit systems.
Social Issues
There are many nuances to "social issues"--civil rights, rights to arms, the role of religion, etc. America is a sociallly and culturally diverse nation where many beliefs often either mesh well or collide, but we believe in certain basic rights that must be protected by our government, including
- two consenting adults' right to marry;
- protection from all forms of discrimination and crimes regardless of color, nationality, religion, sex, and sexual orientation;
- stronger regulations on the firearms;
- limited amnesty for undocumented persons; and
- re-evaluation of national education standards and standardized tests.
Economy
Our economy, ranked first in the world with a GDP of about $14 trillion, is the most vital part of America. Dynamic growth has the potential to move along all the boats in our society--those of wealthier, middle class, and less fortunate Americans. However, our economy, particularly the financial services industry, has gone on too long without regulations that would prevent excessive risk-taking, which would, in turn, put the whole economy at the brink of failure. Thus, Progress Americana supports
- the creation of a consumer protection agency that forces banks to provide more transparency and accountability;
- the providing of "plain vanilla" banking products, which allows customers to sign on to easy-to-understand and low-risk terms;
- forbidding predatory loan practices;
- de-centralization of banks such that no one bank will be "too big to fail";
- mandating a maximum debt to equity ratio that forces lower risks;
- passing a law similar to Glass-Steagall, which separates investment and commercial banks;
- prioritizing fair trade (trade with environmental and human rights standards, among others) over free trade;
- the Employee Free Choice Act; and
- repealing the parts of the Bush tax cuts applicable to wealthier Americans.
National Security
The shocking worldwide terrorist attacks at the beginning of the decade reminded us of the threats that exist against America and like-minded countries. In response, we are now mired in two wars with now-muddled objectives while we must protect ourselves at home. We believe in the following as the best ways to enhance homeland security:
- ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in a way that leaves both areas stable and secure;
- preventing Iran from getting nuclear weaponss;
- modification of Title II of the PATRIOT Act such that ordinary Americans' civil liberties would be protected; and
- proper allocation of funds to states and cities for national security purposes.
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