------------------------------------ THE SOCIALIST PARTY of Connecticut strives to establish a radical democracy that places people's lives under their own control - a non-racist, classless, feminist socialist society...where working people own and control the means of production and distribution through democratically-controlled public agencies; where full employment is realized for everyone who wants to work; where workers have the right to form unions freely, and to strike and engage in other forms of job actions; and where the production of society is used for the benefit of all humanity, not for the private profit of a few. We believe socialism and democracy are one and indivisible. The working class is in a key and central position to fight back against the ruling capitalist class and its power. The working class is the major force worldwide that can lead the way to a socialist future - to a real radical democracy from below. The Socialist Party fights for progressive changes compatible with a socialist future. We support militant working class struggles and electoral action, independent of the capitalist controlled two-party system, to present socialist alternatives. We strive for democratic revolutions - radical and fundamental changes in the structure and quality of economic, political, and personal relations - to abolish the power now exercised by the few who control great wealth and the government. The Socialist Party is a democratic, multi-tendency organization, with structure and practices visible and accessible to all......................................................... ......------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- PLATFORM OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY (abbreviated) ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------- The Socialist Party stands for the abolition of every form of domination and exploitation, whether based on social class, gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.We are committed to the transformation of capitalism through the creation of a democratic socialist society based on compassion, empathy, and respect as well as the development of new social structures. Socialism will establish a new social and economic order in which workers and community members will take responsibility for and control of their interpersonal relationships, their neighborhoods, their local government, and the production and distribution of all goods and services.For these reasons we call for social ownership and democratic control of productive resources, for a guarantee to all of the right to participate in societal production, and to a fair share of society's product, in accordance with individual needs.As we pursue a socialist transformation of society, we join with others in making radical demands on the existing system: demands that challenge the basic assumptions of a capitalist market economy while pointing the way to a new society. Although reforms will not in themselves bring about socialism, the fight for them will advance the cause by demonstrating the inherent limitations and injustice of the capitalist system. As we build the socialist movement, we organize around a platform committed to our common and interdependent struggles and aspirations. ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- INTERNATIONAL POLICY ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------- The United States is the sole remaining global superpower. The U.S. government uses its overwhelming military power to consolidate its strategic hold over the entire world and to defend and advance the interests of U.S. owned corporations as they exploit the working people and natural resources of the entire planet. We stand in total opposition to U.S. imperialism and the current “war on terror†which is just another subterfuge for U.S. imperialism................................................. ................................................. ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- LABOR ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- The Socialist Party stands for the right of all workers to organize, for worker control of industry through the democratic organization of the workplace, for the social ownership of the means of production and distribution, and for international solidarity among working people based on common opposition to global capitalism and imperialism. We believe that the international organization of labor is the only way of combating the exploitation of workers in a global capitalist economy. Working people have no country, but rather an international bond based on class. Workers throughout the world have far more in common with each other across national boundaries than with their bosses in their own countries. Ultimately a socialist revolution must be an international revolution that cannot survive if confined to individual countries amidst capitalist imperialism. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- ECONOMICS ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ The Socialist Party stands for a fundamental transformation of the economy, focusing on production for need not profit. So-called fair trade is meaningless as long as the world economy is dominated by a few massive corporations. Only a global transformation from capitalism to democratic socialism will provide the conditions for international peace, justice, and economic cooperation based on the large-scale transfer of resources and technology from the developed to the developing countries.-------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- HUMAN RIGHTS ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer People: The Socialist Party recognizes the human and civil rights of all, without regard to sexual orientation. ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------- People of Color: The Socialist Party recognizes the intimate link between racism and capitalism and demands the elimination of all forms of discrimination in housing, jobs, education, health care, etc. We are committed to the creation of a pluralistic society that defends and promotes a multicultural/multiethnic presence in both the public and private spheres. The Socialist Party rejects the social construction of race and we commit ourselves to the eradication of racism. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- People with Disabilities: The Socialist Party recognizes the human and civil rights of all, without regard to physical or psychological differences. We deplore media stereotypes that focus on a person's disability rather than on their strengths and abilities, and the physical and social barriers that prevent the full participation by people with disabilities in vital spheres of life. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Seniors: The Socialist Party recognizes the right of seniors to a dignified life, free from economic hardship, social isolation, and discrimination in employment and credit. Sufficient income, housing, health care, medication, and access to social services must be guaranteed to all elders. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Women: The Socialist Party is a socialist feminist organization that recognizes that a struggle against habitual male dominance and patriarchy must go hand in hand with any struggle against capitalism. Therefore, we pledge our opposition to all forms of sexism, and demand equality in all aspects of life. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Youth: The Socialist Party believes that the right of all children to nurturing, protection, and education by caring adults must be staunchly upheld, and that a young person does not have fewer rights because he or she is a minor. Therefore, we believe that all Constitutional and human rights belonging to older people belong to younger people as well, and must be defended with equal vigor and determination.---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- HUMAN NEEDS ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------Arts and Culture: The Socialist Party believes that art is an integral part of daily life, and should not be treated as a commodity produced by the activity of an elite group. All members of society should have ample opportunities for participation in art and cultural activities. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- Education: The Socialist Party recognizes the right of students of all ages to a free, quality education in a safe and supportive environment, and of all school employees to good wages, benefits, and working conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Health Care: The Socialist Party stands for a socialized health care system based on universal coverage, salaried doctors and health care workers, and revenues derived from a steeply graduated income tax. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Housing: The Socialist Party recognizes the right of all people to high quality, low cost housing. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- Transportation: The Socialist Party calls for extensive public transportation in both urban and rural areas.------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ CIVIL RIGHTS ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------Bill of Rights: The Socialist Party is committed to the rights of free speech, free press, free assembly, and personal privacy, and the freedom of religious choice through the separation of church and state. We also recognize the central role global capitalism plays in forcing the migration of people from the less developed to the more industrialized countries, often leading to further economic exploitation and social injustice................ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------Free and fair elections: The Socialist Party stands for political activity independent of the two major corporate parties. We view electoral activity as an important component of the struggle for fundamental social change. Participation as socialists in local, state, and national elections is a valuable way to clarify our position on a wide range of issues, of broadly disseminating our principles and programs, and of asserting and reaffirming our commitment to the democratic process. We believe that capitalism is fundamentally incompatible with democracy and that true democracy can only be achieved with society’s transformation to socialism. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Legal justice: The Socialist Party recognizes the right of all people to equal treatment under the law, and to a humane criminal sanction system based on prevention, mediation, restitution, and rehabilitation rather than on vengeance, forced labor, and profits for the prison-industrial complex. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Media and Intellectual Property: An ever-smaller band of huge corporations controls virtually all news and entertainment media. The Socialist Party stands for the right of ordinary people to express opinions and communicate freely by vastly extending the public sector of all forms of mass media. Ultimately, a genuine democratization of the mass media will require a democratic socialist transformation of society. Within such a society, free expression will flourish, allowing for the broadest expression of viewpoints and perspectives................................................ ................................................ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ENVIRONMENT ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- We call for public ownership and democratic control of all our natural resources in order to conserve resources, preserve our wilderness areas, and restore environmental quality. The U.S. must immediately return to participation in international agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol, limiting carbon emissions, and accept a major role in worldwide efforts to control global warming. We call for placing full financial responsibility on private companies for prevention and clean up of their own toxic wastes and for full compensation of workers and residents adversely affected by environmental hazards. We oppose policies that target minority communities for placement of local landfills, toxic waste disposal sites, or incinerators. We call for strong, enforceable endangered species protection that focuses on habitat-centered protection for plants and animals. We oppose any new nuclear power projects and call for the rapid phasing out of all nuclear power plants, and a ban on the export of nuclear technology. We support the recycling of glass, metals, plastic, paper, and chemicals and the use of recycled materials for public works projects such as roadways, parks, and playgrounds. We call for shutting down waste incinerators and phasing out landfills and especially oppose targeting minority communities for hazardous waste disposal sites. We oppose open-pit mining operations and support the reclamation of land used by mining operations at the company’s expense. We support large-scale environmental restoration efforts..................................................... ................................... ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- ENERGY ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------- The Socialist Party stands for municipal ownership and control of energy plants, in a non-profit and decentralized, but coordinated, system that ensures the most careful use of natural resources. We call for the development of alternative energy sources including solar, geothermal, wind, hydropower, and biomass to end dependence on fossil fuels. We call for a sliding-scale index which favors low-income people, to ensure that all people have access to utility services. We call for mandatory vitrification (encapsulation) of all spent nuclear fuel, control rods and other waste. We call for a ban on all imports of nuclear materials, whether they are vitrified or not...................................................... ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- AGRICULTURE ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ The Socialist Party supports a system of ecologically based, sustainable, organic agriculture based on family farms and farming cooperatives that guarantee full workers' rights to their employees, uphold all environmental and safety standards, and treat their live-stock in a humane manner. We support the creation of socially owned enterprises in the areas of transportation, storage, and processing of agricultural goods, controlled by boards comprised of farmers, farm workers, and community members. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- ANIMAL RIGHTS ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ The Socialist Party recognizes the rights of animals to live free from unnecessary pain and suffering, and the responsibility of people to protect those rights...................................................... .................................................... ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------- FOR COMPLETE PLATFORM PLEASE VISIT WWW.SP-USA.ORG ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- -------- -------- CONTACT US: Socialist Party of Central & Eastern Connecticut___________________ Mailing address: PO Box 310681 Newington, CT 06131 ________________________ web: http://sp-usa.org/states/connecticut.html , e-mail:
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