The following sections of the Maryland Green Party's platform have been posted to this blog:
Introduction
Health Care
Education
Criminal Justice
Sustainable Economics
Labor and Business
Election Reform
Current campaign practices and laws make a mockery of the democratic process. It no longer matters which of the two major parties wins; it only matters who funds them. Wealthy individuals and corporations are able to buy political influence while the citizenry is further disenfranchised. Although much is made of low voter turnout, in actuality high percentages of registered voters cast their votes. The problem is one of registration. The laws should be changed to make registration easier. The government should make a greater effort to encourage voter registration. Minority views and parties should be given greater opportunities to win representation by implementing proportional representation and instant runoff voting.
We advocate:
· Implementation of Instant Runoff Voting at every level of government to ensure majority rule, and the adoption of proportional representation for all elected bodies.
· More aggressive voter registration efforts, including Election Day registration, overseen by a non-partisan body. We advocate increasing voter participation by holding elections on weekends or holidays, allowing early voting, and voting by mail.
· Protection against vote fraud by making vote counting software codes open for public inspection and verification, and by requiring a paper audit trail for all votes.
· Enactment of stricter campaign finance reform laws that would limit the influence of special interest money on elections. This should be supplemented with "clean money" laws such as in Arizona which provide matching campaign funds for all candidates who raise enough money through individual donations. Furthermore, free television and mail should be provided under reasonable conditions for every qualified statewide, congressional and presidential candidate.
· Allowing all convicted felons to regain the right to vote upon completion of their sentence.
· All recognized political parties should have equal access to ballot status and primaries.
We advocate:
· Implementation of Instant Runoff Voting at every level of government to ensure majority rule, and the adoption of proportional representation for all elected bodies.
· More aggressive voter registration efforts, including Election Day registration, overseen by a non-partisan body. We advocate increasing voter participation by holding elections on weekends or holidays, allowing early voting, and voting by mail.
· Protection against vote fraud by making vote counting software codes open for public inspection and verification, and by requiring a paper audit trail for all votes.
· Enactment of stricter campaign finance reform laws that would limit the influence of special interest money on elections. This should be supplemented with "clean money" laws such as in Arizona which provide matching campaign funds for all candidates who raise enough money through individual donations. Furthermore, free television and mail should be provided under reasonable conditions for every qualified statewide, congressional and presidential candidate.
· Allowing all convicted felons to regain the right to vote upon completion of their sentence.
· All recognized political parties should have equal access to ballot status and primaries.
Open Government
All levels of government must be open to the public and media so that the process is transparent and the actions of all representatives are available for public review. Citizens should be involved in the decision making process at all levels. Civil Rights must be aggressively defended, especially in the face of federal encroachments made under the cover of the "war on terror." Harassment of immigrants must not be tolerated.
The Maryland Green Party believes that:
· Sunshine laws, which require legislative actions be open to public review, should be defended and expanded. We condemn efforts by the Ehrlich administration to limit sunshine laws and to institute gag orders prohibiting communication with the press.
· We call for citizen control of redistricting, moving the apportionment process into the public light. Minority representation must be preserved in order to protect minority rights. A greater effort should be made to promote gender equality in government.
· We demand re-enforcement of our civil liberties of speech, assembly, association, and petition. Profiling of ethic groups for unequal treatment violates their civil rights and must be ended.
· We support decentralizing government and political structures so that as much control as is reasonable is passed down to the community level. While we support global, national, and regional government structures, decisions and policies affecting citizens should be made at the most local level possible with as much citizen input as possible.
The Maryland Green Party believes that:
· Sunshine laws, which require legislative actions be open to public review, should be defended and expanded. We condemn efforts by the Ehrlich administration to limit sunshine laws and to institute gag orders prohibiting communication with the press.
· We call for citizen control of redistricting, moving the apportionment process into the public light. Minority representation must be preserved in order to protect minority rights. A greater effort should be made to promote gender equality in government.
· We demand re-enforcement of our civil liberties of speech, assembly, association, and petition. Profiling of ethic groups for unequal treatment violates their civil rights and must be ended.
· We support decentralizing government and political structures so that as much control as is reasonable is passed down to the community level. While we support global, national, and regional government structures, decisions and policies affecting citizens should be made at the most local level possible with as much citizen input as possible.
Labor and Business
The corrupting influence of corporate money in politics gives power to the wealthy and leaves the average worker on the sidelines. The result has been lower real wages, a growing concentration of wealth in fewer and fewer hands, and the steady flow of capital and jobs to overseas markets with cheap labor, few worker safety laws, or environmental controls. Our working communities have become little more than expendable sources of labor and repositories for waste. The Green Party supports locally owned, community based businesses. Small businesses employ far more people than the biggest corporations. They are subject to the same onerous regulations as big companies, without reaping the public handouts that governments give large corporations.
We believe that corporations should be held to stringent public interest standards in all facets of their operations and that ending the favoritism doled out to the wealthiest businesses is vital to the building of sustainable communities and local market economies.
Therefore we propose that:
· Corporations should be held accountable, both here and abroad, to stringent public interest standards in all facets of their operations. We resolutely oppose corporate welfare whereby risks are socialized and rewards are privatized, and in particular we oppose government programs that unfairly favor large over small businesses.
· Worker participation be increased in decision making in privately owned firms and consumers protected from corporate abuse. The Maryland Green Party supports initiatives to make the legal and financial systems more friendly to cooperatives, and we work to make cooperatives of all kinds more responsive to the needs of their members and to the needs of the communities where they are located.
· Creation of a progressive wealth tax on those with over $1 million in property, excluding the value of one's home or business.
· Governments should not bid for major corporations through tax and regulatory incentives. Small businesses create the vast majority of jobs in the country, while corporations often ship their
profits to overseas tax havens, and their jobs to low wage countries. States should encourage the sector that brings the most local benefit.
· Governments should simplify overly complex and costly regulations on small businesses where possible. Where regulation is necessary, small businesses should be compensated with support programs such as micro-credit and tax incentives. Maryland should adopt a policy to increase the number of small businesses in the state.
· Workers should be guaranteed a living wage and safe working conditions. Since the minimum wage has steadily fallen in real terms, the Maryland Green Party calls for raising the state minimum wage, and supports ongoing local living wage campaigns in a number of our municipalities.
· Maryland must restore collective bargaining rights to state employees.
· Affordable housing programs, food stamp programs, income support, or "welfare" programs for single mothers, and head start and school lunch programs for indigent children are the first priority of those fighting for economic justice and should be restored, expanded and improved.
· Legislation should be adopted to prevent any employer fro discriminating against any employee on the basis of conduct during non working hours away from the employer's premises, or to collect information about the off-duty behavior or personal characteristics of employees or applicants.
· Utilities should be maintained in public hands. One of the most environmentally progressive utilities is Austin Energy, which is a community owned business. Maryland utilities should be patterned after Austin’s example.
We believe that corporations should be held to stringent public interest standards in all facets of their operations and that ending the favoritism doled out to the wealthiest businesses is vital to the building of sustainable communities and local market economies.
Therefore we propose that:
· Corporations should be held accountable, both here and abroad, to stringent public interest standards in all facets of their operations. We resolutely oppose corporate welfare whereby risks are socialized and rewards are privatized, and in particular we oppose government programs that unfairly favor large over small businesses.
· Worker participation be increased in decision making in privately owned firms and consumers protected from corporate abuse. The Maryland Green Party supports initiatives to make the legal and financial systems more friendly to cooperatives, and we work to make cooperatives of all kinds more responsive to the needs of their members and to the needs of the communities where they are located.
· Creation of a progressive wealth tax on those with over $1 million in property, excluding the value of one's home or business.
· Governments should not bid for major corporations through tax and regulatory incentives. Small businesses create the vast majority of jobs in the country, while corporations often ship their
profits to overseas tax havens, and their jobs to low wage countries. States should encourage the sector that brings the most local benefit.
· Governments should simplify overly complex and costly regulations on small businesses where possible. Where regulation is necessary, small businesses should be compensated with support programs such as micro-credit and tax incentives. Maryland should adopt a policy to increase the number of small businesses in the state.
· Workers should be guaranteed a living wage and safe working conditions. Since the minimum wage has steadily fallen in real terms, the Maryland Green Party calls for raising the state minimum wage, and supports ongoing local living wage campaigns in a number of our municipalities.
· Maryland must restore collective bargaining rights to state employees.
· Affordable housing programs, food stamp programs, income support, or "welfare" programs for single mothers, and head start and school lunch programs for indigent children are the first priority of those fighting for economic justice and should be restored, expanded and improved.
· Legislation should be adopted to prevent any employer fro discriminating against any employee on the basis of conduct during non working hours away from the employer's premises, or to collect information about the off-duty behavior or personal characteristics of employees or applicants.
· Utilities should be maintained in public hands. One of the most environmentally progressive utilities is Austin Energy, which is a community owned business. Maryland utilities should be patterned after Austin’s example.
Sustainable Economics
We must make our communities sustainable and end policies that are destructive of the environment we depend on. Too many of our natural resources are being degraded; the soil, rivers and the Bay, our air.
Sustainable communities require the development of renewable energy sources, increased energy efficiency, sustainable and profitable farm policies, and a commitment to community planning that reflects these priorities. With green policies we can preserve our standard of living while maintaining environmental health. It is vital for future generations that we end the destruction of the environment.
The Maryland Green Party calls for:
Investment in and promotion of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies to benefit Maryland’s businesses and residents. These energy sources should include passive and active solar, biomass, biofuels, ocean, wind, cogeneration, and other technologies.
Creation of community-based power systems powered by local, renewable energy sources. The national grid electric grid is unacceptably inefficient. A local system would greatly reduce energy demand by doubling efficiency.
A commitment to Clean Air Act standards for all coal and oil power plants as proposed in the Healthy Air Act; support for new technologies that will dramatically reduce pollutants from power plants.
Community planning that employs smart building and green building technologies. Residential and commercial cluster development should preserve green space and enhance community identity and civic life, and provide affordable housing. These communities should include a local business infrastructure that provides human necessities within a walkable environment and should provide convenient and affordable public transportation to town centers and areas of employment. Affordable housing should be a priority.
Conversion of inner-city properties into affordable, sustainable, green neighborhoods. In 2003, 7.15 percent of the homes in Baltimore City were vacant--14,192 out of 198,497 residential properties. These properties should be the priority for development instead of farm land.
A commitment to the preservation of ecologically important land.
An overall expansion of public transit, including railroads, buses and subways, with decreased or eliminated fares. We must end subsidies for gasoline and highway development which mask their true environmental and social costs. Wasteful and ecologically damaging projects such as the Inter-County Connector should be abandoned.
Increased incentives for fuel efficient vehicles; a registration tax on vehicles that fall short of minimum fuel efficiency standards.
The end of pollution subsidies such as the Coal Mining Tax Credit and the sales tax exemption for pesticides; a moratorium on buying coal from companies that practice mountaintop removal.
Investment in Community Supported Agriculture which encourages family farming, organic farming and other conservative and regenerative agricultural methods. Urban farming should be cultivated. We support the development and dissemination of nutrition and food safety information.
Working to increase the sustainability of Maryland’s traditional independent shell fishing and fishing practices.
A commitment to restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay through cooperation with other regional governments. Pollution of the Bay can be minimized by green building techniques to decrease storm runoff, investment in sustainable water and sewage treatment technologies, and the enforcement of penalties for polluters.
Establishment of incentives for Maryland businesses and governments to move beyond recycling to a zero waste, “cradle to cradle” philosophy. We should convert unused industrial facilities into "scrap based manufacturing" facilities that would produce raw industrial materials from waste. Virtually all basic metals have doubled in price since 2000 as demand outstrips
supply. We must recycle, reuse and renew.
Replace toxic chemicals in products with non-toxic recyclable, compostable, or bio-degradable components.
Increase efforts to prevent unwanted births and to develop ways to discourage population growth.
Sustainable communities require the development of renewable energy sources, increased energy efficiency, sustainable and profitable farm policies, and a commitment to community planning that reflects these priorities. With green policies we can preserve our standard of living while maintaining environmental health. It is vital for future generations that we end the destruction of the environment.
The Maryland Green Party calls for:
Investment in and promotion of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies to benefit Maryland’s businesses and residents. These energy sources should include passive and active solar, biomass, biofuels, ocean, wind, cogeneration, and other technologies.
Creation of community-based power systems powered by local, renewable energy sources. The national grid electric grid is unacceptably inefficient. A local system would greatly reduce energy demand by doubling efficiency.
A commitment to Clean Air Act standards for all coal and oil power plants as proposed in the Healthy Air Act; support for new technologies that will dramatically reduce pollutants from power plants.
Community planning that employs smart building and green building technologies. Residential and commercial cluster development should preserve green space and enhance community identity and civic life, and provide affordable housing. These communities should include a local business infrastructure that provides human necessities within a walkable environment and should provide convenient and affordable public transportation to town centers and areas of employment. Affordable housing should be a priority.
Conversion of inner-city properties into affordable, sustainable, green neighborhoods. In 2003, 7.15 percent of the homes in Baltimore City were vacant--14,192 out of 198,497 residential properties. These properties should be the priority for development instead of farm land.
A commitment to the preservation of ecologically important land.
An overall expansion of public transit, including railroads, buses and subways, with decreased or eliminated fares. We must end subsidies for gasoline and highway development which mask their true environmental and social costs. Wasteful and ecologically damaging projects such as the Inter-County Connector should be abandoned.
Increased incentives for fuel efficient vehicles; a registration tax on vehicles that fall short of minimum fuel efficiency standards.
The end of pollution subsidies such as the Coal Mining Tax Credit and the sales tax exemption for pesticides; a moratorium on buying coal from companies that practice mountaintop removal.
Investment in Community Supported Agriculture which encourages family farming, organic farming and other conservative and regenerative agricultural methods. Urban farming should be cultivated. We support the development and dissemination of nutrition and food safety information.
Working to increase the sustainability of Maryland’s traditional independent shell fishing and fishing practices.
A commitment to restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay through cooperation with other regional governments. Pollution of the Bay can be minimized by green building techniques to decrease storm runoff, investment in sustainable water and sewage treatment technologies, and the enforcement of penalties for polluters.
Establishment of incentives for Maryland businesses and governments to move beyond recycling to a zero waste, “cradle to cradle” philosophy. We should convert unused industrial facilities into "scrap based manufacturing" facilities that would produce raw industrial materials from waste. Virtually all basic metals have doubled in price since 2000 as demand outstrips
supply. We must recycle, reuse and renew.
Replace toxic chemicals in products with non-toxic recyclable, compostable, or bio-degradable components.
Increase efforts to prevent unwanted births and to develop ways to discourage population growth.
Criminal Justice
The primary purposes of the justice system should be to protect innocent citizens and rehabilitate convicted offenders. Currently the system does neither very well. Our criminal justice system has become inhumane, ineffective, and prohibitively expensive. Jails are breeding grounds for criminals. The majority of prisoners are serving terms for minor property and drug crimes or violations of parole or probation. They overcrowd the system making it unmanageable.
We advocate the following:
Non violent drug offenders should not be jailed. They crowd the prisons and are often educated into being more successful criminals while in jail. Drug use should be decriminalized and treated as a medical problem, not a criminal problem.
Treatment programs should be adequately funded to provide treatment on demand. There is no waiting list for those convicted of possession of drugs to get into jail; there should be no waiting list for those who want to cure their addiction.
Mentally ill prisoners should be segregated into psychiatric facilities providing adequate psychological and medical care. A substantial portion of the prison population is composed of people who were formerly in the mental health system. Ninety-five percent of those who commit suicide in jail or prison have a diagnosed mental disorder. These prisoners deserve proper care.
Prisoners' rights must be respected. They should have adequate access to health care and education; they should not have to fear torture or violence. Prisoners should receive assistance when returning to civilian life. Private support groups report that recidivism drops dramatically when released prisoners are given individual support and advice on personal care and job seeking.
We advocate increased support for programs such as The Maryland Reentry Partnership.
Law officers and prison workers perform vital and dangerous work. They should receive wages commensurate to their importance. At the same time they must be held to the highest standards. Police should be thoroughly trained in conflict resolution and mediation. Independent civilian oversight boards should vigorously root out corruption and abuse of power. Police should be assigned to specific neighborhoods so that they know the people living there.
The growing use of Prison Industry Enhancement programs that use prisoners as cheap labor must be closely monitored. Prison labor has become a $2 billion a year industry while paying the inmates almost nothing and shutting out local businesses in the process. Enforcement of prison industry regulations has been lax; some institutions refuse to allow inspectors into plants. These programs must be transparent. They should allow skilled workers the opportunity to advance to supervisory positions, and give them priority hiring when they are released from prison. Cooperative work arrangements should be tried.
We oppose racial profiling by police.
We oppose the use of capital punishment.
We advocate the following:
Non violent drug offenders should not be jailed. They crowd the prisons and are often educated into being more successful criminals while in jail. Drug use should be decriminalized and treated as a medical problem, not a criminal problem.
Treatment programs should be adequately funded to provide treatment on demand. There is no waiting list for those convicted of possession of drugs to get into jail; there should be no waiting list for those who want to cure their addiction.
Mentally ill prisoners should be segregated into psychiatric facilities providing adequate psychological and medical care. A substantial portion of the prison population is composed of people who were formerly in the mental health system. Ninety-five percent of those who commit suicide in jail or prison have a diagnosed mental disorder. These prisoners deserve proper care.
Prisoners' rights must be respected. They should have adequate access to health care and education; they should not have to fear torture or violence. Prisoners should receive assistance when returning to civilian life. Private support groups report that recidivism drops dramatically when released prisoners are given individual support and advice on personal care and job seeking.
We advocate increased support for programs such as The Maryland Reentry Partnership.
Law officers and prison workers perform vital and dangerous work. They should receive wages commensurate to their importance. At the same time they must be held to the highest standards. Police should be thoroughly trained in conflict resolution and mediation. Independent civilian oversight boards should vigorously root out corruption and abuse of power. Police should be assigned to specific neighborhoods so that they know the people living there.
The growing use of Prison Industry Enhancement programs that use prisoners as cheap labor must be closely monitored. Prison labor has become a $2 billion a year industry while paying the inmates almost nothing and shutting out local businesses in the process. Enforcement of prison industry regulations has been lax; some institutions refuse to allow inspectors into plants. These programs must be transparent. They should allow skilled workers the opportunity to advance to supervisory positions, and give them priority hiring when they are released from prison. Cooperative work arrangements should be tried.
We oppose racial profiling by police.
We oppose the use of capital punishment.
Education
Public education provides the foundation for a successful and democratic society. It is also critical for building a skilled, competitive work force. Maryland’s Green Party strongly supports equal access to public education that sets high academic expectations and prepares the next generation to solve real problems and to become contributing members of society.
The Maryland Green Party calls for:
Ending the achievement gap and tracking that has pushed too many of Maryland’s non-white children in grades K-12 into remedial courses, and which has reinforced stereotypes and low expectations for these children. Encourage creative and innovative methods to keep students engaged.
Preparing K-12 teachers and school staff to educate children based on a clear understanding of child development, and to work with parents and the broader community in order to support children’s academic achievement.
Adjusting school funding formulas across the state to avoid gross inequalities between districts and schools. We must ensure that every Maryland student has equal access to a quality education.
Increasing after-school programs and lengthening the school day for Maryland’s middle schools in order to provide greater support for physical education and health, arts education, and civic and service learning, and to reinforce healthy socialization skills in preparation for achievement in high schools.
Elected school boards for all localities.
Greater support for teachers and administrators in dealing with student discipline issues. Discipline issues should be dealt with directly, fairly, and nonviolently in partnership with parents. Schools should be committed to child and community safety outside school as well.
Inclusion of conflict resolution training at all levels of public education.
Infusing as much vigor in vocational education courses and citizenship courses in Maryland high schools as in academic courses for college preparation.
Building and remodeling educational facilities so that they promote learning through lower teacher/student ratios in classrooms, through comfortable and sustainable environmental
systems, and through the provision of nutritious food.
Increased support for student grants, support for professors, and for primary research in Maryland’s public colleges and universities.
The Maryland Green Party calls for:
Ending the achievement gap and tracking that has pushed too many of Maryland’s non-white children in grades K-12 into remedial courses, and which has reinforced stereotypes and low expectations for these children. Encourage creative and innovative methods to keep students engaged.
Preparing K-12 teachers and school staff to educate children based on a clear understanding of child development, and to work with parents and the broader community in order to support children’s academic achievement.
Adjusting school funding formulas across the state to avoid gross inequalities between districts and schools. We must ensure that every Maryland student has equal access to a quality education.
Increasing after-school programs and lengthening the school day for Maryland’s middle schools in order to provide greater support for physical education and health, arts education, and civic and service learning, and to reinforce healthy socialization skills in preparation for achievement in high schools.
Elected school boards for all localities.
Greater support for teachers and administrators in dealing with student discipline issues. Discipline issues should be dealt with directly, fairly, and nonviolently in partnership with parents. Schools should be committed to child and community safety outside school as well.
Inclusion of conflict resolution training at all levels of public education.
Infusing as much vigor in vocational education courses and citizenship courses in Maryland high schools as in academic courses for college preparation.
Building and remodeling educational facilities so that they promote learning through lower teacher/student ratios in classrooms, through comfortable and sustainable environmental
systems, and through the provision of nutritious food.
Increased support for student grants, support for professors, and for primary research in Maryland’s public colleges and universities.