CATHOLIC VOTING PLANKS
Here, according to Joseph A. Califano Jr., president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York City, and former U.S. secretary of health, education and welfare from 1977 to 1979, is a good list of platform planks for Catholic voters to consider. Sounds like planks every voter should consider -- though Libraterians and social/fiscal conservatives might disagree.
1. Health care is a fundamental human right to which every American is entitled.
2. The lack of safe affordable housing is a national crisis and such housing should be available to all on a non-discriminatory basis.
3. The minimum wage should be increased to a living wage (that is, more than doubled), women and minorities are entitled to equal pay for equal work, and workers have an inalienable right to organize and collectively bargain without reprisal.
4. Government should restrict concentration of control in the broadcast, cable and satellite media.
5. The priorities of agriculture policy are food security for all and fair wages and decent housing and working conditions for farm workers.
6. Documented and undocumented immigrants should have access to basic public benefits, such as health care and food stamps.
7. All persons have an inalienable right to a quality education.
8. Discrimination based on sex, race, ethnicity, religion and age constitutes a grave injustice and affirmative action is an appropriate remedy to overcome its continuing effects.
9. The death penalty should be abolished.
10. Environmental protection of land, water and air is a moral obligation.
11. The nation should ratify the treaty to ban anti-personnel land mines and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and curb its scandalous role in the global arms trade.
12. Debt relief should be granted to poor nations.
13. The United States should provide consistent diplomatic and financial support to the United Nations.
14. U.S. foreign and trade policies should be informed by concerted efforts to protect workers, religious liberties and basic human rights.
The whole essay.
Here, according to Joseph A. Califano Jr., president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York City, and former U.S. secretary of health, education and welfare from 1977 to 1979, is a good list of platform planks for Catholic voters to consider. Sounds like planks every voter should consider -- though Libraterians and social/fiscal conservatives might disagree.
1. Health care is a fundamental human right to which every American is entitled.
2. The lack of safe affordable housing is a national crisis and such housing should be available to all on a non-discriminatory basis.
3. The minimum wage should be increased to a living wage (that is, more than doubled), women and minorities are entitled to equal pay for equal work, and workers have an inalienable right to organize and collectively bargain without reprisal.
4. Government should restrict concentration of control in the broadcast, cable and satellite media.
5. The priorities of agriculture policy are food security for all and fair wages and decent housing and working conditions for farm workers.
6. Documented and undocumented immigrants should have access to basic public benefits, such as health care and food stamps.
7. All persons have an inalienable right to a quality education.
8. Discrimination based on sex, race, ethnicity, religion and age constitutes a grave injustice and affirmative action is an appropriate remedy to overcome its continuing effects.
9. The death penalty should be abolished.
10. Environmental protection of land, water and air is a moral obligation.
11. The nation should ratify the treaty to ban anti-personnel land mines and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and curb its scandalous role in the global arms trade.
12. Debt relief should be granted to poor nations.
13. The United States should provide consistent diplomatic and financial support to the United Nations.
14. U.S. foreign and trade policies should be informed by concerted efforts to protect workers, religious liberties and basic human rights.
The whole essay.
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