The Towson University College Democrats
Platform 2006-2007

The Progressive Democrats of Towson are committed to uniting progressive Democrats around their shared values. We aim to provide an outlet for progressive college students to engage in campus activism, inform about current events, make friends, register voters, and get involved in state and local political campaigns. To these ends, we declare this platform to express our values as an organization.

Education
The Progressive Democrats of Towson strongly support the full funding of higher education on both the state and federal level. We believe strongly that since America is the land of opportunity, every American should have access to a college education. We believe that affordability is a paramount concern and support Maryland’s tuition cap, increasing financial aid to poor and middle-class families, and providing debt relief to those who are forced to take out loans to finance their education. We oppose No Child Left Behind because it places undue burdens on poor public schools and leads to privatization. We believe that improving education requires a holistic approach that goes beyond testing mandates, but involving the whole community.

Jobs and the Economy
The Progressive Democrats of Towson believe that every person has a right to a job that pays a living wage. We believe that the government has a vital role in ensuring broadly shared prosperity, expanding opportunity, and eliminating poverty. The minimum wage should be increased annually to adjust for the cost of living. The government should also create jobs in times of high unemployment to help working families.

Health Care
The Progressive Democrats of Towson believe that health care is a human right. Hence, we believe in a health care system that provides care to ALL Americans, not just those who can afford it. We work toward a universal, single-payer health care system for that reason. We support expanding the Fair Share Health Care Act here in Maryland to hold large employers like Wal-Mart accountable to fund health care for their workers.

Environment
The Progressive Democrats of Towson believe in sustainable development that doesn’t harm Maryland’s most valuable natural areas. We believe that the government has a role in prioritizing and investing in eco-friendly initiatives that stress the importance of biodiversity, combat sprawl and overdevelopment, protect natural open spaces, and enforce clean air and water standards. The College Democrats hold Maryland accountable to support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative when the state becomes a participant in 2007.

Gay Rights
The Progressive Democrats of Towson fully support granting equal marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

Transportation
The Progressive Democrats of Towson believe that the government should prioritize investing in public transportation instead of new highway construction, including the creation of light rail, metro lines, expanded car pool lanes, improved bus transportation, and bicycle paths.

Energy Independence
The Progressive Democrats of Towson support investing in alternative energies and reducing our burden on foreign oil. We believe that research in alternative energies will create jobs, reduce emissions and costs, and increase homeland security.

Terrorism
The Progressive Democrats of Towson believe that safety at home must involve good-natured relations with our allies, and not a policy of unilateralism as employed by the Bush Administration. A safe America depends on providing adequate funding to our counter-terrorism efforts, including funding on a local level to key cities. The Bush Administration has grossly under funded the Department of Homeland Security, and this funding need to be increased so that our cities are safe from terrorism. We need to fully implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Iraq
The Progressive Democrats of Towson are opposed to the continued occupation and escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq and call for a gradual redeployment of troops out of the country within a 12-18 month timeframe. After which time, full military control shall be handed over to the Iraqi government. We also call upon Congress to redirect the funds which become available as troops are brought home back toward the Iraqi government in order to provide support for restoration and atonement of the country. We also call upon President Bush to take on and implement the suggestions of the Iraq Study Group Report.

Abortion
The Progressive Democrats of Towson are a pro-choice organization that supports a woman’s right to choose.

Stem-Cell Research
The Progressive Democrats of Towson support state and federal investment into stem-cell research.

Taxes and Budget
The Progressive Democrats of Towson believe that taxation should be based on the ability to pay. We support progressive taxation that lowers the tax burden for working and middle class families. We need to put an end to tax breaks that only benefit the wealthy while defunding our vital programs and services. We need to ensure a balanced budget by increasing tax revenues to fund the programs that Americans depend on. The College Democrats call for the roll-back of President Bush’s tax cuts that only benefit the top 2% of Americans.

Trade
The Progressive Democrats of Towson are opposed to trade agreements like NAFTA that exploit foreign workers and send jobs overseas. We believe that the federal government needs to set limits on our trade deficits with countries like China, and enforce labor and environmental protections abroad.

Immigration
The Progressive Democrats of Towson believe in giving a path to citizenship to all illegal immigrants in the United States.  We believe in repealing NAFTA in order to provide Latin American workers a fair wage.  

Crime and Drugs
The Progressive Democrats of Towson support giving communities the resources they need to combat crime and drug abuse. We believe that rehabilitation should be prioritized over building more prisons and increasing civil penalties. Improving education, investing in public transportation, and creating jobs that pay a living wage are vital to reducing crime across the state.

Campaign Finance Reform
We support the public financing of campaigns to remove corporate, special interest, and wealthy donors from politics, to attenuate the culture of corruption, and to enhance our democracy.