AN ALTERNATIVE VISION

from the office of

Representative Bernie Sanders, Fall 1998

Clearly, if we are going to make the changes desperately needed in this country we must build a strong, grassroots movement which is organized around a progressive agenda commisted to peace, economic justice, environmental sanity and equal rights for all. Let me briefly describe some of the concepts that I am fighting for in Congress.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND ELECTION REFORM. The wealthy and large corporations cannot be allowed to continue to buy political parties and candidates. Same-day registration will encourage low-income people to vote, and stop the United States from having the lowest voter turnout of any industrialized nation on earth. Independents and third party candidates must be allowed the same rights and ballot access as Democrats and Republicans.

PROTECT AND EXPAND THE SAFETY NET. We must beat back the efforts to destroy Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, public education and the attacks on children and the poor. This country is wealthy enough so that every man, woman and child should be able to live in dignity and security.

REVISE OUR NATIONAL PRIORITIES. We should decrease funding for the bloated military and intelligence budgets, and the $125 billion we currently spend on corporate welfare. We should increase funding for job creating improvements in our physical and human infrastructure, as well as the needs of our elderly and children.

REFORM THE TAX SYSTEM TO MAKE IT FAIR. Over the last 20 years, the federal tax system has lowered taxes for the wealthy and large corporations, and raised taxes for the middle class and working families. In a nation which currently has the most unfair distribution of wealth and income in the industrialized world, we must fight for a tax system which is progressive and fair.

RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE. In 1996, against tremendous opposition, Congress raised the minimum wage from $4.25 an hour to $5.15. We must do better. The purchasing power of the minimum wage today is much lower than it was 20 years ago. Every American worker who works 40 hours a week must earn enough to live above the poverty line. That's why I have introduced legislation which would raise the minimum wage to $6.50 an hour.

A FAIR TRADE POLICY. In recent years, majorAmerican corporations have "downsized" millions of American workers, while investing billions in desperate, Third World countries. It is absurd to force American workers to compete against Chinese workers who earn 20 cents an hour, or Mexican workers who make 80 cents an hour.

We must create a "fair trade" policy, and revise the current "free trade" approach by repealing NAFTA, GATT and MFN with China.

PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL. Against enormous and well-funded opposition, we must re-double our efforts to protect a woman's right to choose, affirmative action and to end discrimination against minorities and gay people.

NATIONAL HEALTH CARE. The health care crisis is getting worse, not better. More and more Americans lack health insurance; Medicare and Medicaid are under savage assault and millions of people are being forced into "managed care." Despite all this, the United States continues to have the most costly and wasteful health care system in the world.

We must continue our fight for a single-payer national health care system which guarantees health care for all Americans without out-of-pocket expense. This is the most humane and cost-effective approach to the current health care crisis.

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