AN ALTERNATIVE VISION

from the office of

Representative Bernie Sanders, Spring 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 committed 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.

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 The wealthy and system which is progressive and fair.

PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL. Against enormous and well-funded opposition, we cannot be allowed 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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