God Help Us!

Here's a sample of the Progressive agenda in Vermont. Astounding! Who would pay for all these dreams?
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At the Progressive Party's Nov. 8th, 2003 convention, Rep. Steve Hingtgen's gave the keynote speech. The following quotes are of interest:

"...some things have definitely changed and we need to understand them to survive and to grow.

First and perhaps obviously: The Democrats have adapted their strategy to our growing power. Calling us radical is a tough sell when our statewide candidate is getting 25% of the vote.

Second and this is hard to hear: The Democrats have moved to the left ever so slightly...at least their rhetoric has. It is no longer the Vermont Democratic Party of Peter Shumlin, Gordon Paquett and Howard Dean. Heck even Howard Dean isn't acting like Howard Dean. He has stolen many of his lines verbatim from Anthony Pollina and Congressman Sanders. As the Vermont Democrats move ever so slightly left in their rhetoric, they are blurring the distinctions between our Party and theirs. Of course it isn't that hard when you're fighting George Bush.

Third and finally, and this is the hardest to hear: We have moved right...at least our rhetoric has. In our zeal to shed the old stereotypes of extreme and unrealistic, we have stared talking like them on the issues!

-Universal Healthcare? So what? Our Republican Governor says he supports it.

-Progressive Taxation? Us and half the Democrats!

-Pro-union? The Democrats say they are the party of Labor, despite little evidence of it.

-Standing with farmers? The Republicans have made a career of it.

-Civil Unions? That was the least progressive solution allowed under the Baker decision.

We simply no longer clearly distinguish ourselves from the Democrats on issues when we speak...."

"...I caution us to avoid some of the empty statements we may have adopted in the past:

-The Democrats are not just like the Republicans.

-We are not more ethical than politicians in other parties.

-We are not more in touch with our communities.

-It's not that we stand for something and they stand for absolutely nothing.

-And it is not even that we are better at opposing Bush, Douglas and the Republican administrations.

Sure, it might be that parts of those statements are true, but they are refutable and not as persuasive as courageously stating what we believe, what we stand for.

So what do we believe? To spark discussion, let me state some of what I believe. By saying these things out loud I risk being called unrealistic and radical, but I do not risk being called a Democrat.

I believe we need to:

1) Pass an outright ban on GMOs. [ Genetically Modified Organisms ]

2) Aggressively work to remove housing from the speculative market.

3) Create access to the status of civil marriage for gays and
lesbians.

4) Create a single, state-managed healthcare system that is
universal and has one tier for every Vermonter.

5) Decriminalize some drug possession, like in the case of
marijuana.

6) Abolish the residential property tax for education and create a highly progressive tax structure for schools and state services. Yes, that means raising income taxes...but lowering other taxes.

7) As part of that tax reform, eliminate Vermont’s corporate
welfare programs.

8) Implement of instant runoff voting in all elections with more than two candidates.

9) Provide 100% public financing for all candidates in all
statewide and local elections.

10) Guarantee a right to paid family leave.

11) Dramatically overhaul our labor laws to increase the power of unions in the workplace and expedite worker organizing efforts

12) Pass an absolute moratorium on new highway construction and divert those funds into public and alternative transportation. Oh, and

13) Grant free tuition at all Vermont State Colleges and UVM for Vermont high school graduates...."