Pithy Progressive #4

Back in the day when Democrats could actually run as Democrats, we never had to ask questions like the ones we are looking at today:  How can we get Democrats elected to offices since a Teflon President has apparently passed on that mantle (now usually referred to as IOKIYAR) to an entire guilty party, for whom people CONTINUE TO VOTE?

The email I received from another Progressive who is running for the Georgia State Legislature didn't include position statements, but referred me to his website which does.  So I will be including a link, while abridging the contents that I post.  Yes, there are a couple of "Donate" buttons at the link, but one is not compelled to push them.

Here's what Sachin Varghese has to say:

I Stand for Quality Education for All.  Ensuring that every child regardless of race, wealth, or neighborhood has access to a high-quality public education is critical to the success of our state and its citizens. To reach that goal, Georgia must:

• fully fund public schools and end its disinvestment in education; 
• support and empower great teachers and school leaders;
• provide universal access to high-quality Pre-K, and invest in education for children under the age of 4;
• ensure the affordability of Georgia's public colleges, universities, and technical schools, protect and restore funding of the HOPE Scholarship, and provide need-based financial aid.

 
I Stand for Healthcare Access for All.  Healthcare is a human right and every Georgian should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. To reach that goal, Georgia must:

• expand Medicaid coverage to the full extent allowed under the Affordable Care Act;
• support community and women's health clinics so that Georgians can access vital health services that are convenient and affordable.

 
I Stand for Women’s Rights.  Women are a majority of Georgia’s adult population, almost half of the workforce, and are vital income earners in more than half of Georgia households. Eliminating barriers facing women is critical to Georgia’s present and future success. To eliminate barriers, Georgia must:

• ensure women receive equal pay for equal work;
• allow women full autonomy of their own healthcare decisions;
• expand childcare support;
• ensure that our justice system protects women and treats them fairly and equitably. 

 
I Stand for Equality.  No Georgian should be discriminated against based on race, sexual orientation, gender, or age.  To protect all its citizens, Georgia must:

• adopt a comprehensive state civil rights law to protect Georgians from discrimination;
• examine state policies prior to enactment to determine whether there are disparate impacts based on race, sexual orientation, gender, or age, and correct such impacts.

 
I Stand for Greater Economic Opportunity.  All Georgians should have the opportunity and tools necessary to work and create a quality life for themselves and their loved ones.  To provide this opportunity, Georgia must:

• increase the minimum wage;
• protect the rights of workers to organize;
• expand paid sick leave and family care leave;
• provide childcare support;
• promote affordable housing.

 
I Stand for a Fair and Effective Criminal Justice System  Georgia’s justice system needs to be fair and effective. The state needs to hold serious criminals accountable, but find smart and effective alternatives for low-level offenders. To do so, Georgia must:

• eliminate imprisonment resulting from an inability to pay a fine or bail;
• reform mandatory minimum and recidivist sentencing statutes in Georgia, restoring discretion to judges;
• end private probation;
• advance policies that make it easier for individuals with convictions to reenter society and lead productive lives.

 
I Stand for Georgia’s Environment.  Georgia has abundant natural resources that need to be preserved and protected, and every Georgian deserves to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live on clean land.  To protect these resources and rights, Georgia must:

• expand generation of power from renewable resources, including solar and wind;
• enforce existing environmental regulations and strengthen those regulations to protect our air, land, and waterways from polluters. 

I have cut his position statement so severely it kind of bleeds, but I have left enough to give you an idea.

Cross posted to Care2 at http://www.care2.com/news/member/101612212/4056754