Pithy Progressive #6

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?

It’s the Fourth of July, and therefore a great day to feature a Progressive who has just published a (co-written with Sam Ulschneider) essay on the Declaration of Independence.  First published to Blue Virginia, it was also re-posted to Daily Kos by the candidate.  I’m not going to quote it for intellectual property reasons, but it is well worth the read.  Instead, I am going to quote Schuyler VanValkenburg’s platform from his campaign website – still his own words, but more freely share-able.  He is running to be the delegate from Virginia’s 72nd District.

Economic opportunity

I believe in creating an economic environment that creates opportunity for all.

Our legislature has spent the past eight years pursuing policies which promote the economic livelihood of the few here in Virginia, and the interest of key campaign contributors.  We need to – and can – fix our tax and infrastructure policies to support middle-class families instead.
•Updating the tax code.  Due to a dysfunctional General Assembly tax breaks for special interests are costing the state $2.3 billion a year.
•Promote infrastructure spending, in tandem with the national government to help bring quality jobs to all Virginians.

Improved Healthcare

Virginia has done very little in recent years to ensure the ongoing health of our citizens, squandering important opportunities to extend coverage and services.
•Virginia needs to expand Medicaid under the opportunities available under the Affordable Care Act.  Medicaid expansion will fix the devastating coverage gap in Virginia, improve children’s health, and even give more options to our veterans.
•We need to treat addiction as a disease rather than criminalizing it.  Embracing modern techniques for recovery, financial help for recovery programs, and smarter legal structures and systems will keep Virginia from enduring the most devastating consequences of the opiate addiction crisis.

Democracy and Civic Engagement

As a teacher, I have seen the transformative power of knowledge and democratic engagement.  One of the core values of my campaign is broadening the dialogue and encouraging more members of our community to have a voice in the political process at every level.  This includes lowering barriers to voting, ending gerrymandering to create competitive districts where candidates must really pay attention to their constituents, and reigning in abuses of the campaign finance system,
•End all barriers to voting, including discriminatory Voter ID laws, extending voting times, and easing precinct lines.
•Create a campaign finance system that emphasizes fairness and transparency while also being actively enforced.

Education

I believe in extending access to high quality education through student loans and tuition price freezes, an expansion of pre-K access, strengthening our standards and professional resources in K-12, and lowering class sizes.
•The creation of a Student Loan Authority to help ease our citizen’s student loan crisis
•Provide the funding and programs to create a ten-year plan to gradually increase pre-K education for all Virginians
•Promoting a k-12 budget that prioritizes small class sizes, professional and well-paid teachers, and a curriculum suited for the 21st century.

Equality

I believe that Virginia has been and should be a bold symbol of American values of egalitarianism – every person, regardless of religion, sexuality, gender, or race should have the same legal rights, opportunities, and social status as everyone else.
•Fight any attempt to pass “bathroom bills” or “religious freedom bills” that attempt to discriminate against the LGTBQ community.
•Fight for reform in the criminal justice system.
•Push back against any attempt to infringe on women’s health programs while fighting to end the gender pay gap.
•Promote child leave policies that allow mothers and fathers to balance family and work.

Community Development

Virginia’s state government can do more to help its counties and cities build infrastructure, fund crucial projects, and strengthen local programs on the ground.
•Fight to ensure that the state lives up to its budgetary promises.  There is currently a $600,000,000 shortfall in the education budget for localities.
•Work to ensure that the Richmond metropolitan region has the funding and communication necessary to promote our economy.  This includes local projects like revitalizing Lakeside Avenue and fixing the traffic on Sadler Road.

I wish Mr. VanValkenburg a decisive victory.  (I hope his practically-New-Amsterdam name doesn’t hurt him.)  He has lived in Virginia since 2001, so he is no carpetbagger, though he may be considered an immigrant to Virginia.  But, as Lin-Manuel Miranda has said, “Immigrants – We Get the Job Done!”

Cross posted to Care2 at http://www.care2.com/news/member/101612212/4060312