My manifesto - a rough draft. It'll change soon, I'm sure.
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I believe we all deserve a clean, non-disease-causing place in which to live and learn and love. I believe human progress is intrinsically linked to the health of the rest of the planet’s biospheres.
I believe we all deserve to be free to love and create families with those we want, regardless of the gender/sex, or number, of those with whom we fall in love. I do not believe the state/federal government or society should endorse one kind of adult-bonding/family over another, as that is all based on particular religious beliefs. I do not feel sex is something that is only right when performed between “married” people, or that sex must have procreation as its ultimate aim in order to be acceptable. I believe in the right of those who choose to remain childless to not be discriminated against by the government or society, financially or emotionally. A woman is a woman regardless of whether or not she bears a child; a man is a man regardless of whether or not he fathers a child. I believe birth control should universally be covered as a medical expense.
I believe we should all have the opportunity to live without pain, repression, and fear, and to do this I believe we should all work to end poverty, hunger, involuntary homelessness, illiteracy, discrimination, disenfranchisement, and under-education in all their manifestations.
I believe our educational system is under-funded and under-developed, and that teachers at all levels need more pay and education and support to meet the needs of our children in creating this democracy.
I believe we should all be free and able to disagree with others, in constructive and logical ways, and still be able to laugh about it over a good meal afterwards.
I do not believe violence is the way to solve anything – wars (literal or metaphorical), the death penalty, etc. are all antithetical to human progress. Gun control is essential – no one should need to/feel they should own an assault rifle to feel safe in our country. I will not allow guns in my home.
I believe in the right to abortion, euthanasia, the right of freedom of/from religion, the separation of church/mosque/synagogue/sweat lodge/etc. and state, freedom of expression in all its forms and as a non-spatially-restricted concept (i.e., I do not support the concept of Free Speech Zones).
I believe in a truly free media as essential to democracy.
I believe in proportional representation as a way to include other parties in our electoral process, and I believe in the abolishment of the Electoral College.
I believe we should decriminalize drugs, and fund instead education about how to use them (including our already legal drug, alcohol) responsibly (so as not to harm others or cause ourselves permanent bodily damage).
I believe we all have the right to universal health care and security throughout our lives, especially in disability and our old age.
I believe the PATRIOT ACT is unconstitutional and must be repealed. I believe G.W. Bush should undergo investigation for his actions and decisions in his first term as President of the United States.
I support the right to unionize, to fight for fair wages and healthy working conditions.
I support a child’s right to privacy and conscience, even when it brings them into conflict with the beliefs of their parents.
I believe we all have the responsibility and gift to think deeply about what we believe and how we act in the world. I believe that considering that our problems are complex enough to require complex solutions (rather than invective and bombs) is not unpatriotic. I believe that the issues we as a world face are not black-and-white, and as such require sophisticated and thoughtful responses, not spin and pap. As such, I promise to continually challenge these beliefs, amending them as reason and evidence requires.
--Chris
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