Socialist Party USA... the voice for democratic socialism in the USA


- 
                  
.
SPUSA Home Page
About Us
Principles
Constitution
National Office
National Committee
Locals and Commissions
Contact Us
Elections
Campaign Clearinghouse
Activism
Movement Campaigns
Media
The Socialist
Socialist Webzine
The Organizer
Statements
Literature
Members Only
Discussion Board
SPUSA Members E-Lists
Membership
Join Us/ Renew
Make a Contribution


E-Mail Us

SPUSA T-Shirts
and other Merchandise



click here



-
-
Socialist Party USA: 2012-2013 National Platform
 Human Rights

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer People
The Socialist Party recognizes the human and civil rights of all, without regard to sexual orientation.
  • We call for the end of all anti-gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBTQ) restrictions in law and the work place, the repeal of all sodomy laws, and the legalization of same-sex marriage.
  • We call on all schools to adopt policies and procedures to address and prevent student violence and to ban discrimination against GLBTQ people throughout the educational system.
  • We call for a federal ban on all forms of job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • We are committed to confronting the heterosexism that provides the fertile ground for homophobic violence, and support all efforts toward fostering understanding and cooperation among persons and groups of differing sexual orientations.

People of Color
The Socialist Party recognizes the intimate link between racism and capitalism and demands the elimination of all forms of discrimination in housing, jobs, education, health care, etc.  We are committed to the creation of a pluralistic society that defends and promotes a multicultural/multiethnic presence in both the public and private spheres. The Socialist Party rejects the social construction of race and we commit ourselves to the eradication of racism.
  • We strongly support affirmative action, civil rights, and anti-discrimination laws and programs to end institutional racism.
  • We call for reparations from the federal government for its role in the slave trade and the genocide of Native American nations, with the reparations programs administered by the oppressed communities themselves.
  • We support the efforts of people of color to self-defense, self-determination, and to organize independently for their liberation.
  • We oppose all efforts to declare English an official language, and call for an end to all language discrimination.  We demand that all public and private institutions provide services and materials in the languages of their communities.
  • We call for enforcement of Native American treaty rights, support for tribal schools and colleges, living wages on Native American reservations, and democratization of power and wealth in tribal governments.
  • We call for strict legal penalties for the police practice of racial profiling, and we particularly condemn the targeting of Arabs and Muslims since September 11.
  • We demand an end to police brutality and all forms of harassment against people of color and ethnic minorities.

People with Disabilities
The Socialist Party recognizes the human and civil rights of all, without regard to physical or psychological differences.  We deplore media stereotypes that focus on a person's disability rather than on their strengths and abilities, and the physical and social barriers that prevent the full participation by people with disabilities in vital spheres of life.
  • We call for full enforcement of all sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act so that all public and private buildings, facilities, and modes of transportation are accessible to disabled people, and every effort is made to employ persons with disabilities.
  • We oppose any effort to limit the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act by restricting the definition of who is considered a person with a disability, and we call for an amendment to the act that would permit punitive damages for the complainants in ADA cases.
  • We call for enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that mandates equal employment practices and physical accessibility for entities receiving federal funding; and call for the removal of the prohibition against the right of private action presently contained in Section 504.
  • We call for full funding for a network of support for people with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities, including home assistance, recreation centers, guaranteed income, voting access, and quality control in residential facilities; and for the inclusion of people with disabilities on all local and state governing boards and commissions.
  • We call for the continuation of full Social Security benefits for people with disabilities who are able to work part-time, and affirmative action quotas for hiring people with disabilities at union wages.
  • We oppose any efforts of the federal government to further limit access to SSDI (Supplemental Security Disability Income Insurance) by restricting their definitions of who is considered a person with a disability..
  • We call for the full funding of high-quality education and training programs for people with disabilities, and an expansion of the Individuals With Disabilities In Education Act (IDEA) which would include greater funding for the hiring of paraprofessionals in public schools. 
  • We call for an amendment of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to include a prohibition against the denial of credit based on disability.

Seniors
The Socialist Party recognizes the right of seniors to a dignified life, free from economic hardship, social isolation, and discrimination in employment and credit.   Sufficient income, housing, health care, medication, and access to social services must be guaranteed to all elders.
  • We oppose the privatization of the Social Security system and the use of Social Security trust funds for any other purpose, such as offsetting the federal deficit.
  • We demand that the Social Security system remain entirely within the public sector, with funding derived from a steeply graduated income tax on all income, earned and unearned.
  • We call for the inclusion of all state and local government workers within the Social Security System.
  • We call for the right of retirement at age 55 a minimum annual retirement income of $25,000, tax free, and protected from inflation by cost of living increases.
  • We call for a cap on Social Security benefits so that no beneficiary receives more than three times the income of those receiving the minimum.
  • We support an increase in home service, including home-delivered quality meals and the provision of personal aid devices and physical therapy, so that older people can remain independent in their homes and community.
  • We call for jobs and training for seniors who do not wish to retire.
  • We support the formation of publicly funded and democratically controlled senior centers that provide opportunities for social and recreational activities and community involvement.
  • We call for the election of advocates and ombudspersons by assemblies of seniors and caregivers to ensure the protection of residents’ rights in nursing homes and a stimulating environment in group and nursing home situations.
  • We support hospice care, and a person's right to die with dignity in a manner of their choosing.

Women
The Socialist Party is a socialist feminist organization that recognizes that a struggle against habitual male dominance and patriarchy must go hand in hand with any struggle against capitalism.  Therefore, we pledge our opposition to all forms of sexism, and demand equality in all aspects of life.
  • We demand full support for every woman's right to choose when, if, and how to have children, including the right to free abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy, without interference or coercion.  Clinics providing abortion services must have the full protection of the law.
  • We call for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and all other legislation that limits access to abortion services, thus denying "the right to choose" to millions of women, particularly low-income women, women of color, and young women.  We demand full reproductive freedom for all women by removing all discriminating barriers to reproductive rights and reproductive health care.
  • We call for the banning of all involuntary sterilizations.  We oppose the performing of any medical research or medical procedure without a woman's full knowledge and consent.
  • We demand that local governments place a priority on preventing violence toward women, with coordinated programs to educate, provide shelter for women and children, and vigorously protect women from their abusers.
  • We call for the decriminalization of prostitution and demand that sex workers, just like all women workers, are guaranteed a full range of health, social, and legal services; and working conditions free from harassment, violence, and exploitation
  • We call for 16 months paid leave to be shared by new parents or in its entirety by a single parent, and the expansion and full-funding of high-quality child care facilities.
  • We support comprehensive educational and training opportunities, comparable worth laws, and affirmative action for women.  We believe that women should be able to enter any occupation they choose, without hindrance.
  • We believe that women should be free to improve their working lives through unions and other organizations, and that work at home, including child care, should be shared to enable women to fully participate in society.
  • We call for organizational structure based on mutual consideration and respect, rotating leadership, gender balance, and processes that welcome and enable open and equitable participation in discussion and decision-making.

Youth
The Socialist Party believes that the right of all children to nurturing, protection, and education by caring adults must be staunchly upheld, and that a young person does not have fewer rights because he or she is a minor.  Therefore, we believe that all Constitutional and human rights belonging to older people belong to younger people as well, and must be defended with equal vigor and determination
  • We support the immediate ratification by the United States of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  • We call for children's allowances that will help ensure that every child's basic rights and needs are satisfied in a stimulating, empowering, and caring environment.
  • We support free, quality care and education for all children and young people, federally financed and community controlled through democratically elected local boards that will include youth members.
  • We support the rights of minors to be free of any kind of child abuse or neglect whether physical, mental, emotional, or sexual.
  • We oppose measures that increase responsibilities and penalties on youth ostensibly to curb crime.
  • We call for an end to military draft registration, and an end to military recruiting in educational institutions.
  • We call for the abolition of parent consent and notification laws for reproductive health services, including abortion.
  • We call for the right to comprehensive sex education in school that includes birth control methods, STD protection, and information about being GLBTQ.
  • We call for the lowering of the voting age to 15
  • We oppose age-based curfew laws.

Return to Platform Home


            Socialist Party USA 339 Lafayette St. #303 New York, NY 10012