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Uptown Progressives is is an open and inclusive community organized to protect the democratic process, promote social justice, and engage citizens in encouraging principled leadership.
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Election Protection and Reform Committee
Education
Energy
Environment/Green Living
Health Care
Labor
Racism and Discrimination
U.S. Military and Foreign Policy
Women's Reproductive Health
Uptown Progressives is a member organization in the Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations.
Where does UP stand on the important political issues? At its general meeting on Monday, March 27, 2006, UP members discussed position statements on eight issues, approved four of them as written, and approved the other four with recommended changes – small changes for three, and more extensive changes for the statement on Military and Foreign Policy. The meeting included a voting machine demonstration and question/answer session, and short presentations by UP committee chairs describing projects done and plans for the future. Deborah Crawford was facilitator for the meeting.
UP thanks Committee members Carole Fink, Michael Swartz, Wayne Bonekemper, Diane Harry, Dan Baechlin, and Debbie Crawford, and contributors Judy Kress and Mac Crawford, for their excellent work in preparing these issues.
Why is it important to determine what we stand for? First, to provide direction on what topics and actions we pursue as a community, and second, to know what questions to put to candidates when they ask for our support.
After brief discussions, the statements on Healthcare, Energy, Racism and Discrimination, and Labor were accepted as presented.
Education. In answer to a question about the meaning of “state and federal equalization” in the recommendations, it was explained that this refers to geographical fairness -- equity among localities. Another question elicited the information that the legislature still has not acted on the four State Supreme Court rulings that require a reform of school funding and property tax relief. We need to elect those who will see to it that these reforms are made. There was concern that our statement should distinguish between open, accountable, successful charter schools and those that are not. Transparency, financial accountability, and a call for charter schools to be held to the same standards and requirements as public schools were all held to be important, as was a change in the current funding structure for charter schools, which bleeds critically-needed funds from the public schools. A member pointed out the risk inherent in doling out public funds to private entities that are not held accountable.
Environment. The statement on Environment was accepted with a request for additional wording to make it clear that natural habitats should be preserved for their own sakes; there is satisfaction in knowing they are there even if we never get to visit them.
Women’s Reproductive Health. Two changes were requested for this section: in the background statement, language that conveys the urgency we feel about the present situation because reproductive rights are now under such concerted attack; and in the recommendations, a call for all citizens to take this issue into account when voting.
U.S. Military and Foreign Policy. The Issues Committee indicated its intention to make “Foreign Policy” into a separate section as soon as all the important points could be agreed upon. The members present also felt this should be done, even though military and foreign policy are closely related. It was requested that additional statements be added to recommendations previously offered under the Military heading, calling for repudiating pre-emptive military actions, observing the Geneva Convention on treatment of prisoners, and restoring the power of Congress to declare war.
Suggestions for the new heading of Foreign Policy include statements on immigration, world poverty, respect for the rights of other nations, and on policies regarding working within international institutions, the power of congress to make treaties, a policy on military interventions (as in the case of genocide), and establishing as national policy that actions will be taken in concert with the United Nations rather than unilaterally.
Future Issues Development
Among the other important political issues that still remain to be developed into position statements
are: Land Use, Housing, Protecting the Family,
Religion and Values, and Civil Rights.