(Some) CDP Domestic Policy Initiatives

The CDP has seen that the organized labor movement helped create a stable middle class in the U.S. by advocating job security, employment benefits (i.e. health and retirement), safer workplaces, and better pay. The trend in American life to a troubled labor market and less economic security can be mirrored in the erosion of union strength in the private sector. We will work to level the playing field between management and the average worker.

There are other initiatives we will need to work toward to achieve greater mobility in our society and less income disparity. We must find ways to be innovative and find consistent funding for our public educational system for our youth (and adults) to acquire the skills necessary to compete in a globalized economy. We must invest in worker training and transitioning programs to keep current and unemployed workers’ skills sharp. Poor Americans can make gains through such measures as expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and increasing the buying power of the minimum wage by indexing it to the current rate of inflation.

As Christians, we know the value of setting aside a day of the week for worship, rest, and relaxation with family and friends. We should encourage more workplaces to offer more employment flexibility for parents and paid time off or telecommuting. Similarly, the government should offer family-friendly paid-leave for maternity and child care assistance.

We will support legislation to increase accountability and oversight of the real estate industry. However, there must be more educational programs for prospective home-buyers and responsibility.

The United States is not by any objective means an over-taxed country. The CDP supports the view that progressive taxation is the most just means to ensure a fair and equitable society. That said, the U.S. tax code must be simplified so that the intricacies of simply paying taxes aren’t too onerous for the average citizen. We will consider initiatives such as a national sales tax, land tax, and higher excise taxes on imports as means to increase revenue. Also, the average corporation pays far less in taxes than the various benefits bestowed on them by taxpayers.

An affluent society such as the U.S. should be able to provide health care to all. The experience of other industrialized nations shows it can be done successfully.

We will work to strengthen the compact made with Americans to ensure the viability and assistance of Social Security and Medicare.

We will back America’s family agricultural tradition against the monopolizing of our food production system through flexible price supports for agricultural produce, credit programs, and assistance to cooperatives.

Veterans put their lives on the line for their fellow Americans. We will not cut benefits or assistance programs for our nation’s military personnel.

CDP Proposal for Foreign Policy platform

The United States standing as the world’s only current superpower means it must be a voice for virtuous and principled relationships in international affairs.

The CDP supports a peaceful, reasonable 2-state solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

The CDP wll scutinize international trade agreements which could result in unfair results for the U.S. (i.e. dumping, trademark infractions, etc.), hurt American industries and labor market, or violate humanitarian laws. The United States should develop and work towards self-sufficiency in energy sources and national defense technology.

Although the United States’ national interests may not always coincide with the United Nations, the CDP will attempt to work with international organizations as much as possible to find agreement and multi-lateralism on thorny world-wide and regional issues.

The United States currently spends less than 1% of GDP on foreign aid but considerably more on national defense. As Christians, we believe the federal government should spend more on overseas development and humanitarian assistance. Taking real and lasting steps to reduce and eliminate international poverty and health problems can lead to more stability and the prospects of risking American military personnel to fewer conflicts. Similarly, the CDP will maintain and strengthen our membership with NATO and our military readiness. Investing in high-tech military research and cyber defense initiatives will aid our intelligence and save the lives of personnel. The U.S. Congress must regain its historical status as the responsible party to declare and wage war.

The CDP is opposed to torture and so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques”. However, we support the legal post-9/11 to detain, try, extradite, and otherwise interdict all persons- foreign and domestic- who have a reasonable suspicion of aiding, belonging to, or have knowledge of terrorist activity. We support legal remedies for suspects while limiting indefinite detention.

We must consider a variety of potential trade restrictions and embargoes against foreign governments that violate international, commit human rights abuses, or commit acts of aggression against their neighbors or own citizens.

Christian Democratic Party Platform Preamble

(The Christian Democratic Party USA, based in Roanoke, VA, is taking the unusual step of formulating its party platform in the most transparent and open way we could consider: presenting it here on this blog for public view and comment. Constructive comments and suggestions are welcomed.)

The Christian Democratic Party has formed to ensure that the United States, as the world’s lone super-power, articulates a vision of wise and ethical leadership in world affairs and of a secure and equitable domestic front. We will work to ensure the maintenance of democracy as the best means for government to serve all of our citizens rather than a privileged few.

For the past 20 years, Joe Schriner has been traveling around the country and taking the political pulse of the American electorate. From his experiences, he has developed a series of policy papers that reflect a common-sense approach to our nation’s most pressing issues. Joe is also an independent candidate for president of the United States. You can keep track of him at his website.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised that the insights Joe has found in the small towns of this great nation are very similar to the principles of Christian democracy. We send Joe our prayers and our support for what he is doing: bringing a fresh, genuine voice to the discussion of public policy — one that resonates with the political will of a citizenry that is largely ignored by the two-party duopoly.

voteforjoe

This week I’ve been in touch with a representative from one of America’s newest political Parties, the Christian Democratic Party.  Headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia,  their literature explains that:  “Chrisitan democracy” is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy.  In other words, in our current society that would look like a mix of conservative and liberal philosophy.  From the “conservative” side, for instance, they are against abortion and gay marriage.  Yet, in what would seem “liberal” to many, they are strong on social justice and environmental stewardship.  A quote:  “Regardless of whether one believes in global warming or not, we maintain that caring for the environment is a great personal virtue… We wholeheartedly support environmentally friendly policies.”  The Party’s platform is not only balanced, it’s a good reflection, I believe, of how the gospel message would relate to each contemporary issue of our times.  For more, see:  www.cdpunitedstates.webs.com

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A Party Platform Built Before Your Eyes!

The Christian Democratic Party U.S.A.  will be taking the unusual step of constructing its platform in the most open and transparent way we can think of — as a regular feature of this blog. Certainly CDP-USA organizers will have a final say over the views we’ll be advocating for, but the initiative here will be for supporters of the international Christian Democracy movement to weigh in on priorities, fine-tune our message, and build our resolve. So if you’re a Christian (or other faith-based voter) tired of the betrayals of Left and Right, Big Business and Big Government, and/or would just like some common sense to return to the American political scene, keep an eye out for future posts as a new voice grows from these very pages!