If cut in half, our military budget would still be the largest in the world. We could use the money saved to end poverty in the US. Just 5% of the savings could give every American worker paid family leave. Closing our hundreds of military bases abroad would save enough money to give every homeless American a home and make every public university tuition-free.

The science is clear. We must keep all remaining fossil fuels in the ground. The federal government must stop granting new drilling permits and we must end the influence of oil and gas lobbyists in Washington.

Weapons manufacturers make billions in profits each year and continually lobby our representatives to expand the military budget and support new wars. We must eliminate profit in war by nationalizing our military industry.

Every person should have access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare and healthcare decisions should be driven by patient needs not profit. A Medicare for All system would cut out the added costs of the insurance industry, lowering the cost of care and preventing medical debt.

We must spend aggressively to phase out all uses of fossil fuels and to ensure a just transition of our economy. A Green New Deal would see us creating good, high-wage jobs and rapidly reducing emissions through investing in public transit, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and ecosystem restoration.

The current campaign financing model allows corporations and wealthy individuals to buy our representatives. We must switch to public campaign financing. We must also restrict the perks that officials can take after leaving office (e.g. speaking fees & board positions), the expectation of which shapes their behavior in office. And members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stock.

Police and prisons don’t prevent crime or make our communities safer. We should focus attention and funds on strengthening our communities by investing in affordable housing, education, parks, community gardens, libraries, and other civic infrastructure.

Rather than deterring immigration through inhumane border policies, we must address the reasons people flee their home countries. By respecting the sovereignty of other nations, ending the war on drugs, and addressing climate change, we can reduce the number of people needing to find refuge here.

Equality for all and a functioning democracy require ending surveillance, censorship, and mass incarceration; protecting LGBTQIA+ rights; ensuring voting rights; and fighting for reproductive justice.

True democracy requires that ordinary people, not a handful of elites, control the economy. We must democratize our economy with increased union membership, co-ops, and worker-appointed corporate boards. Congress must support unions unequivocally and must never interfere in contract negotiations or strikes, unless requested by the union.

We must replace fossil fuels with energy from renewable and safe sources, such as wind and solar, and end government subsidies for and investments in nuclear power. Nuclear power is neither cheap, clean, nor safe.

Our current industrial food systems are a massive source of emissions and toxic chemicals. A transition to regenerative agriculture will protect the health of our communities, our soils, and our ecosystems.