| Role of Government |
Consider government control helpful in the citizen's life; progressive left of center perspective on social issues; perceived to have the propensity to tax and spend; criticized for appearing to favor socialist / communist policies. |
Believe minimal government control (especially Federal) is needed in a citizen's life; have a morally pragmatic perspective on social issues; are perceived as a purposeful wedge between the Republicans and Democrats; could be criticized for being “green “ and idealistic. |
Maintain limited government control is required in a citizen's life; have a conservative right of center perspective on social issues; perceived to base political doctrine on Christian tenets; are often criticized for favoring big business and careless with the environment. |
| Democrats |
Equalitarians |
Republicans |
| Foreign Policy |
Trust in diplomacy and are increasingly dependent on allied support to address our nation’s adversaries. Claim human rights are a priority, but will choose business interests first. Policies imply American exceptionalism is no longer believed or pursued. Strong proponents of the United Nations (U.N.). |
Are non-interventionists, but not isolationists. Support U.S. involvement in regionally based security pacts, and believe in peace through strength; they are prepared to defend democracies when American presence is requested and when it is in the national interest. Skeptical with regard to the utility of the U.N. |
Seek global recognition of power through displayed strength and pursued influence; prioritize advancement of U.S. business interests and national security over cooperation and human rights concerns; strong proponents of American exceptionalism. Committed ally of Israel and highly critical of the United Nations (U.N.). |
| Election Reforms |
Look to enact the Voting Rights Act; claim the need to ensure integrity of elections from foreign and domestic enemies, propose making Election Day a national holiday, and are against citizen voter identification requirements. Aim to restore voting rights to released prisoners, encourage mail-in ballots, support ending partisan gerrymandering in federal elections; encourage post-election audits, and seek elimination of private financing in general elections. |
Demand third party representation and participation in the electoral process, viewing it essential to compete with duopoly. Look to replace single choice voting with ranked choice voting; replace single member districts with larger multi-member districts; replace state winner take all Electoral College votes with Top-Two vote getters receiving proportional integer Electoral College votes, no excuse required absentee ballot request. Support citizen voter identification requirements and the restoration of voting rights to felons after fully served sentences. |
Oppose National Popular Vote Interstate Compact; support citizen voter identification requirements. Pursuing state efforts to ensure ballot access for the elderly, the handicapped, military personnel and all legitimate voters; urge every state to join the Interstate Voter Registration Cross Check Program. |
| Immigration |
Envision a humane 21st century immigration system benefiting all U.S. entrants. Oppose tax dollars being provided to employers who exploit immigrants. Intend to extend the Affordable Care Act to cover Dreamers and look to lift the five-year waiting period for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility for low-income, lawfully present immigrants. |
Believe migrants deserve a secure future, and U.S. citizens deserve a secure border; highlighting there are only three non-citizen immigration statuses in the U.S.: legal, illegal, or in the process of becoming one of the other two. Assert it is the role of government (Federal and State) to help those wanting and deserving to be U.S. citizens to become one as soon as possible. Simultaneously, it has the responsibility quickly process and remove those from our nation who clearly do not. |
Want to protect American working families and their wages, while recognizing migrants are making vital contributions in every aspect of national life. Feel America's immigration policy must serve the national interest of the United States – that the interests of American workers must be protected over the claims of foreign nationals seeking the same jobs. Consider Illegal immigration as a threat to American job seekers, and an insult to those who have or aspire to enter the U.S. America legally. |
| Crime Reduction |
Favor a less punitive, and more rehabilitative approach to reducing crime; are often perceived as soft on crime based on their low to no bail campaigns, sentence reduction efforts, and the elimination of death penalties; viewed as responsible for supporting police department defunding efforts. |
Look to adopt a three-tiered (Strategic, [Federal] Operational, [State] and Tactical, [Local]) simultaneously applied crime reduction strategy which would include incarceration reforms focused on rehabilitation instead of punishment, holding parents liable for juvenile / pre-majority criminal actions, focused preventative education, and the denial / retraction of government benefits for perpetual / intractable offenders. Opposed to privately run prisons. |
Traditionally support strong sentencing for major crimes; view stricter punishment as a deterrent to future crime; believe in victim rights; open to reforms in the area of drug use; proponents of the death penalty. Open to privately run prisons. |
| The Drug Problem |
Aim to ensure no one is incarcerated solely for drug use; support increased use of drug courts, harm reduction interventions, and treatment diversion programs for those struggling with substance use disorders. |
Maintain the drug problem is a combined health and law enforcement issue based on supply and demand - one which requires greater border security, severe punitive actions against suppliers (e.g., China, Mexico, Big Pharma, etc.) and an increased focus on preventative education. |
Promote the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which addresses the opioid epidemic. |
| China / Taiwan |
Committed to a “One China” policy and the Taiwan Relations Act. Claim to support "strategic ambiguity" but simultaneously support Taiwan's independence and U.S. arms sales to the island; deliver mixed messaging with the level of U.S. military support that will be provided in the case of a Chinese invasion. |
Recognize Taiwan’s right to independence; support the formation of Asian Security Pact(s); uncommitted to U.S. Military Defense of the island, but supports increased security assistance and arms sales. |
Maintain relations with the island should be based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances given to Taiwan by President Reagan in 1982; oppose unilateral steps by either side to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Straits and believe the island's future must be resolved peacefully. Expected to help Taiwan to increase its defensive capabilities through security cooperation programs. |
| Gun Control |
Look to enact and fund universal background checks, end online sales of guns and ammunition, close abusive partner loopholes. Support restrictive licensing requirements, preventing hate crimes convicts from possessing firearms, and the institution of red flag laws allowing courts to temporarily remove guns from the possession of those who are a danger to themselves or others. |
Strong proponent of 2nd Amendment fundamental rights; support licensing and training requirements for the purchase and use of firearms. View gun holders (not the gun) as responsible for the use / misuse of the weapon. |
Look to incentivize states to enact licensing requirements for owning firearms, and extreme risk protection-order laws that allow courts to temporarily remove guns from the possession of those who are a danger to themselves or others. Intend to pass legislation requiring guns be safely stored in homes. Viewed as obstructive in advancing gun control measures. |
| Privacy Rights |
Claim to support updating the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights to add strong national standards aimed at protecting consumers, employees, patients, and students from data breaches; claim to support updating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act; have shown little progress or commitment to protection of citizen’s 4th Amendment rights. |
Promote an immediate return to 4th Amendment fundamentals; call for dissolution of the FISA Courts and non-renewal of Patriot Act; look to severely limit government surveillance and data collection of/on U.S. citizens; support right to be forgotten laws; will not trade liberties for security. |
Claim to advance policies aimed at protecting U.S. citizen data privacy while fostering innovation and growth and ensuring the free flow of data across borders. Call for, but have done little to restrict use of aerial surveillance on U.S. soil / citizen owned properties; claim to oppose government surveillance devices in our daily lives to include license plate readers and tracking devices in motor vehicles, and support warrantless seizure of personal financial information via The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and Foreign Bank and Asset Reporting Requirements, but little if any legislation has been introduced / passed. |
| National Defense Spending |
Look to ensure our military has the ability to compete and beat global peers; historically perceived to spend less on national defense and proceed slower into conflict – though recent decades might challenge that notion; often suspected of using the military for social experimentation. |
Believe in peace through strength; support a well-financed (5% of the GDP) unified militia (federal and state) supported by a national civil service program; strongly support auditing and oversight of Pentagon spending to ensure expenditures are truly meeting national security goals and objectives; strongly opposed to using the military for social experimentation. |
Strive to appear as the party of patriots and military strength; support oversight and auditing of Pentagon spending to ensure expenditures are truly meeting national security goals and objectives; hold a belief in American exceptionalism which they feel provides the U.S. a unique place of moral leadership in the world. |
| Federal / State / Corporate Taxes |
Oppose corporate tax cuts; contend workers and investors should pay same tax rate; promote family leave and child / dependent care tax credit; look to expand tax credits for domestic manufacturing, rural bio-based manufacturing and low income housing; pursuing tax credits for first time home buyers, and promising student loan forgiveness. Viewed as having the propensity to tax and spend with no intent to return surplus taxes to citizens. |
Believe an equal share means an equal voice; propose all U.S. adult residents and businesses should pay a proportional share (flat rate) in funding the federal government's operating expenses; will seek a constitutional amendment capping citizen and business annual income taxes at a maximum combined federal and state tax rate of 25%; would seek a Constitutional amendment to cap citizen taxes at 25% max; will consider time-limited value added tax for national emergencies and disasters. |
Claim to be the party of tax cuts, but tax policies appear to favor the rich; support tax exemption for religious organizations, charities, and fraternal benevolent societies; favor lowering corporate tax rates to be on a par with, or below, the rates of other industrial nations. |
| Social Security |
Look at Social Security as one of the central pillars supporting their party’s appeal to the working class and lower income Americans. They will forcefully defend the program and can be expected to enact policies aimed at increasing both benefits and beneficiaries. Democrats will fight any attempts by competitive parties to review benefit levels, reduce eligibility requirements, or increase paycheck deductions. |
Support a federally administered Social Security program – for exactly that, security of our society. Equalitarians strongly support review and reevaluations of benefits, eligibility requirements, paycheck deduction levels, and reducing fraud waste and abuse in the program. Equalitarians would pursue these efforts aimed at ensuring the solvency, sustainability, and financial impact on citizen taxpayers. |
Are worried current Social Security payments will lead to a financial and social disaster and project younger Americans will lose faith in expecting a return on what they have paid into the program. Despite Democratic pressure, Republicans believe serious reform and spending cuts are needed to save the program. Some of their solutions include privatization and benefit level reviews. They would prefer not to raise paycheck deductions. |
| Health Care |
A right for every American; will not rest until all residents (to include illegal immigrants) have access to quality health care and affordable prescription drugs. Aim to expand Medicaid and enroll low-income people who do not otherwise have health insurance in a new, high-quality public option without premiums. |
View federal and state governments providing emergency and primary health care - to include prevention programs as a societal responsibility. Encourage and support the purchase of personal health insurance for higher-level care and elective / cosmetic procedures as provided by private hospitals. |
Promote freedom of choice and market based solutions in the selection of personal health care options for U.S. citizens; seek to modernize (but not expand) Medicare by controlling fraud, waste, and abuse. |
| Democrats |
Equalitarians |
Republicans |
| Age of Majority / Adulthood |
Outside of dependence on legal standards, hold unclear definitions or positions on juvenile and adult statuses; look to limit punishment and incarceration teenage offenders while encouraging independent activities in the realm of parental emancipation, gender identity, and drug use; look to federal and state funding for after-school programs, community centers, and summer jobs vice responsible parenting programs to provide youth guidance and reduce at risk populations. |
Aim to combine all adult rights and responsibilities into a single age (e.g., 18 / 19 / 20) and propose the introduction of a civil ceremony to recognize and document the passing from childhood to adulthood (i.e. transition from juvenile to majority status). |
Outside of dependence on legal standards, hold unclear definitions or positions on juvenile and adult statuses; urge states and community groups to help young adults become independent. |
| Environment / Climate Change |
Are working to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement; want to building an equitable, and globally competitive clean energy economy which puts workers and communities first, and leaves no one behind; proposed use of federal resources and authorities across all agencies to deploy green energy solutions. |
Believe the Earth is our host and should be prioritized in environmental decisions; believe climate change is occurring due to human abuses to the host. |
Maintain climate change is far from this nation's most pressing national security issue; view green agendas as the triumph of extremism over common sense. |
| Abortion / Reproductive Rights |
Believe every woman should have unfettered access to contraception and legal abortion. |
Hold that outside of recognized marriage, maintaining the potential for human life is the woman's choice. Equalitarians oppose the use of federal monies for abortion services except in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother or child. We encourage abortion alternative education and adoption services while promoting the use of male and female contraception. |
Oppose abortion; vary in what abortions might be legally allowable; accept / tolerate the use of male and female contraception. |
| Gay Marriage / LGBT+ Rights |
Support state recognized same-sex unions; promote and protect same sex adoption and, sex / gender reassignments, and LGBTQ+ movements. |
Believe all Americans should be treated equally; reject the politicization of identity-based elements; oppose the practice of equal rights being translated into special rights. |
Define traditional marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman. Hold the belief that a traditional marriage and family is the foundation on which free society has been built and should be protected - especially in raising children and developing cultural values. |
| Energy / Fossil Fuel / Alternative / Renewable Sources |
Seek to quickly ween the U.S. off of fossil fuels and dramatically expand renewable energy sources while supporting the Paris Climate Agreement and pushing questionably vetted green agendas; energy policies appear aimed at shifting market forces and government subsidies to party friendly nations and corporations |
Encourage a speedy transition from carbon-based fossil fuels to wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar solutions where and when possible; look to simultaneously decrease dependence on Mid-Eastern oil and limit security cooperation with some regional partners in an effort to limit outside influence on national policy. |
Support the development of all forms of energy in a free market economy; cautious toward aligning with left-leaning green agendas; often appear beholden to Mid-Eastern and “Big-Oil” interests and indifferent to environmental consequence of current U.S. energy supply strategies. |
| National Identity Card |
Oppose national and voter ID laws. |
National ID card supported with voter ID requirements reserved for the states. Proof of citizenship and photo ID required when registering and voting in for Federal elections. Mandatory use of E-verify employment authorization and identity of employees. |
Voter ID requirements reserved for the states. Proof of citizenship required when registering to vote and photo ID when voting. Mandatory use of E-verify employment authorization and identity of employees. |
| Civil Litigation (Tort) Reform |
Ensure alleged victims of federal, state, or local law enforcement power abuses can seek justice through civil litigation, promote low or no bail policies; look to rein in the use of qualified immunity and support efforts to eliminate forced arbitration clauses in employment and service contracts, which they claim unfairly strip consumers, workers, students, retirees, and investors of their legal rights. |
Seek damage caps on how much an injured person can receive after a successful lawsuit without limiting punitive damages level which should be distributed to affected sector of society; support state and federal legislation to cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits in tandem with lowering health care provider insurance costs. |
Support state and federal legislation to lower medical provider insurance costs, cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits; look to protect teachers from frivolous lawsuits. |
| Democrats |
Equalitarians |
Republicans |
| U.S. Role in Ukraine |
Fully support Ukrainian independence; see conflict as a way to weaken Russia and restore lost influence in the Middle East and rebuild NATO’s post-Afghanistan purpose and mission set; look to message China on the potential consequences of forcefully reintegrating Taiwan. |
Fully support Ukrainian independence; see conflict as a way to rebuild trust in U.S. signed agreements (e.g. 1994’s Budapest Memorandum), strengthening regional alliances, and globally message that military invasions of sovereign nations in the 21st century are a historical practice and if conducted will bear significant consequences. |
Support Ukrainian independence though appear to question integrity of the country’s government and question level current of security assistance spending levels; quietly appreciate current administration’s messaging to China on the potential consequence of forcefully reintegrating Taiwan. |
| Washington D.C. Statehood |
Unequivocally support statehood so the citizens of the District can at last have full and equal representation in Congress and the rights of self-determination. |
Remind citizens the U.S. Constitution dictates the federal district be under the jurisdiction of Congress (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17). The Washington, D.C. Admission Act violates the Constitution and could potentially create a super-state with unrivaled power. The party recommends those living in Washington D.C. establish residency in either Maryland or Virginia. |
Hold the nation’s capital city belongs to its residents and all Americans. Statehood can only be achieved by Constitutional amendment which was soundly rejected in the late seventies. |
