Bruin Democrats Platform:

Stability in Iraq
As Bruin Democrats we believe in increasing the role of the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq to add legitimacy and to reduce the number of US casualties.

Public Education
As Bruin Democrats we believe that Public education is the most significant factor in determining our country’s future, therefore we must place a greater importance upon the improvement of our public school system through the recruitment of better and more dedicated teachers, by reducing classroom size, by preventing further funding cuts and allocating increased funds, and by raising the quality of inner – city schools to meet national standards.

Balanced Budget
As Bruin Democrats we oppose Bush's ruinous economic policies, which have created the largest budget deficit in our nation's history and lost over 2 million jobs. Bush's trillion dollar tax cut for the rich - which will be shouldered by us, the average American - turned a $200 billion annual surplus into a $300 billion annual deficit. Under funding his own programs, such as No Child Left Behind, Bush is passing the burden to the state and local governments. California - not the federal government - is paying a disproportionate share for Homeland Security. As Bruin Democrats we support a balanced budget for the state of California and the United States. We believe that it is fiscally irresponsible to borrow from the future in times of relative economic prosperity and that defense spending should not be increased at the same time that cuts are made in social programs and education.

The Environment
As Bruin Democrats we believe that protecting our natural resources and pristine wilderness is critical during the upcoming election because since his election in 2000, George W. Bush has presided over the most environmental protection cutbacks of any president in history. Under misnomers such as the “the Clean Air Act” and “the Healthy Forest Initiative,” President Bush has shot down our standards, fighting for weak and ineffective “market – based strategies” – another way of saying “let polluters do what they will.”

Civil Liberties
As Bruin Democrats we believe that sacrificing even one civil liberty to fight the war on terror negates the essential ideal we are trying to defend. Specifically, to defend civil rights, we support a large revision of the Patriot Act and challenge the practice of labeling American citizens as enemy combatants.

University Funding
As Bruin Democrats, we believe in the importance of education for all, regardless of income. Thus, public universities should be adequately funded so as to ensure the best possible education for all young Americans. Sufficient funding will support valuable research and the education of those who will build the economy of tomorrow.

Universal Healthcare
As Bruin Democrats we believe that every citizen of the United States is entitled to quality, affordable healthcare, because a nation that can put a man on the moon should be able to take care of its most defenseless citizens. The majority of industrialized nations provide universal health care for their citizens. It is a travesty that the United States does not.

Gay Marriage
As Bruin Democrats we believe that no person should be discriminated against based on sexual orientation, and as such no two consenting adults should be denied a marriage license for reasons of sexual orientation.

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