Green-Rainbow Party positions on the 2008 elections

Shall the representative from this district be instructed (1) to support legislation that would establish health care as a human right regardless of age, state of health or employment status, by creating a single payer health insurance system that is comprehensive, cost effective, and publicly provided to all residents of Massachusetts, and (2) to oppose any laws penalizing the uninsured for failing to obtain health insurance?

Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that: (1) reduces greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts by 80% by 2020, and (2) phases out tax incentives for energy-intensive projects, while expanding job creation programs for locally-owned businesses and cooperatives involved in renewable energy, conservation, and sustainable agriculture?

Vote McKinney/Clemente for Real Change!

Support Vladimir Morales for Amherst Select Board

This irresponsible proposal would eliminate the MA income tax, cut $12.7 Billion (40%) out of the state budget, and immediately lead to draconian cuts in public services and would drive up local property taxes and other regressive taxes and fees. This would be harmful for all of us who live in the Commonwealth and especially be destructive for those people and communities that need government services the most.

The Green-Rainbow Party stands for state government that functions in the public interest supported by progressive taxation of the kind needed for living in sustainable and healthy communities, serving their inhabitants rather than private corporate interests. The need to protect the Massachusetts economy from the foreseeable consequences of the 'fiscal crisis' must be addressed by reversing the continuing increase is disparities of income. Progressive income taxes are needed to improve the health of our economy, and to provide the monies urgently required for rebuilding its physical infrastructure.

The "War on Drugs" is ripping apart the social fabric of our country. It is a major force driving the imprisonment of over 2.3 million people, with African-Americans and Latinos disproportionately represented in our over-flowing jails and prisons. Meanwhile, harm reducing strategies, including access to affordable community-based drug treatment, along with educational and economic opportunities, have been shown to be successful at reducing the harms of drug misuse, yet more then half of those in need of drug treatment do not have access to it.

The GRP believes that it is past time to medicalize, decriminalize and legalize natural drugs, and treat drug abuse as a public health problem rather than a criminal matter. We can use the Billions being wasted on a failed and punitive policy to fund effective social programs that strengthen our cities, rather than tearing them apart.

At Massachusetts racetracks, thousands of dogs have their lives used up to support an industry that even the track owners acknowledge is failing. These gentle animals endure lives of terrible confinement, kept in cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for 20 or more hours each day. They suffer injuries, breaking their legs, necks and backs. To make matters even worse, our tax dollars subsidizes this cruelty with Millions of Dollars in tax breaks every year for the owners of this industry.