Platform

Sen. Dewey Cheatem: Not for Sale

Economic Justice

I believe in the importance of re-building the American middle class and ending poverty in the United States. We cannot have a meaningful democracy or real political participation unless all people are able to make ends meet. Part of that means reversing the wealth redistribution from the poor to the rich, who already control half of all wealth in the United States.

Education

We need a better public education system--an education system without the massive racial and gender disparities we see now; an education system that works for all students; an education system that is well-funded and able to make us competitive with the rest of the world.

Criminal Justice Reform

Our criminal justice system has failed people of color. Our drug laws are enforced disproportionately against Black men; our use of private prisons has created perverse incentives to artificially inflate our already appalling incarceration rate; our law enforcement officers are able to literally get away with murder.

Labor Rights

Among the reasons our middle and working class has collapsed is the campaign by the far-right to undermine unions. We need to push back and free unions from the restrictions that have been imposed on them.

Infrastructure

Our country is collapsing around us. Public transit is a mess and cannot afford even vital repairs; bridges fall down due to lack of maintenance; many Americans lack even basic Internet. We need to re-invest in America through a massive injection of funds--which will also boost our economy and relieve unemployment.

Nature and the Environment

Our parks have a massive backlog in repairs and the ability to expand services, even as more and more Americans enjoy our parks system every year. We need to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy our parks too.

LGBT Equality

LGBT people have been denied equal rights for too long. Even though the Supreme Court has found that the fundamental right to marry applies to same-sex couples, under federal law it remains legal to fire someone for marrying someone of the same-sex. Meanwhile, transgender Americans face disproportionate rates of poverty and homelessness.

To combat such discrimination, I have co-sponsored the Equality Act, which prohibited discrimination against LGBT people at the federal level. Though much work remains to be done, I believe that my work will continue to make great strides.

Immigration and Foreign Policy

The United States is a beacon of freedom -- it is high time we start acting like it. As a nation of immigrants, we must welcome those fleeing from persecution and war. As a nation committed to liberty and equal justice, we must ensure that we do not fund nations or groups directly contrary to our ideals.

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