1988 STATE PLATFORM: DEMOCRATIC PARTY


                                  HUMAN CONCERNS
  We reaffirm the Democratic Party's commitment to the equality of rights,
privileges, and op-
portunities for all individuals, without regard to race, color, sex, marital
status, age, class, occu-
pation, income, national origin, ancestry, disability, physical appearance,
living arrangements,
sexual orientation, or political or religious preference. We support expansion
and effective en-
forcement of civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation. We oppose
sexual stereotyping,
particularly in education, jobs, wages, and the written and spoken word.
We support the con-
cept of pay equity.
  We support strict enforcement of the Constitutional principles of separation
of state and
church.
  We assert that everyone should have the opportunity to lead dignified,
healthy, useful and
secure lives free of abuse, with the assurance of adequate health care, and
an acceptable standard
of living. Family planning services should be readily accessible, rendered
in confidentiality with-
out governmental interference. We support the right of individuals to make
their own indepen-
dent moral, religious, philosophical and medical decisions, including decisions
regarding repro-
duction and death with dignity.
  We demand adequate funding for health care, rehabilitation, housing, education
and employ-
ment opportunities for all veterans who need assistance.
  We demand adequate funding for research, treatment, humane care and public
and school
education to halt the AIDS epidemic. We support legislation to prevent discrimination
against
people with AIDS or their families.
  A sound and adequate system of human services, including Social Security,
Medicare, cata-
strophic health insurance, unemployment compensation and medical assistance
is essential. We
favor establishment and support of programs for the aging, subsidized home
care and long-term
care.
  We call upon the federal, state and local governments to abide by the spirit
of all treaties with
Native American Nations.
  Education is critical to our democracy. Education underlies a strong economy,
a strong de-
fense, a strong system of justice, and freedom from poverty. We urge the
federal government to
assume its responsibility for improving the funding of public education,
both directly and by
means of student financial aid.
  Our state education policy should promote increased cooperation between
local school boards
and state government in educating children to develop their full intellectual,
emotional, physical
and social potential. State government should help provide affordable, life
long education.
  We endorse the establishment and funding of accessible and affordable quality
day care cen-
ters for children, supported by state and federal governments and private
industry.
  Children have the right to educational opportunities in public schools
and in self-supporting
certified private schools. We encourage the implementation of students' rights
to participate in
the governance of post-secondary institutions.
  Persons of all ages must be guaranteed access to information available
in all public libraries
throughout the state and nation. These libraries must be supported by all
levels of government.

        RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT, CITIZEN & CONSUMER PROTECTION
   Government must be responsive to the needs and will of the people, while
at all times protect-
ing individual rights and freedoms. Government itself must conform to and
abide by all laws.
  To secure political liberty and to promote true democracy, we must ensure
freedom of infor-
mation; make available public financing of campaigns; safeguard Constitutional
protections and
individual rights; and encourage open, full and fair debate on issues.
   Government must strengthen and rigorously enforce all consumer and worker
protection
laws.
  Government must deal effectively with crime, protecting the rights of victims,
witnesses and
the accused. Individuals must be secure against injury to person and property.
   Public financing of legal representation of indigent defendants must be
maintained. Court
ordered restitution for victims must be vigorously enforced, and witness
protection programs
expanded. Adequate levels of funding must be maintained to protect lawfully
against all crime,


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