What We Stand For

We are dedicated to:

• Maintaining safety and security while seeking peace and cooperation;
  
• Sustainable stewardship of our environment;
  
• Fairness and economic opportunity, access to quality education and health care for all;
  
• Equal treatment of all before the law;
  
• Fiscal responsibility, integrity, openness and accountability in government;
  
• Personal freedom, security, and privacy;
  
• Respect, tolerance, and compassion for different belief systems and cultures.
  

We believe in putting our Democratic values into action and we encourage every citizen to join us in local civic involvement.  We welcome support of our platform and help toward improving our quality of life and strengthening our democracy.

We adopt this platform to ensure that voters, candidates for public office, and public officials understand and support our goals.

Click here to read the full platform
Click here to read other Party documents

AGRICULTURE

Production of food is critical to national security.  We are proud that agriculture is a leading industry in Washington State.  We recognize the role of farmers as "stewards of the land," and we support programs that ensure the availability of high-quality food, strengthen rural communities, preserve family farms and maintain the productivity of the land. This requires legislation that sustains farming when calamities occur and that ensures that farmers and farm workers earn a fair return on their efforts, are safe in doing that work, and produce food that is safe to eat.
click here to read the report from out Agriculture/Rural Caucus

CORPORATE POWER AND MEDIA REFORM

We believe that Corporations are important to our economy and standard of living, but that government is created by, of and for the people, not corporations.
We believe that the free flow of information is fundamental to democracy. We believe the public owns the broadcast frequencies and the Internet, which should be managed to serve the public interest. We believe that internet neutrality is fundamental to preserving the value of the Internet for the public.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT

We believe that economic justice for all is essential to the existence of a democratic society. Favoritism toward the wealthiest has permitted them undue influence on public policy, to the detriment of everyone else. Taxation policies that are fair and equitable for all taxpayers, not just a favored few, are a keystone of economic justice.

EDUCATION

We believe that an excellent, quality public education, preschool through post-secondary, with equal access for all is fundamental to maintaining a healthy democracy. "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provisions for the education of all children." The Washington State Constitution - 1889

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

We must strive to be responsible stewards of the environment, our communities, and our planet. All people, including future generations, have the right to clean air and water, uncontaminated food, and a healthy natural environment.

FOREIGN POLICY

The United States should lead by example and work within the world community in a spirit of peace, cooperation, and generosity, using democratic ideals with diplomacy and mutual respect rather than force.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL REFORM

We believe that our government derives its legitimacy solely from the people. We are committed to a representative democracy that encourages maximum participation, a voting process that is legitimate, fair, transparent, and open to all citizens, and a principle that requires the responsibility of voters and those whom they elect.

HEALTH CARE

Health care is a basic human right. Our government should assure, and guarantee by law, accessible and affordable health care for all.

We believe in establishing an ethically-based, not-for-profit health care system, serving patients and public health needs focusing on optimal patient outcomes at a cost we can afford.

HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN SERVICES

We recognize that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all human beings are the foundations of freedom, justice and peace in the world. The strength of our democracy rests on the rights and responsibilities set forth in the U.S. Constitution, the "Bill of Rights" and the subsequent Amendments to the Constitution. Food, shelter, privacy, education, employment opportunities and access to quality health care are essential to ensuring basic human rights.

IMMIGRATION

Immigrants have historically strengthened America and continue to do so. We applaud cultural pluralism and believe that all people, regardless of their country of origin or their legal status, deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity, and that all people have a right to equal treatment under the law. Immigrants to the United States should be helped in a systematic manner to know how and be able to live productive lives in our society.

INDIAN TRIBES AND TREATIES

Indian tribes share a common history with the United States. American Indian Tribal Governments make up a part of our national identity and community. We recognize them as self-determining, self-governing, and separate governments. Local, state, and federal governments must respect the decisions of the Native American Nations and tribal governments, affirm their rights derived from treaties and state compacts, and oppose attempts to diminish their sovereignty and cultures.

LABOR

A strong economy is based upon jobs that provide safe working conditions, a fair and living wage, and health and retirement benefits. The benefits are obtained and ensured by workers' rights to organize unions for collective bargaining.

LAW AND JUSTICE

We recognize that civil order is necessary to the survival of a free and democratic state. Civil order and justice can occur only when all persons are equal before the law. In the pursuit of civil order, we affirm the legal principles upon which a free and democratic society relies. We affirm Liberty and Justice for everyone residing in the U.S. according to the Constitution and believe that criminal justice and human rights are linked.

MILITARY

We pledge honor and support to both our troops and our veterans who act in the service of our country. Washington citizens have always answered their country's call to duty, and we are proud of our military contributions to the nation.

TRANSPORTATION

We believe that an efficient, flexible and far-sighted transportation system is vital to healthy communities, a healthy economy and a healthy environment.