Wake County Young Democrats

The Executive Board of the Wake County Young Democrats has voted unanimously to approve and to adopt the platform ratified by the Young Democrats of North Carolina. That platform has been recreated below for your benefit.

The Bylaws of the Wake County Young Democrats are available here.

PREAMBLE

North Carolina’s tradition of progressive government is due to the leadership of a strong Democratic Party. The Young Democrats of North Carolina endorse the Democratic Party’s commitment to freedom, fairness, human rights, and responsible leadership.

The Young Democrats of North Carolina and its affiliated clubs provide a vehicle for young citizens to advance the principles of the Democratic Party. This Platform outlines the Young Democrats’ views on the important issues facing our state and nation.

AGRICULTURE

Farming is important to all North Carolinians, and we respect the contributions made by farmers and agribusiness to our economy and our way of life. A sound farm economy supports rural economic development, provides thousands of jobs on and off the farm, and keeps food prices reasonably low for all of us.

• The YDNC supports increased agriculture research and education and expanded government efforts to develop regional, statewide, and international markets for our farm products.
• The YDNC encourages the government and farmers to develop innovative, environmentally safe means of animal waste disposal.
• The YDNC recognizes the importance of tobacco farming to our economy and the lives of thousands of people on and off the farm. We support efforts to aid tobacco farmers and related workers who wish to transition out of the industry or to other types of farming.
• The YDNC encourages local, state, and federal governments to work together to conserve prime farmland.
• The YDNC supports efforts to maintain the health of our animal agriculture and the safety of our food supply.

CONSUMER PROTECTION AND FINANCIAL SECURITY

Government at all levels should protect citizens from unscrupulous business practices.

• The YDNC urges government agencies to continue their efforts to protect consumers and to promote confidence in a marketplace that is free from price fixing, unfair restraints of trade, deception, fraud, and other abuses of the free enterprise system.
• While the YDNC supports policies and regulations that ensure fair and responsible practices on the part of the business community, we urge policy makers to avoid excessive regulation that unnecessarily inhibits free enterprise.
• We support legislation to guarantee that affordable insurance will be widely available, while respecting claimants’ rights to fair compensation for injury and loss.
• Regulation of financial institutions and public utilities should emphasize high-quality service at a reasonable cost for all consumers, particularly for basic services.
• The YDNC supports efforts to strengthen income support programs (i.e., unemployment compensation, Social Security, veterans’ benefits, etc.).
• The YDNC supports a regulatory environment that allows businesses to more effectively compete in the global marketplace, as well as necessary protection of North Carolina-based businesses from unfair trade practices of other states and countries.
• The YDNC favors trade agreements that will not harm the environment, compromise our labor standards, or ignore the open markets of other countries around the world.

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

The Young Democrats of North Carolina believe in economic opportunity for all citizens. We believe that government at all levels can play a positive role in supporting economic growth. A strong economy, bolstered by a fair tax system and a vibrant educational structure, is the cornerstone for stable and thriving communities and for the advancement of all citizens.

• The YDNC supports government that operates in a fiscally responsible manner.
• The YDNC supports a tax system that is progressive and reliable and that allows the state’s businesses to remain competitive. State tax laws should promote ease of compliance and low cost administration.
• The YDNC supports the continued diversification of the North Carolina economy, especially the attraction and expansion of technology-oriented and knowledge-based businesses and industries. We also support programs to retain and improve the competitiveness of the state’s traditional economic engines—agriculture and manufacturing.
• The YDNC believes in educational opportunity for all citizens. All public schools should receive adequate funding to deliver a quality, basic education. We support increased government support for higher education to ensure all North Carolina citizens who choose to can pursue post-secondary education.
• The YDNC believes that all workers should be paid a living wage, work in safe and healthy conditions, and have access to training to prepare for changes in the labor market.
• The YDNC supports employment laws and practices that prevent discrimination in the workplace because of race, gender, sexual orientation, creed, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status.
• The YDNC supports adequate unemployment benefits for all workers.
• The YDNC supports public assistance programs that require personal responsibility in return for receiving benefits.
• The YDNC supports small business development. Tax incentives should be designed to support businesses expanding their operations within the state just as incentives are offered to businesses and industries locating in North Carolina from outside the state’s borders.
• The YDNC supports increased funds for building affordable housing and for expanding the dream of home ownership.
• The YDNC supports the building of a widespread public transportation system throughout North Carolina as a tool to link rural and urban North Carolina and to generate economic growth.
• The YDNC supports the continued development of statewide information infrastructures to provide the Internet and other means of communication to all areas of the state to promote the economic, educational, and social goals of North Carolina.

EDUCATION

Under our state constitution, North Carolinians have a right to a high quality education. Our state must have an outstanding education system in order to produce an informed community, to promote economic development, and to build for an economic future characterized by high-skill and high-wage employment.

• The YDNC believe that access to education is critical, and no one should be denied opportunities based on physical, emotional, mental or learning disabilities, or immigration status.
• We support programs that combat illiteracy and promote mentoring. Public schools should offer a comprehensive education in the sciences, humanities, arts, and athletics.
• The YDNC supports programs to expand pre-school opportunities such as the “Smart Start” and “More at Four” initiatives to improve pre-school education and to involve parents/families in the education of their young children
• The YDNC supports legislation that will raise K-12 teacher salaries across the state to the national average, and we support efforts to streamline bureaucracy to permit increased focus on quality teaching. We also encourage policies designed to enhance communication between schools and parents.
• The YDNC realizes that education does not end with formal schooling; we support initiatives to encourage life-long learning among our citizens.
• We support the principles of excellence, affordability, and inclusiveness in higher education. The government and public universities should focus need-based aid efforts on grants rather than loans to reduce student indebtedness. We support the creation of tax policies that support education and families by offering child and educational tax credits.

ENVIRONMENT

The YDNC believes that a clean and safe environment is critical to the well being of our communities, the prosperity of future generations, and ultimately the survival of human life. We are stewards of the environment and must act accordingly.

• The YDNC believes that all people have a fundamental right to live in an environment where the generation and effects of pollutants are minimized. We urge particular attention to air and water quality issues.
• The YDNC supports the use and development of economically sound, environmentally safe renewable alternative fuels for energy.
• The YDNC supports initiatives that require private and public institutions to recycle waste that is fit to be recycled, and encourages the expansion of recycling programs where feasible.
• We support a national energy policy that decreases dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
• The YDNC supports logging and timber management techniques that foster reforestation and provide a viable habitat for our native wildlife.
• The YDNC urges constant vigilance to ensure the safety of existing nuclear power facilities and the development of efficient and safe means to dispose of or reuse nuclear and hazardous wastes.
• We support strengthening laws against illegal dumping of toxic chemicals and waste, and call for aggressive prosecution of those who violate these laws. Those who illegally damage our environment should pay for the cost of clean-up.
• We oppose the siting of hazardous waste generating and disposal facilities in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
• The YDNC encourages the strategic development of smart growth plans to preserve green space.

GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS

The Democratic Party is open to all persons and does not restrict membership based on ideology. However, the YDNC recognizes the importance of encouraging participation by those persons whose principles generally are in accord with those of the Democratic Party as outlined in the Party Platform.

• The YDNC believes responsible government should serve all people and encourage their active participation in the political process regardless of their race, age, challenges, sexual orientation, religion, creed, or gender.
• We believe that voting is both a right and a responsibility, and that impediments to the exercise of that right should not be tolerated. We support efforts to register historically underrepresented populations.
• The YDNC supports campaigning honestly and vigorously with a focus on the issues of paramount concerns to our communities, state, and nation. To encourage more honorable campaigns, we endorse the “stand by your ad” laws that require candidates to clearly identify the sponsor of campaign advertisements.
• We support the passage and enforcement of campaign finance reform laws to minimize the effect of money on the ability of a candidate to compete.
• The YDNC supports measures to increase communications and interaction with all parts of the Democratic Party. As young Democrats we especially encourage the Party to include the various auxiliary organizations that form the base of the Democratic Party.

HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Without access to adequate health care, a person cannot contribute to society or support him/herself and his/her family. Therefore, we support a government that ensures health care access to all and promotes social responsibility.

• The YDNC opposes discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, height, weight, sexual orientation, age, national origin, creed, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status.
• Access to affordable, quality health care should be available to all citizens. The YDNC supports reforms that emphasize this principle, including prescription drug coverage for senior citizens.
• The YDNC supports the mandatory insurance coverage of prevention and treatment of gender specific health concerns. We also support legislation that encourages medical research in the areas of gender specific health concerns.
• The YDNC strongly supports medical research leading to the prevention and treatment of diseases affecting children.
• The YDNC believes that contraceptive methods should be included in medical coverage.
• The YDNC believes that access to family planning is a vital component of health care.
• The YDNC supports a woman’s right to reproductive freedom. We also support including abortion procedures as part of comprehensive health coverage provided by governmental and private insurance programs.
• The YDNC supports adequate funding for HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs. We also support persons with HIV/AIDS receiving sufficient funding for HIV/AIDS medications. We oppose discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS both domestically and internationally.
• The YDNC strongly believes that teens should have confidential access to public health and mental health programs.
• The YDNC supports programs to assist small businesses provide health insurance to their employees.
• The YDNC supports state and local health departments’ programs to provide quality pre-natal care for all mothers during pregnancy.
• The YDNC supports aggressive teen pregnancy prevention efforts across the state.
• The YDNC supports sex education in our public schools that emphasizes abstinence but also provides factual information on human anatomy and biology, birth control, and sexually transmitted disease.
• The YDNC encourages policies that make the practice of medicine in rural areas an attractive option for health care providers.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION

No citizen of North Carolina should live in fear of crime. The YDNC supports efforts to dramatically reduce crime rates throughout the state. The YDNC also embraces the rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution. Our personal freedom should not be unreasonably compromised.

• The YDNC supports all those who wear the badges of public safety and law enforcement. The YDNC encourages the funding and organizational support needed by public safety agencies to effectively protect citizens. We also support strict policies on accountability for law enforcement officials (i.e., excessive force).
• The YDNC supports and encourages partnerships between schools and local law enforcement to combat illegal drug use and violence in schools.
• The YDNC supports the expansion of peer mediation to all middle and high schools to reduce school violence and vandalism.
• The YDNC supports strengthening community policing programs.
• All violent crimes are hate crimes. Violent offenders should be aggressively prosecuted, and sentencing should be firm, fair and consistent.
• The YDNC opposes the profiling of suspects on characteristics unrelated to a specific or anticipated crime.
• The YDNC supports the reasonable regulation of firearms including background checks of all gun purchasers, mandatory firearm training and safety courses, and enhanced sentencing for crimes involving firearms.
• The YDNC supports elevating the rights of victims to at least equal status of the rights of criminals and the accused.
• The YDNC believes that the purpose of incarceration includes rehabilitating inmates so they can successfully assimilate into society upon their release. We encourage revamping the prison system to emphasize rehabilitation, education and job training.
• The YDNC supports reform of the juvenile criminal justice system, with emphasis on rehabilitation and separating juvenile offenders from adult offenders.
• The YDNC recognizes the passionate feelings surrounding the death penalty. We call on all sides to support a moratorium on executions to permit a thorough study of the accuracy and fairness of capital convictions. The YDNC strongly opposes the execution of the mentally retarded.
• The YDNC supports the mandatory registration of convicted sex offenders, as well as neighborhood notification where these offenders live.
• The YDNC supports continued research on medical uses for marijuana (and all its forms), and on any additional drugs otherwise banned from legal use.

VOLUNTEERISM

The Democratic Party has always been on the forefront of important issues. We are also a Party of action. The YDNC calls on its members to work diligently to increase our membership and the membership activity in the statewide and local electoral process. Besides electing and supporting Democratic officials and candidates, the YDNC membership must live our principals and values through community-based activism, whether through religious or non-profit organizations, private foundations, public institutions, or individually. We must live up to North Carolina’s motto - “to be rather than to seem”.