California’s Democrats
by Blossom Bradley
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California is a large and diverse state with an interesting political history.
Starting with the gold rush of 1849, people from all over the United States
and the globe have moved to California in search of better prospects.
The Gold Rush of 1849 brought a diverse group of Americans to California.
What the Gold Rush of 1849 started, the Southern Pacific Railroad finished.
In the process of building the transcontinental railroad, many ethnic groups
settled in California. Large numbers of Chinese and other immigrants
built the railroad. People who lacked opportunity in the East moved
to California in hopes of bettering themselves.
With the start of World War II, defense contracting expanded economic prosperity for California and produced a highly skilled work force. Aside from government contracting, small business and self-employment are a big part of the economy. The 1849 Gold Rush exploited natural resources. It is this tradition of exploiting natural resources which has lead to environmental problems. Democrats in the state aim to clean the environment, regulate industrial environmental practices, and create job all at the same time. Democrats want to end coastal under water mining and the dumping of toxic materials in the ocean. Money should be set aside for beach and ocean clean up programs. The state’s forests also needs protecting and democrats would like to see an end to cutting down ancient redwood and other species of trees. It is important to state democrats to closely monitor government and industrial industry in California. Reforms are needed to regulate mining and drilling practices, along with strict anti-air pollution laws. There is also a strong anti-nuclear desert waste storage and disposal movement among Californian democrats. Among the hot spots in California’s political arena is Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action is defined in The Merriam-Webster Dictionary as, “an active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women.” In a 1994 vote Californians voted in favor of Proposition 209 which makes it illegal for the state to employ racial preferences and quotas. By supporting Affirmative Action the Party hopes to encourage hiring which does not discriminate by culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. The Democratic Party hopes to overturn Proposition 209. Labor issues important to the State Democratic Party. It supports the spread of unions, and opposes the replacing of full time jobs with temporary ones. These workers often do not have medical and pension benefits. The State Democratic Party support portable health care which would move with the worker from job to job. Increases in workmen’s compensation and unemployment insurance is also supported. Crime is at a high level in urban areas of the state. Democrats do not just want to punish criminal offenders, they also want to organize a comprehensive plan to decrease crime through law enforcement and social programs. Part of the social aspect would be an increase in funding for drug addiction treatment and state support of poverty ending measures such as a livable wage. Democrats also support stiffer sentences foe those convicted of domestic violence crimes and rape. All efforts undermine existing gun control laws, such as the ban on assault weapons and the fifteen day back ground check on gun purchasers, are also fought by California’s democrats. In an effort to curtail crime, democrats in California support programs which aid children and young people in need. Lightening social workers’ case loads and extending the same rights given to adults to abused and neglected children are both supported by the party. Funding for programs like after school, conflict resolution and problem solving education, anti-hate crime education, school lunches, outreach programs, immunization programs, and sex education in high schools. The Democratic Party also supports the reinstatement of Social Security benefits for children of documented immigrants. Promoting business growth is also important to Democrats in California. To achieve a greater educated work force, democrats want to give tax credits to business which financially encourage their employees to seek higher education and training. Another tax credit to reward and encourage long term investments in small businesses is also supported by democrats. To keep aerospace and high technology jobs in California, democrats support investments in transportation programs, federal contracts, and any other measure which keeps California competitive with other states in the cost of running a business. Political reform is another goal of the state party. To improve lower voter turn out in recent elections, the Democratic Party supports extended voting hours and a vote by mail program. To improve the integrity of the election process, democrats in California support free media for candidates in political races, and publicly financing of major political campaigns and limited funding for established political parties. General health care and health care reform is a major concern to the Party. The Democratic Party is opposed to recent attempts at eliminating Medi-care, Medi-Cal and other health services for the poor. Protecting a woman’s right to access all reproductive and health services is important to the Democratic Party. Included in this category are abortions, contraceptives, counseling, and non-surgical abortion alternatives. Comprehensive medical coverage for all people, including options for alternative medicine, is supported by Democrats. HMO’s need to be regulated to ensure policy holders are not denied need care. California’s democrats support needle exchange programs. In short, the California Democrats favor a broad range of government social programs, as the best way to reduce poverty, injustice, and the ills of society in general. Almanac of the 50 States Carol Berkin et al., Making America A History of the United States, vol. 2. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. The California Democratic Party, 1998 Democratic Platform, http://www.ca-dem.org/ The Merriam Webster Dictionary. 5 ed. 1997. |