Michigan's Democrats
by J. Siwik
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Michigan State is located in the East North Central United States. It is
unique among the states because it consists of two peninsulas completely
separated by water and bordering on four of the five Great Lakes. Michigan
was admitted to the Union on January 26 1837 as the 26th state. The way
of life in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, with its vast industrial development,
has become to symbolize the 20th – century United States. The Upper Peninsula
is a less populated region of great natural beauty that is known as a recreation
and wilderness area.
The Michigan Democratic Party is committed to economic growth, opportunity, and the equal distribution of financial rewards. To develop technological capabilities the party is going to work with the business community. They want people to achieve their full potential by providing job-training programs. The party’s goals are to develop good jobs with high wages, long term job security and high productivity. Due to the Engler administration’s indifference to economic development efforts, it now lags behind in large measures. The Party supports Job-training programs that will help prepare workers for future jobs in their communities. Michigan’s skilled worked force helped make us an industrial giant, with Willow Run in Ypsilanti, Ameritech in Lansing and General Motors in Flint. Other states have pushed to take away the jobs and industries while the Engler administration has been content to sit on the sidelines. The party states that in order to get existing workers and young employed workers ready, we must update and increase technological skills needed and the training they will need the for the workplace in the future. The party says that job-training funds should not be used to depress wage scales or substitute for existing workers, nor should they be used as a substitute for adult education programs. Since the success or failure of Michigan’s economic future hinges on the condition of its infrastructure, the party demands adequate maintenance of essential services along with planning for future development of public works by designing expandable systems. The Party is committed to investigate its infrastructure in order to provide building blocks necessary for advancement in the economy to our citizens. To redevelop its urban core, thus preserving more of its undeveloped, environmental treasures, the party will use the state Renaissance Zone and Brownfield Development laws. It will encourage the state’s colleges and universities to increase the training and technical assistance services for entrepreneurs in distressed areas. The party must first take an active role in assisting in community based improvement initiatives, including private, non profit corporations, by providing funds and leadership to encourage self-help projects, before it can expand housing opportunities for all Michigan citizens. The Party says that Privatization is little more than an effort to strip public employees of their wages and benefits while diminishing their rights on the job. The state should implement an audit and halt further privatization efforts until proper controls can be established on existing contracts. The state should require all prospective bidders to report all political contributions to fight further corruption in the awarding of contracts. Although the state law can and should protect workers on the job, collective bargaining offers greater economic security, job safety and dignity for Michigan workers. The party supports equal pay legislation so those workers in female-dominated occupations no longer earn less than those in comparable male-dominated occupations. When workers are injured on the job, they need the safety net of worker compensation benefits to tie them over until they can return to work. Workers should not risk the death, illness, or injury on the Job. MOISHA, Michigan’s job safety program can save lives and prevent injuries if given a chance. Unemployment benefits used to provide the average worker with only 80% of the poverty level for a family of four doesn’t even do that anymore. Michigan Democrats firmly reject the philosophy of the so-called “Paycheck Protection” movement as an attack on the working families financed and backed by corporate interests and foreign lobbyists. They will vow to fight it wherever it rears its ugly head. The Party supports tax relief for those who bear the greatest tax burden, which are the poor people of society, by raising the floor on the Michigan income tax so that those living below the poverty level would be exempt. They also support a state earned income tax credit, which would provide tax relief for the working poor, while at the same time boosting local economies. The party states that the tax system should be stable, not due to the ups and downs of the business cycle. It should be simple and raise adequate revenues to pay for necessary public services. In health care issues the party platform is that of the national party. They will continue to support steps, which will move the country toward our goals of universal coverage with access for all to quality, affordable care based on social insurance principles. They will continue to oppose of health benefits, which is an attack on the real wages and living standards of working American. To find out more about Michigan Democratic Party you can visit them at http://www.mi-democrats.com and for information regarding their platform you can visit their platform homepage at http://www.mi-democrats.com\platform.htm Work Cited Microsoft Encarta 99. 1993-98 Microsoft Corporation. |