Platform

From 2000-2005, Michigan has: lost 218,000 manufacturing jobs; seen incomes drop over 15%; pushed 353,000 more people to live in poverty; the total is 1.3 million; added 250,000 to those with no health insurance; the total is 1.1 million; increased 4 year college tuition 33%; 2 year tuition is up 11%. seen thousands of city residents suffer cutoffs of heat, water. increased the prison population to 50,000 and spend $2 billion on prisons ($30,000 per inmate)* We need: a public works program to provide jobs to all who want to work, at union wages and benefits; to support and expand affirmative action programs; defeat the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative quality health insurance for all residents quality education for all children K-12 at neighborhood schools subsidized college tuition for all residents who want higher education. a moratorium on all utility cutoffs The war in Iraq The war against Iraq, now in its 3rd year, con­centrates all our problems as a state and as a na­tion. It has been orchestrated by the wealthy owners of the oil and banking industries. It is immoral, wasteful, full of corruption and harm­ful to the interests of the overwhelming majority of people. The Republican and Democratic Par­ties continue to support this war despite polls showing the majority oppose it. Children as well as adults of the working classes of the United States and Iraq die, nearly 100 from Michigan. Only a handful of wealthy families benefit. The troops, including the Michigan National Guard, must come home now. The cost of the war against Iraq for Michigan has been $8 billion*. This is more than enough money to fund the programs we need for immediate relief. Bold Vision for the Future We also need a bold vision for our future. Another world is possible. We want a world without war, hunger and injustice. A world that nurtures children with education, art, music and sports; that cares for our seniors and those un­able to work; that supports full civil liberties for all regardless of race, creed, color or sexual ori­entation; that preserves and conserves our natu­ral resources ¿ lakes, streams and woods. We want a future full of opportunity, free from vio­lence. Voting alone will not make change; we need to build powerful movements for social justice. But your vote can contribute to building such movements. If you support the war and want to continue to waste bil­lions on it, vote for the Democrats and the Re­publicans. If you oppose this war and want to spend the money in Michigan for you, your fam­ily and your city, vote Green Party. *Statistics from the Afl-CIO website (www.aflcio.org). Cost for the war from National Priorities Project (www.nationalpriorities.org).

Contact Info vitale@votevitale2006.org. 313-580-4905