The following Prospectus is the first draft of a living document.
PeanutButterPAC is a Progressive Political Action Committee (PAC) that seeks to promote and support the best interests of working class Americans by advocating on behalf of Progressive values . PBPAC will be working for the American people, not Corporations or Special Interests.
In PBPAC’s efforts to build a sustainable and prosperous future for working class Americans, PBPAC will strive to uphold what it deems to be Progressive values. These values shall include, but not be limited to, the ideas and values outlined within this Prospectus.
The Progressive Values which PBPAC seeks to uphold, promote and defend shall include:
- To support the best interests of the American people over the special interests of Corporations and Industry and to uphold the Constitution of The United States of America by supporting public policy, advocacy, activism and candidates that share Progressive values with PBPAC as defined by this Prospectus;
1. To support Job Creation with good pay and benefits, and to protect and preserve good jobs for the American people, as well as to support and defend the rights of all Americans to organize and participate in Labor Unions.
2. To support and promote a sustainable and environmentally friendly Energy Policy that will lead America away from the unsustainable consumption of Fossil Fuels and America’s dependence on foreign energy sources.
3. To rebuild America’s outdated and depreciated infrastructure and transportation systems.
4. To support and defend the civil rights of all Americans as envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and defined by the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America in order to ensure the civil rights of all Americans regardless of race, religion, creed, original nationality, sex or sexual orientation.
5. To promote and defend non-profit health insurance and to promote and support quality health care for all Americans through reforms and policies such as, but not limited to, Medicare for All.
6. To support and promote America’s public education system and education reforms that bear in mind the best interests of the American people.
7. To fight Corporate and Special Interests influence in Government by supporting and defending Campaign Finance Reform and supporting and advocating on behalf of Publicly Funded Elections.
The Progressive Values stated above are not listed in any particular order, and the values and policies that PBPAC will support and defend shall not be limited to the values and goals already stated above.
PBPAC shall also seek to promote Progressive ideas and values in the realms of Foreign Policy, monetary policy and other areas of policy not covered by this Prospectus, but PBPAC will always seek to act on behalf of the best interests of the American working class as is determined democratically by the voting members of PBPAC.
This is the first draft of a living document and may be altered or amended before being ratified by a majority of the Full Steering Committee of PBPAC. Upon ratification this document shall exist as PBPAC’s Prospectus and as a living document, but shall not be amended or subject to alteration until at least 6 months have passed since the date of ratification. Thereafter, this document shall be reviewed for additional amendments and alterations every six months after the original date of ratification, unless a by-law is instituted that shall deem otherwise after that by-law is passed by a majority of the voting members of the PAC and a majority of the members of the Steering Committee.
Great first cut, MoT, thanks! Here’s a couple of things I see, in no particular order:
I think it says PBPAC in a few too many places – we can use a few more pronouns in a couple of spots.
We should incorporate the mission statement into it, or at least some of the phrases from it – empowering middle class Americans, for example.
I think we should add women’s reproductive health rights in item 5.
We should mention right up front that the PAC is a small-d democratically controlled organization.
I like the first draft a lot.
I certainly think it’s OK to say that we support equal access to all medically necessary procedures, and having access to contraception is an important women’s right. I know we discussed it before, but my instincts say that the abortion issue is an issue that some people put above all else. Some people will vote for the pro-life pols before they’ll vote for a pro-choice one that is also best on jobs, pro-environment and wants Medicare–For-All. I suggest we poll our members before putting women’s reproductive health rights as an item since it infers our support for on-demand abortion(which I think you, I and Jesse all support and agree on). So I’d like what to see how our members feel about an unequivocal statement in support of reproductive rights just so I don’t feel we’re going to alienate potential supporters.
And yes, we should always emphasize that we go as our membership wants us to go.
Here’s the mission statement from a week ago:
“Our mission is to empower middle class Americans by organizing small dollar donations into big clout, putting them on a more equal footing with corporate interests seeking to influence our elections.”
John,
Very excited to see another progressive group. One issue I would recommend: Our foreign policy has been based on what is good for America, as if that is something different than what is good for all countries, assuming everyone wants peace, self-determination, sustainable economies, freedom and equality and a healthy environment. Our ‘diplomacy’ has been aimed at obtaining resources, cheap labor markets, customers for our products, governments that cooperate with our greedy corporations. Additionally we have been relying on our military as a major tool of foreign policy. The state department and international aide have been gutted financially.
Add to this an overblown military budget burdened with mission creep since the cold war ended and we have 58% of our discretionary spending going to the military and nuclear weapons. (Does not include Veterans Administration). Our military budget is larger than that of the next 14 countries. And more people fear and resent us around the world. Our large military budget does not make us safer; it encourages endless war and high profits for defense contractors.
We are suggesting as a beginning that the military budget be cut by 25% – unneeded weapons systems, unnecessary bases around the world, and expensive contractors fighting our wars…We instruct Congress that we do not want their jobs and tell them we want investments in life enhancing industries that will actually employ more people than those now in defense. (see PERI report from UMass Amherst) We are hoping for a strong budget resolution asking Appropriation Committees to remember that for every dollar spent on defense, a child goes unclothes, unfed and uneducated…(per Ike) and that money be directed to international conflict resolution, human needs and domestic spending.
Thanks for the work you are doing and I hope you’ll consider a statement on our defense expenditures vs human needs.
clarification – We instruct Congress that we do not want their “defense” jobs
Carol, thanks for your insightful post – I’ll bring it up at our next steering committee meeting, I’m sure we can add that to our prospectus. One thing I’ve thought through the years is that we should redirect a portion of our military budget into clean water in the developing world – nuclear power can desalinate a LOT of water, and how many nuclear subs do we have? Parking a sub off the coast of a poor country and filling reservoirs with potable water would be easy to do, and an action like that would go a much longer way towards protecting our interests than our current posture.
Again, thanks for your post – please consider sending an email blast to your network about our efforts here. The more members we have, the more successful we will be. Take care, and have a great Friday!