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Capital punishment - Abolish ? Cruel and unusual punishment? Fits the crime?
The Green party sides with abolishing the death penalty. All methods of execution are violent. "Executions convey the message that violence is an acceptable means of solving the problem of violent crime when it only distracts our attention from the challenge of finding effective solutions to the real roots of violent crime." Should not fit the crime.

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GPUSA National Green Program - Food and Agriculture

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Criminal justice issues are intimately connected to social justice issues. A society which does not adequately feed, clothe , house, educate, nurture and inspire all of its citizens, especially its children, will be a society plagued by violent crime. Greens support a new system of restorative, transformative criminal justice based upon social justice, nonviolence, and healing.

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Right to bear arms? Any limitations? Background Checks? Guns in public places -Ohio?

Extend background checks to all private sales of firearms..

Eliminate the gun show loophole that permits sale of weapons without background checks.

Increase compensation for jurors and provide childcare for those serving jury duty.

Protect victims' rights. Ensure the opportunity for victims to make victim-impact statements. Consider forms of restitution to victims.

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The Green party believes the use of Cannabis/Hemp is to be legalized, but needs to be regulated and controlled like cigarettes and alcohol. Until this happens they advocate that medical marijuana be made a prescription drug that doctors may prescribe to their patients. “It’s time to take marijuana off the black market, end crime and violence related to marijuana trafficking, stop wasting money and ruining lives by prosecuting victimless crimes, reduce prison populations, increase tax revenue, allow sick people their medicine, let farmers grow marijuana and hemp, and give responsible adults their freedom by legalizing it! As President, one of my first actions would be to order the DEA and the Justice Department to cease and desist all attempts to harass or prosecute medical marijuana clinics or other legitimate marijuana-related businesses that are operating under state laws. I would also direct DEA to remove marijuana from Schedule 1, the most dangerous category of drugs, and place it in a more appropriate category as determined by medical science… Hundreds of thousands of patients suffering from chronic pain and cancers are benefiting from the availability of medical marijuana under state laws."- Jill Stein "Yes, marijuana is dangerous - because it's illegal. It's not inherently dangerous. It's certainly less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are perfectly legal. The real danger of marijuana is the violence of the underground drug economy created by prohibition. Legalizing marijuana will end that violence, much like ending alcohol prohibition ended the violence of the illegal alcohol economy. It's time to take marijuana off the black market, end crime and violence related to marijuana trafficking, stop wasting money and ruining lives by prosecuting victimless crimes, reduce prison populations, increase tax revenue, allow sick people their medicine, let farmers grow marijuana and hemp, and give responsible adults their freedom by legalizing it."- Jill Stein

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The Green Party has long been in favor of legalizing marijuana. The End the War on Drugs section of our platform states the following:

End the "war on drugs." Redirect funds presently budgeted for the "war on drugs" toward expanded research, education, counseling and treatment.

Amend the Controlled Substances Act to reflect that drug use in itself is not a crime, and that persons living in the United States arrested for using drugs should not be incarcerated with those who have committed victim oriented crimes.

Legalize possession, sale, and cultivation of cannabis/marijuana.

Strike from the record prior felony convictions for marijuana possession, sale, or cultivation.

Grant amnesty and release from confinement without any further parole or probation, those who have been incarcerated for the use, sale, or cultivation of marijuana in federal and state prisons and in county/city jails, and who otherwise are without convictions for victim oriented crimes, or who do not require treatment for abuse of hard drugs. Provide the option for drug treatment to those leaving confinement.

Implement a step-by-step program to decriminalize all drugs in the United States.

Are you in favor of federal legislation of marijuana?

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The Green Party has long been in favor of legalizing marijuana. The End the War on Drugs section of our platform states the following: End the "war on drugs." Redirect funds presently budgeted for the "war on drugs" toward expanded research, education, counseling and treatment.

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The Green Party firmly believes that same-sex couples should have all of the same rights that heterosexual couples do and that the "Defense of Marriage Act" is a violation of civil rights. The rights of same-sex couples far outweighs the rights of what some people believe a married couple should be. The Green part believe in freedom from discrimination. This includes people having the right to live their lives without being discriminated against for their race, creed, ethnic background, political beliefs, or sexual orientation. "In my first run for office in 2002, when this issue [same-sex marriage] was first brought to my attention, I was for marriage, not just civil unions." -Jill Stein

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Today the world celebrates International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia ( IDAHOT). This "global celebration of sexual and gender diversities," provides us a space to recognize the struggle against violence and discrimination of LGBTI persons worldwide. I take that opportunity to reflect on the contributions that the Green Party has made to LGBTI persons and call upon my party to challenge itself in helping advance justice for this community.

As far as political parties, the Green Party has been ahead of the curve regarding including LGBTQIA+ persons in our policies and values. In 1984, activists nationwide gathered in St. Paul to write a share statement of belief that would become the basis of the Green Party. That statement put forth the importance of the rights of LGB persons and their families -- including equal rights in marriage and adoption. This followed the lead of the original German Green Party -- and followed by other Greens globally -- in seeing that relation between Social Justice and Ecological Wisdom. Our first national platform in 2000 recognized LGBT equality, and the first Global Greens platform in 2001 acknowledged the rights on LGBTI persons.

Green candidates have brought these values to the campaign trail. In 1998, Bern Haggerty ran for city council in Laramie, Wyoming. He was the only general election candidate pushing for the adoption of a bias crime law -- ultimately adopted a few years later. Third parties hold the two-party political status quo accountable on their reactive ideologies. In 2002, Jill Stein, presumptive 2016 Green Party presidential nominee, ran for Governor of Massachusetts. She argued for same-sex marriage the whole campaign -- the first gubernatorial candidate to do so in the state that first gave us marriage justice. Jason West, Green mayor of New Paltz, New York, was arrested, handcuffed, and charged, for marrying 26 same-sex couples in 2004.

I raise this history to show that advancing recognition of sexual and gender diversity is required by our Green Party's Ten Key Values and vision for putting people, planet, and peace over profit. Currently, our platform speaks to equal rights for the entire spectrum -- including queer and asexual persons. These must not be words that remain on paper, but a call to specific policies that we fight for on the campaign trail, in the ballot box, and in the streets.

We need to fight for a national non-discrimination law that protects all LGBTQIA+ and an interpretation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that does not allow medical facilities and public businesses to opt-out of providing inclusive services to the queer community. Government documents must provide an inclusive, non-binary option, and the heightened bureaucracy to obtain documentation that aligns with how one self-identifies eliminated. Following the nation of Malta, Greens should be stronger proponents of our platform position of banning Intersex Genital Mutilation.

The arc of justice for LGTBQIA+ persons is intersectional with other realms that we as Greens care about. The right to healthcare best enacted through Single-Payer Medicare-for-All must be inclusive of psychological care, hormonal treatment, and surgical needs of gender and sexual minorities -- including recognizing the higher risk of suicide attempt and addiction. Medication and other means for HIV-prevention and HIV/AIDS treatment must be affordable and accessible worldwide, which means allowing generics. Our healthcare system must recognize that individuals know best who they want at their bedside and making medical decisions with them, which may not align with blood relation and legal recognition. The LGBTQIA+ community knows well the live-giving strength of chosen family and friendship as a component of survival and resistance.

The right to education must intersectionally recognize the bullying, harassment, and violence in our schools against LGBTQIA+ youth. The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education in North Carolina recently agreed to allow students to carry pepperspray. In light of HB2, this is an incitement of trans panic and violence against trans/queer youth. Education reform must include a demand for preventive measures such as staff training, comprehensive sex education, and removing weapons from our schools.

An economy policy that puts people before corporate wealth is the same economy that is more likely to leave LGBTQIA+ persons homeless or jobless. It is the same economy built on racial discrimination through its current form of an incarceration state. LGBTQIA+ persons -- especially those of color -- are more likely to face police violence and harassment. Many then have difficulty being placed in safe correctional facilities aligned with their gender identity and receiving necessary medical support such as hormone treatments. The right to a job, to a living wage, to food and shelter, to a community-based safety system, are Green issues with a required LGBTQIA+ perspective.

Finally, our political system prevents LGBTQIA+ persons from having a better chance at voting for and electing persons that represent their interests. The two major parties impose high barriers to get on the ballot and be included in debates. Control of the ballot box and media means queer persons fighting for survival and equality are scared to step out of line with the Democrats lest Republicans be elected. That may prevent a greater evil, but this short-sighted strategy of fear slows or even makes us regress on the path towards the greater good of justice for all LGBTQIA+ persons in the United States and around the world. Ranked-choice voting, open debates, inclusive polling, proportional representation, and popular vote, are LGBTQIA+ issues.

The Green Party may have a history of being ahead of the curve, but this fight against oppression is not over. We may be the only current national-level political party that will advocate most or even some of these policies, but for me -- and I'd guess for many friends and comrades in the Lavender Caucus -- that only raises the moral imperative to continually challenge ourselves and our party in advancing queer issues and queer voices in the streets, on the campaign trail, and in elected office.

Happy International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia!

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Today the world celebrates International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia ( IDAHOT). This "global celebration of sexual and gender diversities," provides us a space to recognize the struggle against violence and discrimination of LGBTI persons worldwide.

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Amnesty?
Earned citizenship?
Enforce current laws and deport?
Anchor babies?
Businesses that hire illegals?

The Green party allows permanent border passes to Mexicans and Canadians, but their identity has to be verified. Work permits for citizens of Mexico and Canada has to be easily obtainable in order to decriminalize of gaining a position in employment. That eliminates exploitation of undocumented people by criminals who are involved in human contraband. This measure also helps to ensure the payment of taxes in nations according to laws. This would also help temporary  residents from Mexico and Canada secure their driving license and insurances.  Undocumented immigrants must be granted the chance of becoming a US citizen with minimal processing fees and credit for all payments towards the social security system.

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Lower taxes give businesses more money to hire more workers?
Increase taxes, esp. for business/wealthy, so government can provide more jobs/services?

The green party increases housing and renting rights in many ways. Laws against illegal hotel conversions are enforced. City zoning ordinances are used in different ways to increase affordable housing. They also go for more efficient use of existing housing supply, such as home sharing and cooperative conversions of existing housing. when it comes to renting, the green party protects tenants with rent control laws. They also prevent evictions without just cause and restrict evictions of long-term tenants, the elderly, the elderly, and disabled individuals. They also investigate and identify landlords who do not maintain a stable housing condition, engage in illegal evictions. Hefty fines are usually given but in more severe cases, arrest of the individual. This political party promotes a great portion of military budget for family support, living wage job developments, and work training programs. The publicly funded work training and education programs have a goal in increasing people's employment options in living wage jobs. The Green party's national platform advocated the livable wage and the guaranteed basic income "All workers temporary or permanent, must be paid a living wage. We support the enactment of living wage laws that apply to all workers". They strive for the creation of millions of green jobs that offer live-able wages.

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Green Party activists noted that a minimum wage that matched current productivity growth would be more than $16.50 an hour and said that this figure should factor into the calculation for a liveable-wage guarantee. Greens said that enacting a liveable wage would boost the economy by providing millions more Americans, especially low-income families, with spending power.

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Any Issue affecting RMEC/ High School Students 

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Any Issue affecting RMEC/ High School Students 

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Right to life? Freedom of choice? Support Roe. v. Wade? Cases of rape/threat to mother?
The Green Partygoes for freedom of choice in abortion. "No matter her marital status or age, and that contraception and safe, legal abortion procedures be available on demand and be included in all health insurance coverage in the US, as well as free of charge in any state where a woman’s income falls below the poverty level." Believes that the Roe vs Wade decision was soundly based on the constitution and that no laws in contravention of the Roe vs. Wade decision should be allowed to stand (link)

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Pro-abortion

The Green party supports a woman's right to have an abortion no matter the circumstances and government programs should provide funding if necessary.

The Green Party unequivocally supports a woman's right to reproductive choice, no matter her marital status or age, and that contraception and safe, legal abortion procedures be available on demand and be included in all health insurance coverage in the US, as well as free of charge in any state where a woman's income falls below the poverty level.

The "morning-after" pill must be affordable and easily accessible without a prescription, together with a government-sponsored public relations campaign to educate women about this form of contraception. Clinics must be accessible and must offer advice on contraception and the means for contraception; consultation about abortion and the performance of abortions, and; abortion regardless of age or marital status.

We oppose our government's habit of cutting family planning funds when those funds go to agencies in foreign countries that give out contraceptive devices, offer advice on abortion, and perform abortions.

Source: Green Party Platform adopted, July 12-15 2012 in Baltimore , Jul 15, 2012

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The Green party supports a woman's right to have an abortion no matter the circumstances and government programs should provide funding if necessary.

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make up for past disadvantages?
Best person for the job?
Should race, gender, disability, etc. be considered for employment/college enrollment?

The Green party is against the concept that affirmative actions should be based on race or gender. They also believe in giving opportunity to those that may be in economical crisis. Affirmative actions reach out for those who are often excluded despite education history and economic status. The Green party affirmative actions programs support equal opportunity through education. They also maintain employment programs.

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Affirmative Action | Green Party of California (GPCA)

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The Green Party disagrees with the assertion that affirmative actions should be class-based rather than race / gender-based. There is merit to the class-based argument, but it would have a different goal: an attempt to provide opportunity to those trapped in poverty.

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The Green Party supports single-payer universal health care and preventive care for all. They believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. "Health care as a human right, not a means tested entitlement like Medicare, not a subsidized profit center for predatory insurance like Obamacare, but a Medicare for All system to provide quality care for all while saving trillions by streamlining the massive health insurance bureaucracy."-Jill Stein

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Should All Americans Have the Right (Be Entitled) to Health Care? - 2016 Presidential Election - ProCon.org

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Should All Americans Have the Right (Be Entitled) to Health Care? Read 2016 presidential candidate positions (Clinton, Trump, Johnson, Stein, Sanders, Cruz, Rubio, Bush, etc.) in the issue debate.