THE PLATFORM
2024 PROHIBITION PARTY PLATFORM
Approved by the National Convention on 8 May 2023
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Prohibition Party, assembled in convention
this year in Buffalo, New York, supporting traditional values and with a
firm reliance on the guidance of divine Providence, do hereby pledge
to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America
and serve the needs of its citizens. We hereby affirm that all persons
are created equal, endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights of
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As America's oldest
continuously active "third party", since 1869 we are united in a
common purpose - protection of the public welfare and to enhance the
freedom and dignity of each individual. We are strong believers in
personal responsibility, efficient regulation and leaner government,
separation of power, federalism, and that the rights of the people are
sacrosanct. We love our country and are optimistic about our future.
AGRICULTURAL POLICY
We support regenerative farming practices that balance corporate and
small-farm interests. Confined Animal Operations ("CAFOs") require
the use of large amounts of preventative medicines, which diminish
the effectiveness of these drugs against human illnesses. Humane
animal husbandry should be incentivized through financial and
regulatory support.
The widespread use of pesticides and the escape of GMO-modified
genetic lines into the larger environment damage the balance of
nature. The use of these materials should be minimized to reduce
their environmental impact, while farmers who prioritize sustainable
practices should be rewarded.
Food banks should be supported through programs which incentivize
donations of fresh, healthy foods from local farms. By prioritizing
regenerative farming practices and supporting small farms, our
agricultural policy would create a more sustainable food system which
promotes access to healthy food for all while minimizing negative
impacts on the environment.
We support programs to assist tobacco farmers in migrating to
alternative crops.
BALLOT ACCESS
In many states, overly burdensome ballot access laws make it
difficult for minor parties and independent candidates to get on
the ballot. In doing so they undermine the ability of voters to
express their democratic will. States should move to establish
fairer ballot access standards that provide minor parties and
independent candidates a reasonable opportunity to get on the
ballot.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Creating jobs and investing in our country’s critical infrastructure must
be a federal priority. Economic development efforts should focus on
the improvement of the economy as a whole. Under a balanced
federal budget, investments should focus on the maintenance and
improvement of transportation, energy and public health services, as
well as communication technology.
EDUCATION
We believe that all students should have access to a sound, deep and
broad education. States should work to ensure that all public schools
are provided with adequate funding and support to meet the needs of
their students. We support the right of families to choose the method
for educating their children, and for programs that allow families to
make choices for alternate schooling. We approve of the federal
Department of Education setting minimum standards for education and
advocate for stronger emphasis on science, technology, engineering,
math, history and languages. We advocate free community colleges
with 4-year degree programs, as well as for vocational education.
Student debt relief must be applied equally to all; including those who
through personal responsibility have already repaid their original
debts. We support programs to retrain displaced workers and those
who become disabled. Educational curriculums should include
informing our youth about the dangers of alcohol and drugs.
ENVIRONMENT
We recognize that pollution has an impact on our planet. We
understand that abatement projects must balance costs with benefits.
We support cooperation with other nations in mitigating the possible
effects of climate change. We should strive for energy independence
and will not surrender our sovereignty in making energy decisions. We
advocate increased research into the development of non-fossil fuel
resources, including tax breaks for companies and subsidies for
consumers willing to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
ETHICAL GOVERNMENT
We support stronger ethics and anti-corruption laws for elected and
appointed government officials, improved transparency, protecting
public research and regulatory agencies from improper influence,
fostering greater citizen engagement, and promoting a spirit of ethical
public service among public officials.
EQUALITY
We abhor all forms of racism, discrimination, harassment, hatred,
structural inequality and violence directed at any group. We support a
just and inclusive society with equal opportunities for all; including
equal pay for equal work. We support equal recognition and
opportunities for persons with disabilities.
FEDERALISM
We are strong believers in the Tenth Amendment; those powers not
delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it
to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
In a nation often divided by opinion, an adherence to federalism is
more important than ever. Many issues are better regulated by state
and local jurisdictions, rather than by a distant federal government.
FOREIGN RELATiONS
We will conduct foreign affairs in a manner that fosters amicable
relations among nations. We believe in using diplomacy to resolve
international issues and promoting respect for the mutual sovereignty
of nations. We recognize that healthy international trade has the
potential to promote economic growth among nations. We support free
and fair trade that is reciprocal and regulated.
HEALTH CARE
Access to affordable, quality health care must be the right of every
American. If this is achieved through a Federal program, participation
in such must remain an individual choice. The U.S. healthcare system
should be a leader in innovation, and therefore we support further
investment in medical research. No one who needs a medicine or
treatment prescribed by a doctor should be denied such due to their
personal financial limitations. We support the retention of both
Medicare and Medicaid.
IMMIGRATION
We commend the contributions of immigrants to our culture, economy,
and national identity. We insist that immigration and naturalization be
done through an orderly legal process, as defined by Congress.
Protecting our borders is a duty to the citizens of the United States
and must be sufficiently funded. Existing asylum laws rightly protect
those facing persecution, however asylum should only be granted to
those arriving directly from a country where they are at risk. Refugees
already present in a safe-haven country may apply for legal
immigration to the United States at a U.S. Embassy in that country,
but may not claim asylum simply by virtue of their physical presence in
the USA or at the border.
LABOR AND MANAGEMENT
We will defend the right of all workers to freely choose to organize,
join or not to join a labor union. Toward that end, we urge all states to
adopt right to-work laws. We endorse the concept of a living wage
and reasonable family leave. No one (excepting public safety and
medical personnel) should be forced to work on their personal
Sabbath day.
MILITARY
We are strong supporters of our nation’s military and encourage
investment in military technology and personnel. We honor the service
and sacrifice of our military and their families, and support the DOD
position of dedicating sufficient resources to services, policies and
programs to support the military, both during and after active duty.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
We acknowledge that religious values have played a positive role in
the founding of the United States. We support the constitutional right
of individual citizens to believe, worship, associate, educate,
evangelize, and organize religious institutions.
SANCTITY OF LIFE
We recognize that the issues of abortion, capital punishment, and
euthanasia often divide this country. The SCOTUS has ruled that the
states shall regulate access to abortion; as each state works to
regulate this issue, we recognize that women must be included in the
legislative process, and encourage states to look for constructive
ways to address the issue. We believe that each woman should have
the right to decide based on her own conscience.
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
We support the right of citizens to own and to carry firearms for
personal defense and for sport. We believe that ownership of weapons
of war, including assault rifles, should be tightly controlled. We applaud
the efforts of private organizations to train Americans in the proper and
safe use of firearms. We support stringent background checks for the
purchase of any firearm.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Our Social Security system may not be perfect, but it does work and is
in some cases the only source of income that retirees and disabled
Americans have to rely upon. We advocate an actuarially sound
federal Social Security system independent of any other program.
SUPREME COURT
We are against increasing the number of justices serving on the
Supreme Court. Despite the current appearance of politically
motivated judicial decisions, the U.S. system of shared power among
the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches has proven itself over
time. We support the current Constitutional structure. Justices of the
Supreme Court should be held to the same ethics rules as all other
federal judges.
TAX REFORM
The current U.S. tax code is far too complicated. We recognize the
need for taxes to ensure the government’s ability to pay for
infrastructure and services. The current tax structure needs to be
reformed. We oppose both estate taxes and taxes on previously taxed
wealth. We support a simplified tax code that requires corporations to
pay their fair share. Taxes on alcohol should be increased, with the
revenues being used for education and additional treatment.
TERM LIMITS
The Twenty-Second Amendment stipulates term limits for the office of
the President. We support the expansion of these term limits to both
houses of Congress. Representing other citizens in Congress should
be an honor, not a career. Enacting term limits will help to reduce the
influence of special interest groups and provide a more accurate
representation of the public in Congress.
VOTING RIGHTS
Voting rights are fundamental to American democracy and must be
equally available to all eligible voters. We also recognize that our
nation struggles with the concept of what defines a fair election. To
ensure that each would-be voter is in fact eligible to vote, we believe
that voters in every state should be required to present a form of
government-issued photo-identification in order to receive their ballot
and vote; either in person or absentee. The option to receive a free
government voter ID card should be available to every qualified
citizen.
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO and RECREATIONAL DRUG ABUSE
The alcohol question is the Prohibition Party's unique, signature issue.
We recognize that the use of alcohol and other recreational drugs is
not only a personal, but a broader social issue. The individual, and
their right to drink if they wish, is not the cause - but rather the
underlying organized liquor traffic and the subordination of uniformed
Americans for profit.
The Department of Health & Human Services reports nearly 10% of
adult Americans suffered from substance abuse in the past year. This
is a national health crisis. Beverage alcohol is America's #1 drug
problem; a recent government study classified 62 million Americans as
binge drinkers. Nearly 6% of Americans struggle with alcohol
addiction. An estimated 140,000 people die from alcohol-related
causes annually. Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of
death in the United States. The CDC estimates that the total economic
cost of excess drinking to the U.S. economy exceeds $220 billion
annually.
The use of tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the
USA; the CDC reports that cigarette smoking causes more than
480,000 deaths each year in our country. Vaping, or e-cigarettes are
also not safe because they contain nicotine and other chemicals.
The opioid crisis in the USA has reached new proportions. A recent
study found that 10.1 million people misused opioids in the past year;
the vast majority prescription pain relievers. According to the CDC,
on average 128 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
We oppose the use of recreational drugs in all forms, while
recognizing and supporting legitimate medicinal use as regulated by
the FDA and each individual’s own responsibility for temperance. We
believe a sustained program of education, coupled with a ban on
cannabis, vaping and alcohol advertising, while enabling local option
laws in those states which wish them, is the best way to encourage
community disapproval of recreational drug use.
We oppose tobacco in all its forms, including vaping. Together with
alcohol, tobacco and opiates are responsible for a significant
percentage of America's public health care bill. We disapprove of
government subsidies to the tobacco industry, and would end
business expense deductions for advertising tobacco, cannabis and
alcohol products.
We call for a ban on alcohol advertising, similar to the existing ban
on tobacco advertising. This kind of ban has been proven to reduce
consumption. This is especially true of alcohol advertising targeting
our nation's youth and vulnerable communities. We support
increased controls on the licensing of recreational drug and alcohol
outlets.
We support an increase in the alcohol excise tax, which in the USA
is far lower than many other developed countries. Proceeds from
the excise tax should be exclusively earmarked for education and
addiction-rehabilitation programs.
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