ECONOMY
NH's young adult population - the 25-35 year olds who are the backbone of our economic and social growth - is in a steady, serious decline. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of people aged 30-34 in NH fell sharply by 12 percent. Our population's median age soon will be older than Florida's. Without immediate intervention, NH soon will face a 21st century economic epidemic.
For New Hampshire to retain its young people, we must:
• Increase workforce housing. The growth of elderly housing should be matched or exceeded by the future growth in workforce housing for NH's young adults.
• Diversify our economy. We advocate stronger efforts to retain manufacturing jobs and to attract entry-level jobs in the financial services, health care and green industries.
• Improve transportation options. Sensibly expand highways and develop commuter rail from central NH to Boston.
• "Just Say No" to Out-Sourcing. The state should refuse to award any contract that out-sources jobs from NH to states and countries with lower labor and environmental standards.
• Mandate statewide broadband access. We support universal statewide access to broadband technologies.
• Raise the minimum wage and index it to the rate of inflation, so as to provide a living wage for all workers.
• Combat individual debt. We support all efforts that make college more affordable and decrease student loan debt.
• Target the North Country. We support increased assistance for job training, workforce development and job creation programs in the North Country.
• Support labor. We oppose all anti-union activities interfering with workers' rights to form unions and awarding any contract or benefit to employers who violate civil rights, immigration, environmental and worker protection laws.
• Articulate a vision. We advocate the creation of a strategic plan to address the exodus of NH's young adult population.
HEALTH
The opportunity to access affordable, quality health care is a basic need shared by all young people who, statistics show, are most likely to go without health care coverage. This right should include, but not be limited to, mental health services and dental, preventative, and prenatal care.
We believe that universal access to health care cannot adequately be achieved through market forces alone. We call upon Congress and our presidential nominee to enact universal healthcare legislation by 2010.
We further believe that wellness and prevention efforts, including changes in personal behavior such as diet and exercise, should be top state priorities. Physical education, athletic programs, the removal of soda and junk food vending machines, and serving local and organic foods at NH's schools are key elements of a comprehensive statewide health care approach.
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
We support all efforts to afford equal protection under the law to NH citizens regardless of race, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
We support the fundamental right to an adequate education subject to judicial review in New Hampshire.
We believe privacy is a fundamental right. We support freedom from governmental interference in private medical decisions, including the right to decide when and whether to bear children.
We oppose punitive voter identification efforts targeting young adults in NH. All voters have an unconditional right to vote without undue harassment and to have their vote counted.
ENVIRONMENT
Climate change and degradation of our air, water, and land pose an immediate threat to our generation and to our state. To secure the future, we must take dramatic action and adjust the way that we live. The "greening" of New Hampshire must start now.
We believe that climate change and environmental degradation should be addressed by state and local governments. A sweeping statewide green initiative would create thousands of high paying jobs and make N.H. a leader in climate solutions, energy independence, and investment in new energy technologies. We must invest in efficiency and challenge individuals, households, businesses and our state government to save energy immediately.
We must heed what science says is necessary and pivot away from fossil fuel dependence toward a clean energy future with strong standards and incentives for conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy statewide.
We call upon Congress, our governor, state legislators, and county officials to do all in their power to mitigate the threat of climate change, to implement RGGI and to further increase statewide energy efficiency, conservation and recycling efforts.
WAR & PEACE
We acknowledge that we face dangerous, new threats to our security and we affirm our commitment to confronting those threats diplomatically and/or militarily.
We honor the immeasurable sacrifices being made by our young people in the military and their families. We hope for their prompt and responsible return home so that we may honor our commitments to them, including healthcare and education benefits, and welcome them back to our communities with honor. |
