Help! Best place to add to the TX Democrat platform?

[emilynghiem]

http://txdemocrats.bytrilogy.com/pdf/2012-platform.pdf

Hi can anyone help me write the shortest proposed change that could
possibly pass the Democratic State Convention. My other proposals
were too long and legalistic, like legislative proposals. These are
SUPPOSED to be short, summaries of general principles/concepts NOT technical.

A. In the above TDP platform, there is only language about counteracting
Republican policies opposed. I want to add language in some section
that emphasizes holding govt and party leaders accountable to Constitutional
principles and ethics, including Democrats Republicans and all Parties alike, and educating all party members
to be as knowledgeable and experienced with Constitutional principles and procedures,
in order to participate democratically and hold officials to account at all levels of Govt.

Does anyone see the BEST place to add or morph in this language?

Maybe a few lines or short section, but nothing the committee has to research.
It should be COMMON SENSE that can be passed without too much debate
or it will get rejected for lack of time.
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B. other areas: what do you think of these proposed changes
B1. the HEALTH CARE FOR ALL section currently states:

Texas Democrats believe health care is a right, not a privilege reserved for those able to pay for it. Texas Democrats oppose efforts by Republican politicians to repeal health insurance reform and return America to the disastrous system that has failed small businesses, working families and drained state
and family budgets. Every family deserves health care they can count on and a system that ensures stability, security, and access to care.

Texas Democrats realize important work remains to correctly implement health care changes at the state level. Democrats oppose efforts by Republicans to go back to a system that allowed insurance
companies to discriminate against Americans with illnesses, shove them off their plans and place lifetime limits on health care, preventing them from getting care when they needed it most. Democrats support effective implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the state level to protect Americans’ new, hard-fought health care rights.

Texas Democrats oppose Republican attempts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

WHAT ABOUT ADDING THIS AT THE END:
Texas Democrats oppose Republican attempts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and instead support bipartisan collaboration on health care reforms that lead to agreement on cost-effective solutions, balancing citizens' beliefs in a free market economy and universal access as equally protected under the Constitution.

Otherwise there is only language about opposition, and not about working jointly on cost-effective solutions all citizens can agree on.
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B2. and B3.
Sections on CONVERSION THERAPY and STEM CELL RESEARCH

These don't take into account the citizens of Texas with equally protected beliefs in other alternatives.

B2. What about distinguishing between fraudulent, abusive and coercive/damaging "conversion therapy" and allowing for scientific research in voluntary and effective SPIRITUAL HEALING therapy that has been shown to reduce symptoms or cure causes of mental and physical illness, including abuse and addiction, independent of orientation.

CONVERSION THERAPY

The American Psychiatric Association does not support so-called “conversion therapy” as an effective or
evidence-based therapy. Texas Democrats strongly oppose the use of any public funding for this
demonstrably harmful practice. We further call on the Texas Medical Board, the Texas State Board of
Examiners of Psychologists, and the Texas Department of State Health Services to fully investigate and
to sanction any practitioner who claims to be successfully using conversion therapy

STEM CELL RESEARCH

Stem cell research should not be held hostage to politics that limit the potential for conquering many
debilitating and deadly illnesses. Texas has world-class research facilities that cannot attract world-class
talent and funding until we take stem cell research out of political debates and put it into the labs where
research could lead to life-saving therapies. Texas Democrats strongly and unconditionally support
research into stem cell therapies and state funding for research into stem cell therapies at our state’s
public universities. Curing disease is the right thing to do, and stem cell lines should be expanded
without increasing or encouraging any high risk procedures.

B3. for STEM CELL RESEARCH
allowing for equal funding of research into Generational Healing through forgiveness therapy and the grief/recovery process, would prevent conflict with citizens whose spiritual beliefs are compatible with this approach as an equal alternative.

Research into Generational therapy and healing can lead to manageable treatment or cure of psychologically inherited disorders of criminal illness, abuse, and addiction.
This could supplement the Platform principles on replacing the Death Penalty with "life in prison without parole."
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C. Should more be added to the section on the Death Penalty:

In order to promote public confidence and fairness in the Texas Criminal Justice system, Texas
Democrats call for the passage of legislation that would abolish the death penalty in Texas and replace it
with the punishment of life in prison without parole.

SHOULD THIS SENTENCE BE ADDED:
For convicted capital offenders diagnosed with mental or criminal illness, access to safe professional medical treatment should be required. The State should support medical research to develop effective methods of diagnosis, therapy and cure -- in order to save lives and public resources -- instead of wasting billions of dollars on ineffective punishments that fail to identify or treat the causes of criminal illness.

D. WHERE is there any mention of RESTITUTION to VICTIMS here:

Sexual assault and family and domestic violence are violent crimes that occur in all types of families and
disproportionately harm women and children; crimes that often involve a cyclical, generational pattern, thus affecting entire communities as long as such crimes continue to be perpetrated.

We support:
· strong enforcement of Texas laws to hold offenders accountable and increase the likelihood that victims will come forward to report these crimes;
· policies that encourage advocacy, support, and safety for victims and their families;
· early prevention efforts focused on youth to decrease the incidence of sexual and domestic
violence prior to victimization;
· training programs for law enforcement, prosecutorial, judicial, health care, mental health and
education professionals to promote increased understanding of and improved response to the crimes of domestic violence and sexual assault; and
· a strong statewide initiative to reduce the alarming increase of child abuse and neglect through investment in effective early prevention programs.

What about adding a clause on
* stronger focus on restitution for rape and trafficking victims, including educating the public and law enforcement on RICO laws where property abused for organized crime, especially drug or child trafficking, can be reclaimed as restitution for community benefit.

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PLEASE POST ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR
POINTS A, B, C, OR D. (BESIDES BOO HISS) THANK YOU!