Economy: Years of irresponsible tax policy and lax regulation under primarily Republican presidents have exacerbated stagnant lower- and middle-class wages, disruptive credit cycles, the destabilizing tech and housing bubbles, and the worst recession since the Great Depression. As soon-to-be college graduates, we are particularly vulnerable to this economy in flux. We must reform corrupt economic policies. To this end, we support the President in his efforts to increase Coronavirus relief measures, invest in infrastructure, strengthen the social safety net, and increase taxes on higher-income individuals and corporations.
Education: In recent years, the rising cost of higher education has far outpaced the cost of living, making it difficult or impossible for many Americans to attend college. We are grateful for the 2009 Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which expanded Pell Grants and made the government the direct lender for federal student loans. We also urge President Biden to fulfill his campaign promise of student loan forgiveness for up to $10,000 for every borrower.
Energy & Environment: We work with RePower America, an organization deeply committed to revitalizing national energy economy. ND College Democrats conducted six phone banks for Repower American and in one night we made more calls than any other phonebank in the country. The green industry will provide new economic opportunities, strengthen national security by decreasing our dependence on foreign oil supply, and decrease pollution and climate change.
LGBTQ+ Rights: We firmly believe in the human dignity of every person, regardless of sexual and gender orientation. As such, we believe that all humans should have equal rights under the law because all people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We coordinate many events with PRISM, a club dedicated to providing a space for LGBTQ+ students.
Health Care: We fully support the Affordable Care Act and support Biden’s plan to protect and build upon this monumental healthcare act. We want Americans to have more choice in health care coverage, reduced costs, and an easily navigable health care system. To better understand the legislation visit Healthcare.gov or download this infographic.
Gun Control: Thoughts and prayers are not enough to stop gun violence. Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed in a gun homicide than people in other high-income countries. We urge Congress to ban high capacity magazines and assault weapons, support background checks, establish red flag laws, and more.
Race: We firmly believe that Black Lives Matter. Visit the “Statements” page to view our statement on the murder of George Floyd and our support of the black community on campus. We work with the Diversity Council, the Black Student Association, Black Lives Matter South Bend, and other groups on campus to create a safe, supportive environment for all students. We also believe in the importance of uplifting all minority communities on campus, and we work with a number of student groups to ensure that all voices are heard, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Poverty: The true measure of a society is how we treat its most vulnerable members. The disadvantaged have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. We are called to examine public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the disadvanged. How we organize our society– in economics and politics, in law and policy– directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in the community. When instituting public policy we must always keep the “preferential option for the poor” at the forefront of our minds. We simultaneously recognize our necessary personal role in alleviating poverty. As such, we work with the South Bend Center for the Homeless, Hope Ministries, and Catholic Worker.