Guiding Principles and Values
Draft – June 2006
As the Founding Fathers were guided by strong spiritual principles and values when they created the founding documents of the United States of America, we too desire to uphold liberty and the welfare of humanity into the 21st century. We believe that the way to restore our Nation’s strength, vitality and international stature is to promote the following spiritual values in our country’s policies and actions:
Thanksgiving and awe for the wonders of the universe
Recognition and reverence for the interconnectedness of all life
Generosity and caring for all beings
Respect for diversity, human rights and rights to privacy
Creation of a just, egalitarian and socially responsible society
Peaceful resolution of differences on all levels of culture
Honoring all people's rights to worship
Economic sustainability and elimination of poverty
Ethical conduct and accountability in all public life
Environmental stewardship and responsibility for future generations
Loving kindness and compassion
National Policy Priorities
With these basic principles and values as our foundation, the Network of Spiritual Progressives-NNM calls for the adoption of the following National Policy Priorities:
Establish a uniform electoral process before the 2008 elections that includes voting machines with verifiable paper trails, nonpartisan oversight, strict enforcement of voting rights laws and other measures to ensure election integrity.
Adopt mandatory public financing of presidential and congressional campaigns by 2008.
Provide quality universal health care.
Provide quality public education for all children under 18.
Adopt the Kyoto protocol for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
Establish a fast-track, alternative energy program that emphasizes renewable fuels, solar energy and wind generation.
Raise the minimum wage to a living wage of $8.00 an hour by 2008.
Restrict corporate power by eliminating the corporation’s right to personhood.
Promote fair trade policies that protect the environment and workers’ rights.
Withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq and abandon U.S. bases there.
Transform the War on Terrorism to a War Against Want by attacking the root causes of terrorism, i.e. human rights violations, poverty, hunger and economic injustice.
Eliminate poverty, hunger and homelessness in the country.
Cut the Military Budget by 40% to support the national priorities listed above.