In the face of these problems, Just Us United has formed a five-point agenda, with the goal of bringing together North Carolinians from all regions and political backgrounds to make our state great again.
HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION
We will ensure our public schools are the best they can be by providing them with the resources they need to train our students for the jobs of the future. We insist on reversing the trend of cutting much-needed education funds. We will honor our teachers by giving them the raises they deserve and fully funding our teaching assistant programs. We recognize that high quality public education is essential and foundational for a healthy state economy, and for our children's futures.
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
We want to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to affordable healthcare. One way of achieving this is through Medicaid expansion. Expanding Medicaid will keep hospitals open, save our state millions of dollars, and cover an estimated 500,000 uninsured North Carolinians. It would also help to prevent an estimated 1,000 additional deaths each year in North Carolina. By reducing emergency room visits and keeping hospital doors open, we will effectively grow North Carolina's economy.
SAFE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES
We seek to promote safe energy practices in North Carolina. Fracking, for example, is an untested brand of energy extraction that is a threat to many of our rural communities. Out of touch politicians in our legislature know of these dangers; why else would they make it illegal to distribute information about the process? We will not allow these untested practices to be forced on our communities. We will hold Duke Power accountable for the damage they have caused with their irresponsible coal ash spills. Finally, we will fight to make North Carolina a leader in safe, clean, alternative energy.
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JUST TAXES AND SPENDING PRIORITIES
Tax reform should benefit working families and the middle class. We want to reverse the upside-down “tax reform” that raised taxes on 80% of North Carolina families while slashing rates for the wealthiest. This includes reinstating Tax-Free Weekend and the Earned Income Tax Credit. This will not only help working families, but it will grow the economy, as will prioritizing spending programs like unemployment insurance, infrastructure investment, education, and health care.
RESTORING COMPETITIVE DEMOCRACY
We support competitive democracy. By gerrymandering the map, Raleigh politicians have tried to ensure they remain in office through stacked elections. From the State House on up to our Congressional Districts, we want to see maps that truly reflect the diversity of our state, and give our voices, and our votes, a chance to be heard.
We want to ensure that our community engages in the political system and that our representatives are held accountable to their constituents.
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