What
Are We FOR?
A
Values Statement for Indivisible St. Johns
By Jennifer Cowart, MD
3/28/17
Right now, many Americans
are finding themselves feeling disenfranchised from the political system. In
2017, that group is mostly comprised of people on the left. In 2009, that group
was made up of people on the right. If you look at the American political
landscape as a left/right continuum, it seems that political ideas are binary.
Our two-party system further entrenches this idea, that support for a certain
set of social ideas goes along with a certain set of economic ideas.
Coming together with the new
Indivisible St. John’s group, we have a new vision which rejects this binary
“us vs them” system. While we are a group that met initially in response to the
election of President Trump, we decided to take a longer view. We want to be a
“pro” group, not just an “anti” group. Our group is composed of liberals and
conservatives who want to work together. We find that we have differences, but
more in common, including a belief in a better America. Here are a few of our
shared values for North Florida:
1)
Healthcare: We want to see the Florida
uninsured rate drop toward zero. That may mean expanding Medicaid, improving
employer-based coverage for small business, improving VA care, and new ways of
increasing enrollment of young people. It may even mean Medicare for All.
Improving healthcare access and coverage will strengthen our healthcare
economy, bringing jobs to our region. We also believe women’s reproductive
healthcare is not a separate issue, reducing the maternal mortality rate is
critical, and that women should have control over their reproductive lives. Our
vision for North Florida includes healthy people, who are protected from
medical bankruptcy, and who do not forego treatment for medical conditions due
to cost.
2)
Environment: Florida is a beautiful
state. Some of us are motivated to protect the environment to preserve it for
human enjoyment and outdoor activities; others to improve wildlife native to
our area and reduce the harmful impact of non-native invasive species; still
others due to concerns of environmental toxicity impacting human health. Our
vision for North Florida involves a healthy environment for healthy people and
wildlife.
3)
Poverty: We do not believe any of
our children, or our neighbors’ children, should go hungry. Many of our
neighbors are struggling with poverty and food insecurity. Helping our
neighbors climb out of poverty will require a true community involvement. Our
vision for North Florida involves a strong economy with low unemployment, good
jobs, opportunities for educational advancement, and a strong safety net for
those who are struggling.
4)
Education: We support school
accountability and protections for students with disabilities, protected under
federal law. We want to keep improving our strong public schools, investing in
our children and their future. Our vision for North Florida involves strong
educational opportunities for students in pre-K, K-12, and higher education,
including vocational training.
5)
Racism: We stand against racism,
both overt and structural, and stand for all people working together as allies
against the insidious effects of racism. We know that we grow best as a region,
state, and nation when all of our citizens are given the tools to succeed and
structural barriers are removed. Our vision for North Florida involves reducing
barriers to success for minorities while making sure that these groups are
safe.
6)
Immigration: We are for thoughtful
immigration reform, acknowledging the value and contribution of immigrants to
our economy. America was founded by immigrants and strengthened by refugees.
Our vision for North Florida involves strengthening the integration of these
newcomers into our society.
7)
Anti-Semitism: We stand strongly against
the recent increase in anti-Semitic attacks in Florida and across the nation. Our
vision for North Florida includes our Jewish brothers and sisters and does not
include anti-Semitism.
8)
LGBTQ: We stand with our LGBTQ
brothers and sisters, who enrich our society and participate in our economy.
The Equal Rights Ordinance is a step toward affirming rights for the City of
Jacksonville and improving our economic competitiveness. Our vision for North
Florida involves inclusivity, respect, and equal rights.
There are a number of other
issues facing us as American residents of North Florida. This list is not meant
to be exhaustive. We hope it shows an evidence-based approach to join together
to face common problems and create common solutions. We won’t all agree on
everything; in fact, we hope we won’t, as being a truly diverse group will bring
breadth and depth to us all. Healthy debate, grounded in respect and fact, will
help us all grow. We want to be an inclusive group, standing for things, rather than just against. We invite all residents to join
us in coming up with and implementing effective solutions as a community,
including advocating at every level of government to ensure that we grow
together, Indivisible.
