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  • Home
  • 2020 Election
    • Endorsements
    • Progressive Voter Guide
    • Wall of Honor
  • Our Story
    • Meet our Council
  • Get Involved
  • Issues
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Platform 2020
    • Letters to City Council >
      • Seattle City Council >
        • Kshama Sawant
        • Employee Hours Tax
    • Current Bylaws
  • Calendar of Events
    • Meeting Minutes 2020
    • Meeting Minutes 2021
PLATFORM OF THE WASHINGTON PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Submitted to the General Membership by the Platform Committee 11 May 2020
Adopted 10 September 2020


WASHINGTON  PROGRESSIVE  PARTY  PLATFORM  2020 PREAMBLE
We  of  the  Washington  Progressive  Party  submit  this  living platform  to  the  voters  of  Washington  and  invite  their participation  in  our  political  revolution.  The  purpose  of  this party  is  to  engage,  service,  and  unite  voters  disenfranchised from  politics.  We  are  committed  to  dismantling  oppression  in all  forms,  wherever  it  exists,  so  we  can  bring  to  birth  the better  society  all  people  deserve.  We  must  continue  the  long march  to  an  inclusive  and  participatory  democracy.  We  offer this  platform  not  to  hand  down  answers  from  the  top,  but  to drive  conversations  that  form  the  bedrock  of  people’s democracy.  True  democracy  requires  the  participation  of  all people.  It  cannot  co-exist  with  oppression.  True  democracy requires  solidarity;  no  one  should  face  injustice  alone.  The struggle  will  not  always  be  easy,  there  will  be  setbacks,  there will  be  conflict.  This  party  is  founded  on  the  conviction  that  a better  world  is  possible  if  we  work  together  and  fight  not  just for  ourselves,  but  for  humanity.

SOCIAL  JUSTICE We understand  that  all  issues  intersect.  Our  goal  is  to  eliminate  oppression  in all  its  forms, including but  not  limited to  racism,  homophobia,  transphobia,  ableism,  sexism,  and classism. Our  members  strive to live  and  treat  all  people in  such  a way  as  to reflect  our  opposition  to oppression in  all  its  forms.  

RACIAL  JUSTICE   We will  proactively  work  to eliminate institutionalized  racism  in  our  workforce,  government,  and law  enforcement,  and to  mitigate personal  racial  bias  within ourselves.  In  our  advocacy  for  the interests  of  racialized communities,  we will  seek  not  only  to  advance  policy  that  will  improve their  material  conditions,  but  to  empower  them  to  advocate  on  their  own  behalf.  We support racial  justice,  but  we  do not  presume  to  speak  for  those in racialized communities.  

GENDER EQUALITY   We will  work  to  prevent  discrimination  and violence  against  women,  including  but  not  limited  to sexual  harassment,  abuse,  workplace  discrimination,  wage  discrimination,  and  domestic violence,  with a  strong  emphasis  on promoting a  culture  of  consent.  We  also  support  equal rights  for  non-binary  genders,  transgender  people,  and  all  members  of  the  LGBTQ+ community.  

DISABILITY  RIGHTS We support  the  full  inclusion  of  and social  support  for  people with  diverse  intellectual,  emotional, and physical  abilities.  We  strive  to  use up-to-date language so  as  to  promote an inclusive environment  for  all  people,  and promote autonomy  and  self-advocacy  for  people  with disabilities

CIVIL  LIBERTIES We believe  it  is  the  responsibility  of  the  government  to respect,  protect,  and  fulfill  the  rights  of every  person.  We will  preserve  Washington’s  national  leadership  as  a  champion  of  human rights.  We will  protect  citizens  from  unconstitutional  government  intrusion,  defend immigrants and refugees,  support  religious  diversity,  and oppose all  limitations  to a  free society.  

POLICING  We believe  that  the police  are  a  greater  threat  to  many  people than antisocial  behavior  from fellow  citizens,  and  that  this  cannot  be  the case in  a free society;  it  must  change.  The police have become  akin  to  an  occupying  army.  It  is  clear  that  the  problems  of  our  society  will  not  be solved by  shooting  people,  gassing them,  or  locking  them  up.  Despite this,  police budgets  have continued  to  increase  at  the expense of  other  municipal  programs.  We  believe  funds  should  be moved  from  violent  policing to  programs  that  actually  address  the root  causes  of  social  ills.  We support  the creation  of  elected  citizens’  review  boards  with the  power  to remove  officers  from the  police force.  Decades  of  organizing to this  end  have yielded little result  thanks  in  part  to powerful  police  unions  and  fraternal  organizations.  These  organizations  engage in right-wing political  activism,  and  make it  nearly  impossible to  fire bad  actors  or  pass  meaningful  police reform.  Furthermore,  they  normalize a  toxic  culture of  police  brotherhood  that  makes  all  officers complicit  in  the  abuses  of  their  departments.  The  political  power  of  these  organizations  must  be reduced  or  eliminated.  We must  hold  the  police accountable.  The use of  paid administrative leave  for  police  officers  under  investigation  must  be suspended;  officers  under  investigation should forfeit  pay.  Police  officers  involved  in  excessive use  of  force  should forfeit  pay  and pensions.  Officers  involved  in  misconduct  should  be liable  for  misconduct  settlements,  not  the taxpayers  they  brutalize.  Police militarization  programs  must  end.  A  majority  of  officers  on patrol should  be  unarmed;  firearms  should  be  used  only  as  a  last  resort  and  by  specially  trained personnel.  Special  gun  rights  should not  be afforded to off-duty  police  officers.  They  should go through the same  process  to  carry  a  personal  firearm  off-duty  as  any  other  citizen would,  and service weapons  should  be  stored securely  in  police  departments.  We  demand an  end to the practice of  civil  forfeiture.  We demand  that  District  Attorneys  fulfill  their  obligations  outlined in Brady  v.  Maryland.  The  police should  be  subject  to democratic  oversight;  localities  should consider  electing qualified  police chiefs  in  the same way  they  elect  sheriffs  or  city  attorneys.  Our ultimate goals  are  to  reduce  the scope  of  policing  and size  of  the  police  budget.  Many  social functions  currently  delegated to the  police can  be  transferred to professionals  better  qualified to handle  them,  so that  the  police can  focus  on  protecting  and serving  the  people.  

PRISON  REFORM We believe  that  if  an individual  is  not  a danger  to society,  then there  is  no reason  to lock  them up.  We must  end  the disproportionately  high  incarceration of  marginalized  groups,  and  reduce incarceration in  general.  We  support  fair  sentencing and  bail  laws,  a  reduction  in out-of-state incarceration,  and an  end to  private prisons.  We support  restorative  justice;  prisons  should rehabilitate  people,  not  punish them.  Human rights  do  not  end when  someone  commits  a crime. Too often  incarcerated  people have been  neglected during  natural  disasters  and  pandemics. Too  many  prisoners  are victims  of  sexual  violence.  Too  many  prisoners  go without  adequate medical  care  and sanitization.  Religious  and cultural  needs  of  all  incarcerated  people  must  be respected.  Indigenous  customs  in  particular  are  under  threat;  drumming,  sweat  lodges,  tobacco, peyote,  and  cannabis  should be  allowed.  The  practice of  solitary  confinement,  and all  other state sponsored torture,  must  end.  We support  the  abolition of  slavery.  Prison  laborers  should have all  the protections  afforded to  other  workers,  including  minimum  wage  and    OSHA protections.  The  government  has  a responsibility  to ensure that  incarcerated people  are  safe and their  rights  are  protected.  This  includes  the right  to vote;  people  do  not  cease to be members  of  society  upon committing  a crime.  Ideally,  incarceration  should rehabilitate  and educate,  not  ruin a  person’s  life.  Incarcerated  people should  be  afforded  opportunities  for education  and vocational  training.  

GOVERNMENT  REFORM We believe  the  government  should  be    fair,  transparent,  and accountable.  We insist  on publicly funded  elections  with comprehensive campaign  finance laws.  We believe  that  progress  requires participation by  people  in all  communities,  workplaces,  and  schools,  and  we  will work  to mobilize citizens  at  all  levels  during  and between  elections.  

DIPLOMACY Diplomacy  is  the bedrock  of  a peaceful  society.  We  support  our  active  and  veteran military personnel,  but  oppose  preemptive  and  aggressive  military  action.  We  also insist  that  the  State and Federal  Government  honor  all  treaties  and international  agreements  made in  good faith. This  means  all  owed  treaty  obligations  must  be  delivered in a  timely  fashion,  and that  all indigenous  people retain the right  to  learn,  teach,  and practice  their  cultures  and ways  that respect,  protect,  and  fulfill  the  rights  of  all  people.  The  State  of  Washington should recognize  all indigenous  tribes  who  have previously  signed treaties  with  the US  Government,  including  but not  limited  to  the Duwamish,  and work  with  tribes  to obtain federal  recognition where applicable.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE We believe  that  addressing  class  inequality  is  key  to  ending  oppression at  all  levels  of  society. The United  States  of  America  is  the wealthiest  country  in  human  history,  yet  millions  live in poverty  within its  borders,  while  a wealthy  elite  exerts  disproportionate  control  over  all  aspects of  our  lives.  Too long has  our  government  been solely  geared toward the interests  of  capital, and we  seek  to change that  by  whole-heartedly  rejecting  moneyed  influence.  We refuse  all corporate  contributions.  We do  not  believe corporations  are  people,  or  that  money  is  speech. We recognize the  economic  challenges  faced  by  our  communities,  and  we  believe in  democratic ownership  of  the  economy.  The economy  must  work  for  the  many,  not  the few.  

TAXES We believe  that  the State of  Washington,  where many  of  the  wealthiest  individuals  in history reside,  including  Bill  Gates  and Jeff  Bezos,  should  not  be the  state  with  the  most  regressive tax code.  Washington  needs  a  progressive tax  system  where  wealthier  Washingtonians  pay  a higher  percentage of  their  income  in taxes  than low  to  moderate income  Washingtonians.  We believe in  reducing  our  state’s  reliance on sales  tax,  property  tax,  and  other  regressive  taxes, and  we support  implementing  a state  income  tax  and a progressive capital  gains  tax.  

HEALTHCARE We believe  that  healthcare  is  a  human right.  Thus,  we support  universal,  single-payer healthcare  of  the highest  quality.  We are the  wealthiest  nation in  human  history,  all  people deserve access  not  just  to basic  healthcare,  but  to  preventative care,  reproductive care, prescription  drugs,  dental  care,  vision care,  hearing care,  durable  medical  equipment,  in-home services,    long term  care  and  mental  health services.  Healthcare is  critical  to  a  person’s  right  to live.  All  people  will  one  day  need healthcare to survive,  and to deny  them  healthcare  for  any reason is  to condemn them  to  suffering  and death,  which constitutes  unjustifiable violence.  The goal  of  universal  healthcare requires  not  only  addressing financial  access,  but  physical  access to individuals  in rural  areas,  and  thus  we  support  investment  in rural  healthcare.  We support medical  autonomy,  and  the right  of  patients  to choose  their  medical  procedures,  physicians,  and long-term  care  options.  A  person’s  healthcare  should be between  them  and their  physician including  but  not  limited  to  a woman’s  right  to safe  and legal  abortion  and contraceptive services.   

EDUCATION We believe  that  education is  a human right.  Education in the  United  States  is  modulated in quantity  and  quality  by  economic  issues.  The wealthy  have  access  to  some of  the  best education  in the  world.  However,  a society  is  not  measured  by  how  it  takes  care of  those in power,  but  how  it  takes  care  of  those on the  margins.  The  American working  class  lags  behind the rich in  educational  outcomes.  One’s  access  to  quality  education  early  in life,  long  before they  have  ever  made  their  first  paycheck  or  voted  in their  first  election,  will  greatly  impact  them for  their  entire  life.  Thus,  we support  universal  pre-K  education.  We  demand  that  every  student, rich or  poor,  be  given the  highest  quality  education available,  funded  by  progressive taxation. We demand tuition-free public  colleges  and  universities,  so that  one’s  economic  status  does  not impact  their  ability  to  go to college.  We  demand  that  teachers  are  compensated  in  a  manner befitting  their  status  as  educated  professionals  responsible  for  one  of  the  most  important functions  in  democratic  society.  We  demand  that  education  is  accessible to  all  people,  including those with  diverse physical  and mental  abilities,  and thus  we  demand that  every  student  has  the accommodations  needed to  excel,  including  but  not  limited to American  Sign  Language education.  Students  who  use  English  as  a second  language should  be  provided with  education in both  English  and  their  first  language.  Many  students  rely  on school  districts  for  food,  and if  a student  is  hungry  it  impacts  their  education,  and  so  meals  should  be  provided free  of  cost, including when school  is  not  in session.  School  lunch  debt  should  not  exist  in the wealthiest country  on  Earth.  Guaranteed  transportation  to  and from  school  is  also  critical  to student success,  and should  be  provided free  of  cost,  regardless  of  where the  student  lives.  Schools should  provide reasonable  health services,  including mental  health services.  Classes  need  to  be sized such  that  teachers  can  give  proper  attention  to  each student  both  personally  and academically.  This  means  hiring  more teachers,  so that  the  needs  of  every  student  can  be  met, whether  they  live  in  a rural  area or  in the  heart  of  Seattle.  The United States  is  the richest country  in  human  history,  and should lead the  world in  education,  and Washington can  lead  the United States  toward that  goal.   

YOUTH WELFARE We believe  the  government  should  work  for  all  people,  including the  youth.  Young people deserve  to  have their  needs  met,  voices  heard,  rights  respected,  and interests  represented long before  they  vote  in their  first  election,  or  pay  their  first  taxes.  Minors  are  a vulnerable  class.  They are  virtually  always  at  the  mercy  of  factors  beyond  their  control,  and it  is  easy  for  those in  power to  ignore  them,  as  they  are not  voters.  Young people,  especially  historically  oppressed and marginalized  youth,  are often victims  of  abuse  and  neglect,  including  in institutional  settings such as  public  schools.  While  it  is  not  the  government’s  place to raise  a child,  and we  support the  right  of  parents  to  make  decisions  in  areas  where  their  children cannot  reasonably  be expected to make  a decision,  such as  in  the case  of  very  young children,  minors  should  have legal  recourse if  they  sincerely  believe their  legal  guardians  are  not  acting  in their  best  interests, even if  their  parents’  actions  do not  fit  the  legal  definition  of  child  abuse.  These situations  are virtually  always  complicated and  will  need  to  be handled  sensitively  and  on  a  case-by-case basis.  There  are  many  instances  where  a  parent’s  decision  might  need  to be  upheld,  despite  a young  person’s  disagreement.  Nevertheless,  we  believe  in  protecting the  rights  of  the most vulnerable,  and giving  a voice  to  the  unheard,  and  that  includes  those who  are  too young  to vote.  

HOUSING We believe  safe,  stable,  and  affordable  housing  is  a  human right,  and  will  work  to  end homelessness  and  housing shortages  by  supporting  an  increase  in  public  investment  to  create safe,  stable,  and affordable  housing.  We support  rent  control,  housing subsidies,  and  supportive services  for  renters.  Our  goal  is  to  eliminate  involuntary  homelessness.  Thus,  we support  a  wide variety  of  solutions,  such  as  updating housing  codes  to include unconventional  and  wheeled housing.  We  oppose  homeless  sweeps.  

INFRASTRUCTURE We believe  Washingtonians  need to invest  in  fixing crumbling infrastructure  and in  the development  and  expansion  of  mass  transportation.  We  believe  that  all  utilities  that  serve the general  public  should be truly  public  and should  never  be privatized.  We  support  the continued expansion of  high-speed internet  and cellphone coverage  throughout  Washington.    Internet access  is  increasingly  crucial  to success  both in  education  and the workforce.  Therefore,  the Internet  should be a public  utility.  

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE We acknowledge  that  the  state  of  the  environment  affects  all  people,  regardless  of  age,  gender, sexual  orientation,  race,  class,  or  creed.  Thus,  a  healthy  ecosystem  is  critical  to social  welfare and human survival.  We  in  the State  of  Washington are fortunate to live  amongst  striking  natural beauty,  vibrant  ecosystems,  pristine water,  and  abundant  renewable resources.  It  is  in the  best interests  of  all  people that  this  natural  beauty  is  maintained.  We support  sustainable economic practices,  and we  believe  that  we  must  see  ourselves  as  part  of  the  environment,  rather separate from  or  in  dominion over  it.    

INDIGENOUS  RIGHTS We acknowledge  the United  States  is  on  stolen land,  and  that  our  current  environmental  crisis  is due to a  system  built  on colonialism  and  genocide.  While  many  today  talk  about  transitioning toward  a  new  way  of  thinking about  society's  relationship to  the environment,  Indigenous  People always  had  a relationship  with  the  environment  that  focused on sustainability  and stewardship, and thus  their  leadership is  both  a  moral  and practical  necessity.  We  support  tribal  sovereignty, but  we  also  seek  input  from  indigenous  people  on  the  governance  of  the entire  State of Washington,  not  just  the  lands  directly  controlled  by  tribes.  Their  wisdom  and  experience  will  be critical  in this  time  of  ecological  crisis.  We also  support  state  and  federal  investment  in tribal welfare,  including social  programs  for  those living  on reservations,  and trust  that  indigenous people  can  articulate  their  specific  needs  better  than  we can.  Social  programs  intended for indigenous  people  should  not  be  exclusive to reservation  communities.  All  of  the land  in  the State  of  Washington  is  Indigenous  land,  and  Native Americans  should be  able  to access healthcare  and tribal  programs  whether  they  choose to live in Neah  Bay  or  Seattle.  We  demand that  nation-to-nation  treaties  made in good faith be respected,  and that  the  State  and Federal Government  uphold  all  treaty  obligations.  We support  State  and Federal  recognition  of  tribal status  for  the Duwamish  People,  and  all  other  Indigenous  People who  have  lost  their  tribal status.

CLIMATE  CHANGE We  are committed  to  doing  everything in  our  power  to  address,  mitigate,  and reverse anthropogenic  climate change.  We  accept  the  scientific  consensus  that  climate  change  is  real and is  caused  by  humans.  We support  the  Green  New  Deal,  but  believe we  must  go  further.  We demand  that  climate  change  be treated  as  an  immediate,  existential  threat  to  all  people.  This  is not  just  a  problem  for  our  children;  it  is  a  problem  for  everyone  on  the  planet.  While credible scientific  models  give varying time  estimates,  it  is  imperative that  we  act  as  if  the  deadline were today.  To  underreact  is  worse  than  to  overreact.  The  problems  of  climate change cannot  be separated  from  the  wasteful  and  insidious  economic  system  that  created  them.  We  cannot address  this  issue  without  also  addressing  the exploitation of  workers,  the marginalization of women,  racism,  the destruction  of  the  Arctic,  or  the pillaging of  the  Global  South.  The solution  to climate change will  come not  from  some  new  technology,  or  some individual  savior,  but  from global  solidarity  and a  total  overhaul  of  our  relationship  with the planet.  Our  task  will  not  be an easy  one,  but  we  believe  in the ability  of  humanity  to  come together  and meet  this  crisis.  We must,  for  if  we  fail,  we  will perish.

NATURAL  RESOURCES We  believe that  protecting  the  environment  contributes  to  a  healthy  and vibrant  economy.  We support  sustainable,  green  industries  that  protect  Washington’s  natural  beauty  and  resources, contribute to the  greater  good,  and improve  our  soils.  We support  strong land-use  planning, wildlife  management  and conservation,  restoration  of  our  waterways,  and the sustainable  use  of natural  resources.  We support  financial  incentives  to  alternative fuels  such  as  fuel  alcohol, alternative materials  like  industrial  hemp,  and the move  toward zero waste.  

ENERGY We support  sustainable  alternatives  to carbon-based  energy.  There is  simply  no way  for  our global  society  to  persist  with  the  burning  of  fossil  fuels.  We  believe Washington should  lead the nation into the  future,  and  be powered  exclusively  by  safe,  clean,  and  renewable  energy sources.  Our  energy  system  and  utilities  should  be publicly  and locally  owned.  We support investments  and  job  development  in  energy  conservation  and  weatherization  programs.  Every new  structure  or  public  works  project  should be  built  with sustainability  in  mind,  and  existing buildings  should  be  modified to  be  as  sustainable  as  possible.  The  state  should  invest  in this,  as they  would in any  other  situation  where  millions  of  lives  are  at  stake.  This  investment  should be funded  all  or  in  part  by  taxes  on fossil  fuel  companies.  We  also  support  job retraining  and  other economic  support  for  those  currently  employed  in  carbon-based energy.  State  investment  to update  our  energy  system  will  create thousands  of  good-quality  jobs  for  engineers,  construction workers,  machinists,  millwrights,  programmers;  the very  people currently  employed in the  fossil fuel  industry.  The  dangerous  and  destructive process  of  hydraulic  fracturing should  be  banned globally.  Indigenous  people  should  have the  sole  right  to  decide  what  happens  on their  land;  in general,  no special  rights  of  way  should be  granted  to energy  companies  and  pipelines. 

WATER RIGHTS  We believe that  water  is  life,  and  that  all  people worldwide have the  right  to clean  water. Water  is  a human  right,  and all  people fighting  for  that  right  have our  support.  We  offer our  solidarity  to the Indigenous  water  protectors  and their  allies  who fight  against pipelines  and  other  corporate  incursions  into Indigenous  territory.  They  are an inspiration to us.  Here in Washington,  we  are fortunate to live in  a water  rich state. However,  a growing  population and increased  stress  from  climate change  will necessitate  management  of  our  water  resources.  We support  the  continued setting of instream  flows  to ensure that  streamflows  are  preserved for  fish,  wildlife,  recreation, aesthetics,  water  quality,  and  navigation.  Water  intensive  projects  must  be in the public interest,  and must  not  impair  another  existing  use.  Polluters  should be  responsible for cleaning up  pollution,  including but  not  limited  to chemical  spills,  at  their  own expense, and the State should  ensure this  is  done in a  safe and timely  manner.  Water  is  a public resource,  held in  common by  all,  and so we are all  responsible for  ensuring that  our state’s  rich water  resources  are  managed effectively.    

AGRICULTURE We support  diversified,  sustainable  and locally  based  agriculture.  There  is  only  a limited amount of  arable land,  and  it  needs  to  be  preserved  for  the production  of  food.  Any  development  that removes  arable land from  production  must  be stopped.  We  support  farmers’  markets,  farm-totable,  and  farm-to-school  initiatives  to ensure that  all  Washingtonians  have  access  to  quality, healthy,  and  sustainably  grown food.  We oppose the consolidation  of  the  agricultural  sector  into the  hands  of  large  corporations  that  deprive  farmers  of  powerand the  fruits  of  their  labor. Farmers  and  agricultural  workers  feed  the world,  and  have  done  so  for  thousands  of  years.,  not multinational  corporations.  We support  the farmers  and workers  who feed  us,  not  the corporations  that  feed on us.  Farmers  and  workers    should be the  ones  with control  power  over their  livelihoods,  and  the  agricultural  system.  We support  financial  assistance for  family  farms that  wish  to  switch  to  organic.  We support  the right  of  farmers  to  own and  repair  their  own equipment.  We support  tax  incentives  for  small  family  farms.  As  with  all  workers,  we  urge farmers  to  band  together,  organize,  and stand  up  to big business.  No  family  farm  should  have  to face  a  government  or  corporate legal  team  alone;  we are  stronger  together.     

IMMIGRATION  We demand  an  end  to  the violent  and  inhumane  separation  of  families  at  the border,  and  a  path to citizenship  for  all  undocumented  people.  To  do  this,  we  must  abolish ICE,  and extend  asylum to  undocumented  people currently  living in  the United  States,  so that  no  one lives  in fear  of racist  deportation.  We support  a  continuation and  expansion  of  the DREAM  act.  We  must update  our  immigration  policy  to  reflect  the current  reality;  many  sectors  of  our  economy  have relied  upon  immigrant  labor  for  generations,  and  these laborers  deserve legal  protections  and rights  befitting essential  workers.  We  oppose the  border  wall.  Financial  barriers  to  obtaining  a visa must  be greatly  reduced,  if  not  eliminated,  and  companies  that  exploit  undocumented  labor must  be  brought  to justice.  The wait  times  at  the  border  for  asylum  seekers  are unacceptable, and provision  must  be  made  to  fulfill  our  moral  and legal  duty  to asylum  seekers  and  refugees. The  United States  has  an obligation,  under  international  law,  to  process  them  in a  timely manner.  

FORESTRY We believe  public  forestry  is  about  creating  the  greatest  good  for  the  greatest  number  for  the longest  time,  and the  forests  of  the State of  Washington  should  be managed by  and  in  the interests  of  the  people  of  the State  of  Washington.  We are fortunate to live  in  a state with incredible geographic  diversity  and  biodiversity,  and management  plans  must  reflect  this diversity.  Plans  must  be tailored to the  ecology  of  each  forest;  more  than  half  of  our  state  is forested,  and  forests  in the  Okanogan Highlands  will  have  different  needs  to  forests  on  the Salish  Sea.  Plans  must  be  proactive;  it  will  always  be  cheaper  to  prevent  catastrophic  forest fires  than to react  to  them.  Plans  must  be adaptive;  an adaptive plan  will  always  be  more  suited to the  ever  changing  needs  of  a forest  than an inflexible  plan.  All  of  this  requires  a  greater investment  in  forestry.  We  must  invest  in  workers  who  manage our  valuable  forested land,  their programs  must  be well-supplied,  and we  must  listen  to  and value those who  have  dedicated their  lives  to  this  work.  Greater  investment  in  forestry  should  be funded  primarily  by  companies like Weyerhaeuser  who profit  immensely  from  our  state's  timber  resources  while forcing rural communities  to shoulder  the  negative  externalities  created  by  their  actions.  Forestry  does  not exist  in  a  vacuum,  and  the balance  between  preservation  and  the  needs  of  the rural communities  that  live among  and alongside our  state’s  forests  must  be carefully  considered. Access  to  lands  and special  forest  products  in  lands  owned  by  the  public  should  be  managed  by the  public,  not  by  Weyerhaeuser  or  other  companies.  Forests  have  intrinsic  cultural,  aesthetic, and ecological  value irrespective of  their  potential  profitability.  Maintaining  and creating biodiversity  and ecological  resilience should  be  a  goal  of  public  forests.  While timber  is  a renewable  resource,  forests,  especially  old growth  forests,  are not.  We  also must  acknowledge that  Indigenous  people,  as  the  original  land  managers  of  this  region,  have  extremely  valuable insight  into the  problems  we  face today.  The  State  of  Washington  sits  on  and  benefits  from stolen land,  and  we cannot  discuss  how  to  manage this  land in the  public  interest  without elevating Indigenous  voices.  
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