The Peoples’ Union is a harm reduction-oriented and pragmatic organization. We are committed to promoting stability, security, and efficient resource allocation. We believe in an iron fist with a velvet glove approach on foreign policy.
At present, national defense spending dwarfs many other categories of federal funding. We are in favor of cutting defense spending where possible while recognizing the sober reality that we currently have many global enemies and must continue to be leaders in NATO.
While we acknowledge the necessity of using force to protect the interests of the United States and its allies, we are against prolonged wars that primarily serve to benefit the military-industrial complex spoken about by President Eisenhower. Our military engagements should be carefully evaluated with a focus on national interests and avoiding unnecessary conflicts.
As an organization we are concerned about the increasing threats posed by cyberattacks and the need to secure power grids, infrastructure, classified information, technology, and other vital assets. By investing in cutting-edge cybersecurity measures, we aim to ensure the highest level of protection for our critical systems and maintain our position as a leader in cyber warfare.
Border Security and Immigration
Record numbers of individuals and families originating from Central American countries, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, and Venezuela have crossed the southern border over the past decade. Most are fleeing violence, repression, and lack of opportunity at home (Migration Policy Institute, 2023).
Tight borders that are compassionate and follow the law must be established in order to pay for all the social programs we propose. We cannot afford to pay non-citizens or permanent residents the benefits we propose unless we cut down on the massive influx of illegal workers into the USA. We propose the following measures to address the ongoing migrant crisis at the southern border:
- To address the asylum process, the U.S. must assign a significant number of judges, approximately 400-500, to the border to hear asylum claims.
- We should reform and expand seasonal work visa programs so that we can employ more migrant workers in industries, such as agriculture, where employees are needed.
- We should consider designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations to serve as a warning to Mexico that we will take action on their soil to eliminate the threat, similar to how we operate in other nations when American lives and interests are threatened.
- We will make substantial investments in Central and South Americans countries where the majority of migrants originate, to work towards building essential infrastructure, improving economic conditions, and overseeing democratic elections.
Marshall Plan for Central America
The United States bears some of the blame for the current state of Central American countries from which a large proportion of migrants have traveled over the past decade. In funding the fight against communism in countries like Guatemala and El Salvador, the U.S. funded and fueled the rise of corrupt leaders and elites that wrought violence on their own people. In the wake of civil wars Central American countries were left in economic ruin and a politically weak state in which elite criminal gangs continued to prey on regular people (Borger, 2018).
Although Vice President Harris has spearheaded U.S. efforts to address some of the root problems that cause Central Americans to risk their lives to travel north, the Peoples’ Union believes a Marshall style Plan (i.e., akin to investment in rebuilding Europe after World War II) is needed to rebuild and stabilize the region. This large investment should focus on infrastructure development, stimulating the economy through trade, and protecting democratic processes.
In 2022, no Central American countries were among the top ten recipients of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the U.S. which funds development and welfare programs in developing countries. Although there are other aid programs that assist Central America (Congressional Research Service, 2023), we encourage the federal government to increase ODA funding to Central America, especially the Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) from which so many desperate people have fled to the U.S. This mass migration is taxing the social welfare, health, and education systems of American cities such as Chicago and New York. Helping to stabilize the region must be a foreign policy and foreign affairs priority.