https://www.tomsteyer.com/in-the-news/tom-steyer-unveils-5-rights-platform-calling-on-demorcrats-to-take-stand/
Tom Steyer
November 20, 2018

Tom Steyer Unveils “5 Rights” Platform Calling on Democrats to Take a Stand

New platform calls on lawmakers to enshrine fundamental rights to be free in the 21st century

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today, Tom Steyer, the Founder and President of NextGen America and Need to Impeach, unveiled a list of 5 fundamental rights that Democrats should take a clear and unequivocal stand for ahead of 2020. After hearing from Americans at over 40 town halls in 23 states, Steyer believes the 5 Rights represent essential freedoms that should be guaranteed for all Americans in order to compete in today’s economy. With a new majority now in control of the U.S. House of Representatives and statehouses across the country, Steyer is calling on Democrats to champion the people’s positive vision of the future that focuses on the 5 Rights: the right to an equal vote in a fair democracy; the right to clean air and clean water; the right to learn, from pre-K through college and advanced skills training; the right to earn a living wage; and the right to health.

“These five rights should be at the core of the Democratic Party’s 2020 platform — but this is bigger than any political party,” said Tom Steyer. “These rights are fundamental to our shared belief in the promise of America, a promise of the freedom and power to pursue our dreams and earn a fair share of this country’s vast wealth. A hostile takeover of our democracy by large corporations and their enablers in politics has eroded that promise, and we must act to reclaim that power and put it back in the hands of the American people.”

As part of the launch of the 5 Rights platform, Steyer sponsored a full page ad in USA TODAY and Gannett newspapers across the country that ran on Tuesday. The ad outlines the 5 Rights and highlights the need to reverse the corporate takeover of American democracy by reimagining and redefining what it means to be free in the 21st century and guaranteeing these five protections for all Americans. The ad directs readers to TomSteyer.com, where readers can learn more about the 5 Rights and submit their feedback.  

In December and January, Steyer will host a series of conversations with local leaders, issue-area experts, and everyday Americans to discuss why these 5 Rights are essential and what they mean to everyday Americans. The first event will take place in Charleston, SC, where Steyer will talk with attendees about the Right to an Equal Vote.

NextGen America and Need to Impeach founder Tom Steyer single-handedly made one of the biggest impacts on this year’s elections, investing $120 million in grassroots organizing to expand democracy and elect progressive candidates across the country. Through NextGen America, organizers have registered more than 257,000 young voters on over 400 campuses across the country in 11 states, and through Need to Impeach, Steyer created one of the most powerful grassroots groups in Democratic politics, with over 6.3 million supporters who together dramatically increased their participation at the ballot box this year.