Claudia De la Cruz, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Candidate for President of the United States
We are focused on seizing the 100 largest corporations and turning them into public property to reorganize the economy. The wealth gap in the U.S. has increased drastically to the point where many working people can no longer afford the basic necessities of everyday life. We plan to ease this heavy burden with measures such as price freezes to eliminate inflation, capping rent at 10% of income, and a 100% tax on wealth over $10 million. We also propose canceling all student loans, medical debt, and utility bills, and advocate for free healthcare, education, and housing as constitutional rights. We believe the economy should serve the working people who make this country run, not the billionaire class!
Housing must be recognized as a human need, not a for-profit commodity. We plan to cap rent at 10% of income, ensuring everyone can afford a safe place to live. By reorganizing the economy around people's needs instead of profit, we can ensure affordable housing for all.
Healthcare should be free and accessible to everyone, and a constitutional right. Our plan includes taking private healthcare companies and pharmaceutical corporations into public ownership to ensure that healthcare is no longer driven by profit but by the needs of the people. This ties directly into our commitment to building a socialist economy that serves the working class, providing everyone with the care they need without the burden of medical debt or exorbitant costs.
First, we recognize that the primary driver of immigration to the U.S. is U.S. intervention and militarism abroad, causing violent conditions many working people must flee to guarantee the safety of themselves and their families. Criminalizing those entering the U.S. and looking for work does nothing to address this root cause. We must grant legal status to immigrant workers fleeing conditions created largely by U.S. corporations and the war machine. Immigrants should be welcomed into unions to foster solidarity, not forced into exploitation that drives wages down for all workers. Our immigration policy is rooted in our broader goal to build an economy where all workers, regardless of origin, have equal rights and protections, and are part of a system designed to meet their needs, not profit off their exploitation.
We firmly support the right to abortion and believe it is a critical aspect of healthcare that should be free and accessible to all. Abortion rights are a fundamental part of reproductive freedom, and access to reproductive care must be greatly expanded. As a form of healthcare, reproductive care must also be free and within reach for anyone who needs it, removing financial barriers that disproportionately impact working women. This policy is rooted in the belief that every individual should have control over their own body.
Our approach to gun ownership and control acknowledges the racist origins of the Second Amendment, which was designed to protect slave patrols and suppress Black resistance. But true safety comes from dismantling the systemic inequalities that breed violence, rather than just focusing on banning firearms. By reallocating resources to meet community needs and supporting measures like violence interruption programs, we can create a society where everyone feels secure.
We firmly believe that addressing environmental issues is integral to our economic and social policies. We must prioritize combating climate change by transitioning to renewable energy sources and ensuring clean air and water for all. Environmental justice is essential; impoverished and left-behind communities often bear the brunt of pollution and climate impacts. By taking major corporations into public ownership, we can ensure that environmental concerns are prioritized over profit, creating a sustainable future for everyone.
Our Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation has held Palestinian liberation as a core demand since its very founding. We recognize that the current conflict, the current genocide, did not start on October 7, but has its roots in the beginnings of the occupation of Palestine. We demand an end to all U.S. aid to Israel and we support an immediate negotiated ceasefire.
We demand full equality for LGBTQ people in all areas of society, including marriage, gender-affirming care, and sports participation. Discrimination against LGBTQ individuals must be outlawed through national legislation that ensures protections in workplaces and public institutions. We must address the epidemic of violence against LGBTQ people by promoting comprehensive support systems. Our fight for equality is intertwined with the struggle against systemic oppression, and we stand united in advocating for the rights and dignity of all individuals.
The United States spends over 1 trillion dollars per year on weapons and operating a vast network of military bases spanning the entire globe. Our campaign recognizes that a better world is possible, today, and we have the funds to pay for it, if we use the astronomical amount of money spent on empire to instead meet working people’s needs right here in the richest country in the world. We are not just political candidates, but lifelong organizers and activists who will continue building our vision for a socialist future no matter what happens on Election Day. Our campaign is not just an ask for votes, it’s also an invitation: if you believe in building a better world, join us in fighting for it.