TOP PRIORITIES

JURY DEMOCRACY
Hugh is the founder and Jury Democracy USA and the inventor of the concept of Jury Democracy.

In Jury Democracy, we will hold a jury trial on every bill or every important bill before a large jury (400 or more) of randomly invited citizens, large enough to be a statistically valid sample of the population. Both supporters and opponents of the bill would make their arguments and present evidence. The jurors would then deliberate and discuss in smaller groups and then vote by secret ballot. No bill would become law without approval from a majority of the jury. Laws would still also require approval from Congress.

This will be government by informed consent of the people. It is a government that will make policy by reason and evidence, instead of by money and influence. And it will be a governnment where We the People have real power.

CUT INCOME AND PAYROLL TAXES IN HALF AND REPLACE WITH A WEALTH TAX
We must cut payroll and income taxes in half and replace that with a wealth tax. Hugh will propose a bill to cut income taxes and payroll taxes in half and replace that revenue with an annual wealth tax of 8% on wealth over about $400 million, 6% on wealth over $44 million (the top 0.1%), 4% on wealth over $12 million (the top 1%), and 2% on wealth over $1.5 million (the top 10%). That will raise $3.4 trillion dollars each year.  More than enough to cut income taxes and payroll taxes in half, with enough left over to cut the deficit by 80%.  And it allows even the billionaires to continue to grow their wealth every year, since they make more than 8% on their money. 

If we simply taxed extreme wealth at reasonable rates, we could cut income taxes and payroll taxes in half.  And Hugh will propose that we do that.  Of course, Congress will not consider this, but Hugh will submit this proposal to a jury, it will pass with over 80% support, and then he will dare Congress to vote on it.

RESTORE THE ENVIRONMENT BY REWILDING
The current mass extinction and nearly all our environmental problems are caused by habitat loss. Humans use almost every square inch of usable land on the planet. Hugh’s proposal is to that we simply share the planet with other species.

He will propose that the federal government buy 1% of the land in the U.S. each year for a decade and simply let it revert to nature. We can do that for just 2.7% of the federal budget each year. At the end of 10 years, we would have over 10% of the land reverted to nature, and then we could decide how much longer we want to continue.

MAKE THE BILL OF RIGHTS ENFORCEABLE
Federal agents murdered Renee Good and Alex Pretti and broke into houses without a warrant in Minnesota. Then they were immune from suit and immune from federal charges for those violations of our rights.

It turns out the Bill of Rights is not enforceable against federal officials. They cannot be sued for violating our rights and cannot be prosecuted because violating our rights is not a crime. I want to fix that. I will introduce a bill to create a right to sue federal officials, including the President, for knowingly violating our rights and make that a crime. If Congress refuses to consider that bill, I will introduce it to a jury, where it will pass with over 80% support, and then I will dare Congress to hold a vote on it.

IMMIGRATION
Population growth hurts everyone except the top 1%. It is simple supply and demand, more people means more workers competing for jobs which drives down wages. More people means more people bidding against each other for land and housing, which drives up the cost of housing. It also drives up the price of food and resources and everything. Population growth in this country is driven entirely by immigration, and we have the highest percentage of foreign born in the U.S. in our history.

The elites want more immigration because, although it hurts American workers and consumers, it increases the size of the economy, which increases stock prices and corporate valuations and increases tax revenue for the government.

Hugh supports enforcing our immigration laws and reducing immigration levels. But the government can do that humanely, consistent with the Bill of Rights, and without murdering citizens and noncitizens.

ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Hugh would eliminate funding for Israel. It is an outrage that our tax dollars are going to fund genocide and apartheid.

END THE IRAN WAR
Hugh will work to end the Iran war.

CAPITALISM—BREAKING UP MONOPOLIES
Hugh believes in capitalism. But we do not have capitalism. We have “oligopolism.” Every industry is 90% or more controlled by five or fewer companies. Occassionally the government sues some for antitrust violations, but that never works.

Hugh proposes that we simply use the tax code to induce monopolies and giant corporations to break themselves up and create real competition. This can be done with a progressive corporate income tax on revenue or profits that taxes big companies at a higher rate than small companies. When giant corporations have a high tax burden that they can reduce by breaking up, they will. Then we will have real competition on prices, wages, and quality that will decrease prices, increase wages, and improve quality of services and goods. And small companies will be able to compete.

ABORTION AND BODILY AUTONOMY
Hugh supports abortion rights and bodily autonomy. He will work to create a federal law guaranteeing abortion rights and the absolute right for you to control your own body – no matter your gender or identity.