Free higher education - in New York State

[RedCeltic]

I just got back today from a meeting with the Albany chapter of the New York State Green Party. I was really inspired by one of the speakers there, a guy running for an office in the City of Albany.

He mentioned that New York State could have Free higher education if the repealed the Rockerfeller drug Laws.

New York State pays apx: $30,000 a year (per inmate) to house inmates in these prisons. Prisons full of mostly non violent offenders.

Repealing the Rockerfeller drug laws and decriminalization of pot would reduce prison spending by 9/10ths... money that could than be used for education and healthcare.

Another proposal is that people who make over a set figure that don't pay Social Security taxes should than pay a 2% tax to the state.

Another issue, force major coperations like General Electric to start paying taxes

(Edited by RedCeltic at 8:58 pm on Sep. 10, 2002)


(Edited by RedCeltic at 9:04 pm on Sep. 10, 2002)

[MJM]

The greens are the way of the futute IMO.
All leftists should look at their local green party and consider moving that way. If I ever decide to go into politics I will join the greens.

[RedCeltic]

Also here in New York State, this election is very important in order to keep the Greens on the ballot. The Socialist Party has already lost ballot status, and the Greens represent the only Third party in New York State with ballot status.

[antieverything]

I think that it is time for a coalition of leftist parties to run on joint tickets...kind of like the old progressive party.

[MJM]

I now believe there's too much animosity and baggage over past disagreements for leftist parties ie. socialist/communist to ever unite. Too many petty bourgeois attitudes are involved, they long ago lost working class attitudes and are now run by intelectual types with no grounding in the working class world. The best way forward is to start again and the only way to do this is the greens.

[RedCeltic]

One of the things that i had thought was really interesting was that the major candidates for the Green Party here in New York State are comming to give speech on the University monday. Note, that it's not some expensive school like Columbia, but rather a State univeristy. The candidate for Governer Stanley Aronowitz is an ex steelworker!

Oh, and one of the guys there last night said something about one of the things they do also is to hold, "Teach-ins" where they talk about important issues and world events and take questions, comments, feedback etc... and he noted that a high school student that was there, stood up and voiced his opinion, and amazed many people there.

[Conghaileach]

Didn't the Green Party throw their full support behind Dubya after Sept 11?

[RedCeltic]

nothing can be farther from the truth. They have actually been vocal about the use of peaceful alternitive means. I don't know where you picked that one up, however it's entirely false.

[MJM]

The NZ greens were against the war, while our "social democrat" government gladly sent our forces into the killing spree.
Also the SWP was involved with the govt. that sent troops. Over a few months this led to the collapse of the joint party they were in, but nonetheless the were involved in an imperialist act of war.
I'll add here the prime minister is consider a 'chardonay socialist' by many. I'd call her a capitalist lackey along with the rest of the labour party.

So in NZ we have a supossedly leftist government sending people to fight in the US wars.
Leftist my ass!

[RedCeltic]

Well, also on that note... several groups, including the Greens here in Albany, NY... organized a "Teach-in" about 9/11... It would have been more accurate to have called it an anti-war rally.

It started off with a movie showing graphic photos and interviews with survivors... of... not only 9/11 but also Afghanistan! The message basicly was, "Our Grief is not a war cry!!"

All of the speakers there had something to say against the Bush Administration. One woman gave a well detailed interesting speach about the eroding of democracy and civil liberties under the Bush administration. That was followed by a very vocal speaker who took the stage holding up a bumber sticker ( which apperently was being handed out but in short supply) which said, "SHOULD WE BOMB IRAQ? HELL NO!!!"

At any rate... I don't know what the Greens are like in New Zeeland, or Ireland, or in Texas, whatever... but I do know that here in the Capitol of New York State... they are very radical, and very much... anti War.