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Resorte
26th March 2003, 14:22
What do you guys think about the Green Party? I think it could be a good alternative to fight the system from the inside since I live in the US. I know that if I was living in Argentina I would join Larissa's party. I joined my local volunteer fire dept. to help my community just to find out that they're a bunch of rednecks ultra nationalists and I cant find social organizations that share my political views other than this forum.

P.S I'm not an advocate for the green party I just read about them today from one of Michael Moore's statements



Ten Key Values of the Green Party

Policy and Activism.


As ratified in 2000 at the Green Party National Convention


As ratified at the Green Party Convention in Denver, CO, June 2000.

1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.

2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.

3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

4. NON-VIOLENCE
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.

5. DECENTRALIZATION
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.

6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a “living wage” which reflects the real value of a person’s work.

Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our “quality of life.” We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.

7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.

8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.

We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.

9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.

10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or “unmaking” all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.

Ten Key Values from other state and local Greens.
There is no authoritative version of the Ten Key Values of the Greens. The Ten Key Values are guiding principles that are adapted and defined to fit each state and local chapter.






(Edited by Resorte at 2:41 pm on Mar. 26, 2003)

RedCeltic
26th March 2003, 14:33
I'm a big supporter of the Green party, in fact it's the group I'm most active in. Here in Albany NY the green party has become the umbrella left group for socialists, communists, and anarchists. We are actually the most active student group on campus at my university, but also the same group is also the most active grass roots organisation in the city. People in the greens are passionate about making change, and it's not just about politics which attracts the anarchists who love the greens for their activism and position on decenteralization.

Actually my view of being "anarcho-socialist" is partly based on the points you just posted. Smaller more responsible govt. with direct participation, is what the green party stands for, but also is very much so the anachist position.

And I'm also a member of the IWW as you see by my avatar and sig. :)

deimos
26th March 2003, 16:52
here in austria the greens are the party of the urban upper class. They even said that they would tolerated fees in universities(2 years ago you could study without paying anything in austrai)

Resorte
26th March 2003, 17:44
Quote: from deimos on 4:52 pm on Mar. 26, 2003
here in austria the greens are the party of the urban upper class. They even said that they would tolerated fees in universities(2 years ago you could study without paying anything in austrai)

Well, I strongly believe that education should be free and for all. I don't know what position the green party has taken in the US but it makes me sick how much I'm paying right now for my education.

Valkyrie
26th March 2003, 18:07
I Like the Green Party platform A lot!!! The two things I like most is they are for decentralization and their 7-generation policy --- no policies, mostly environmental, would be made without seeing what the potential negative impact it would have for 7 generations.. 250 years.

What I don't like about the Green Party is of their running celebrities as candidates. I hear there is talk of possibly running..... ugghhhh..... Susan Sarandon for president... (don't do it! don;t do it!) political suicide.. Big turn off for me.

Other than that... their platform aligns pretty close to Anarchy, except for the fact that they are a political party and thus are bound by the political system of doing things... which is like hitting a brick wall at 200 mph.

RedCeltic
26th March 2003, 18:57
She may run for the nomination but she isn't going to get it if Ralph Nader runs which look like he is.

Some people in the greens think running celebs is a good idea, when Al Lewis (grandpa munster) ran for Governor of NY, he received 50,000 votes and gave the Green party in New York State ballot status

this past 2002 election, we lost ballot status when running a virtually unknown Marxist revisionist sociology professor from city university.. (Stanley Aronowitz.)

Valkyrie
26th March 2003, 19:42
I don't think they should give up on Aronowitz. The longer he stays out front, the more people will be familiar with him --- If it's name recognition they're looking for to pull in voters. His political background is irreproachable. At this point - all he has to say is he'll shut down Indian Point and make GE accountable and he'd probably win the election.

Umoja
26th March 2003, 22:07
I guess, I'm a green party supporter. New Jersey Green Party ain't to strong though. I just know that Fortunato ran in a neighboring district, and was blown outta the water.

The Green Party should push to get Cynthia McKinney to join their party to run for President though, or Peter Camajano (Did I spell that right?). This of course is saying if Nader didn't run.

Disgustipated
26th March 2003, 22:59
I like the Green Party. It's a good shake up for the standard Rep./ Dem. 2 party drudgery.

I have heard however that the Green Party is fairly conservative on budget/economy issues. Is that true?

The other issue I have is that a Green Presidentit would still be leading a House and Senate yes? I think to have true reform, you'll either have to get a lot of Greens into the Senate or get rid of it all together and start over. There's a lot of big money and ties to powerful lobbies there.

My biggest fear is that a Green President would be a figurehead and not be allowed to make any real change. Nothing that the Congress wouldn't undue at any rate. It's like an ideological cancer that needs to be cut out if there really is gonna be true change.

My thinking is that I am going to work harder to get the word out for the SLP. I think we need to support parties that offer real change, top to bottom. Until people hear and see these people, they'll always be relagated to the shadows as "nuts" etc...

Dr. Rosenpenis
27th March 2003, 03:20
Yeah, the Green Party is great...if you're a reformist.

Resorte
27th March 2003, 11:41
READ CAREFULLY!!!

A Pro-Democracy Foreign Policy:

We call for a fundamental shift in US foreign policy, from supporting repressive regimes in the interests global corporations to supporting the pro-democracy labor, social, and environmental movements of the people.
Support International, Multilateral Peacekeeping to Stop Aggression and Genocide
No Unilateral US Intervention in the Internal Affairs of Other Countries
Close All Overseas US Military Bases
Disband NATO and All Aggressive Military Alliances
Ban US Arms Exports
Abolish the CIA, NSA, US Army School of the Americas, and All US Agencies of Covert Warfare
End the Economic Blockades of Cuba, Iraq, and Yugoslavia
Cut Off US Military Aid to Counter-Insurgency Wars in Colombia and Mexico
Freedom for Lori Berenson and All Political Prisoners
Require a National Referendum to Declare War
End Global Financial Exploitation: Cancel the debt owed by poor countries to global banks. End the exploitation of poor countries by IMF "structural adjustment" policies. Abolish the IMF and World Bank and replace them with a democratic international financial institution for balancing international accounts and financing short-term current account balances.
Fair Trade: Withdraw from the World Trade Organization, NAFTA, and all other corporate-managed trade agreements that are driving down labor and environmental conditions globally. Establish an internationalist social tariff system that equalizes trade by accounting for the differences among countries in wages, social benefits, environmental conditions, and political rights. Tariff revenues to a democratic, international fund for ecological production and democratic development in poor countries in order to level up social and environmental conditions to a high common standard.

(Edited by Resorte at 12:08 pm on Mar. 27, 2003)


(Edited by Resorte at 12:13 pm on Mar. 27, 2003)

Resorte
27th March 2003, 11:44
Quote: from deimos on 4:52 pm on Mar. 26, 2003
here in austria the greens are the party of the urban upper class. They even said that they would tolerated fees in universities(2 years ago you could study without paying anything in austrai)


An Economic Bill of Rights

Universal Social Security: Taxable Basic Income Grants for all, structured into the progressive income tax, that guarantee an adequate income sufficient to maintain a modest standard of living. Start at $500/week ($26,000/year) for a family of four, with $62.50/week ($3,250/year) adjustments for more or fewer household members in 2000 and index to the cost of living.

Jobs for All: A guaranteed right to job. Full employment through community-based public works and community service jobs programs, federally financed and community controlled.

Living Wages: A family-supporting minimum wage. Start at $12.50 per hour in 2000 and index to the cost of living.
30-Hour Work Week: A 6-hour day with no cut in pay for the bottom 80% of the pay scale.
Social Dividends: A "second paycheck" for workers enabling them to receive 40 hours pay for 30 hours work. Paid by the government out of progressive taxes so that social productivity gains are shared equitably.

Universal Health Care: A single-payer National Health Program to provide free medical and dental care for all, with freedom of choice for consumers among both conventional and alternative health care providers, federally financed and controlled by democratically elected local boards.

Free Child Care: Available voluntarily and free for all who need it, modeled after Head Start, federally financed, and community controlled.

Lifelong Public Education: Free, quality public education from pre-school through graduate school at public institutions.

Affordable Housing: Expand rental and home ownership assistance, fair housing enforcement, public housing, and capital grants to non-profit developers of affordable housing until all people can obtain decent housing at no more than 25% of their income. Democratic community control of publicly funded housing programs.

It seems that they promote free education for all up to graduate school and also free day care!!!! this summer I'll be paying $300 a week for my two kids.

Rastafari
27th March 2003, 15:54
Current registered voter for liscence. When I am 18 you can bet like hell I will vote for Nader. Ughh...Susan Sarandon...I can not imagine Janet from Rockey Horror Picture Show sharing similar politikal views.
I choose Green Party because they more closely represent my views than the Democrats and because we have to conserve our planet...without it, we can fucking forget politics, we won't be here.
The current regime, however, is shooting for armagiddeon, though, so we'll see if I make it to 2004.
I would also vote for the green party because they would Legalize Hemp, making the world economic and hunger situations many times better.

I think that if Bush really shits in his nest, which he is in full course of doing, the Greens could win about 10% of the vote. Think about it, the Dems won't have a strong headman, will they? Probably a weaker rep. than Gore even.

Isn't New Jersey the Garden State by the way? I think they should really advocate for green government up there. As for Kentucky, we are the most Democratic state in the South by far and have had only 3 conservative Governers in our whole history, to my knowledge.