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Green Party Populism
Greens want to make America democratic.
by Stephen Lendman
Imagine a political party wanting America governed progressively. Imagine its platform stressing social justice, human and civil rights, peace, disarmament, and other populist policies America's duopoly spurns. More on this below.
On October 23, Russia Today (rt.com) and C-SPAN broadcast 90 minutes of debate by third party presidential candidates Jill Stein (Green Party), Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), Virgil Goode (Constitution Party), and Rocky Anderson (Justice Party).
Scoundrel media coverage was scant. Broadcast and cable news networks ignored it. Chicago's Hilton and Towers served as venue. The Chicago Tribune headlined "Third-party candidates make their cases in Chicago debate," saying:
In 1960, political debates began in Chicago. Kennedy and Nixon faced-off. Tribune writer Bob Secter dismissively called Tuesday night's debate hardly up to the level of Obama/Romney.
It's "unlikely the whole world was watching," he said. That's the cross "off-brand parties" must bear, he added. He said nothing about ideas and philosophies expressed.
He did little more than say perhaps they could be spoilers in key battleground states too close to call.
Free and Equal Elections (freeandequal.org) sponsored the debate. Four in all were planned. A final one is scheduled for Washington, DC on October 30.
Freeandequal.org is a non-profit organization. It was "formed to ensure a fair and open electoral process for all. It is our belief that a true democracy fosters a climate where all voice are heard regardless of political party or persuasion."
Not in America sadly. Independents are virtually shut out. In 1992, Ross Perot was the last one allowed to debate. His candidacy (and perhaps participation) helped elect Clinton.
The Washington Post also covered Tuesday night. Headlining "Third-party presidential candidates rail against Obama and Romney at debate," it said:
Four alternative party aspirants offered "starkly different political perspectives, but unit(ed) in agreement that neither Mitt Romney nor President Obama can solve the nation's biggest problems."
Left unsaid was who they are, what they stand for, and why America's duopoly assures destructive same old, same old every time. The Post merely said they "addressed many of the same issues the major party candidates have wrangled over" plus some they left out.
America's duopoly doesn't debate. Prescripted theater substitutes. Flim flam defines it. A previous article said Republican/Democrat face-offs don't edify. They insult. Issues aren't discussed responsibly. They're ducked. Voters come away knowing nothing.
