Recently, scientists reported that warm ocean temperatures are killing the nutrients that feed plankton. The entire ocean food chain begins with plankton. Highly respected British climate scientist James Lovelock believes that we are already past the point of no return. He may be correct, but we have to do what we can, while we can. That’s why I’m going Green.
I’ve thought about this for a long time, but I’ve been held back, in part, by my lingering hatred of Nader from 2000 through 2004. But I can admit now what I couldn’t admit even a year ago: there is no difference between the two parties. The true test of that proposition is not whether the world would have been a different place had Al Gore taken his rightful office—and here I still vehemently disagree with Mr. Nader—but whether Gore had the power to take office after winning. He didn’t. Even with Bill Clinton the sitting president, all the institutions of government closed ranks against Gore, including the Democratic leadership.
It’s time we stop pouring all our organizing resources and energy into a rigged electoral game. We certainly have to stop believing that a party that won’t make fair elections its number one priority is the hope of the future. It’s insane!
We are going to have to find a different way to send a message. We need to target Republicans and corporations directly. They still need to manufacture some level of public acceptance and consent, and we have to disrupt that. You don’t do that by writing a letter begging Hillary Clinton to filibuster.
God knows the Greens have their problems. They are divided, too, because the Dems, via Progressive Democrats of America, are looking to acquire the Green Party as a far-left (in their terms) political boutique. If people want to get involved in reforming a party from within, I suggest they put their efforts where they might actually make a difference, within the Green Party, where the burning question is at least being addressed, namely, do we try to partner with corporations, through the corporate parties, or do we stay clear of them entirely?
The Greens are small, but that gives us the opportunity to make a strong impact. The media hates the Greens with a passion, but the media does everything it can to stifle all authentic opposition. Comes with the territory.
Here are some other very good reasons to organize around the Greens.
First, environmental activists are being openly targeted. It began with a ridiculous lawsuit John Ashcroft brought against Greenpeace. Ashcroft attempted to charge Greenpeace under an archaic maritime statute, claiming that, “The heart of Greenpeace’s mission is the violation of the law.” The FBI subsequently declared animal and environmental extremists the number one domestic terror threat—in spite of the fact that rightwing militias were responsible for the sole major act of domestic U.S. terrorism, the Oklahoma City bombings.
We need to stand between environmentalists and the Bush regime. Now. Safety in numbers.
Second, the Green philosophy represents the political opinions of the vast majority of people in the United States, and in the world. It’s a place where people can agree, a way of framing the debate that brings us together instead of driving us apart.
Third, it’s international. Faux points out that even as the global ruling class is becoming transnational, poverty is “framed as an issue of the distribution of wealth between rich and poor countries, ignoring the existence of rich people in poor countries and poor people in rich countries.” They want to buddy up with those rich people everywhere, from Bandhar Bush in Saudi Arabia to the Venezuelans disgusted with Hugo Chavez’ socialism—but they don’t want us to do the same.
Fourth, a change of voter registration is in itself a message, a version of burning a draft card, a concrete step demonstrating a refusal to buy into assumptions that not only enslave us but make us complicit in crimes against humanity. My friends Daryl and Rob at MandateTHIS.org came up with the idea of mass changes of registration, a Greenwave. We could go in groups to our local boards of election to change our registration. Alert the media. I like it.
The next few years are going to require an all-out struggle. We should take it for granted that things are going to get much worse before they get better and resolve to keep going no matter what. To do that, we have to have an authentic message, based on gut principle and proper priorities. The Dems’ lame new slogan—We Can Do Better—is hardly inspiring.
The Green philosophy’s time has come. If we don’t put the environment first now, we are not going to survive. It’s time to organize around our real problems and seek real solutions.
Patricia Goldsmith is a member of Long Island Media Watch, a grassroots free media and democracy watchdog group. She can be reached at plgoldsmith@optonline.net.
This is just irresponsible. If the liberals split, we'll have ANOTHER Republican facist administration. That's how Gore lost in 2000, the liberals split the vote between the Green Party and the Democrats.
How GREEN do you think this country will be if we continue to have Republican after Republican administrations? Anyone who thinks they'll get a majority with an independent third party is in the same bubble with Bush. Stop whining and work for unity and solidarity!
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terri Kionka (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 83 comments)
on Monday, February 6, 2006 at 9:38:03 PM
Hmmm.. unifying behind the party of Zell Miller, and the spineless drones that rise and applaud the War Criminal Bush every time he speaks? EVERY thing on Bush's agenda has been supported by Democrats. They voted for the war, remember? I prefer making a clear statement AGAINST complicity, thank you. The author of this article was dead on when she said the Democrats exist to manage the left... and the first responder to it showed her willingness to be managed by the Democrats by her reply.
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Craig (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at 1:08:55 PM
A little stroll down memory lane.
1992 after Clinton defeated the first Bush in a vote marked by a split of the right and a minority victory by Bill and Al.
A fellow activist and I were talking about what was ahead for the Democratic Party. He, being more visionary than I, predicted a split among the factions of the Right that would allow the Dems a chance to govern until a new Progressive majority could form around a progressive agenda.
Here we are with Bush II in his second term and the first Presidential election without an incumbent President or VP in 08.
This should be the golden opportunity for the Democratic Party to win and for the progressive activist wing to govern and form an agenda that will form a New Agenda for the emerging Democratic Majority.
We remember the New Deal because it provided an agenda tested by governing. We will not be able to regain power by running on the New Deal nor will we be able to devise a New Agenda without governing.
We need the moderate wing of the Democratic Party to win elections. It is as simple as that. Greenwave is just another means of shooting ourselves in the foot and assuring the GOP retains its grip on power.
Robert Chapman
Lansing, New York
PACH12@TWCNY.RR.COM
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at 5:46:33 PM
You are absolutely correct in your assessment of the worthlessness of the Democratic Party leadership and its directionless course and lack of coherency. Those who cling to the memory of the "big tent" democrats are simply failing to see clearly the absence of any there there. How many abysmal campaigns will it take before we understand that the Democratic Party left us a long time ago.
Each passing election shows clearly that the former democratic base is eroding rapidly. Minorities are voting Republican in greater numbers each election cycle, especially Hispanics. Labor is failing to heed the words of its union bosses, who still support the Dems, and vote GOP . Any demographic you choose to check shows an erosion of support for the Democrats. Can you blame them? I certainly cannot.
The hesitation one sees in switching support to the Greens comes from the penchant of Americans for instant gratification and fear of hard work, frankly. It is a commitment that will span generations to build a new political party here, and the deck is definitely stacked against such efforts to be certain.
Those who so quickly condemn you for what I believe to be a logical assessment of the facts would spend effort more efficaciously in working to overthrow the neoconservative leadership of the democrats that has doomed that party to irrelevancy.
Three unlosable elections lost, and before someone dismisses this as "theft" please understand that horrid campaigns and failure to deliver a clear and eloquent message kept those elections close enough for theft to be possible. How long, I wonder, will folks hold on to their illusions that the Democratic Party is the way out of this swamp we are drowning in, they are simply more alligators.
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ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2388 comments)
on Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 7:16:04 PM
Progressive Democrats appear to have two options to pursue their goals. One is to take over the leadership of their party, an effort of longstanding and little result. Nods by the DLC to them at election time keep them in the fold long enough thwart their efforts.
The other is to respectfully join the Green Party.
Respectfully, so as not to encourge division by over assertiveness. The Green Party is based on key values, one of which is diversity, so they are open to a range of ideas. They are not dogmatic, but hold strongly to their values.
Greens know from long experience that the way to influence is through grassroots organizing, in contrast to takeover of those in power (who have made rules to keep them there). Consequently, I wish those Dems who wish to challenge their leadership well but will not grieve over their head wounds.
Given the disaffection of the public with the toady positions of the Democrat leadership, and the basic moral goodnes of the public, a powerful third party could be grown fairly quickly. The Green do believe in democracy. With Greenwave, I say go for it.
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jotter (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 11:47:45 AM
