Are you a Democrat? Have you been working diligently with the Progressive Democrats, only to see 22/23 of your candidates defeated in last year's primaries, by money poured into the coffers of opponents by the DNC? Have you hoped that the Democrats would use their majority in Congress to get us out of Iraq and limit the powers of the executive branch, only to be disappointed over and over again? Do you understand yet that working within the Democratic party can't succeed, because the party is controlled by big corporate money?
Are you a Republican whose party has been taken over by Bush criminals pretending to be upright Christians? Have the values of liberty, the rights of individuals, the decentralization of government, the honor of our nation, been trampled by your party's leadership? Are you wondering where to turn?
CONSIDER THE GREEN PARTY
The Green party is a viable political party. Since its founding in 1984, the Greens have achieved ballot access in 31 of the 50 states, over formidable opposition from the two major parties. Its values are the values we need to establish peace on the planet and work on the common problems of humanity, in concert with other nations. Its platform starts with impeachment. Its candidates don't accept corporate money, so as not to be beholden to forces of war and oil. Its members espouse Ten Key Values http://www.gp.org/tenkey.shtml which emphasize sustainability and survivability.
If you want peace, the Green party is the party of peace, supporting nonviolence, demilitarization, and the use of diplomacy to settle international disputes. If you are worried about global warming, the Green party is true to its name, committed to ecologically wise policies. If you want good services for the public- health, education, transportation- the Greens are committed to strengthening the public sector. If you want fair distribution of wealth, the Greens are committed to equal opportunity and economic justice. In sum, the Greens serve people, not corporations.
OBJECTIONS AND RESPONSES
O- Won't strengthening the Greens split the progressives, and make the Democrats lose to the Republicans in 2008?
R- So what? The two parties are really one. What's needed is a fresh start, a clean sweep of Congress, a new approach to the problems of our country. The Greens can provide that. We have 16 months before the next election to convince the nation to go Green.
O- Didn't Al Gore lose in 2000 because of Nader? Won't running a Green as presidential candidate in 2008 lose the White House to the GOP again?
R- Gore lost because he didn't fight hard enough for a fair vote count. But I suggest the Greens focus on Congressional races, on getting some Greens into Congress. If Al Gore would consent to be the Green candidate for president, everything could change.
O- Isn't the Green party disorganized?
R- The Green party is organized on a local basis, doing well in some areas, not so well in others. You can probably help your local Greens to get better organized if you put some time into it.
O- How can the Greens win elections without corporate money?
R- With the internet, many candidates have raised millions in small donations. Greens are grassroots based, and can do the same.
STRATEGY SUGGESTIONS
1. Focus on the Congressional races- this is where the Democrats are most vulnerable, since the public's rating of Congress is even lower than its rating of Bush. Congressional districts are manageable, financially, logistically, socially. Local issues can be brought up, as well as national issues.
