Article: We Have Met The Enemy

Walt Kelly, creator of the comic strip Pogo, wrote that phrase in 1970. He used it in a poster for the very first Earth Day. The message was clear. We are all part of the problem. Becoming part of the solution is our joint responsibility.

Most people have given up on politics. Why?

"You can have the facts on your side, have common sense on your side, have justice on your side-even have a majority of Americans on your side-and still our elected representatives will ignore you and put special interests first.ï � �-Kevin Zeese

Kevin Zeese has tried to be part of the solution for years. Kevin is running for the United States Senate from Maryland. He hopes to be nominated by the Green Party as well as the Libertarian and Progressive Parties. Like Maryland, South Carolina, New York and other states allows this. Itï � �s called ï � �fusion voting.ï � �

The Democratic Partyï � �s main message these days seems to be ï � �Weï � �re not those other guys!ï � � Every day they behave more like Republicans. Not the ï � �small government that stays out of your businessï � � Republicans of yesterday. They are the ï � �Big Government that we control for our own benefitï � � Republicans of today. The Supreme Court has a Republican majority. They ruled that your property can be taken from you and given to your neighbor. Your neighbor must show that they can make more money with your property than you can. Does that sound like yesterdayï � �s Republican Party?

Democrats? President Bush marched our soldiers into Iraq. Most elected Democrats didnï � �t make a peep to protest. Taxpayer pork is being handed out. Do Democrats stand up against this corrupting influence? Air quality takes a nose dive in the summer months. Democrats are silent. This is leadership?

When the Green Party runs a candidate against a Democrat, we take all the heat if he looses to a Republican challenger. Democrats ï � �never forgiveï � � us, as if there is something to forgive!

Democrats are attacking Greens because we are running. Some elected Democrats may lose. Isnï � �t that part of the point? If an elected official doesnï � �t perform, you run against them. If a party abandons your beliefs, you find another. If you want to grow your partyï � �s strength, you run candidates.

Democrats and Republicans need to accept that they are not entitled to your votes. They must earn them. Greens will be a part of that process.

The Republican Party faces this same difficulty. How long will people follow these leaders? They refuse to deliver on their promises. Many an abortion foe will leave the Republican Party soon. The Republicans control the House of Representatives, the Senate, the White House, and the Supreme Court. They canï � �t end abortion? Of course they can, but they wonï � �t, because the Republican Party leadership doesnï � �t want to end abortion.

The American people can see through this smoke and mirror approach to government, and they donï � �t want to be a part of it. But, if we who can imagine a better world work together, we can make it happen. As Kevin said, what else are we to do? Sit around and wait for someone else to do it? Not me. Not the Greens. Take the plunge. Visit us online. Join the party. Join our campaigns. Help make a difference.