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Why
Should You Donate to the Green Party today?
Many
people who have supported us in the past are Democrats.
Democrats are busy now trying to get Bush out of office
by supporting war-supporter John Kerry, and they aren't
interested in our work to get local Greens elected, run
campaign schools and other important work that we are
doing to build a real progressive political party.
We
need true Greens to stand up for what they believe in
and support the party. There are 300,000 registered
Greens BUT less than 3% are supporting the Green Party
of the United States. How will we survive without their
support? We need your help.
Please
send money today, and ask 5 of your fellow Greens to
send a donation. Even a $5 donation will help. Please
donate now and then forward this newsletter to five
Green friends and ask for your support.
DONATE
NOW
Where
does the money go?
We are strengthening the infra- structure of the
party so that we have a strong foundation from which to
grow. Our national headquarters has been a helpful
resource for local parties and candidates, media,
national organizations, international Greens and
officials, and the general public looking for a timely
response to their questions about the Green Party, our
platform and stance on issues.
Our Political Director, Brent McMillan, has been working
very hard to support ballot access work and campaign
schools and provide guidance to Green candidates. The
media team has been working on our communications effort
to get Greens in the press. This year hundreds of
articles about Greens appeared in national publications.
We are working hard to educate and inform the media
about the Greens so that they don't print misinformation
about the party.
Last
year we contributed more than $40,000 to local parties!
We are also trying to raise money to support local
campaigns. Because support has been low, we haven't been
able to give as many funds to locals as we did last
year.
Please
help
us continue our grassroots
party-building!
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There's no doubt about it. The Republicrats are
spoiling our ability to grow.
After four years of constant harassment,
including letters and calls accusing Greens of helping Bush keep his
job, we ask: "so what are you going to do about it"? After
all, the Greens aren't going away, we're going forward. We know the
truth - we are competing against hundreds of millions of dollars,
the ballot access obstacle course, free media coverage for the two
major parties and countless other challenges that refute the idea
that we really play a role - we've been given more power than we
actually have!
Most Greens would stay home on Election Day if
they didn't have choices such as Green candidates Cobb/LaMarche or
the Independent ticket of Nader/Camejo and a host of exciting local
Greens from which to choose. Green candidates are what keeps at
least 1,000,000 Americans in the voting game. Otherwise, we would
probably join the other hundred million or so that stay home.
But if you still believe the hype that Nader put
Bush in office the first time and you're worried about a
"spoiled" 2004, 2008, 2972, then here's what to do:
1. Write
your elected representatives
Tell them that you want Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in your
local, state and national elections. Instant Runoff Voting means
that a candidate must win the majority of votes, not just the most
votes. With IRV, if no candidate wins the majority of votes in the
first round, all but the top two vote getters are eliminated through
ranked voting. Through ranked voting, the person with the majority
votes is determined. Tell
your representatives that you want IRV now!
2. Write
your local paper
Tell them that you want to read more articles about Instant
Runoff Voting. Cite examples of towns, cities and states that use
IRV, such as San Francisco and Berkeley, CA. Don't
wait, write now!
3. Call
or write your state representatives
Tell them that you want proportional allocation of electoral
votes so that there isn't a winner-take-all for Electoral College
votes in your state. Most states constitution's enable these laws to
be passed, which is better than holding your breath and waiting for
an amendment to the US Constitution. Remember Florida in 2000?
Should a state give all its electoral votes to one candidate who not
only didn't win the majority of votes, but only lead by 537 votes?
Had each state sent a proportional number of electoral votes, then
Gore would have won the Electoral College votes as well as the
popular vote. Colorado currently has a "proportional allocation
of electoral college votes" initiative on the November 2nd
ballot. Perhaps it's not too late for your state? If so, it's not
too early to prepare for the next election. While proportional
allocation of electoral votes will not end the third party
"spoiler" issue, at least it makes the Electoral College
more democratic. IRV would ultimately be the better choice. Call
or write your state representatives now to demand
proportional allocation of electoral votes.
4. Support Electoral Reform Locally
Sign any electoral reform petitions that are circulating in your
state - there are currently 20 states with an electoral reforms up
for consideration. Some very key initiatives are in Washington www.irvwa.org,
Maine (IRV feasibility study in process as directed by the
legislature's passage of LD212), Berkeley and San Francisco, CA
(already passed IRV for city elections), New York (two IRV bills
pending in legislature), Utah (IRV to select GOP congressional
candidates, Vermont (many towns adopted IRV) and the afore-mentioned
Colorado initiative for proportional allocation of electoral votes.
5. Support Clean Elections
Support Clean Elections legislation that calls for public financing
of elections. Clean Elections increases participation in the
electoral process, reduces the influence of big money in campaigns
and increase competition amongst candidates. The success of Clean
Elections has been already been demonstrated in Arizona, Maine,
Vermont, Massachusetts, New Mexico and North Carolina.
Related: http://www.publicampaign.org/congress/#cleanmoney
6. Join
the Green party - you'll be happy for a change!
The moral of the story is, let's not wait for
another excuse to blame the Greens for our problems (when Greens are
actually providing solutions to them), blame the system - and demand
to change it. Isn't democracy a beautiful thing - but it only works
when you participate!
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The influential president of the Mexican
American Political Association (MAPA) -- one of the oldest, and
largest political organizations of its kind in the state and U.S. --
said Wednesday he has lost patience with the Democratic Party and is
throwing his support to the Green Party.
That decision could result in tens of thousands
of Latino voters switching to the Green Party, according to the
Green Party of California.
Nativo Lopez -- who made the dramatic disclosure
an formally re-registered Green at the Secretary of State's
office Wednesday -- said he is traveling throughout the state urging
MAPA members and Latinos statewide to also re-register Green and to
form MAPA/Green organizations.
The announcement is a coup for the Green Party.
For years, Greens have been urging under-represented voter groups to
abandon the Democratic Party, which has done little for those
groups, and in fact, taken their votes for granted.
"We are no better off than a generation
ago. The Democrats have not helped us. This needs to change,"
said Lopez, who added he is planning joint voter registration
efforts with the Green Party, and expects MAPA to endorse Green
candidates.
"The two major parties say they believe in
capitalism, but they do not want competition in politics. The big
corporate dollars have helped the parties to lock up the
districts... they do not want to wake the Latino voter up because
they are afraid we will change the system," said Lopez.
"We are excited about the opportunity to
work closely with Nativo and MAPA to promote issues and legislation
to benefit the Latino community and all Californians," said
Peggy Lewis, a Green Party state and national steering committee
member.
MAPA is a multi-partisan advocacy group, formed
in 1960, with chapters throughout the state and U.S. representing
the Mexican, Mexican-American and Latino communities.
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GREEN
SPOTLIGHT:
Pat Gray for Congress, CA District 12 (San Francisco and
San Mateo) |
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Anti-war
Candidate "Battles" for Congressional Seat.
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Pat Gray, Green Candidate for Congress.
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Pat
Gray is ready to be the first Green in Congress.
"Wouldn't it be great to have a Green granny in
Congress?" she exclaims. Gray, a former school teacher,
is animated, passionate and funny. She's also livid that her
opponent, Tom Lantos (D) supported the war in Iraq, voted for
the PATRIOT Act, and has consistently voted for increases in
the military budget during his 12 years in office.
In 1992, as President of Peace Action of San Mateo County and
the Chairperson of Common Agenda to Rebuild America, Gray
wrote Measure A for the San Mateo County ballot. Measure A
said, "Shall the federal government reduce the defense
budget by 10% each year for the next five years and use the
savings to provide job training and employment opportunities,
restructuring the defense-related industries for peace-related
purposes, environmental protection, education, housing, health
care, AIDS and cancer research, mass transit, drug abuse
prevention and treatment, and deficit reduction?"
Voters overwhelming passed Measure A, but within a week,
Representative Tom Lantos voted to increase the military
budget, ending any hope of a peace dividend and blatantly
ignoring the opinions of his constituents.
Gray is also disgusted with the plight of schools in her
district. Now that she is raising her grandchildren, Gray is
upset that things have changed so dramatically since she
raised her three sons a generation ago. When her grandchildren
want to take an art class, music or shop - they have to pay
for it. Gray lists a steady stream of cuts made to the school
systems. The school janitor has to work at three schools.
"If a kid throws up on the floor," she says acting
out how the scenario would play out at school, "well you
gotta wait for the janitor to clean it up - he'll be in on
Tuesday!...The community colleges raised fees in the middle of
the school year - so if you wanted your grades, well, you
gotta pay again to get your grades."
Gray is seeing the "anyone but Bush" attitude
trickling down to her local race. People are so scared that
they are afraid to replace a local incumbent Democrat, even
with an anti-War Green.
"The guy that won the Republican nomination was sited by
the humane society for abusing his herd of junk yard goats and
he left town!" she reminds them. There is no viable
Republican candidate, so they can vote for Gray without fear
that a Republican will win. Gray has had to address the
spoiler attitude one person at a time. Gray stands in front of
the local grocery store with her ironing board and flyers, and
irons out the issues to shoppers. Many are taking the time to
listen to what she has to say.
Gray has lived her whole life and raised her children in the
congressional district that she wants to represent.
"I come from a working class family with strong union
values. My father was an organizer for the Seamen's Union and
the Teamsters. My family was very active in the Democratic
Party. Those were the days when Democrats cared about working
families.
"I have seen serious deterioration of the quality of life
for working families. When I was a child, the Park and
Recreation Department staffed after-school activities at the
school site. After-school sports programs were free. Each
school had a nurse on staff and Public Health had well-baby
clinics for the children. Higher education was within reach of
working families. A student was concerned about grades to go
to college, but did not have to worry about the cost.
"I married a teamster and we purchased a home in the
Excelsior District of San Francisco. We did this on the salary
of one person. I was able to stay at home with my young
children. I know that this sounds impossible to the young
people today. I am distressed at the conditions facing working
families today, and think they deserve what I had."
Gray, who is a retired San Francisco school district Art and
Social Studies teacher, was an elected official in the
American Federation of Teachers, local 61, AFL/CIO. She is an
elected member of the Green Party County Council of San Mateo
County. She has been an organizer and activist for Universal
Health Care (prop 186), Repealing the Deregulation of the
Energy System (prop 9), and an activist in the California
Oaks, a Ralph Nader organization. She is now working for the
Public Financing of Candidates (to establish public funding of
political campaigns) and Health Care For All (for single payer
health care in California). If you're interested in helping
elect this Green granny to Congress, please visit Pat
Gray's website.
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Green Party vice presidential candidate Pat
LaMarche launched her unprecedented "Left Out Tour,"
Tuesday, September 21, in her home state of Maine. LaMarche spent the
first night at the Bread of Life Ministry homeless shelter, the first
of her two weeks sleeping in homeless shelters and on the streets to
draw attention to those living on the edge of society-the homeless,
victims of domestic abuse, people without health insurance and the
working poor. Throughout the Tour, LaMarche will also collect
donations of essential items for homeless shelters.
In Augusta, 160 pairs of children's shoes served as a backdrop for the
press conference, representing the homeless children who will use the
Bread of Life shelter during the month.
"Wouldn't it be great if we could change our
priorities as a nation from giving tax shelters to the rich to ending
homeless shelters for the poor by building affordable housing,"
asked LaMarche.
While LaMarche and local Green Party members were
outside the Augusta Civic Center raising awareness about homelessness,
the Governor's Council on Affordable Housing were addressing the
issues inside. LaMarche says that government, citizens and activists
need to focus more on homelessness.
"The tip of the iceberg has been touched when
it comes to homeless issues; we all could be doing more," said
LaMarche.
Several Maine high schools helped LaMarche raise
donations of essential items for the Bread of Life shelter. Throughout
the Tour, LaMarche will raise donations of blankets, toiletries and
children's books for the shelters in which she'll be staying.
The Left Out Tour ends in Cleveland, Ohio, October
4, on the evening prior to the vice presidential debate. In between
now and then, LaMarche will crisscross the country sleeping in
homeless and domestic violence shelters and in a tent across from the
Rhode Island Statehouse. LaMarche held an all-night vigil in front of
the current vice president's mansion in Washington, D.C.
"The reason for the 'Left Out Tour' is to
focus on people who are left out in our society and more importantly,
to demonstrate things we can do to help them," said LaMarche.
The "Left Out Tour" is a first in the
history of U.S. political campaigns. Never before has a vice
presidential candidate used "the bully pulpit" to raise
awareness about America's least privileged citizens. And no vice
presidential candidate has ever been bold enough to walk in their
shoes. The upcoming itinerary for the Left Out Tour is:
§ September 28, Denver, CO
§ September 29, Napa Valley, CA
§ September 30, Los Angeles, CA
§ October 1, Portland, OR
§ October 2, Chicago, IL
§ October 3, Detroit, MI
§ October 4, Cleveland, OH
During the tour LaMarche is asking people to
donate the following items to the shelters she visits or to shelters
in their communities: tooth paste, toothbrushes, shaving cream,
razors, deodorant, shampoo, baby powder, band-aids, first aid cream,
used and new books--especially children's books, feminine hygiene
products, towels and blankets. The "Left Out Tour" is
typical of the way that LaMarche approaches activism, life and
politics. The single mother of two secured ballot access for the Maine
Green Party when she ran for Governor in 1998. A nonprofit foundation
director and one of the most popular radio broadcasters in Maine,
LaMarche has found kidneys for dying children, raised money for
poverty-stricken youth, and helped to garner support for relief crews
after September 11, 2001.
More Information: www.votecobb.org
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Top GP Accomplishments
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Mexican American Political Association
endorses the Green Party.
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Green Party wins the American Muslim
Alliance 2004 Humanitarian Award.
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Green candidates have won 37% of their
races in 2004
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Newly- formed GP-US Peace Action
Committee and the Manhattan Greens sponsored a Green
festival to kick off the RNC protests in Manhattan.
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Largest official gathering of Greens
in America at the June nominating convention in Milwaukee.
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Ballot access now in 28 states.
Green Stats to Share with Friends:
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Number of Greens in office: 210
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350+ Greens filed to run on November
2nd
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Registered Greens: 300,476
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Total campaigns in 2004: 415
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Highest office now held by elected
Green: Rep. John Eder, Maine State House
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Campaigns are kicking up! These great candidates
need your support. Check out our elections
database, and contact the candidates in your area to volunteer
or support their campaigns.
Support
us today! The "Anyone But Bush" fever has siphoned
support from the Green Party. We need your financial support more than
ever before!
T-shirts Now available!
Demonstrate Your Support for Green values by wearing Green Party
shirts manufactured by Green businesses. Purchase
now! |
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Comments? Feedback? Want to submit an item to
Greenline?
Send your comments to: kara@gp.org.
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