Thu 15 Oct 2009
Green Party USA, Yer Blowing It!!
Posted by admin under 2009 Fall Opinion
by Philip A Farruggio, Green Party of Florida
I changed my political affiliation to the Green Party in 2000, when Ralph Nader ran for president. The key issue, nationally, at that time, was the need for public funding of campaigns. As a writer, I had interviewed Ed Garvey in Indianapolis in 1997, while working for a progressive news weekly there. Ed was a national spokesperson for the recently voter approved 1996 Maine Clean Election Laws, which are still the standard-bearer for that concept.
In 2001 I was involved with organizing a local Green Party chapter in Volusia City, Florida. My efforts to get this new Volusia City Florida chapter of the Green Party to do a petition drive for Clean Election Laws failed. Why? Too much rhetoric and too many steering committees and other gobbledygook to even begin a drive. Bottom line: 90 percent of those 25-30 folks who attended meetings did not wish to do more than just … attend meetings! The whole thing left me with such a bad taste, that I renewed my Democratic Party affiliation until …
Bush and company strong-armed the Congress to approve of his illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq. A few progressives, myself included, began a weekly street corner protest of the invasion/occupation. When I would go to Democratic club meetings locally, or email members to come to join us - Zilch! The utter complacency (or cowardice, let’s be honest) of Democrats who were against the invasion/occupation turned me off. I quit the party.
Now, we have the major hot button issue of health care reform dominating the media. Adding insult to injury, the only demonstrations are being organized (incited?) by the right wing. Where are the progressives, Democrats and Greens alike? Why are they not standing on street corners or outside of our Congressperson’s offices, holding the appropriate signage? More cogent to this column, why aren’t the national and state Green Party officials urging members to do so? I cannot even get the few Greens locally to stand on a street corner for 30 minutes a week! Confucius said: “You succeeded because you tried again.” The late Pope John the 23rd said: “Nothing is impossible.” Green Party, you will lose this activist and writer (former talk show host) again by dropping the ball on this Medicare for All issue. Stop vacillating!
Pulling the Plug | by Lewis Pollis
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Phillip, I want to interview you on MY internet radio show. shoot me an email. I’m in Miami.
Organizing is tough. I suggest two things. Always “interview” a potential recruit and find out what issues motivate them and what kinds of activism they can get in to. Not everyone wants to stand on the street. Second, we need to raise money to hire a staff person to do the work full time herself, rather than waste so much time trying to organize. More bang for the buck.
Say be sure to ask why “Greens” are blind to chemtrails
(ecological crime of the ages)
also ask about their silence concerning a new 911 Investigation
Then ask
Whos’ side they are really on
This Green Party member has been on the phone as well as on her feet for this issue. Among the actions that I’ve taken are this:
I have approached people face-to-face at a local farmer’s market to discuss HR 676 and hand out information on it and how to contact representatives and senators. I have waved signs on a street corner in downtown Gainesville.
Perhaps Volusia City’s inhabitants are unwilling to participate, but please don’t assume that that means there are no Greens anywhere taking action.
Good luck finding a group to work with — perhaps Move On has members in your area that you can work with…?
Single-payer groups are demonstrating. See http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/ for coverage of at least a dozen demos. Not their fault if the corporate media won’t cover them. They publicize widely.
The Green Party is listed as a supporter of single payer on the http://www.healthcare-NOW.org website. If you want to increase participation and results, use your blog to encourage local Greens to participate in the actions of these two groups (they can bring their own lit, t-shirts, etc.). Also post links to their sites in your column of links.