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economics that does not depend on continual expansion for
survival."
Winona LaDuke says it this way: "I believe in looking at
where you want to go and recognizing that it is going to take a
long time to get there... I consider myself a conservative (not a
radical)... Conservative decision-making would be (to), consider
the impact of your decision on the seventh generation from now
That is conservative decision making, that is where I stand"
(Interview Talking About a Revolution, South End Press 1998)
11. Quality of Life
"Our overall goal is not merely to survive, but to share
lives that are truly worth living... We encourage everyone to see
the dignity and intrinsic worth in all of life, and to take the time to
understand and appreciate themselves, their community and the
magnificent beauty of this world "
This direct quote from Green 'Key Values' (which is their
platform) indicates that the Green Party is based on a concept of
hope, and our human capacity for enacting the Greek concept of
metanoia: reorientation of one's way of life, a fundamental shift
of mind and spirit.
Won't voting for the Green Party candidates be the
same as throwing that vote away?
No, and here is why (from Pacific Green Party Chair,
Xander Patterson, in his article, A Vote That Counts):
~"Only once in the history of the state of Oregon have
the few Electoral College votes we are allotted been enough to
sway the outcome of a Presidential election... In other words,
every vote an Oregonian has ever cast for a Democratic or
Republican presidential candidate has been, in practical terms,
totally meaningless, thrown away A vote for a Republicrat might
have symbolic value, but symbolic of what? Abandonment of the
hope that government can serve the people's interests?"
~ A vote for Ralph Nader, though, is a vote that counts.
It "sends a clear message to the Democrats that they can't take
the progressive vote for granted "
~ Nader "does not have to win the elections to bring a
revolution to Oregon and the entire United States. If Ralph can
win just 15% of the vote in Oregon, the Pacific Green Party will
clear the first and the biggest hurdle to achieving major party
status."
-Nationally, "If Ralph can win just 5% of the vote he
will earn the next Green presidential candidate in 2004 nearly
$15 million in FEC funds. The prospect of an unapologetically
progressive candidate running a well-funded campaign will loom
on America's political horizon for four years. The political center
in America will get its biggest jolt to the left we've seen in a
generation."
'RIGHT IN THE FACE OF POWER1
Ralph Nader, Green Party Presidential Candidate
Howard Zinn, Boston University professor emeritus of
Political Science, reminds us just how desirous we are for a
3rd party in America when he said, "By getting almost 20% of
the vote, Ross Perot showed that there is a great hunger in the
population for a political alternative — in his case, almost any
political alternative." (Interview Talking About a Revolution)
Jim Hightower, in his newsletter (The Hightower Low-
down, vol.2*4 — April. 2000) reminds us that in Ralph Nader
we have a truly fine candidate, who is worthy of our trust and
support, and our November vote:
GREEN POWER
'The earth provides for every man's need but not
for every man's greed.'
-MOHANDAS GANDHI
The key to my campaign for Secretary of State of
Oregon is not slogans. It is issues. My view on politics is similar
to that of the Native Americans: A person is given power if they
are deemed worthy to fulfill the task of leadership; not because
they are able to successfully manipulate the people into bestow
ing leadership upon them. I think this has been the problem with
politics all along. It has become a big business of manipulation,
and thus the heart of politics no longer beats with integrity We
so desperately want to win against those who use its formula
against us that, it almost seems impossible to abandon this
Madison Avenue approach we have inherited But how we win is
equally, if not more, important. Stopping the process of corporat
izing democracy means ending the practice of selling politicians
like soap: only one really gets the dirt out. If we don't make this
the main focus of election reform, we will continue to lose our
way.
And so I would like to run a different kind of campaign,
and I would like to have your help in doing it I would seek your
advice on what it means to be Secretary of State. I would pro
mote the integrity of the democratic process over party politics,
ours and theirs. I wsuld ensure that the greater meaning of
government is the consideration of the welfare of all the people,
and that the purpose of elections is to preserve the sovereignty
of natural persons
I believe we need campaign finance reform which
challenges the right of corporations to make any financial
contributions and expenditures in candidate and ballot measure
elections. I believe we need to preserve, protect, and enhance
the legislative powers of the people as provided under our
Constitution in the initiative and referendum process I believe
we need to promote and protect the right of minor political
parties and independents to fairly anticipate in the candidate
election process
I believe that the Secretary of State is responsible for
helping supervise the management of state-owned lands is an
obligation of stewardship, as well as an opportunity for setting
the example of how we can best protect our life support systems
and preserve their sustainability
As auditor, the Secretary of State is responsible for
examining the financial transactions of all state boards, commis
sions and agencies I believe it is important that expenditures
made on behalf of the people be prudent cost effective, and
environmentally sound
As citizens and taxpayers we demand a renewed level
of confidence in our government. I believe government is only
as good as the degree to which people are willing to become
involved. Therefore I ask for your help in making this campaign
effort a viable forum for change, addressing those issues which
clearly fit within the responsibilities of this office, and ultimately
providing a clear direction for the future well being of Oregon
-LLOYD R. MARBET
DAVID LOW
"Among other credible 3rd party candidates who will be
actively raising some of (the silent issues), Ralph Nader already
is on the hustings talking about all of these and more as he
campaigns for the Green Party presidential nomination. Ralph
will be a contender — he will have been in all 50 states by June
...he's going to get right in the face of power as only Ralph can
do. filling in what's been missing in Campaign 2000"
And how's he doing so far? In Oregon, in a statewide
poll of 504 likely voters conducted April 10-17. he "emerged as
the strongest of the 3rd party candidates," according to an article
by Jeff Mapes in the April 24 Oregonian. In the Portland metro
area and the Willamette Valley, 8% of the voters picked him as
their candidate for President Nationally. Ralph Nader came in
third in a three-way presidential race (with 5.7% of the vote of
likely voters in the Zogby Poll of 842 voters nationwide, taken
April 1-4) Pat Buchanan polled 3.6%. And more than half
favored Nader being included in televised debates as the Green
Party candidate
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
GREEN PARTY IN OREGON
The Oregon Green Party is called the Pacific Green
Party. It is a going concern, and gaining momentum and
membership quickly. It belongs to the Association of State
Green Parties and sent delegates to the national nominating
convention.
The Pacific Green Party has ballot status in the
November election. It is listed on the voter registration form.
In its April convention, it nominated well-known (Trojan
shutdown) nuclear activist Lloyd Marbet as the Pacific Green
Party candidate for Oregon Secretary of State. Running for
State Legislature are Chnstina Alexander (Representative,
District 47). and Whitney Smith (Senate. District 8). It also
endorsed several initiatives, including those which would ensure
affordable health care for all Oregon residents, amend the
Constitution to abolish the death penalty, restrict the use of leg
hold and other body-gripping animal traps, and reform campaign
finance
I asked some questions of involved Pacific Green Party
members Of Xiander Patterson. Chair of the Pacific Green
Party Coordinating Committee, I asked this question, printed
here wth his response:
CD: If you had standing before you someone who let
you know they were anxious to vote outside the established two
parties, what would you say to convince them that signing up
with the Pacific Green Party was the best route to take? Why
the Green Party and not one of the other 3rd parties now in
existence, or struggling into existence?
XP What I like best about the Greens and Ralph Nader
is their focus on the corrosive corporate dominance of nearly
every institutional feature of modem life No other party in
America even touches on that issue directly and it is the bedrock
problem lurking beneath almost every other, from universal
health care, to a bloated military, to environmental destruction,
to the erosion of workers nghts to organize
But the real reason I am a Green activist is that there
is no real progressive alternative I'm looking for the best, most
viable ballot line of the left, and today that is the Green Party
Movement Its strengths are that it is global, it has shirked the
misguided and politically nonviable tenets and symbols of the
old left. and. above all, it has a pretty clear vision for people to
rally around
In America today, there is no other progressive party,
minor or major (In fact) the New Party is also progressive
(but) right now it seeks to be little more than a caucus within the
Democratic Party and I believe we will never get v/iere we need
to go without breaking up the two party system. The Reform
Party has no clear vision or platform In short. I work for the
Green Party because it is progressive and because it is the
wave of the future
Margi Shindler and Tom Browison live in Clatsop
County and are active at the state level of the Pacific Green
Party They would like to start a party chapter here (See More
Information7 for ways to contact them ) In answer to my
questions, they responded
CD What news or agenda items seemed most important
to you at the Pacific Green Party Conference (held April 15-16)?
MS: The chance to meet with other active Greens
throughout the state, and find out vtfiat community projects as
well as political activities are going on The idea of a Green
Party is to create sustainable living on a grassroots level, as well
as network with larger central political structures
(The endorsing of) several ballot initiatives and two
candidates
Persons interested in watching alternative, exciting,
intelligent and meaningful group process would find the Pacific
Green Party conventions a rare treat I do!
TB: In addition to Margi's answer I would say that the
decision making process is important to me. The conventions
have been run using a variation of the consensus process. It has
been heartening to watch the effort the group makes in getting
this to work smoothly without giving up before it shows its real
worth. As a result, members who participate in the decisions
can walk away owning a piece and knowing their concerns have
been heard
CD: Why did you become active in the Pacific Green
Party?
MS: 'The high level of intelligence, the activism, and
the amazing platform which is more comprehensive than any
I've ever seen. It was like fresh air to be around people with high
ideals...(and a) fierce desire toward positive social, economic
and political change.
TB: I'm always looking for a viable alternative to the
current two party system. It's hard for me to join any group and
yet I have found the direction and intention of the Greens to be
more inclusive and tolerant of personal freedoms and beliefs.
There is a lot of room if I'm looking for a pile of positive changes
and a great opportunity to be involved from local issues to
international concerns.
How Can I Make Such a Leap of Faith & Support
a New, Progressive Party?
Harvard University supports The Joan Shrorenstein
Center (accessible on this topic at www vanishingvoter.org)
which, among other things, takes the pulse of the American
electorate. One of the surveys asked this question:
"Which presidential candidate do you support at this
time, or haven't you picked a candidate yet?"
According to the results, 'The landslide winner with
59% was No candidate yet The survey results are dated May
20. 2000. In a March survey, "71% of Americans agree vwth the
statement Politics in America is generally pretty disgusting."
There is plenty of room out there for a change
Gandhi said it this way: 'There is no love where there is
no will.”
Carolyn Dunn lives in Astoria She is a writer and poet
whose work has appeared in many places, including the Times
Eagle She wrote an earlier article on the Green Party for the
Jan/1990 NCTE
MORE INFORMATION? TRY THESE:
Clatsop County
No Pacific Green Party Chapter, yet. in the county Tom
Brownson and Margi Shindler (active on state level) are glad to
answer any questions, and, hopefully, get a Chapter started in
Clatsop County
Oregon
Pacific Green Party, 33 State Street, Salem, 97103
(503) 378-7812 in Salem. (503) 238-1856 in Portland
Website: pacificgreens.org
Pacific Party Campaign Headquarters, 111 SW Naito
Parkway. Portland 97204
(503) 223-1399
Website: pacificparty org
National
Association of State Green Parties
(303) 554-1575
Website greenparties.org
Ralph Nader 2000 Committee, P.O Box 18002,
Washington, D C 20036
(202) 265-4000 (phone)
(202) 265-0813 (fax)
Website votenader org
Voter Registration Forms
Want to become a registered Pacific Green Party
member? Do it by obtaining a voter registration form at any of
these places
-U.S Post Office
-Most libraries (publicly funded)
-The Pacific Green Party website (can download regis
tration form): www pacificgreens org
The Pacific Greens are listed on the voter register form.
Check the box, sign the form and send it in — you're Green!
Book
Thinking Green' by Petra Kelly (Forward by Peter
Matthiessen), Parallax Press Berkeley, California (1994).