A Better Way (3): Vote Green Party

It was the summer of 75.  I was going into my sophomore year in college.  I just switched my major from business to political science and I was standing in front of a shopping mall on the outskirts of Boston getting signatures to secure ballot status in the State of Massachusetts for the Social Workers Party (SWP) Presidential candidate Peter Camejo.  That afternoon as I dodged shopping carts, roller skating kids and big finned cars spewing black emissions from leaded fueled V8’s,  I secured over 300 signatures from fellow citizens in support of a ballot listing for a socialist candidate for president.  I did so by engaging my fellow citizens in an appeal to their democratic sentiments.  I explained to each person who stopped to listen that their signature was an authorization to grant ballot status for the candidate.  Signing the petition was not an endorsement of the candidate or his views or an indication that they would vote for him.  The petition solely conferred ballot status to the candidate so that his views may be represented in the democratic market of ideas and voted on.  Most people readily if not eagerly signed the petition.  All felt it was critical that all opinions needed to be heard.  For many it was a passionate defense of the democratic process and a celebration of their commitment to the ideals of a democratic republic.  I doubt weather today’s voters would be so approachable.  The ability to listen with an open mind or being amenable to signing a petition to grant ballot status for a socialist candidate is rapidly disappearing from America’s political culture.  Pluralism is under attack.  It is being hunted down and eradicated like a species of animal unfit to live in a democratic landscape meticulously manicured by the Glenn Beck’s and Rush Limbaugh’s of the world.    Times have certainly changed.

In the interest of transparency and in the spirit of full disclosure I feel the need to admit that I have always been a registered independent voter ever since I was eligible to vote.  At the age of 54, I have been an active voter for 36 years and during that time I have rarely missed an opportunity to exercise my right and fulfill my responsibility as a fully enfranchised citizen in a democratic republic.

Like those who signed my petition back in 75 I consider it a privilege and duty to participate in the electoral process.  I always believed that free and open elections were a distinguishing characteristic of  America.  I consider voting a bedrock right that must be exercised to assure that democracy endures.   The US Constitution and The Bill of Rights remain the surest guarantor of our democratic freedoms and can only be defended by celebrating our enfranchisement through the consistent practice of voting.

The right to vote was hard won.  It was the a fruit of liberty watered with the blood of revolutionaries.  It was the full promise of liberation made to former slaves wrested from the peace won from drinking a long draft of wine pressed from the grapes of wrath.  Women right to vote was finally won well after the century mark of our republic finally securing true universal suffrage for all citizens.  When I vote I believe myself to be honoring the hard fought and dearly won suffrage victory of those who went before.  I scratch my head at learning that Meg Whitman only recently realized that healthy democratic societies requires its citizens to participate in the electoral process.  The growing preponderance of retired multi-millionaire businesspeople running for office is a curious development.  This new breed of politician comes before the electorate speaking about the poverty of the systems political values.  Emboldened with a perverse freedom from want these candidates approach politics as the next step in an enterprising career move.  Flush with cash channeled from their personal version of the American dream they testify to the sanctity of laissez-faire democracy and  are willing to use a portion of their treasure to keep hope alive for a very very select few.

During my 36 year voting career in national, state and local elections I usually vote for third party candidates.  I do this because I believe that the duopoly of our political system does not provide sufficient options for a differentiated choice between the two ruling parties.  I vote for progressive  third parties because I believe it important that we break the stranglehold of the two party system.  A precondition to breaking the control of the duopoly is to alter the political psychology of American voters.  This takes education, enhanced transparency and the visibility and honest engagement of third party candidates, not their demonization.    I try to vote for the person over party and I have voted for a Republican or two over the years.  If a third party candidate is not running for office I more then likely vote Democrat because I believe them to be a closer match to the political interests of my social position and political aspirations.

The expansion of choice, the delineation of positions, the articulation of differing visions and approaches to problems are important to the health of a democratic society.  The people who signed my petition for SWP ballot status knew and respected the importance that all voices need to be heard.  Some as I recall even expressed a dislike for socialism but voiced a love of democracy.  By signing the petition they demonstrated their commitment to cherished democratic ideals was greater then their political prejudices; believing that all voices needed to be heard and fairly judged by an open and free electorate.

The deep abiding respect for Americas democratic culture is in dire jeopardy.  The sickening video of a Rand Paul supporter stomping on a woman carrying a banner in support of his opponent has become an iconic symbol of American politics.  Last week, unlicensed security personnel for Sarah Palin’s handpicked Alaska Senate Candidate Joe Miller, handcuffed and forcibly restrained a reporter who dared to ask Mr. Miller a question.  These incidents are being played out against a backdrop of virulent attack advertisements playing in continuous loop on all media channels.  The unending stream of personal attacks demonizes the candidates that feature fantastic claims framed by blatant lies in service to a narrow ideology that protects the power and privilege of special interests.

Or consider the surreal parade of “I Am You” candidates.  These non-professional politicians speaking the hard truths political correctness refuses to utter, make comical faux pas that reveal damning personal virtues like witchcraft, Nazi affectations, knuckleheadism, opportunism and scoundrelism.  This off putting political theater erodes our faith and confidence in democratic process.

One can imagine the enemies of democracy gleefully advancing the careers of the political cretins presenting themselves as viable candidates.  These dangerous Fifth Columnists actually endanger democracy.  They are so off putting that the electorate will revile from the choices, like in Nevada which allows the voter to pull the lever for none of the above.  In fact an insidious Republican PAC is running ads aimed at Latino voters in the Southwest.  The ads advise Latinos to boycott the election and vacate the right to vote because the Democratic Party has abandoned them.  The advertisement concludes that not voting is the best way to send a message to the Democrats.

One also needs to evaluate and consider the big money moving into the campaign on behalf of  the two major parties.  The source of “big money” is big moneyed interests.  The Supreme Court decision of Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission has unleashed a tsunami of corporate money into the electoral process.  The money is buying favor from our elected representatives.  Lots of this money is flowing into the campaigns of Tea Party backed candidates who are running under the well worn moniker of Republicanism, exposing the sham masquerade of their avowed independence.

Big money is instilling fear and favor into politicians of the established parties.  Donkeys and Elephants are eager to avoid the scorpion sting of big money finance vehicles and are just as eager to mainline the addictive smack of big money contributions.  One can argue this has degraded and devalued the significance of our vote but I am here to assert that the value of our vote has never been greater.

Free people deserve more then a choice between the lesser of two evils.  If we value our democracy we must not squander our votes on candidates whose interests are antithetical to our own.  The Green Party offers a vision and solutions that are not beholden to the special interests that have a stranglehold over our political institutions and economic system. The political pornography polluting our airways is clogging the arteries of our body politic.  America can no longer suffer the paralysis of government engendered by extreme partisanship or the promulgation of  fear promoted by intractable power elites.  America is in desperate need for a cure the lesser of two evils cannot provide.  The greater or lesser evil can only be avoided by voting for a progressive candidate not bought or controlled by those who continue to thrive off the misery of our broken system.   The back and forth swing  of a pendulum that oscillates between the radical conservatism of the Republicans and the ineffectual liberalism of the Democrats united in service to a common master needs to come to a blessed end.  America can break with this cycle.  A vote for Green is a vote for the sustainable future of  a more democratic and just America.

The Ten Key Values of the Greens

Social Justice
Community-Based Economics
Nonviolence
Decentralisation
Future Focus/Sustainability
Feminism
Personal and Global Responsibility
Respect for Diversity
Grassroots Democracy
Ecological Wisdom

You Tube Music Video:

Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, This Land Is Your Land

Part 1: Tea Party Fundamentalism

Part 2: Damnation of the Democrats

Risk: democracy, elections