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| Green Party Australia |
Editing by Carolyn Bennett from Green Party material
Why are we willing to accept multiple choices in every aspect of our lives except in politics?
Choice obstructed
“In a true democracy,” Baltimore City (Maryland), Green Party Chair Brian Bittner writes, “it shouldn’t be a political struggle to be on the ballot in every state, to simply give voters a choice, and to allow them to exercise their basic rights.
Bills introduced in state legislatures to change election law have been thwarted by members of the Democratic and Republican parties in order to maintain their inordinate power.
It shouldn’t be this way
Access required
Ballot access in all 50 U.S. states is essential for running local candidates. Eleven states are actively petitioning for ballot access and another sixteen states have deadlines this summer. Green Party access to the ballot will bring “excellent, quality candidates to challenge the establishment” Bittner says.
If all we do is come to out to vote every four years, we cannot expect entrenched government in Washington to consider the interests of ordinary citizens over the interests of corporate lobbyists. We must be willing to work together for change at local and state levels as well.
Why accept multiple choices in every aspect of our lives except in politics? This year more than ever is the time to break the two-party-no-choice option.
Green Party of the United States effort toward multiple choice
On its official website, the Green Party of the United States describes itself as “a federation of state Green Parties committed to ecology, social justice grassroots democracy and non-violence; and committed to renewing democracy in the United States through community-based organizing without the support of corporate donors.”
The Greens describe themselves as “grassroots activists, environmentalists, advocates for social justice, nonviolent resisters, and regular citizens who have had enough of corporate-dominated politics.” Their issues, concerns and solutions focus on area such as universal health care, corporate globalization, alternative energy, election reform, and decent living wages for workers.
Formed in 2001 as an outgrowth of the Association of State Green Parties (1996-2001), the Green Party of the United States has had the initial and continuing primary goals of helping existing state parties grow; and where none exist, promoting formation of Green parties in all states and territories of the United States.
The Federal Elections Commission recognizes the Green Party of the United States as the official Green Party National Committee. The highest Green Party decision making body is the Green National Committee composed of delegates from each accredited state party and caucus. The Green Party of the United States is also a member of the Federation of Green Parties of the Americas and the Global Greens.
Despite Democratic and Republican partisan power and other roadblocks, Green Party candidates “are winning elections throughout the United States.”
Sources and notes
The Green Party nominee will be selected at the Presidential Nominating Convention to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, July 12-15, 2012. http://www.gp.org/2012/
Green Party of the United States: 7059 Blair Road NW, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20012
Green Party of the United States mailing Address: PO Box 75075, Washington, DC 20013, office@gp.org
202-319-7191
http://www.gp.org/about.shtml
www.gpconvention2012.com
Brian Bittner is Chair of the Baltimore City Green Party and Office Manager of the Green Party of the United States
____________________________________
Bennett's books are available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY] • See also: World Pulse: Global Issues through the eyes of Women: http://www.worldpulse.com/ http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire http://www.facebook.com/#!/bennetts2ndstudy
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| European Greens |
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| Green Party Hong Kong China |
At a population of more than 300,000,000 people, five major television and hundreds more cable or satellite networks, dozens of toothpaste brands, varieties of telecommunications access, and vast varieties of bread, the people of the United States of America are thwarted in choosing varieties of leaders and ideas. Voters “are expected to be content with only two political parties representing America’s interests.”
Choice obstructed
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| Jill Stein U.S. |
“But it is a struggle —and a challenge that thousands are
rising to meet.”
In addition to the work of thousands of volunteers in every
state of the union, court cases in New Jersey, Illinois and Maryland have
challenged the unjust laws that limit political diversity and discourse.
Bills introduced in state legislatures to change election law have been thwarted by members of the Democratic and Republican parties in order to maintain their inordinate power.
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| Caroline Lucas Greens UK, EU |
Access required
Ballot access in all 50 U.S. states is essential for running local candidates. Eleven states are actively petitioning for ballot access and another sixteen states have deadlines this summer. Green Party access to the ballot will bring “excellent, quality candidates to challenge the establishment” Bittner says.
If all we do is come to out to vote every four years, we cannot expect entrenched government in Washington to consider the interests of ordinary citizens over the interests of corporate lobbyists. We must be willing to work together for change at local and state levels as well.
Why accept multiple choices in every aspect of our lives except in politics? This year more than ever is the time to break the two-party-no-choice option.
Green Party of the United States effort toward multiple choice
On its official website, the Green Party of the United States describes itself as “a federation of state Green Parties committed to ecology, social justice grassroots democracy and non-violence; and committed to renewing democracy in the United States through community-based organizing without the support of corporate donors.”
The Greens describe themselves as “grassroots activists, environmentalists, advocates for social justice, nonviolent resisters, and regular citizens who have had enough of corporate-dominated politics.” Their issues, concerns and solutions focus on area such as universal health care, corporate globalization, alternative energy, election reform, and decent living wages for workers. Formed in 2001 as an outgrowth of the Association of State Green Parties (1996-2001), the Green Party of the United States has had the initial and continuing primary goals of helping existing state parties grow; and where none exist, promoting formation of Green parties in all states and territories of the United States.
The Federal Elections Commission recognizes the Green Party of the United States as the official Green Party National Committee. The highest Green Party decision making body is the Green National Committee composed of delegates from each accredited state party and caucus. The Green Party of the United States is also a member of the Federation of Green Parties of the Americas and the Global Greens.
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| Greens Colorado |
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| Greens Canada |
Despite Democratic and Republican partisan power and other roadblocks, Green Party candidates “are winning elections throughout the United States.”
ANOTHER U.S. IS POSSIBLE.
ANOTHER PARTY IS NECESSARY
The Green Party nominee will be selected at the Presidential Nominating Convention to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, July 12-15, 2012. http://www.gp.org/2012/
Green Party of the United States: 7059 Blair Road NW, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20012
Green Party of the United States mailing Address: PO Box 75075, Washington, DC 20013, office@gp.org
202-319-7191
http://www.gp.org/about.shtml
www.gpconvention2012.com
Brian Bittner is Chair of the Baltimore City Green Party and Office Manager of the Green Party of the United States
____________________________________
Bennett's books are available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY] • See also: World Pulse: Global Issues through the eyes of Women: http://www.worldpulse.com/ http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire http://www.facebook.com/#!/bennetts2ndstudy
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