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August 23, 2005
WARNING: this post carries fairness beyond the call of duty!
Recently, a friend tried to interest me in the Green Party, and urged me to attend an upcoming convention in Washington. This startled me a bit, as I make no secret of my political views, which I think are not especially compatible with either the Green Party, nor with the views of most members of that party. But I do try to keep an open mind about everything, so I decided to do a little research. After all, I regularly test my libertarian compatibility; why not find out just how much of a match there is between Eric Scheie and the Green Party? The first factoid to hit me in the face was that as of August 2005, there are at least 224 Greens holding elected office in the United States: in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Geez. How do you suppose that compares to the Libertarian Party? Here's a Wikipedia entry: Following the 2002 elections, more than 300 Libertarians held elected state and local offices; following the 2004 elections, at least 221 Greens hold elected office. Though twelve Libertarians have previously been elected to state legislatures, none hold that office currently, unlike the Greens (one in Maine), the Independence Party (one in Minnesota), the Progressive Party (six in Vermont), the Republican Moderate Party (one in Alaska), and the Working Families Party (one in New York). Some Libertarian candidates for state office have performed relatively strongly in statewide races.The Greens dispute this, claiming they are a bigger political party. Interestingly enough, the two parties teamed up to demand a recount of Ohio votes in the last presidential election. (I suspect that the Greens have caused more headaches for Democrats than the Libertarian Party for Republicans.) But I'm not a formal member of the Libertarian Party as I'm not much of a joiner and I don't agree with them on everything. I suspect I agree with the Greens on less. Believe it or not, there has actually been a debate between these two philosophies, (in which Libertarian Mike Kole debated Green Natalie Davis) which is posted at BlogCritics.org. There was a surprising amount of agreement (on things like drug legalization and the Iraq War, although Kole supported the Afghanistan War), but the disagreement over economics ran head-on into profoundly, insurmountably, different philosophies: Natalie Davis: Which takes us back to the point discussed earlier -- too many people are unwilling to do (what some consider to be) the right thing. Greed is the prevailing American ideal.I suspect that the Green Party's economic philosophy is hopelessly and irreconcilably different from mine, too. As to the Iraq War, I have a major problem with the failure of the Libertarian Party to support a war I consider to be ultimately grounded in self defense. (Bush's attempt to transform the war against elusive, free roaming terrorists into a conventional ground war by simultaneously renewing a fight against a long-neglected but sworn enemy is a theory acceptable to my standards of national self defense -- even if it doesn't go far enough towards ultimately destroying all sources of support for the radical Islamist enemy.) But even that depends on how national self defense is defined, and I suspect the Greens are more unalterably opposed to self defense than the Libertarians. (For starters, there's gun control....) Conspicuously absent in the interview was an airing of the differences between these two parties on environmentalism. (A difference I suspect would be major and irreconcilable.) So what the hell is the Green Party platform, anyway? The best encapsulation I could find was -- guess what? -- the official Green Party USA Platform. I'll start with part of the Preamble: Green politics is an ecological approach to politics that links social and ecological problems. Ecology studies the relationships among organisms and their environment. Political ecology brings human institutions and ideologies into this holistic perspective.Frankly, that looks ominous. It seems loaded with the type of leftist jargon and code language which would translate into confiscation of property. Theft from Person A to give to Person B. EDITORIAL NOTE: For ease of reading this long, laborious post, all Green Party platform titles are colored green (as they are at the Party web site), and are addressed in the same order they appear -- with the exception of "Human Rights and Social Justice" -- left out because I am too callused to care, and so detest the phrase "social justice" that I deem it unworthy of serious discussion.) Ahem. The Green Party's official economic platform -- the Economic Bill Of Rights -- strikes me as little more than a call for a socialist welfare state: An Economic Bill of RightsAnd who pays for all this? The government. From where do they suppose "the government" gets its money? They have to take it from people who own it. That's unacceptable, and confiscatory -- unless you make the erroneous assumption that property is itself a form of theft. Which I don't. It doesn't look like I'm ready to join. But I'll read on. Their proposal for "Grassroots Democracy" would appear to abolish the United States Constitution: * Community Assemblies: Ground political representation in a foundation of participatory, direct democracy: a Community Assembly in every neighborhood, open to all of its residents, acting as a grassroots legislative body, with its own budget for local administration, and the power (in concert with other Citizens Assemblies who share a representative) to monitor, instruct, and recall representatives elected to municipal, state, and federal office.That's interesting, but it would destroy a vital aspect of the checks and balances the founders of this country intended to create, by replacing it with a "single chamber." I prefer the existing inefficiency, as it slows down hare-brained government schemes which might be whisked through under a single chamber. Similarly, the "Fair Elections" proposals (including Proportional Representation and dictating equal media access time) would require more messing with the Constitution, and I see no evidence that Proportional Representation would improve on what we have. I'm not enamored with the Greens' "Ecological Conversion" plank either. A few examples: That type of antipathy to technology borders on outright Luddism, and I could never being myself to vote for a candidate who took such positions. Now I'm even more afraid to join the Greens, lest my money be used to fund the sort of crackpots who devote their time to fighting technologies which could end Third World starvation. But there's more. Under "Sustainable Agriculture," is listed a proposal evocative of Maoist "land reform": What business is it of the government how many acres someone owns, or whether they live there? Either your property is your property, or it is not. Apparently the Green philosophy is that it is not. Even more evocative of Communism (listed under "Economic Democracy")are the proposals to effectively expropriate large and small businesses in favor of "the people": Any idea what that would do to the U.S. economy? We'd be on the fast track to the Stone Age. (How the hell did I manage to get myself so mired in reading through -- much less analyzing -- this mess, anyway? I tried to start this day being fair minded, and I feel that I'm up to my neck in Communist quicksand.) Well, as the saying goes, the only way out of a hole is to keep digging, right? So it's onward and downward to Taxation (called "Progressive and Ecological Taxes"): Well, at least they're being honest. Their stated goal is simply the confiscation of all wealth, and the creation of a socialist welfare state. I'm beginning to wonder whether my friend who asked me to come to the Green Convention was playing some sort of practical joke on me. (It's been known to happen, and I probably deserve it.) But there's nothing wrong with learning something, and today, I feel that I'm starting to know the Greens. But I might as well finish what I started. Under "Criminal and Civil Justice Reforms" the Greens propose refocusing crime prevention efforts on rehabilitation, freeing "prisoners of racial injustice" (not defined) and political favorites: No explanation of why "corporate criminals" are singled out as more worthy of punishment than, say, Ted Bundy, but I'll continue my increasingly difficult attempt to be fair. The party's "Labor Law Reforms" would restructure labor laws, and establish a "right to freedom from discharge at will," thus completely transforming the voluntary nature of the employment contract into a state-mandated entitlement system, under which employers would be caretakers of all employees for life. (The idea must be to prevent private employment, for that would be the result.) The "Revitalize Public Education" plank would abolish school vouchers and give far more money to the existing educational bureucracy, and would require: I like free higher education, and free food and medical care for all children, but again, with what money, and at whose expense? Obviously, at the expense of everyone, by means of confiscatory taxes extracted by government force. The goal of "Free, Diverse and Uncensored Media" looks appealing, but again, the Greens propose to accomplish that by applying state power: If media are not allowed to pursue profit, that's a form of censorship at least as onerous as McCain-Feingold. For without profit (also known as money), how are they to fund whatever it is that goes out over the air? If funds come from the government (or, as is said elsewhere, "funding to exceed existing support for for-profit media"), how can it be said that no strings would be attached? (I'm a bit too cynical to believe such a thing would be possible.) If enough people want to hear, see, or read something, doesn't that tend to be reflected in that thing's profitability? I see this antipathy towards the free market as fatally flawed for its failure to recognize the inseparability of the free market ideas and the free market. So I don't think it's suprising that the Greens call for complete government regulation of the airwaves: Regulate Public Airwaves in the Public Interest: Reassert the public's right as owners of the electromagnetic spectrum used as broadcast airwaves to regulate their use in the public interest. Re-appropriate 6 prime-time hours a day of commercial broadcast time on each station for real public service broadcasting: ad-free children's and news/public affairs programming. Fund this liberated time by charging commercial broadcasters rents for the bandwidths they use, a tax on sales of commercial stations, and a tax on advertising. Program this ad-free time under the control of artists' and educators for the children's programs and journalists for the news and public affairs programs. Restore the Fairness Doctrine. Free time for all candidates for public office. Prohibit paid political ads or require free ads of equal time for opponents. Redistribute substantial bandwidth concessions to public, nonprofit, and locally owned commercial stations, including low-power stations. Increase stakeholder representation on and public accountability of the Federal Communications Commission.I'm sorry but these are little more than calls for massive restrictions on free speech, dwarfing anything in McCain Feingold. What about the First Amendment? Have they read it? Do they care? Last but not least is "International Solidarity." Among other things, the Greens would make national self defense as we know it impossible. Near total disarmament, a 75% cut in the military budget, and a complete restructuring of United States foreign policy: We call for a fundamental shift in US foreign policy, from supporting repressive regimes in the interests global corporations to supporting the pro-democracy labor, social, and environmental movements of the people.I can't believe I got to the end, but there it is. The end. Of the United States as we know it. If the Greens get power. Where do I not join?
Sigh. Wikipedia has an entry on the split here. MORE: The Platform of the Green Party of the United States is over 34,000 words long, and is divided into innumerable topics. I'm sure it's well worth fisking whenever I can spare a month or two. . . It's also worth noting that the ten values are substantially the same in both "parties." MORE: While it's too large to address in its entirety, I've read through the platform of the Green Party of the United States. In general, it's more watered down, less strident in tone, and much, much longer. And it gets into details about things the Green Party USA neglects entirely, such as nanotechnology, which the Green Party of the United States wants to ban: Nanotechnology - the science of manipulating matter at the molecular level - is poised to provide a new industrial revolution with vast social and environmental consequences. Like nuclear science and biotechnology, nanotechnology is being pursued largely outside of public debate, risking great harm and abuse in its use and application.Again, there's too much stuff in this 76 page document to analyze in a blog post. Will I join either party? The answer isn't no; it's HELL NO! And as Raging Bee reminded me, no one should forget that there's another, possibly even more important Green Party! Seniority counts! Platform here! You will read it! posted by Eric on 08.23.05 at 10:39 AM
Comments
The "Greens" were known as the "Reds" back in my day, and, yes, I was quite "Red" back in junior high school. If Wanda had a party (the Libertine Party?) it would be the Greens and Purples, or Purples and Greens. Norma would have the Anti-Communist Reds, or Reds and Blues, and Dawn would have the Conservative Blues, or Blues and Reds. When I look at some of these Third Party platforms, e.g., the Libertarian Party or the "Constitution" (i.e., Christian Reconstructionist [post-millennialist Calvinist]) Party, my reaction has always been "Yes, I agree here, but I disagree there". In this case, however, I simply disagree down the line. Every single plank that you showed me, from their preamble on, I'm diametrically opposed to it. I'm obviously on an opposite end or quadrant of a spectrum from the "Greens". I'm for hierarchy, domination, oppression, etc.. Fortunately, like the Libertarians and all these others, they won't win any office beyond the proverbial dog-catcher. It's their counterparts within the Democratic Party that I worry more about, Lord Pork Pork and his ilk, Hillary, etc., and the Republicans who compromise with the mixed economy, as well as Republicans like Santorum who advocate collectivism in the sphere of morals. Steven Malcolm Anderson the Lesbian-worshipping man's-man-admiring myth-based egoist · August 23, 2005 01:56 PM Support International, Multilateral Peacekeeping to Stop Aggression and Genocide BUT... No Unilateral US Intervention in the Internal Affairs of Other Countries In other words, a foreign policy that's literally all talk and no teeth. This contradiction is the only blemish in a platform that is otherwise consistently silly, in the usual childish "give me everything, make sure it's perfect, and get someone else to pay for it all" kind of way. I'm sure most rank-and-file Greens have no clue what their party's platform says, nor do they care; it's all just a protest-vote to them. I also suspect that Green "leaders" aren't exactly breaking their backs to inform the rank-and-file of such specifics either. Oh well, thanks for wading through all this rubbish so we won't have to. Raging Bee · August 23, 2005 02:38 PM There are actually two outfits calling themselves Greens in the US. The other is this one. They're not any better, though. A pox on both of them, I say. Sigivald · August 23, 2005 03:51 PM Don't forget the Libertarian National Socialist Green Party! Raging Bee · August 23, 2005 03:56 PM Oy, vey. This really IS communism... and I've tried to explain that to a couple of friends who claim to be Greens. They just don't get it. Hopefully these loons will NEVER have any political power. libertarianobserver · August 23, 2005 04:59 PM As I said, I'm still learning. Such factionalism is typical of the far left. Here's a history of it (at least according to the Green Party USA): there are two Green parties in the US today. One, The Greens/Green Party USA traces its beginning to 1984. The other, the Green Party of the United States, can trace its roots to the formation of the ASGP in 1996, and is essentially a split of more politically conventional Greens from the GCoC and TG/GPUSA. This year, the GPUS is running David Cobb as its candidate for pres ident; Ralph Nader is running as an independent; and at the recent Green Congress in Chicago, The Greens/Green Party USA reaffirmed it commitment to the mission of the original American Greens, long-term activist organizing for true democracy and a Green society. Such a vision of radical hope is one of the most valuable resources any party can offer society.Whatever they are, it's rebadged Communism. Red to Green. (Most likely calculated to mess with your spectrum, Steven!) Eric Scheie · August 23, 2005 05:22 PM There's also the Greens.org -- aka the Green Parties (pl) of North America. They have no platform, but ten VALUES: I've just about run out of patience with all of this, so forgive me if I don't write another essay. Eric Scheie · August 23, 2005 05:27 PM Eric wrote: (Most likely calculated to mess with your spectrum, Steven!)" Yes, I noted that in my first paragraph: "The "Greens" were known as the "Reds" back in my day, and, yes, I was quite "Red" back in junior high school. If Wanda had a party (the Libertine Party?) it would be the Greens and Purples, or Purples and Greens. Norma would have the Anti-Communist Reds, or Reds and Blues, and Dawn would have the Conservative Blues, or Blues and Reds." Hmmm.... Red turning into Green would be Yellow or Brown. Orange? Orange Lodges? Uh,oh! Steven Malcolm Anderson the Lesbian-worshipping man's-man-admiring myth-based egoist · August 23, 2005 07:51 PM Wow, Eric...kudos to slogging through all that. The "Greens" are just another flavor of totalitarian authoritarianism dressed up with the right buzzwords "direct democracy", "anti-greed" "anti-corporatism" et al. I've spent hour upon hour running through the anarchism "philosophy" at the blackenedflag site and what I come away with is the absolute sameness between that, communism, greenism and all those philosophies that boil down to a abject mistrust and hatred of human beings. Somehow, they know what's best for the rest of us and by golly if they have to bring paradise to earth by grinding up our bones and filling mass graves, they'll do it. Stalin did, Pol Pot did, why should the followers of Chomsky be any different? Darleen · August 24, 2005 02:32 AM Darleen: Excellent. The very fact that some of these totalitarians call themselves "anarchists" is but one more instance of the Orwellian-style Newspeak of today's Left. By definition, anarchy (zero government) is the diametrical opposite of socialism (more and ever more government) and Communism (total government), yet these "anarchists" continually push for the latter. And very true about their attitude toward the human being. The Left has gone from a Rousseauian faith in man in his natural state to a Calvinistic contempt and hatred of man as the enemy of nature ("a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy"). Only the Right remains to see man in his full capacity both as sinner and as image of God. ("Man" -- I include Woman.) Steven Malcolm Anderson the Lesbian-worshipping man's-man-admiring myth-based egoist · August 24, 2005 08:39 AM Eric wrote: (Most likely calculated to mess with your spectrum, Steven!)" Here is a square spectrum of colors. Steven Malcolm Anderson the Lesbian-worshipping man's-man-admiring myth-based egoist · August 24, 2005 08:51 AM For me, the showstopper is this: Pollution is a crime against property, yet no "green" policy prescription I have ever heard of has ever advocated strengthening private property rights. It seems to me that the "green" stance is diametrically opposed to libertarian fundamentals. M Mark Alger · August 24, 2005 03:41 PM Well, I'm the Libertarian in the debate cited, so it's interesting to read the commentary. In my estimation, the Green Party and Libertarian Party are generally opposites on premises that matter. For the record, I am fairly torn on Iraq. I generally take the non-intervention/non-entanglement position, but if Iraq harbors terrorists, blast away. But, I was presenting my party's platform position in that debate, even though I was not behind it 100%. What's interesting to me is to see so often where people will so frequently say, "I agree with you on most things, except..., so I can't vote for you". They apply this eagerly to Libertarian candidates, but if they also applied it to Republicans or Democrats, they essentially would never vote again. I never expect anyone to agree with my views fully. I've never met a single person who did. I do hope that the voting public eventually gets to where they honestly identify which candidates they agree with the most, in the office that candidate is running for, and then vote for that person. It is so disappointing to see someone elected County Commissioner on the "strength" of their party's position on Iraq or abortion, as though a County Commissioner has anything to do with it. I wouldn't vote for some Libertarian candidate from some states. They're kooks! And yet, most Ds or Rs I know will vote straight ticket for their party, merely because it's their party, no matter how much that party has strayed from what the voter believes in, or how kooky their own candidates may be. Thanks for the citations! Mike Kole · August 24, 2005 07:03 PM |
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End the economic blockade of Iraq? Do they ever update their platform?
And this part here, "We call for a fundamental shift in US foreign policy, from supporting repressive regimes in the interests global corporations to supporting the pro-democracy labor, social, and environmental movements of the people."
Does that mean they support the Iraq war?
It sounds nice and I think every young person should go through a Green period, but do they ever stop to wonder whether or not the items on their platform are likely to bring about the future they want to see?