Posted on 06/06/2002 10:48:34 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
The Green Party State Convention did not feel like a state convention.
The May 25 affair was held in the large but somewhat drab third floor of the Community School of Music and Arts. There were no entourages. There were no neck ties. There was just a guy, scribbling names and numbers on a dirty chalk board before a group of chairs, many of which were filled by bearded men from all over New York State.
This convention was just pure politics, with a whiff of down-home, stripped-o'-the-frills democracy. No, the state convention did not feel like a state convention. It felt like a local convention-town hall meeting in the older sense of the word. And that earthy quality - the lack of pretentiousness and politics as usual-may be the most appealing part of Being Green.
A Green-Friendly Town
Tompkins County Green Party Chair David Galezo said that, besides having a high concentration of Greens, Ithaca offered a central location within New York State ideal for the convention. But Ithaca also represents opportunities and challenges the rest of the state's Greens might one day be lucky to have.
New York has its share of non-traditional parties - the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Working Families Party, the Independence Party. But Ithaca has shown that there is plenty about the Greens that makes them more than just another line on the voting ballot. For one thing, the other small parties rarely run many of their own candidates, preferring to let Democrats and Republicans scramble for their endorsements.
It seems that the Greens do not believe they are simply providing a left-of-Democrat alternative on the political spectrum. Rather, they want to turn the spectrum on its head, and recreate the political landscape on which the government does its business. Only then, they believe, will the fundamental changes needed for a sustainable, fair economy be possible. Greens do not just want to instill greater protections on the environment, provide better health care and schools. They want to change the conditions that they believe have allowed such issues to become problematic in the first place.
"Greens are centrists because we directly address central concerns of working people for clean food, water, air, creative work, full access to health care and affordable housing," said well-known party activist Paul Glover. "Democrats and Republicans indulge extremes of greed... both are fringe groups with big budgets."
The influence of money and big business on politics, the environment and American culture is high on the Greens' kill list.
Mary Jo Long, a Chenango County-based attorney, won the Green nomination for attorney general at the convention. She says that when she began practicing 25 years ago, people weren't always looking to sue every time they got injured. Over the years, such complaints have increased dramatically.
Everybody is "I'm going to get what I can get," she said. "There's no sense of community. The profit motive governs all things ... Everyone should have some chance of improvement [but] not just one person at a time - let's lift ourselves together."
Corporate domination of American society is emblematic of this deep-seated problem, she said, noting that companies are increasingly given rights that were once only meant for individual citizens. "At one point they were merely a private need meant to fulfill a public interest," she said. "They've gone beyond the public interest."
There is no question that the Green Party is growing in power and influence. Several of the country's mid-size cities have Green mayors and legislators, and Ralph Nader was a major, if not deciding, factor in the 2000 presidential race.
The ultimate question for the Greens may be if they will be able to demonstrate mainstream appeal without sacrificing their beliefs, as they believe the Democrats have done. The other problem they face is that party rhetoric often comes across to the mainstream as too radical. As long as that happens, the Green Party might be relegated to the status of a fringe curio without realizing the centrist appeal that Glover believes is intrinsic to the party.
Phase One and Two
One strength of the Green Party demonstrated at the convention is its unity. It was striking how often gubernatorial candidates referred to each other's idea positively and respectfully.
"There's no acrimony," said Stanley Aronowitz, a professor and labor leader who went on to win the nomination for governor. "We stand for the same things. The question is, 'who can best help the party get 50,000 votes [needed to remain on the ballot]?' We're not interested in fighting each other."
To the Greens' credit, Aronowitz, and the other nominees, seemed much more electable than say, Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis. Aronowitz is experienced, knowledgeable, likable and is eloquent in a way that inspires enthusiasm in the party.
Leaders explain that the party is in the first of two phases: The current need is to shore up the party base and get enough of the party faithful to the polls in November so that the party will have the 50,000 votes it needs to remain on the ballot in future elections. But if it ever wants to truly be a third party, it has to offer a slate that will not only galvanize the party base but be considered by others - particularly Democrats and independents - to be more than an opportunity for a protest vote.
Many of the issues touched on by Aronowitz and other members seem like they already have mainstream support, including dropping the Rockefeller Drug laws, reforming the prison system, implementing clean-money campaign finance reform, and closing the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.
Meanwhile, the bigger they become, the more complicated their relationship with the Democrats will be. They will have to decide whether it makes sense to threaten Democrats to change their behavior with the prospect of stealing what would otherwise be Democratic votes. Or they could decide to be their own party distinct from Democrats, even at the risk of splitting votes and making their Republican enemies more powerful.
Galezo said just having such options would be good for the party. "Both are to our advantage," Galezo said. "It's a win-win situation." But he said the underlying goal of the party is to maintain "a clear unambiguous message even if that entails short-term sacrifices."
One big issue sets the Greens apart from many New York Democrats, though it is not even a state issue per se. At the convention, many Greens seemed preoccupied by the country's current war on terror.
Galezo spent part of the morning of the convention at the Farmer's Market, handing out anti-war pamphlets.
"The public sees through the rhetoric of the war on terror and are shocked to hear how militaristic McCall and Cuomo are," said Galezo, referring to the two Democratic candidates for governor.
Aronowitz claimed this war would have bad repercussions domestically, with much of the taxpayers' money being diverted to guns and away from much-needed butter.
The Democratic Question
Many candidates, including Aronowitz, are disaffected Democrats, many of whom officially switched registration only in recent years. "My patience [with Democrats] was evaporating," said Jennifer Daniels, who won the Green Party nomination for Lieutenant Governor. Daniels tapped into a measure of discontent among Syracuse voters in 2001, when she garnered 7.8 percent of the vote in the race for mayor - a record for third party candidates in Syracuse.
Greens interviewed by the Times believe Democrats have become too comfortable with the current system to dramatically change it. It may have helped them keep pace with the GOP, but Greens believe the Democrats have done so at the expense of their integrity. "In recent decades, the Democratic party has sought to straddle all the bases," Glover said.
Like the Republicans, Democrats hold orgiastic fund raisers that draw in millions of dollars and come from the same companies that the Dems, in their occasional fits of populism, like to rail against.
Patronage-heavy Massachusetts Democrats are failing to implement publicly-financed elections that the public overwhelming approved several years ago, while New York Democrats are notorious for closed decisions in smoke-filled-rooms.
Aronowitz says the two parties give poor reasons to elect them to the New York governors' mansion. "The Democrats say 'We've been out eight years.' The Republicans say, 'We do nothing better.'"
But one only has to look at the situation locally to see that the relationship between the two parties is less than clear cut. The Greens ran several candidates in city, town and county races last year. Some, including Annmarie Zwack and Christina Bedocs, made impressive showings even though they failed to win. However, Green-endorsed Democrats were very successful, capturing three seats on City Council and one on the Ithaca Town Board. Though he ran unopposed, the current chair of the county board, Tim Joseph, was also Green endorsed.
"Greens have always sought to empower the small sub population of Democrats with progressive ideas," Galezo said. "The goal of the Greens is to grow and replace the Democrats in Tompkins County as the dominant party."
Tompkins County Green Party Secretary Chris Hardin said the party looks at Democrats on an individual level - if the candidate supports green issues, the party will give its endorsement. But the party is loath, Hardin said, to simply doling out patronage like other third parties. "Running our own candidates is our goal," he said.
"I would hope the Green Party would enable Ithacans to have a clear choice between Greens and Republicans, even if some Republicans call themselves Democrats," Glover said.
"We're pleased with (Green party endorsed city and town of Ithaca representatives) Dan Cogan, David Whitmore, Will Burbank and Carolyn Peterson," Hardin said. But he added, "That's not party building; we did what was right for the community. It didn't help us or hurt us as a party."
Regarding the the most powerful Green-endorsed pol, Hardin said: "It's unclear if it was worthwhile to endorse Tim Joseph. He didn't need us."
Aronowitz said that, as a state figure for the Greens, he is willing to work with Democrats and Republicans who support similar principles. After it's noted that eyebrows might be raised at the prospect of Greens holding hands with members of the G.O.P., Aronowitz was philosophical, pointing out that the environmental movement was started by Republican party members, such as Teddy Roosevelt.
A Reporter's Take on the Party
Cartoonist R. Crumb, whose comics were staples of the 1960s counterculture, once reflected that he shared many of the ideals of the era's leftist anti-war movement. But he also expressed some relief that its most radical elements were not very successful: "Can you imagine if people like Eldridge Cleaver or Abbie Hoffman had actually gotten into power?" he once wrote. "Jeezis! It's frightening! There would have been prison camps full of people not hip enough and prison guards with big peace symbols on their armbands."
Though there are large differences between the modern Green Party and the New Left of the 1960s, the public consciousness will undoubtedly see a link. And though many older Americans may recall those heady times with fondness, they may also express relief that more conservative values prevailed.
When and if the Greens reach their goal of creating a state- and nation-wide party infrastructure that will regularly run candidates for all levels of government, they will still face the problem of those who consider them too radical to actually run the government.
There seemed some recognition of that at the convention. Gubernatorial candidate Donald Hassig said, for example, that the party should be careful about the message it sends regarding drugs. While he believes current drug penalties are too harsh, "I don't want to send the message that the Green party is for drug use."
The only thing that is really radical about the Greens is that they set high ideals and reject that the idea status quo is the best the country can do, party officials maintain. When they believe their ideals or the pursuit of them are attacked or thwarted, they express outrage. There is also a heightened awareness of injustice and a very low tolerance for it.
The Greens can appeal to voters with the idea that they acknowledge problems the other parties ignore, and that these issues are not that difficult to remedy with concerted effort. Dollars are being siphoned out of local economies? Create a local currency. Health costs too expensive? Create a community-funded alternative whose goal is too heal inexpensively rather than reap profits. By helping to implement Ithaca HOURS and the Ithaca Health Fund successfully, Greens like Glover show that ideas that seem odd can be crystallized if enough people believe in them.
The Greens ability to hold a higher standard is also a very American quality. In some regards, the Greens kindle a flame of idealism that is fundamental to the optimistic American character.
However, with their deep, often conspiratorial suspicion of the establishment, the Greens can also be at odds with America's sunny sense of itself.
Some of the most appealing characteristics of the Greens can, in certain contexts, alienate Joe and Suzy B. American. Greens might believe Joe and Suzy B. American to be naive, but they are the voters the party probably needs to foment the change the party wants.
The problem for many who can't stomach Green ideology is that it seems to lack an element of practicality or, perhaps more importantly, doesn't attempt to address the practical concerns of many people. Many Americans are very scared that terrorists are going to set off a nuclear or chemical weapon near their houses. One of the solutions to terrorism frequently offered by the Greens is to change America's role in the world so that it does not engender the resentment that creates anti-American terrorists.
For many that may be a good long-term goal, but it's not enough to alleviate immediate fears. For most U. S. citizens, it would probably be worth the deaths of more than a thousand civilians if the threat of another September 11 was significantly diminished by U.S. actions in Afghanistan, as many believe it was - particularly because most Americans believe that their military did its best to avoid civilian casualties.
Much of what was said at the convention would not have much mainstream appeal. Most politicians toe a balance between recognizing and denouncing problems and touting the resources of the community that can contribute to solutions. But at the convention, the affirmative component of Green campaigns seemed lacking. Many Green candidates were apt at pointing out the hidden injustices in society. There's nothing wrong with that, but there was little offered in the way of solutions, little to inspire the masses beyond the party that systemic problems can, with diligence, be overcome. "I have a lot of anger," Hassig told the convention, at one point referring to the country as "America, the Lie."
Many Americans will recoil at what they perceive to be an overly strong sense of victimization among the Greens. When tapping into popular frustration, the Greens can cross the line by seeming pedantic, as if only they see all the problems in the world while the rest of America is deaf, blind and easily manipulated. Maybe it is, but in this reporter's opinion, more tact is needed.
A Positive Spin
As Greens and anti-war activists are, often unfairly, perceived as contemptuous of America by some, the Times made a point of asking what they like about the country:
"I'm not sure if such generalizations hold, but Americans seem to have a number of promising qualities which should make this country fertile ground for Green activism." Galezo said. "Americans admire self-reliance, so it should make sense to us to end our reliance on sweatshops and militarily enforced oil prices. Americans seem to despise inefficiency, so with some effort we'll grow up from the inefficient cycle of gross consumption and 60-hour work weeks. We're inventive, so we'll probably invent ways to simplify our lives and to educate our children in something higher than the agenda of big business."
Said Glover: "This is a great country because its founders knew that all governments would eventually try to repress freedom, including this one. So they gave us the legal tools and political culture to fight to keep our rights. We're also a great nation because we have the resources and skills to rebuild our cities so they're fun and healthy to live in. That's the next demand of patriotism, not war."
Securing popular appeal will not be an issue for the Greens for several years, at least. For now, perhaps, the main goal is to preach to the choir, and to make sure the choir gets out and votes.
The greatest challenge - and achievement - of the Greens, would perhaps to be to convince most Americans that their radical ideas are actually common sense. This shouldn't be hard if they remind voters that the Founding Fathers, whose wisdom is revered by the establishment, were some of the most radical people of all time.
And when I got to the report where the reporter wrote "A Reporter's Take on the Party" I almost shot Pepsi out my nose in shock. The entire article was an opinion piece.
besides having a high concentration of Greens, Ithaca offered ...opportunities and challenges the rest of the state's Greens might one day be lucky to have...The Greens ran several candidates in city, town and county races last year...Green-endorsed Democrats were very successful, capturing three seats on City Council and one on the Ithaca Town Board. Though he ran unopposed, the current chair of the county board, Tim Joseph, was also Green endorsed.
Ithaca is the City of Evil.
Heck, no, you don't want to do that ...
The Libertarian Party might think that you're muscling in on their turf.
It didn't spin or downplay the lunacy. It presented the morons straight-up and clear for inspection.
I wish them all the luck in the world. If the Greens prosper by siphoning off hard-lefties from the Dems, freedom lovers can only benefit.
One funny thing though:
They want to take the money out of politics while at the same time giving the government more power over all aspects of people's lives...
Cognitive dissonance, or simply socialist blindness?
Well I don't know about that, it's even harder being a Republican!!!!!
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