The Independent Greens of Virginia, (also known as the Indy Greens), is the state affiliate of the Independence Party of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia.It became a state party around 2003 when a faction of the Arlington local chapter of the Green Party of Virginia (GPVA) split from the main party.
As of 2011, it bills itself as a "fiscally conservative, socially responsible green party", with an emphasis on rail transportation and "more candidates".[1] In support of wider ballot participation, it endorses many independent candidates who are not affiliated with the party.
The party, separate from the national Green Party, affiliated itself with the Independence Party of America on January 10, 2008.[2]
Without "major party" status for automatic ballot access in Virginia, the party has had to gather petition signatures to get on the ballot. The requirement for statewide elections is 10,000 signatures, including at least 400 from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts. In order for the party to gain automatic ballot access as a major party, one of its nominated candidates must receive 10% of the vote in a statewide race.
Philosophy and Positions
The platform of the Independent Greens focuses on fiscal conservatism, calling for balanced budgets at local, state, and federal levels, and paying off the national debt. The party supports term limits as well as transportation issues.[1]
It is perhaps best known for its advocacy of "More Trains, Less Traffic" building high speed rail nationwide, new rail subways in every major American city, and light rail. On July 7, 2008, the Indy Greens endorsed the Pickens Plan, a proposal by financier T. Boone Pickens, to build wind and solar power, and cut dependence on foreign oil.[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Green_Party_of_Virginia
So, to be clear about what Virgil Goode has done. It boils down to this: He and another new party in Viginia have combined their efforts in gathering signatures to get on the Virginia ballot, given VA's extremely strict requirements that Perry/Gingrich/Santorum considered unconstitutional.
I consider Goode's move to be very creative.
There is NOTHING conservative about any part of the environmental movement, nothing at all. Environmentalism is a political philosophy that eschews private property, and the individual. Conservative environmentalism is an oxymoron.
Oh, they might advocate a tight fiscal agenda, but that hardly makes them conservative. You cannot have a conservative, small government environmental movement.