Public Funding of Congressional Campaigns used to limit democracy

Ballot Access News covers HR 4694, a Democratic bill that would direct public funding to the congressional campaigns of major parties and limit the same to third party candidates. Anyone suggesting that the Green Party should learn to work with the Democratic Party should take a look at this bill.

Who owns Great Lakes water?

While I prefer to think of the citizens of Michigan as stewards of the Great Lakes rather than owners, this article says much that I agree with. Apparently, Rep. Brandenberg does not speak for the Republican majority in our state legislature, as they have refused to address the issue of water, stating they prefer to wait for a survey of Michigan's water resources before proceeding. Go figure.

Super Bowl City

With friends like this...

This article: The Islamization of The Green Party, starts with a Nazi reference, twists the GPUS resolution calling for divestment from Israel into a call for the destruction of Israel and even stoops to name calling, labelling Green Party members as 'Freaks'. But that isn't the low point. It then quotes New York Green Lorna Salzman as saying "the US Green Party has given aid and comfort to both anti-Semites and terrorist organizations"

Many of the criticisms are easily dismissed. Other GPUS resolutions have decried the violence carried out in the name of Palestinian rights. The resolution passed overwhelmingly and its passing followed the same rules and by-laws all other resolutions were subject to. The majority of the piece is an attempt to imply guilt by association, a seemingly quite common method of discrediting those who dare to criticize Israel and its policies. You remember the Nazis, right?

Greens Respond to 2006 State of the Union Speech

The Green Party of the United States has made aavailable video news releases in response to last nights SOTUS. They cover:

#1 Iraq War & Impeachment - Byron DeLear
Massive deception behind the Iraq invasion & occupation; Immediate withdrawal of US troops; Bush Administration lawlessness: warrantless spying on US citizens, etc.; Retreat of Dems: Sen. Clinton; Pro-war Gov. Kaine's rebuttal for the Dems; Call for impeachment of Bush & Cheney

#2 Health care - Marakay Rogers
Failure of Bush's prescription drug bill: chaos in the states; Call for national health insurance

#3 Energy and Global Warming - Rich Whitney
Threat of global warming: evident with Katrina; Real US security: measures against global warming; ending oil addiction; National & state solutions: alternative energy sources

#4 Democracy & Local Issues - Renée Bowser
Greens running for & holding local office; Bush administration attacks on the social safety net; Addressing local issues: education, housing, basic human rights; DC statehood: a civil rights issue

#5 The Green Party - Rebecca Rotzler
The Green alternative: party for the 21st century; US democracy in danger (mention 2004 election irregularities & Green response); Comparison of GP with the 2 parties: Rep. Pelosi offers no criticism of Iraq War & refuses to mention national health insurance; Dems line up behind Alito; Dems favor eminent domain decision), No interesting ideas; GP candidates; Register Green, vote Green

Enjoy!

Activist Cindy Sheehan Arrested at Capitol

The overlooked news from last night's State of the Union Address (as we all know that America is addicted to oil) is that anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested and removed from the gallery of the House before the President's speech. Her crime: wearing an anti-war t-shirt.

Here's the story from Cindy.


UPDATE:Capitol Police apologize to Cindy and drop the charges of illegally wearing a t-shirt.

Call Senator Levin and tell him to support the Alito filibuster.

Senator Carl Levin [MI]
Washington, 202-224-6221 (phone), 202-224-1388 (fax)
Grand Rapids, 616-456-2531 (phone), 616-456-5147 (fax)
Saginaw, 989-754-2494 (phone), 989-754-2920 (fax)
Escanaba, 906-789-0052 (phone), 906-789-0015 (fax)
Traverse City, 231-947-9569 (phone), 231-947-9518 (fax)
Lansing, 517-377-1508 (phone), 517-377-1506 (fax)
Warren, 586-573-9145 (phone), 586-573-8260 (fax)
Detroit, 313-226-6020 (phone), 313-226-6948 (fax)

Oppose Alito

Sides agree in water dispute

In what is being called a temporary compromise, Nestle and Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation have arrived at an agreement to limit the water withdrawals at Nestle's Mecosta County bottling plant. Meanwhile, MCWC is appealing the ruling of the Michigan Court of Appeals that allowed Nestle to continue its operations.

~RELEASE~ Post-Address Statement by the Green Party of Michigan (After Granholm “State of the State” & Republican Reply)

Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice
Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence


Green Party of Michigan
www.migreens.org

** News Release **
January 25, 2006


For More Information, Contact:
-----------------------------
Sylvia Inwood, Chair/Green Party of Michigan
e-mail: chair@migreens.org

John Anthony La Pietra, Media Committee/GPMI
e-mail: jalp@internet1.net

[for future reference, please send correct/current
contact information (e-mail, fax #, contact person)
to jalp@...]


Post-Address Statement by the Green Party of Michigan
(After Granholm “State of the State” & Republican Reply)
========================================================


The people of Michigan know the state of our state. Folks need
jobs good enough to sustain a good economy. They yearn for integrity,
for deep change in how the system operates . . . and for whom. They
want to vote for something more than the lesser of two evils – or the
bigger of two corporate tax cuts. Michigan needs a party *of* the
people – a party inspired *by* the people – a party working *for* the
people.

But a party can’t be *for* real people and working families if it’s
parked in the deep pockets of corporations that see human beings as just
another kind of profit center. A party can’t be *for* small farmers and
consumers if it feeds at the trough of agribusiness and factory-farm
special interests. A party can’t be *for* the little people if it’s
hooked on big money. A party has to choose sides.

We’re on *your* side. We’re the Green Party of Michigan.

Greens believe healthy people and a healthy economy go hand in
hand. Statewide universal health care boost our economy more than
throwing billions of tax dollars at big corporations whose purpose is
creating profits for themselves, not jobs for us. Healthier people can
raise up a healthier economy: energy-efficiency, renewable energy, fuel
economy, organic and sustainable agriculture . . . instead of
genetically modified organisms and the espionage-industrial complex.

Greens understand that true progress in education in Michigan
requires a commitment to deal with the poverty which stands between our
students and their birthright of knowledge. We oppose the gross
inequities of current state education funding. And we resist unfunded
Federal mandates that leave no child classtime for learning creative
thinking and cognitive skills . . . or privacy from high-pressure
military recruiting.

Greens say the people’s votes and voices should speak louder than
special-interest money and privilege. We’ve been working to clean up
vote fraud in Detroit . . . to defend community organizers in Benton
Harbor against trumped-up charges . . . to bring trustworthy voting
equipment and election systems to Michigan, and make sure all votes in
Michigan count – and are counted. That can bring fair elections – where
all people have a chance to run (and win), and a reason to vote.
Elections must be clean, too. Greens call for fair and equal public
financing of all campaigns – so candidates have to pay attention to
those of us who vote with our ballots, not our checkbooks. Until that
happens, we’ll go on asking our candidates to reject all PAC money.

Greens remember how Attorney General Granholm once advised a
governor about the need to protect the people’s water rights. But
Governor Granholm has ignored her own advice. All we’ve got to show for
it is a lame proposal on out-of-state water diversions . . . diverting
attention from the need for serious protection against cut-offs,
contamination, or commercialization.

Greens recognize that giving taxpayer money to corporations doesn't
create more jobs, just more profits. Still, both big parties stick with
the same failed strategy. The same money, invested directly in the
people’s business, could create 10,000 state jobs. But the people’s
business gets left undone.

Greens across Michigan – maybe in your community, maybe even on
your local City Council or school board – will keep doing that work.
Fighting discrimination and injustice (yes, they still exist).
Protecting citizens’ rights to peace, privacy, passive resistance
against illegal arrest . . . and polling places with plenty of working,
verifiable (and accessible!) voting machines. Making sure corporate
profiteers know that the water of the Great Lakes State is not a
commodity for sale, but a precious resource that belongs to the people.
Restoring trust in state government – starting with enforcement and
reinforcement of campaign-finance, disclosure, and ethics laws.

The future of Michigan can be a healthy, sustainable economy . . .
a healthy, open democracy . . . a healthy, free people. That future
belongs to the people of Michigan. Let’s go get it – let’s build it –
together.

The Green Party of Michigan. We’re on *your* side.



# # #



For more information on the Green Party of Michigan, and Green
issues and values, or to find out how you can see the Greens’
pre-recorded video response to the “State of the State”, visit:

http://www.migreens.org



# # #


created/distributed using donated labor



Green Party of Michigan
548 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3555
-----------------------
GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental issues in Michigan
politics. Greens are organized in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia, as well as in 79 countries on six continents. Each state
Green Party sets its own goals and creates its own structure, but US
Greens agree on Ten Key Values:

Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Non-Violence
Community Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal/Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability

Green Party of Canada

Here's some of the official Green Party vote counts in yesterday's Canadian election:

Percentage nationally: 4.5%
Number of votes: 665,940

Best province: Alberta, 6.6%
Best riding (percentage): Bruce--Grey--Owen Sound, 12.9%
Best riding (number of votes): Ottawa Centre, 6,766 votes


Best riding percentage-wise in:

* Newfoundland and Labrador: Random--Burin--St. George's, 1.4%
* Prince Edward Island: Egmont, 5.2%
* Nova Scotia: Halifax, 5.2%
* New Brunswick: Madawaska--Restigouche, 3.3%
* Quebec: Westmount--Ville-Marie, 8.3%
* Ontario: Bruce--Grey--Owen Sound, 12.9%
* Manitoba: Winnipeg Centre, 7.0%
* Saskatchewan: Souris--Moose Mountain, 5.2%
* Alberta: Calgary Centre-North, 11.8%
* British Columbia: British Columbia Southern Interior, 11.3%
* Territories: Nunavut, 5.9%

more detailed results from the Elections Canada website, including a tab-delimited file for anyones use.

Now that's a real tool of participatory democracy. I can color my map of Canada any shade of green I like.

And here's a letter to the editor of the Toronto Star decrying the first-past-the-post election system we share with Canada. It makes a great point and I wouldn't doubt that the editors removed the mention of IRV that follows from it.

GPMI State Membership Meeting

Green Party of Michigan State Membership Meeting

February 18th & 19th 2005, in Grand Rapids

Saturday
9 :00 Setup tables, coffee, registration
:15 Setup for silent auction
:30
:45 Announcements
10 :00 Officer, nat'l. rep reports
:15
:30
:45 Break (auction bids)
11 :00 View SOS response DVD
:15 Discussion – using media
:30 (DVD, Green Light, Green Pages)
:45 Discussion of proposal for
12 :00 fundraising committee, chair
:15
:30 Lunch break in union hall
:45 (auction bids)
1 :00
:15
:30 Delphi workers presentation
:45 (Ken Mathenia)
2 :00
:15 Elections – clearinghouse Coord.,
:30 Fundraising chair, other if needed
:45
3 :00 Break (FINAL auction bids)
:15 Benton Harbor presentation
:30 (Rev. Pinkney)
:45 Resolutions
4 :00
:15 Finish silent auction
:30 Tour – Environmental Action
:45 Center building, explanation of
5 :00 local environmental activism
:15 (off- site)
:30 Jane Jarlsberg
:45
6 :00 Dinner break
:15 (off- site)
:30
:45
7 :00 Public viewing of movie:
:15 “The End of Suburbia”
:30 Oil Depletion and the collapse of
:45 the American dream
8 :00 (78 minutes running time)
:15 Discussion of movie, energy wars,
:30 & holding movie viewings as a
:45 method of outreach
9 :00


Sunday
9 :00 Discussion & vote (IRV)
:15 on membership proposals
:30
:45
10 :00 Budget and fundraising
:15 (Pete and/or David)
:30 Discussions
:45
11 :00 Break
:15 Back to budget and fundraising
:30 (Pete and/or David)
:45 Decisions
12 :00
:15 Lunch -or brunch
:30 (off-site unless we order delivery)
:45
1 :00
:15 2007 National meeting -
:30 Proposal to host
:45 (Matt Abel)
2 :00
:15 Plant a Tree project and SOA
:30 (Lynn Meadows)
:45
3 :00 Clean up and clear out

Comments on draft agenda

Overall, Saturday has about a day and a half worth of activities. Then Sunday has an early ending, just in case - unlikely as this may be - the weather in Grand Rapids in February is bad and people want to get on the road while there is still some daylight.

There is no session specifically for 2006 election planning. I expect that topic will be absorbed for this meeting by the sessions on budget and fundraising. That is, we are trying to raise funds for the election and we are trying to budget for the election. I anticipate that, at the spring meeting, we will be going over materials for a campaign school, discussing how to recruit candidates, and other sorts of direct election planning.

The viewing of the new SOS response video has been placed immediately after the officer reports so that, if the reports run long, the viewing part can be dropped. This is not an invitation for these reports to run over. It is a warning that, if they do run over, the time for the next topic will suffer.

It is my understanding that we are going to have a fundraising committee with an elected chair, the chair being an unpaid volunteer just like every other party officer and/or standing committee chair. It will then be the business of this committee to define the job of a "professional" fundraiser and to hire one. Whether this amounts to the committee recommending a person and a contract to the SCC, or if the committee itself is empowered to set the terms and hire the person, is yet to be determined.

To me, it makes sense to empower the committee to set the terms and to hire the person, if the SMM decides in principle to hire a fundraiser. Inserting the SCC as an additional bureaucratic hurdle, especially given that the SCC works through a cumbersome process of e-mails, would not be a good idea.

At any rate, I hope this understanding is close to something everyone can agree on, because I've set the SMM up to discuss the fundraising committee on Saturday, and elect a chair then if necessary. Then a big part of Sunday is set up to be, essentially, a face-to-face meeting of this committee, but with the authority of an SMM to make fundamental decisions.

Saturday afternoon and evening thus became the time to discuss issues, rather than internal party business. Because there are three clear proposals on membership criteria, and because membership criteria set some of the parameters of fundraising, a decision on membership is set for the first item of business on Sunday.

Art Myatt

The Green Party's Rush Limbaugh

I don't know who wrote the subtitle: 'bombast and self-promotion in cyberspace' but it very well may have been Gregg Jocoy. He does call himself the Green Rush Limbaugh. And I think this article and his blog at http://gregg-jocoy.blogspot.com/ go a long way in proving him right. With a direct matter-of-fact style of delivery, good insights and connections in the Green Party, he's become the leading Green blogger since Ken Sain.

Michigan Green Matt Abel nominated to GPUS Steering Committee

As you may know, the last spot on the 7 member Steering Committee of the Green Party of the US has been open since the National Meeting in Tulsa, OK last July. Issues with the election and the inability of the National Committee to remedy them have led the Steering Committee to call for a new election. Nominations were open until this last Monday, and just before the deadline, Pat LaMarche, who rode our national ticket as the vice-presidential candidate and is currently running for governor of Maine, nominated our own Matt Abel to the position. Matt will be running against Jason Nabewaniec of NY and Budd Dickinson of CA. Noticeably absent from the candidates is Kristen Olson of MN, who, along with Tom Sevigny of CT, was said to have won the seventh seat depending on which system of Single Transferable Vote was used. Kristen has not accepted the nomination in this new election and Tom has since resigned his position in GPUS. While there is a proposal submitted to the National Committee to seat Kristen, it appears to this observer that it will fail and a new election will be held.

"Now is the time."

"Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" Speech, as a Podcast as well as an MP3.