New Poll
I would guess that most visitors to this site are either Greens or Green-curious. Either way, I would guess that most of you know at least a little about the Green Party’s Ten Key Values.
The new poll asks you to rank your top three values. Unfair? Sure. But hey, it’s just for fun, no? While I hope it doesn’t influence anyone’s opinion, behind the “Read more–>” link you can find a column I submitted on the topic to a local newspaper, YC Magazine.
The Values Party
The planet’s first Green Party was founded in New Zealand in 1972. Calling themselves The Values Party, they focused on equal rights and environmental sustainability. Another thing that marks this as the globe’s first Green Party was their position that they were responsible for proposing solutions, not just carping about what the other parties are doing. Even on sparsely populated New Zealand they could see the coming disaster from global human population explosions. They advocated for a steady-state economy instead of an ever expanding model that strips all the future value from natural resources and human beings to earn short term profits for a very few. On a finite planet it makes no sense to believe in an ever expanding economy, they said.
Today’s Green Parties are organized very loosely. There are Green Parties in any number of countries or regions who are totally unknown to the rest of the Green Movement. Even in the United States there are a few states with more than one party claiming to be “the” Green Party. Fortunately, we have a system of identifying our state chapters, so we do know the real thing from the imposters.
Even though we are not organized as a powerful force across the planet, that is in step with what Greens believe. All recognized Green Parties believe in the Four Pillars. These Four Pillars are the backbone of the US Green Party’s Ten Key Values, bringing us full circle to talking about values. Green Values. Read them over to see if they are not also your values.
Grassroots Democracy: The Green Party believes that every day people are wise enough to manage their own affairs. Neither government nor powerful companies should be allowed to shut the people out. We all have a right to be heard.
Non-Violence: The Green Party believes that violence is harmful to society and people. Whether being knocked over the head and robbed, sent to kill people you don’t know overseas, or beaten by your boyfriend, violence is harmful. We turn to non-violence as the only long term solution to many of humanity’s problems.
Social Justice: The Green Party believes people must be treated fairly and equally. In much of the world people are living in social conditions which are very unjust. At home we have got to stay focused on those who face injustice.
Ecological Wisdom: The Green Party believes that we must use wisdom to handle the environmental problems we have created. Polluters have known for decades that the fumes they pour from their smokestacks were killing people. They knew they were dumping everything from raw sewage to toxic acids into rivers and streams. We need to have the wisdom to find ways top fix the problems they created.
Community Based Economics: When a company has no ties to a place they can pull up roots and leave without so much as a thought. Tax breaks for huge corporations should be replaced with help for the small business, the cooperative and the community enterprise.
Feminism: Women are as bright as men. Women are as responsible as men. Women are as capable as men. Look at who runs our companies, non-profits and government offices. A lot more men than women, and society is poorer for it. We need more women’s input and leadership.
Sustainability: The Green Party believes that Earth is the only planet we are going to be living on in any numbers anytime soon, so we have to change how we do things. On a finite planet we cannot operate an ever expanding economy. We will run out of resources, from water to clean air. Either we learn to create for the long haul or we risk everything.
Respect for Diversity: The Green Party believes that respecting other people leads to more understanding. Respecting other cultures leads to fewer wars. Respecting the diversity of life leads to a cleaner environment and a safer future.
Personal and Global Responsibility: The Green Party believes you are responsible for what you do, and we are all responsible for what gets done in our name. We all have to teach our children right from wrong. We are also all responsible for speaking up when we see our country headed down the wrong path.
Decentralization: The Green Party believes concentrated wealth and power are damaging to society. We should limit concentrated power by focusing on ways to spread power and influence to a larger group of people. Decisions should be made at the lowest level possible.
So, if these are Green Values, the only question you have to ask is, do you want to declare these to be your values and Vote Green, or follow another party, even if it seems to have no bedrock values at all?
