New Mexico Independent calls for multi-party democracy
In a commentary at the New Mexico Independent, writer Arthur Alpert praises the Libertarian and Green Parties in that state for going to court to press their case for participation in elections.
Alpert writes
New Mexico Greens care about bread-and-butter issues like health care as well as the environment. Conversely, the traditional state Democratic Party harbors lots of careerists less excited by issues than finding jobs for friends and family.
Sadly, some also tolerate “honest graft.”
In a truly eye opening line, Alpert writes
The multiple scandals (including, perhaps, dishonest graft) swirling around New Mexico Democrats today could send a sufficient number of voters Green-ward next election to allow a fresh-faced, not-too-Republican candidate to win the governorship.
And in the saddest, and perhaps most accurate passage, Alpert writes
Our two-party system derives from an ideological debate between the nation’s founders. Today the parties fight mostly over money and power.
Alpert’s understanding of New Mexico and New Mexican politics makes this a read worth the time…and some of the comments give us an insight to the opinions others have of us and multi-party democracy itself.
Obviously it would call for such a thing, since it is the Independent.
Aha, but media sources aren’t always what they claim to be.
This position is made AFTER the array of attacks on the New Mexico Green Party by the state Democratic Party. This position is made AFTER the New Mexico Green Party has been marginalized in the state political process. It is all well and good to take this position, but the time to do it is when real change presents itself as a real option. The Democratic Party of New Mexico has played an active role in denying the Green Party major party status and has worked tirelessly in diminishing its effectiveness in the political processes of New Mexico.
It seems that the NM Democrats are going through a string of corruption scandals (to be real, these days it’s hard to find a state Democratic party that isn’t).
The Democrats are in the drivers’ seat and blowing it, as expected. It’s imperative that Greens get themselves out there more than ever, lest the dissatisfied public return the steering wheel to Rush Limbaugh and friends.