Green Party National Committee Begins Voting on Platform Updates
Following the failed update of the Green Party (US) Platform in 2008, the Green Party National Committee adopted new rules allowing for mid-term updates to the National Party Platform by the National Committee beginning in 2010. The first batch of 14 Amendments to the platform (of a total of around 80) have been voted on, with 8 approved and 6 rejected. The first batch of Amendments were related to Chapter 1, “Democracy”, which will now be renamed “Grassroots Democracy” (Prop 463).
High Voter Turnout
Voting on the first week of platform amendments has been extremely high. On the first 14 amendments between 130-142 delegates from 44 affiliated state parties and caucuses voted on platform amendments. Never in (at least) the last 20 months have 44 affiliated state parties and caucuses submitted votes on a single proposal, and only 3 times since 2008 have over 130 delegates voted on a single proposal. (The three proposals eliciting this level of turn out dealt with the Fiscal Policy, approving the budget, and a Death Penalty resolution aimed at the Green Party of Mexico…)
Adopted
Platform Amendments according to the rules require a 2/3 approval to pass.
Platform Amendments that passed this first week included:
Renaming Chapter 1 “Grassroots Democracy” (Prop 463)
Updating the section “Free Speech and Media Reform: For a Better Democracy” (Prop 467)
Updating the section “Education: a Good Education for All Students” (Prop 468)
Updating the section “Foreign Policy: A Real Road to Peace in the Middle East” (Prop 471)
Updating the section “Foreign Policy: Human Rights” (Prop 472)
Updating the section: “Foreign Policy: Trade (Prop 474)
Updating the section: “Foreign Policy: Womens’ Rights” (Prop 476)
Adding the section: “Demilitarization of Space” (Prop 477)
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Of these amendments, probably the most contentious in terms of online debate among delegates both before and after the voting was Prop 471, which dealt specifically with Israel and Palestine. Prop 471 sought to put into the platform the language of a 2005 Resolution calling for “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” (BDS) against Israel, ending the occupation of Palestine, and essentially calling for a “single state solution” to the Israeli-Palestine conflict under a democratic and secular state.
The lobbying among National Committee Delegates both for and against adopting this platform amendment was intense, with terms like “Zionism” and “Islamophobia” tossed around like a salad. The amendment eventually passed 95-36, with 11 abstentions, a strong majority for passage.
The next batch of Amendments are currently being voted on, most from the chapter on Social Justice.
Thanks for this update on the Green Party National platform..
It is noble and worthy work.
As has been oft noted, candidates on the ballot personify, and define a political party.
Those candidates – the best candidates – who draw support, attention, and keep working define the Green Party.
Green Party Candidate news:
Chicago Tribune on Green Party’s Rich Whitney
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/08/quinn-defends-sales-tax-holiday.html
The Economist of Green Party Presidential candidate Marina Silva
http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2010/08/brazils_presidential_debate
GREEN PARTY Senator Dan Boyle has claimed that Senator Ivor Callely did not declare all properties referred to at Seanad hearings to the Oireachtas register of members’ interests.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0806/1224276309784.html
Green party wants Australian visas for climate refugees
http://www.globalvisas.com/news/green_party_wants_australian_visas_for_climate_refugees2530.html
Ex-NHLer good for Green Party, local member says
http://hqyellowknife.com/news/6804/Ex-NHLer%20good%20for%20Green%20Party,%20local%20member%20says/
A new poll indicates that, for the first time in eight years, the Green Party could win a general election if one were held this month in Germany.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100806-707534.html
Greens call for a new kind of national defense: defense against catastrophic climate change
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=336
I Love Green Party Watch,
keep me update for all news from my
Candidate.
thanks,
Sarah.
Excellent Green Party editorial this Sunday.
“System hides Green Party Success”…
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/845343–system-hides-greens-success
Index Journal’s Justin Schoenberger writes about Green Party candidate for Governor in South Carolina. Green Party Governor canddiate Morgan Reeves says he’s ready to lead S.C.
http://www.indexjournal.com/articles/2010/08/06/news/b080710%20reeves.txt
Tennessee Green Party –
Nashville Scene reports on Green Party platform Green Party Governor candidate Howard Switzer
http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2010/08/05/gubernatorial-debate-special-basil-marceaux-isnt-the-nuttiest-candidate-june-griffin-takes-the-honor
Candy Neville is the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Oregon
Here’s today’s article from Green Party’s Candy Neville at Oregon.com
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/08/third_parties_get_third-class.html
That’s the Pacific Green Party in Oregon.
Here is the Candy’s U.S. Senate campaign web site.
I laughed reading “Reign of Error” is over…
worth a look
http://www.candyneville.com/
Adam Turl writes at Counterpunch about Green Party success, and coming election putting more Green Party people in office… Turl quotes Green Party’s Gov candidate Rich Whitney
But the politicians have their facts wrong. Take the Illinois state pension system. “By and large, our public-sector pensions are at the bottom 40 percent nationally,” Whitney argued. “The General Assembly for 15 or 20 years has deliberately underfunded the pension system, and then they turned around in recent years and say we have the biggest unfunded pension liability in the United States because workers are getting too much. That’s not it at all. It’s the politicians’ own irresponsibility that’s the cause of the problem.”
“The fundamental problem in American politics today is that it is so thoroughly dominated by corporate money and bank money,” Whitney says. “The Center for Responsive Politics did a study a few years ago which found about 80 percent of all campaign contributions come from about 1 percent of the population. It’s no mystery who that 1 percent is. It’s the owners of the big corporations and banks, and it’s foolish to assume that [politicians] don’t owe them some favors.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/turl08042010.html
The Green Party’s Howie Hawkins hits the nail on the head…
Howie Hawkins, the Green Party nominee for governor, had this to say about the budget: “State lawmakers passed a four-month-late state budget that cut essential services for many New Yorkers while raising taxes on low and middle income New Yorkers. There was a bi-partisan effort to protect Wall Street and wealthy New Yorkers, continuing the tradition of balancing the state budget on the backs of New York’s most vulnerable residents. In the midst of the greatest economic collapse since the Great Depression, lawmakers slashed funding for job programs for low-income New Yorkers, gutted the Environmental Protection Fund and failed to pass modest improvements to the state’s unemployment insurance program. As Governor, my first priority will be to enact a Green New Deal that guarantees a living wage job to all New Yorkers.”
http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2010/08/04/common-complaints-gop-and-greens-slam-late-budget/
“First they ignore you. Then they attack you. Then you win.”
The Green Party is at the second step in Arkansas. The attacks are flying at the Green Party candidates. Especially Green Party Treasurer candidate Tullis..
http://bluearkansasblog.com/?p=3598
TV News covers Green Party candidates for U.S. Senate..
ABC station, Channel 34 reports on Green Party candidates
First Congregational Church, corner of Main and Front
Green Party NY candidates for U.S. Senate, Colia Clark and Cecile Lawrence, will be attended the annual Hiroshima/Nagasaki memorial event in Binghamton, NY on Friday, August 6, 2010 at 7:00 a.m. The event is sponsored by Broome Peace Action.
http://www.newschannel34.com/content/developingnews/story/Greens-US-Senate-Join-Aug-6-Hiroshima-Memorial/F6Rj5i8Po02Hl6CGmuP8Tw.cspx
Sun Gazette covers Arlington County Green Party (Virginia) support of “Change of Government” petition.
http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2010/08/05/arlington/news/nw95s1.txt
Looks like Green Party’s Tullis is about to be elected..
The Arkansas News editorialist John Brummett attacks the Green Party (gently) and Tullis mercilessly…
Having been the object of such smashmouth politics myself, I understand it comes with the territory.
Experience also tells me the Green Party’s Tullis, a former state legislator, may be on the verge of ground breaking election to statewide office.
http://arkansasnews.com/2010/08/05/candidates-worthy-of-the-office/