Why I Joined the Green Party by Scot Hansen
August 28, 2011 in Editorials
Scot Hansen of the DuPage County Illinois Green Party published an article at the local party’s website titled Why I joined the Green Party
In the article, Hansen explains
There is a way to get our democracy back from the big money donors that run our legislature. It’s called people-powered politics, and it starts on a local level. That movement is called the Green Party.
Why did you join the Green Party?
Matt Cleveland said on August 28, 2011
Probably the biggest factor was Ralph Nader. I supported his presidential run in 1996 and 2000. I always wondered why if so many people (Democrats) believed in the same things I did, why didn’t anything change. I realized that the Democrats were not addressing the things that were important to me, but the Green Party did. As a Green, I know that most of the time, I will not get the change I want. But I couldn’t keep contributing to the change that makes things worse. My new favorite quote is that just because the Republicans are wrong, doesn’t make the Democrats right.
Andy said on August 28, 2011
being green is left not ‘liberal’…it’s the cognizant balance between anarchist theory and … eco-praxis. at least it is for me. none of that libertarian fluff. it’s individualistically embedded in the collective connectedness. no island is self-sufficient. but each island is autonomous.
Charla Stone said on August 28, 2011
I feel like the Green Party is not ruled by greed. It is a party truly for and by the people. I’m tired of voting for the Democrats just because they aren’t Republicans, y’know?
Alex Walker said on August 29, 2011
I am an African-American in California. I joined the Green Party because I detest how both parties, yes, both Republicans and Democrats, demagogue about “race.” Republicans use Big Government authoritarianism supposedly to serve hard-working, taxpaying, Christian “Whites” in “middle-class” neighborhoods. Democrats use Big Government authoritarianism supposedly to serve that 70% of Californians labeled “minorities” including, allegedly lazy, welfare-dependent, savage “Blacks” like my family and me in the “ghetto.” Republicans talk about America’s “can-do” spirit. Democrats talk about “hope”. Truth is they both traffic in fear and despair over old wounds, and old battles over irrelevant old issues from 50 years ago. Now the Democrat “Amen corner” of race-obsessed African-American intellectuals say defending Obama is a test of “pride” in my “race.” Bull—-! I do not want my four grandchildren growing up on a sick planet run by these scoundrels.
Gregg Jocoy said on August 29, 2011
I suppose it’s bad form to answer my own question, but here goes.
I joined the Green Party because the Ten Key Values are my values. When I found out that Ralph Nader, one of my heroes from way back, had agreed to be the Green Party nominee in 2000 I knew that I would support him, but knew next to nothing about the Green Party.
Once I began to get involved and working with others in South Carolina I decided that the Ten Key Values and the party they represented were my best shot at helping create a better world. So, I suppose that makes me a “do-gooder”. Well, I can live with that. What’s so bad about doing good???
Deborah McLaren said on August 29, 2011
I joined the Green Party because of the 10 key values http://www.gp.org/tenkey.shtml ratified at the Green Party Convention in Denver, CO, June 2000. However, I joined before they were officially ratified (in the early 90s). People – often called the “grassroots” matter, social and ecological concerns and justice, democracy, non-violence, gender equality, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility, and future focus and sustainability are critical for me. Unfortunately, I became disillusioned with Ralph Nader in the mid2000s and felt like his ego outruled concern about elections (I have always supported him and consider him a consumer rights hero). Also our local Green Party candidate (Minnesota) became a perpetual candidate and focused more on campaigns than on anything else. I left the party and became a Democrat for Obama. I keep looking for good reasons to return to the Green Party though. No one seems to be strong enough these days.