Wednesday, October 25, 2006
MI Greens get covered
One of the difficulties we face as Greens is that the "mainstream" media pays little attention to us, unless we "spoil" one of "their" elections...by participating. What clap-trap. But there are times when the "alternative" media cover us...and make us look foolish, deluded, or worse.
It's not that we don't understand that we are jousting at windmills, we do. The point is that we must do battle because the media doesn't, or at least that's one reason.
The Metro Times has run an article wherein we Greens are called "Political fringe" and "on the margin"...and this is friendly press. Anyway, the article is a good one. There is nothing behind the "read more!" link this time.
It's not that we don't understand that we are jousting at windmills, we do. The point is that we must do battle because the media doesn't, or at least that's one reason.
The Metro Times has run an article wherein we Greens are called "Political fringe" and "on the margin"...and this is friendly press. Anyway, the article is a good one. There is nothing behind the "read more!" link this time.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
CA Greens on TV
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Immigration
In 1948, a plane carrying undocumented workers being deported to Mexico crashed, killing four Americans and twenty eight deportees. Woody Guthrie wrote a song about the incident, giving names to the people listed in the mainstream media of their time as "just deportees" while naming all the Americans involved in the crash. The song was actually a poem for years, until music was added to it by Martin Hoffman, and performed by Pete Seeger.
I'm not saying that Woody would be a Green if he were around today. Read the lyrics behind the "Read more!" link... Woody seemed to believe in the big government project as a solution to difficult problems, but didn't seem as aware of the negative side. For example, his songs praise the Grand Coulee Dam without a counterbalance concern for the environmental impact. But the truth is, there are still supporters of big projects, like the construction of over 200 new nuclear power plants in the US alone. There is something very attractive to the idea of lifting everyone out of poverty at the same time with huge programs or projects, but unless the pyramids created a large middle class, I can't think of anything of that nature that has created prosperity.
Greens, I think, believe that we must apply brakes in ways that no other party is willing to consider. Of course, time will tell if I am wrong, and God knows that I long to be proven wrong, but if some profound changes are not made with the full cooperation and empowerment of everyone to control our impact on the environment, we may be faced with some sort of Frankenstein future where most people on the planet are in some way sacrificed and as a result, life on the planet survives. I can even imagine a system so severely broken that it consists of one or more large population centers covered in some way with a protective layer of clean air while the rest of the planet is allowed to die for our survival. Some people have an innate trust of technology, and believe that we can "think our way" through any man made catastrophe.
I think I lost my train of thought...oh yeah.
Woody sez, don't think of others as "others", but as friends you just haven't met yet. The folks who sneak to get here would prefer to live with their own families in their own homes. How many people do you know who move except for economic opportunity? Do we get angry when a North Carolinian drives down here to work in York County? Maybe. I don't. We're all just people.
That does not mean that we should allow folks to come into the United States without the authorities knowing who is here, for what purpose, and for how long. They should be expected to deposit an insurance policy guaranteeing that the visitor complied with their visa. But we can't reasonably gather up everyone who is here and ship them all back without turning the US into a police state.
And we have got to remember that we have more in common with one another than the few who don't even know we exist. We can whine and complain and catterwall all we want, but unless we have the talents of a Woody Guthrie or the influence of the rich, we have to organize ourselves together to have any shot at saving a future for our great grandkids.
Plane Wreck At Los Gatos (Deportee)
The crops are all in and the peaches are rott'ning,
The oranges piled in their creosote dumps;
They're flying 'em back to the Mexican border
To pay all their money to wade back again
Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye, Rosalita,
Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria;
You won't have your names when you ride the big airplane,
All they will call you will be "deportees"
My father's own father, he waded that river,
They took all the money he made in his life;
My brothers and sisters come working the fruit trees,
And they rode the truck till they took down and died.
Some of us are illegal, and some are not wanted,
Our work contract's out and we have to move on;
Six hundred miles to that Mexican border,
They chase us like outlaws, like rustlers, like thieves.
We died in your hills, we died in your deserts,
We died in your valleys and died on your plains.
We died 'neath your trees and we died in your bushes,
Both sides of the river, we died just the same.
The sky plane caught fire over Los Gatos Canyon,
A fireball of lightning, and shook all our hills,
Who are all these friends, all scattered like dry leaves?
The radio says, "They are just deportees"
Is this the best way we can grow our big orchards?
Is this the best way we can grow our good fruit?
To fall like dry leaves to rot on my topsoil
And be called by no name except "deportees"?
Words by Woody Guthrie and Music by Martin Hoffman
© 1961 (renewed) by TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc.
Copyright 2000-2006, The Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives
I'm not saying that Woody would be a Green if he were around today. Read the lyrics behind the "Read more!" link... Woody seemed to believe in the big government project as a solution to difficult problems, but didn't seem as aware of the negative side. For example, his songs praise the Grand Coulee Dam without a counterbalance concern for the environmental impact. But the truth is, there are still supporters of big projects, like the construction of over 200 new nuclear power plants in the US alone. There is something very attractive to the idea of lifting everyone out of poverty at the same time with huge programs or projects, but unless the pyramids created a large middle class, I can't think of anything of that nature that has created prosperity.
Greens, I think, believe that we must apply brakes in ways that no other party is willing to consider. Of course, time will tell if I am wrong, and God knows that I long to be proven wrong, but if some profound changes are not made with the full cooperation and empowerment of everyone to control our impact on the environment, we may be faced with some sort of Frankenstein future where most people on the planet are in some way sacrificed and as a result, life on the planet survives. I can even imagine a system so severely broken that it consists of one or more large population centers covered in some way with a protective layer of clean air while the rest of the planet is allowed to die for our survival. Some people have an innate trust of technology, and believe that we can "think our way" through any man made catastrophe.
I think I lost my train of thought...oh yeah.
Woody sez, don't think of others as "others", but as friends you just haven't met yet. The folks who sneak to get here would prefer to live with their own families in their own homes. How many people do you know who move except for economic opportunity? Do we get angry when a North Carolinian drives down here to work in York County? Maybe. I don't. We're all just people.
That does not mean that we should allow folks to come into the United States without the authorities knowing who is here, for what purpose, and for how long. They should be expected to deposit an insurance policy guaranteeing that the visitor complied with their visa. But we can't reasonably gather up everyone who is here and ship them all back without turning the US into a police state.
And we have got to remember that we have more in common with one another than the few who don't even know we exist. We can whine and complain and catterwall all we want, but unless we have the talents of a Woody Guthrie or the influence of the rich, we have to organize ourselves together to have any shot at saving a future for our great grandkids.
Plane Wreck At Los Gatos (Deportee)
The crops are all in and the peaches are rott'ning,
The oranges piled in their creosote dumps;
They're flying 'em back to the Mexican border
To pay all their money to wade back again
Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye, Rosalita,
Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria;
You won't have your names when you ride the big airplane,
All they will call you will be "deportees"
My father's own father, he waded that river,
They took all the money he made in his life;
My brothers and sisters come working the fruit trees,
And they rode the truck till they took down and died.
Some of us are illegal, and some are not wanted,
Our work contract's out and we have to move on;
Six hundred miles to that Mexican border,
They chase us like outlaws, like rustlers, like thieves.
We died in your hills, we died in your deserts,
We died in your valleys and died on your plains.
We died 'neath your trees and we died in your bushes,
Both sides of the river, we died just the same.
The sky plane caught fire over Los Gatos Canyon,
A fireball of lightning, and shook all our hills,
Who are all these friends, all scattered like dry leaves?
The radio says, "They are just deportees"
Is this the best way we can grow our big orchards?
Is this the best way we can grow our good fruit?
To fall like dry leaves to rot on my topsoil
And be called by no name except "deportees"?
Words by Woody Guthrie and Music by Martin Hoffman
© 1961 (renewed) by TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc.
Copyright 2000-2006, The Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Impeachment Rally on Video.
Courtesy of Tax Slave! Check it out.
I'm about 4 minutes and 40 seconds into clip number 2 delivering my comments in Spanish, and from the beginning of clip number 3 in English. I am followed by Arnold Karr, SC Green Party nominee for Superintendent of Education on video clip number 3 at about 3:30 minutes into the clip.
To be honest with you folks, except for a desire to hear what it sounds like through a cell phone, there is no reason to listen to my blog posts. Watch the video clips at YouTube by visiting Tax Slave's clips.
Dirty South Revolutionaries leads off clip number 4. They are a punk band from Charlotte, NC.
I don't have time to critique all these clips. Just enjoy at will and comment here. Commenting is disabled by Tax Slave over at YouTube.
I'm about 4 minutes and 40 seconds into clip number 2 delivering my comments in Spanish, and from the beginning of clip number 3 in English. I am followed by Arnold Karr, SC Green Party nominee for Superintendent of Education on video clip number 3 at about 3:30 minutes into the clip.
To be honest with you folks, except for a desire to hear what it sounds like through a cell phone, there is no reason to listen to my blog posts. Watch the video clips at YouTube by visiting Tax Slave's clips.
Dirty South Revolutionaries leads off clip number 4. They are a punk band from Charlotte, NC.
I don't have time to critique all these clips. Just enjoy at will and comment here. Commenting is disabled by Tax Slave over at YouTube.
Green for Gov of Nevada interviewed
Video Clip from Impeachment Rally
Nothing behind the "Read more!" link on this one.
You Tube is host to a 45 second long video clip of Michael Sharpe singing "Eve of Destruction", afterwhich the camera pans the field to show many of the several hundred folks who were there at the time. I'd estimate that there were about five hundred to eight hundred people there during the course of the day and as many as three to five hundred at the peak, about 1:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon.
If you want to check it out, click here to watch the clip at you tube.
You Tube is host to a 45 second long video clip of Michael Sharpe singing "Eve of Destruction", afterwhich the camera pans the field to show many of the several hundred folks who were there at the time. I'd estimate that there were about five hundred to eight hundred people there during the course of the day and as many as three to five hundred at the peak, about 1:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon.
If you want to check it out, click here to watch the clip at you tube.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Green Institute creates database
Dean Meyerson of the Green Institute wrote to the Green National Committee that they have developed a data base which will allow Green candidates and chapters to research existing and proposed Green policies for adaptation to local circumstances.
In other words, if your town, city or berg faces a problem, maybe there is already a "Green Solution" already out there. More behind the "Read more!" link...
Introducing
GREENPRO
Green Policy, Resolutions, and Ordinances
A database of best practices and proposed policy
During the summer of 2006, the Green Institute contracted to develop a user-friendly database of the highest caliber with the most contemporary "wiki" technology to catalog Green policies, including policy that has already been enacted and that which is still be proposed. We believe that some of the best innovation occurs at the local level, and our database will be devoted to policy at the local level. We will scour the country looking for examples of policy for the next seven generations. Where we can't find it, we will hire experts to write it.
The software development contract includes plans for an advanced "spider robot," sometimes just referred to as a "bot" which will crawl around the world wide web to find good policy content for the database.
Included in the database will be an occasional policy focus - a particular piece of innovative policy that will be accompanied by expert commentary - why it's good, what it's missing.
The first phase of the software development has been completed, and we will shortly (planned for Oct 11) be introducing readers to the actual database. You will be able to enter a search string and get a listing of initial policy entries, including instant runoff voting and proportional representation, local sustainability policies,
anti-corporate personhood/local control policies, and much more. Users will not be able to add their entries at this time.
Below there are a couple of examples of the kinds of local policies that will be included in the database.
Please share this announcement. And if you know of any local policies that should be included in the database, please contact is at dean@greeninstitute.net
In other words, if your town, city or berg faces a problem, maybe there is already a "Green Solution" already out there. More behind the "Read more!" link...
Introducing
GREENPRO
Green Policy, Resolutions, and Ordinances
A database of best practices and proposed policy
During the summer of 2006, the Green Institute contracted to develop a user-friendly database of the highest caliber with the most contemporary "wiki" technology to catalog Green policies, including policy that has already been enacted and that which is still be proposed. We believe that some of the best innovation occurs at the local level, and our database will be devoted to policy at the local level. We will scour the country looking for examples of policy for the next seven generations. Where we can't find it, we will hire experts to write it.
The software development contract includes plans for an advanced "spider robot," sometimes just referred to as a "bot" which will crawl around the world wide web to find good policy content for the database.
Included in the database will be an occasional policy focus - a particular piece of innovative policy that will be accompanied by expert commentary - why it's good, what it's missing.
The first phase of the software development has been completed, and we will shortly (planned for Oct 11) be introducing readers to the actual database. You will be able to enter a search string and get a listing of initial policy entries, including instant runoff voting and proportional representation, local sustainability policies,
anti-corporate personhood/local control policies, and much more. Users will not be able to add their entries at this time.
Below there are a couple of examples of the kinds of local policies that will be included in the database.
Please share this announcement. And if you know of any local policies that should be included in the database, please contact is at dean@greeninstitute.net
Spratt v Norman: A Green Party Perspective
The York County (SC) Greens is allowed a column each month in YC Magazine, a locally produced and distributed news magazine for York County South Carolina. This month's column is the first by Liz Anderson-Smith. It addresses the South Carolina Fifth Congressional District's race between incumbent Democrat John Spratt and challenger, Republican State Representative Ralph Norman I like Liz's writing style, and she's already written next month's column, so we're off to a great start. To read her analysis of the race from a Green perspective, hit the "Read more!" link below.
Spratt Vs. Norman: A Green Party Perspective by Liz Smith-Anderson
This November we face a choice between incumbent Congressman John Spratt and a relative newcomer to elective office, State Representative Ralph Norman.
I compared the candidates using information from Project Vote Smart, and the candidate's web sites. In the Business and Consumers area Congressman Spratt got a 52% rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2005. Public Citizens Congress Watch gave him 100%. Norman got a 67% rating from the Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Norman supported the interests of the South Carolina Education Association 17% of the time and was a supporter Governor Sanford's voucher system. Spratt received a 100% from the National Education Association and the National PTA .
Spratt has a long record of environmental advocacy. He received high rankings from the American Wilderness Coalition, The National Parks Conservation Association (100%), Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, the League of Conservation Voters (89%). Norman received a 40% ranking from the South Carolina Sierra Club in 2005/6.
On his web site Norman has blurbs on Agriculture, The Second Amendment, Education, Energy, Family Values, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Immigration, Iraq, Job Growth, and Veterans. Spratt has posted positions on National Defense, Social Security, The Budget, Education, Health Care, and Taxes.
Spratt's statement on National Defense says "the United States needs to be strong at home, respected abroad, and second to none as a military power." Norman states "that the best way to secure our homeland is by winning the global War on Terror." He goes on to express his view that a "ruthless enemy" is threatening our American way of life. He also advocates an "aggressive" approach like the war on Iraq, pledging his allegiance to President Bush.
Norman's stance on Education is "What is best for our students?" He talks about the dismal state of education in South Carolina, and says that he will work hard to make America's education system a source of national pride once again. Norman's children attended private school.
On Spratt's web site he states that "Education is the most precious gift we can give our children." He goes on to say that Congress should fulfill the funding commitment made when "No Child Left Behind" was passed. Spratt sent his children to public school.
Healthcare was another area where both candidates expressed an opinion. According to Norman's web site, he believes that the private sector is the best provider of healthcare for us.
Spratt's view on healthcare is aimed more towards the average citizen. He states that there is a need "to move step by step until every American gains access to affordable medical care." He is also in favor of tax incentives to help small businesses afford insurance for their employees.
Spratt confined himself to topics of true national interest. Norman added the "Hot Button" issues used to generate heat, not light. Norman wants to change our constitution to make same sex marriage illegal. He opposes a woman's right to an abortion, apparently without any exceptions. Norman is against reasonable gun control, in favor of destroying the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, building new refineries and drilling off the American coastline in hopes of another few years of crude oil supply.
Both candidates were sent a pledge from Common Cause. The pledge, in part, reads: "I pledge: "To reject all gifts...To travel officially only for substantive reasons...to recognize that it is a conflict of interest for me to rely on lobbyists to keep me in office...To separate my support for certain charities from my work as a legislator...To postpone all negotiations with prospective employers until after I leave Congress...To require my staff to abide by the conditions...Public service is a public trust, and I do not believe elected officials ought to get any special treatment from those who might benefit for the work I do as a lawmaker." (To read the entire pledge go to www.yorkgreens.com.)
I mailed both candidates a copy to sign, with instructions on who to mail it to. I never heard back from either candidate.
Spratt Vs. Norman: A Green Party Perspective by Liz Smith-Anderson
This November we face a choice between incumbent Congressman John Spratt and a relative newcomer to elective office, State Representative Ralph Norman.
I compared the candidates using information from Project Vote Smart, and the candidate's web sites. In the Business and Consumers area Congressman Spratt got a 52% rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2005. Public Citizens Congress Watch gave him 100%. Norman got a 67% rating from the Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Norman supported the interests of the South Carolina Education Association 17% of the time and was a supporter Governor Sanford's voucher system. Spratt received a 100% from the National Education Association and the National PTA .
Spratt has a long record of environmental advocacy. He received high rankings from the American Wilderness Coalition, The National Parks Conservation Association (100%), Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, the League of Conservation Voters (89%). Norman received a 40% ranking from the South Carolina Sierra Club in 2005/6.
On his web site Norman has blurbs on Agriculture, The Second Amendment, Education, Energy, Family Values, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Immigration, Iraq, Job Growth, and Veterans. Spratt has posted positions on National Defense, Social Security, The Budget, Education, Health Care, and Taxes.
Spratt's statement on National Defense says "the United States needs to be strong at home, respected abroad, and second to none as a military power." Norman states "that the best way to secure our homeland is by winning the global War on Terror." He goes on to express his view that a "ruthless enemy" is threatening our American way of life. He also advocates an "aggressive" approach like the war on Iraq, pledging his allegiance to President Bush.
Norman's stance on Education is "What is best for our students?" He talks about the dismal state of education in South Carolina, and says that he will work hard to make America's education system a source of national pride once again. Norman's children attended private school.
On Spratt's web site he states that "Education is the most precious gift we can give our children." He goes on to say that Congress should fulfill the funding commitment made when "No Child Left Behind" was passed. Spratt sent his children to public school.
Healthcare was another area where both candidates expressed an opinion. According to Norman's web site, he believes that the private sector is the best provider of healthcare for us.
Spratt's view on healthcare is aimed more towards the average citizen. He states that there is a need "to move step by step until every American gains access to affordable medical care." He is also in favor of tax incentives to help small businesses afford insurance for their employees.
Spratt confined himself to topics of true national interest. Norman added the "Hot Button" issues used to generate heat, not light. Norman wants to change our constitution to make same sex marriage illegal. He opposes a woman's right to an abortion, apparently without any exceptions. Norman is against reasonable gun control, in favor of destroying the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, building new refineries and drilling off the American coastline in hopes of another few years of crude oil supply.
Both candidates were sent a pledge from Common Cause. The pledge, in part, reads: "I pledge: "To reject all gifts...To travel officially only for substantive reasons...to recognize that it is a conflict of interest for me to rely on lobbyists to keep me in office...To separate my support for certain charities from my work as a legislator...To postpone all negotiations with prospective employers until after I leave Congress...To require my staff to abide by the conditions...Public service is a public trust, and I do not believe elected officials ought to get any special treatment from those who might benefit for the work I do as a lawmaker." (To read the entire pledge go to www.yorkgreens.com.)
I mailed both candidates a copy to sign, with instructions on who to mail it to. I never heard back from either candidate.
Monday, October 02, 2006
What's here now
There is nothing behind the "Read more!" link on this post.
The posts below were recorded using my cell phone and Audio Blogger. The results are less that perfect, but may be worth a listen. I specifically encourage you to listen to Ann Wright if you want to get mad, for she speaks from decades of service in the government, going all the way back to Johnson, and to Summer Lipford if you are willing to listen to some really hard stuff. The hardest, where she told of how the political structure of Statesville ignored her son's sacrafice, is not here. As with all the failures here, that's my fault.
This does not mean that I don't think any of the rest are worth a listen. I removed the posts that were stupid or unlistenable, except the one marked "Punk music doesn't work at all". I assume the limits of the cell phone is the problem. Sadly, if anyone came hoping to hear something by the SouthSide Punks or Dirty South Revolutionaries, the music didn't come through worth a hoot. I did save and post that one as an example.
I hope some of you with high speed access will find these recordings worthwhile.
Gregg
The posts below were recorded using my cell phone and Audio Blogger. The results are less that perfect, but may be worth a listen. I specifically encourage you to listen to Ann Wright if you want to get mad, for she speaks from decades of service in the government, going all the way back to Johnson, and to Summer Lipford if you are willing to listen to some really hard stuff. The hardest, where she told of how the political structure of Statesville ignored her son's sacrafice, is not here. As with all the failures here, that's my fault.
This does not mean that I don't think any of the rest are worth a listen. I removed the posts that were stupid or unlistenable, except the one marked "Punk music doesn't work at all". I assume the limits of the cell phone is the problem. Sadly, if anyone came hoping to hear something by the SouthSide Punks or Dirty South Revolutionaries, the music didn't come through worth a hoot. I did save and post that one as an example.
I hope some of you with high speed access will find these recordings worthwhile.
Gregg
