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Vol. 7, Issue 1 Green Star Spring 2009 a quarterly publication of the Green* Party of Pennsylvania Notes on the Economy PA Greens in New Orleans by Titus North by Guy Gray and Greta Browne n 1971 Richard Nixon famously Our economic system can well ver the Christmas/New Year’s break, ing us. We Iproclaimed “we are all Keynes- be described as “economic mili- Owe took a fairly low-carbon-footprint did two ians now.” A slowing economy tarism.” By this I mean not just vacation to New Orleans. We traveled houses. led Nixon (who believed that that our economy is oriented there by bus and train, but had to fl y back The hom- a recession contributed to his towards warmaking, but also because of time and money constraints. eowners razor-thin loss to Kennedy in that our economy depends on We had pre-registered with an outfi t welcomed 1960) to give up his traditional our military might. This allows named GreenLight (www.greenlightne- us and fi scal conservatism and engage us to dominate the international worleans.org) to do a day of volunteer seemed Guy Gray and Greta Browne in defi cit spending in order to system and impose an eco- work installing CFL’s (compact fl uores- very pleased to let us go through and in- boost the economy and improve nomic order that in turn fi nances cent lights) in homes. The goal of the stall the CFL’s. We went over some printed his re-election chances. our military. Not only do we use project, founded by a Swiss musician who material with them that showed how much our military to secure resources has lived in New Orleans for15 years, is they might be able to save on electric bills Ironically, by 1971 true Keynes- and markets, but we also use it to replace all the traditional light bulbs in with the new bulbs, as well as the amount ianism was already dead in the in effect to bully foreign govern- as many homes, schools and non-profi t of carbon savings that would result from United States. Defi cit spending ments to purchase U.S. treasur- organizations as possible. the replacements. during recessions is only half of ies, keep dollars as a reserve British economist John Maynard currency, and support U.S.- Our job involved loading up a couple of To complete the commitment to do our tiny Keynes’ prescription for fi scal dominated international fi nan- backpacks with equipment, jumping on share, we volunteered at a soup kitchen management. The other half is cial institutions. bikes provided by GreenLight, and pedal- one evening. But we also wanted to see running budget surpluses during ing off to a home where they were expect- the effects of Katrina on the people and times of economic expansion However, domination is not the (continued on page 2) - but the Vietnam War made same as dictatorial control, and large-scale defi cit spending the American domination has al- norm even during an economic ways required a considerable PA Ballot Access Update by Bob Small expansion, and marked the end amount of cooperation from oth- urrently VCA (Voter’s Jeffrey Piccola and Rob If you want to have a Lo- of Keynesianism. er countries. Furthermore, this CChoice Act), aka SB Wonderling. cal Libertarian, etc., join power has always been shared 252, is in the State (Sen- you in your meeting with In order to move forward, Except for the “Internet Bubble” with markets. Moreover, recent ate) Government Com- your State Senator, please we are trying to persuade years of 1999-2000, the federal history has shown that there are mittee, having been intro- contact me by e-mail or at the Chair, Charles T. McIl- government (not including So- limits to what can be done with duced by State Senator 610-543-8427. This way hinny, Jr. to agree to hold cial Security) has run budget military might, and the economic Mike Folmer (R) on Feb it will not be seen as a public hearings on this defi cits every single year since crisis demonstrates that Ameri- 17th, 2009. This bill, which “Green Party” issue. This bill. By the time you read Nixon’s statement, and typically ca’s economic dependence on would eliminate the signa- may be especially helpful this in the Green Star, we quite massive ones. We gener- other countries and on markets ture process for state-wide with Democrats. Hopefully, should at least have had ally ignored Keynes’ advice to is quite considerable. The coop- and national candidates we can move this bill to this Public Hearing sched- run surpluses, but now when eration required to maintain the and replace it with the Del- the State Senate fl oor and uled. We also need Green facing a depression we expect current U.S.-dominated system aware model, which uses then to the State House Party members to call and, Keynesian stimulus to save us. cannot be taken for granted. votes cast or registered and then to the Governor, if possible, meet with their It won’t work - but don’t blame voters (for exactly what this . State Senators, especially it on Keynes, regardless of what Therefore, in responding to the means, see SB 252 in the * these nine in the State you think of him. He never said economic crisis, what we need PA State Senate website, “borrow megabucks from China is not a further ballooning of Government Committee: Seasonal note: www.legis.state.pa.us - Spring is the season of during expansions and then just our already massive defi cit, but click on “Bill number” and Michael W. Brubaker print money during recessions.” rather a reorientation of our pri- ECOLOGY. During this enter SB252). This VCA Printing dollars to pay for stimu- orities. We must recognize that season, focus on/think bill, primarily crafted by Andrew E. Dinniman lus will eventually lead to run- economic militarism is unsus- the Pennsylvania Ballot about/discuss the Key away infl ation and completely tainable. We already depend John Pippy Values of Ecological Access Coalition, currently Joseph B. Scarnati III undermine international faith on funds borrowed from other has 8 Co-Sponsors: 2 Wisdom, Future Focus/ Christine M. Tartaglione in the dollar. Hyperinfl ation can countries to pay for our wars Democrats, Sustainability, and Global cause depressions as easily as and overseas bases, but soon and Jim Ferlo, and 5 Re- Leanna M. Washington Responsibility. defl ation. nobody will be willing to loan publicans, Lisa Baker, Pat- Donald C. White - Skip Mendler (continued on page 3) rick Browne, Jane Earll, Anthony H. Williams YORK: The Green Party of York County held their latest meeting on April 2nd at 631 S. Pine Street, in York city to plan their involvement at an Earth Local Day event on April 18th. The event is entitled “Go Green in the City.” The Organizing web link for this event is www.sweetmelissasdream.com/gogreen. html. Petitions, voter registrations and t-shirt sales will take place on that and Events day. Also, Steve Baker, the County Chair, will be running for Auditor in Springettsbury Township, York County. “The township needs a good fi scal watchdog to protect the taxpayer’s investment in good government,” says Baker. The York Green Party is currently seeking other candidates to run for offi ce in the area. www.yorkgreenparty.org

BERKS: Members attended the US-FA March 10th Sludge Conference in Bowers, PA (www.usludgefree. Green Party of org) featuring speakers Dr. Murray McBride (Cornell) and Georgia farmers Andy McElmurray and Bill Boyce. It was a rousing success, with a mix of farmers, elected offi cials and concerned citizens from all parts of PA. Pennsylvania BCGP meetings every 2nd Tuesday, 7pm, Hard Bean Cafe, West Reading. www.berksgreenparty.org Contact Information WAYNE: The Wayne County Green Party Committee (WCGPC) had its Annual Meeting and Spring Celebra- P.O. Box 11962 tion on Sunday, March 22 at Treasurer Beverly Beers’ house in Bethany. Former GPPA Treasurer and State Harrisburg, PA 17108-1962 House candidate Jay Sweeney visited from Wyoming County. Greens discussed changes to the WCGPC platform document, and watched a PowerPoint presentation called “In Search of Greener Politics” by Chair 888-PA1-GREEN Skip Mendler. We also enjoyed apples, organic cheese, and Irish soda bread. We are planning a series of www.gpofpa.org educational events for the rest of the year. http://waynecogreens.wordpress.com (continued on page 4) Steering Committee How can I communicate with other PA Greens? Hilary Kane, Chair he Green Party of Pennsylvania uses the follow- • [email protected] is an email list that Blyden Potts, Secretary Ting communication media: goes ONLY to the GPPA Steering Committee. Jay Sweeney • [email protected] is an • The Green Star is our (roughly) quarterly news- Greta Browne Greg Catalone email list that reaches delegates (and most offi cers) letter. It goes out in paper or electronic (pdf) format Robin White Jessica Ashman of local PA Green Parties. This is probably the best to several hundred recipients across the state. We way to reach Green activists and local green parties envision growing the circulation of this medium over Administrative Committee across the state. time so that it ultimately reaches thousands or tens Blyden Potts • [email protected] is an of thousands. This is the medium with the widest email list that is intended to be low-volume, one-way Ed Bortz circulation, but can only be delievered on the GS notifi cation (i.e. posting to this list is mainly limited schedule, and is edited by the GS staff, so any sub- to steering committee folks, and the Green Star edi- mission has to be accepted by them and meet their Communications Committee tor) of important alerts (e.g. meeting changes, Green standards. Randi Peters, Chair Star deadlines, etc) and is not intended for general • The Green Party of PA website www.gpofpa.org Hillary Kane news or columns. Generally we ask that people also provides a venue for posting news, fi les, cal- Paula Bronstein Guy Gray avoid posting to this list, unless what you have to an- endar items, etc. This offers the widest POTENTIAL Skip Mendler Michael Ochs nounce is a crucial organizational announcement. circulation, but relies on people to access it rather Mary Riley Charles Sherrouse • [email protected] is an email list that than being delivered to the audience. Moreover it Bob Small Chuck Steel reaches a broad audience of people (mostly in PA) is restricted in terms of the nature mainly to those who have expressed interest in PA Green issues. particular items (i.e. news, meeting announcements, This is a good way to reach a swath of Green audi- calendar items, etc.). Submitted news items are sub- In This Issue: ence on a fairly frequent basis. ject to editorial approval. * Notes on the Economy PA Greens in New Orleans (cont’d from page 1) PA Ballot Access update neighborhoods of the city. We went on a fabulous art our carbon footprints. Please read about this Walk at PA Greens in New Orleans tour, which took us to the Ninth Ward as well as to climatewalk.homestead.com, and forallthegrand- How to Communicate with museums and sites in various parts of the city. children.blogspot.com. Other Greens Our overall impression was that if you didn’t know The Walk began in Galveston, Texas, on March 8, Local events about Katrina you wouldn’t realize the extent of dev- and will proceed through New Orleans and then And more! astation the city experienced. However, when you north along Route 11 to Rouses Point, NY, on the looked through a more sensitive lens, you could Canadian border. Greta is looking for walking com- see the empty lots with just the foundation showing panions, and for a driver for a support vehicle. You Green Party US Ecoaction Committee: through, the water marks on homes, and other telltale can contact her at [email protected]. * Proposal 380 ADOPTED! signs. In the Garden District, where we stayed in a Update: Green Party leader Greta Browne was re- Proposal Protecting Water is a Priority for hostel, there was very little evidence of damage from the storm, and of course this is where the big beauti- cently featured in an article in the Tuscaloosa News as the Green Party at the National, State ful homes are built, high enough to avoid fl ooding. she passed through the area: www.tuscaloosanews. and Local Levels com/article/20090406/NEWS/904059951/1007/ The Eco-Action Committee’s mission We will return to New Orleans in March as part of NEWS02?Title=Environmental-efforts-come-one- is to help organize greens for local and step-at-a-time Greta’s 2000-mile “Walk for All the Grandchildren.” Greta has served as a member of the GPPA Steering national events, and to protect and promote The goal of this project is to call attention to the Committee, a delegate to the Green Party National ecological wisdom and sustainability. Climate Change Crisis and to disseminate informa- Committee, and numerous positions at the local level. www.gp.org tion about the problem, its causes, and actions that She also ran for offi ce several times as a Green, in- individuals and communities can take to help lower cluding for Congress in the 15th District. Vol 7 Iss 1 -2- Green Star Notes on the Economy (continued from page 1) Fundraising Appeal by Jay Sweeney, Outgoing Treasurer us real money only to be repaid with What better way to educate people know many of us are feeling the current assets are below $1,000.00. newly printed “Monopoly money.” about how much militarism has been I effects of the current recession. This will not cover our needs for even We might as well fold our cards and costing them? There are still plenty of Times are hard and will undoubt- the most modest of expenses includ- recognize that the militaristic game other corporate welfare programs that edly get harder. Who will stand up ing paying for meeting space, print- we have been playing was not worth could be eliminated to make room for and speak out for sound economic ing, postage, and web and phone winning anyway. more important spending priorities. polices? Who will speak out against services for the year. We need an There are many worthy programs expanding nuclear power and de- infusion of cash to meet these and Rather than engaging in defi cit included in the Obama stimulus pack- regulating the electric utilities? Who other expenses. spending for its own sake, we should age, but the whole thing is doomed will expose the dangers of drilling for Please consider a donation now to be spending money on what we really to failure if we go into hyperinfl ation. gas in the Marcellus Shale? Who will need - like health care, genuine re- I’m not saying we have to balance get us through the year. You may work to see that our democracy and also choose to sustain us with a newable energy, and education - and the budget this year, but let’s cut out civil rights are defended? The Green stop spending it on wars, overseas the massive militaristic waste that not monthly donation equivalent to one Party of Pennsylvania has and will hour’s wage per month. No donation bases, and endless weapons sys- only fails to provide us any benefi ts continue to address all of the above. tems. We get very little “bang” from but actually does us real harm. is too small and any money we re- * Just like the U.S. economy, the fi - ceive will be put to good use. these bucks, economically speaking. * Titus North teaches political science nances of the GPPA are dire. Our Years of militaristic propaganda have at the University of Pittsburgh and Worth More than the Paper to have Adobe Reader or similar given many Americans a deep psy- is a two-time Green Party candidate software (which is probably already chological attachment to all things for U.S. Congress. His latest novel, It’s Printed On on your computer, but may be down- military - but we could even link Operation Patriotic Toilet Seat, is by Blyden Potts loaded for free online from Adobe). the cut in military spending dollar- available through enlightened- f you are reading these words on a It comes as a fi le attachment on an for-dollar to cuts in the income tax. pyramid.com. Iprinted Green Star, you might want email about four times a year. If you to consider going paperless. would like to receive the Green Star in paperless format, simply send an The Green Star is available in a pa- email with your name and address, Dancing Trees perless format. We always print on indicating that you want to receive recycled paper, but going paperless the Green Star in paperless, PDF Web Design is even better for the environment! format to GPPA Secretary Blyden And paperless Green Stars cost us Potts at [email protected]. Discounts for almost nothing to produce, while printing and mailing the paper edi- If you are want to continue to receive Green groups & businesses tions costs GPPA money that could the printed version, could you help otherwise be spent on candidates, us cover the printing costs and post- www.DancingTreesWeb.com issue campaigns, or better ballot age by sending us a donation check access. The paperless version is a for a few dollars today? There is a PDF document, which requires you donation form below. Thank you! * Support the Donation Tips & GPPA Donation Form Green Party of Pennsylvania! Instructions • Make checks or money orders Name ______payable to the Green Party of Pennsylvania Address ______• Please include all contact information City ______State ______Zip ______• If your donation is over $200, state law requires us to also have your employer’s contact Phone ______Email ______information • Individuals may only donate Amt. Enclosed $______* see instructions box for donation requirements $2000 in a given year • Donations are not tax- Employer Info ______deductible • CD orders will have the cost of ‰ I would like _____ copies ($15/ea.) of the “Party with a Purpose” CD, whose cost the quantity, plus $3 for will be deducted from my donation, including shipping & handling (no tax) shipping & handling deducted from their donation • Mail form to: ‰ Please send me more information about the Green Party of Pennsylvania Green Party of Pennsylvania ‰ Please subscribe me to the Green Star for 1 year at ______($25 suggested P.O. Box 11962 donation) I prefer to receive Green Star in ‰ hardcopy ‰ electronic format Harrisburg, PA 17108-1962 Vol 7 Iss 1 -3- Green Star www.gpofpa.org Local Organizing and Events (cont’d from page 2) GPOP: Green Party of Philadelphia has attended city budget forums and has been working with the Coalition for Essential Services to demand that Mayor Nutter’s budget restore funding cuts to programs such as libraries and health centers and instead modestly raise taxes in a progressive way. www.gpop.org DELCO: Delaware County Green Party is having an event on public transporta- tion in Delaware County, May 17 at 1:30 at Peace Center of Delaware County.

Cumberland Co. Green Party meets 2nd Wednesday of each month, 6 or 7pm (varies) at the Good Life Café, 26 N. Hanover St, Carlisle. CCGP usually shows a brief fi lm or hosts a speaker on a Green topic. www.cumberlandgreens.org Allegheny County GP meets fi rst Thursday of every month at 7 pm at Citizen Power, 2121 Murray Ave., 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill) www.gpoac.org Lycoming County Green Party will be tabling at the Lewisburg Arts Festival in Union County, April 25. Other events may be posted to the www.gpofpa.org website calendar. News from the Steering Committee he minutes of the weekly GPPA Steering Committee conference calls are Tposted periodically to the www.gpofpa.org website where they can be down- loaded by any GPPA delegate. If you are a delegate and don’t have an account on that website, please contact Chuck Steel ([email protected]) for one. Here is a brief summary of what the GPPA Steering Committee has been working on the past several weeks: • Along with PABAC and other minor parties, we have been lobbying PA Sena- tors, particularly those in the State Government Committee, to support the Vot- ers’ Choice Act (VCA), SB 252 (see page 1; contact info is available at http:// www.pasen.gov). • The Steering Committee has been contacting a number of Greens around the state (mostly Green Star subscribers) to touch base. If you are a Green Star subscriber, chances are we’ll be calling you pretty soon. • Steering Committee members are also visiting county Green Party meetings. Please let us know when you are meeting so we can plan on having someone drop by. • We’ve been sending out press releases and following the developments on a number of Green issues, including the Marcellus Shale drilling, Jon Hanger’s DEP confi rmation hearings, the PA Supreme Court rehearing of the Romanelli Cards By Bo case, etc. * 100% post-consumer GPPA State Committee meetings for this year will be: o Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Breezewood, at the Ramada Inn recycled paper o Sunday, July 12, 2009 in Berks Co, Shoemakersville o Sunday, October 11, 2009 in Hazleton www.CardsByBo.com www.gpofpa.org

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