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S t a t e s 2 Features GREEN PAGES • Summer 2017 Caught in the hurricane Texas and Florida Greens tell their stories

Compiled by Deanna Dee Taylor, Green Party of Utah

This segment of a series focuses on stories asleep because you don’t want to wake up of Green Party members who lived through trapped in a residence filled with water. On two of the most catastrophic Atlantic hur - the very last day Hurricane Harvey was to ricanes since 2005, Hurricane Harvey in impact our area, it looked as if the Bayou Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida. was going to breach its banks near the area close to me. That has never happened be - Hurricane Harvey in Texas fore. People have lost everything here. They Joy Davis , a Green from Houston, re - have lost their jobs, cars, homes, family calls the buildup to the hurricane. “Housto - members, and their lives. Our death toll nians began to prepare for Hurricane Har - keeps rising. People have been reported vey. Our Governor, Greg Abbott, told people missing, they are still finding bodies that to evacuate. Our Mayor, Sylvester Turner, were swept away, and trapped in homes. told people not to evacuate and to shelter Evacuees rescued in Dickinson and the sur - in place. We went out and purchased sup - rounding area were flown to Dallas. There plies to carry us over through the storm. The were over 9,000 Hurricane Harvey evac - shelves had already begun to look bare. We uees in the George R. Brown Convention were able to purchase our essentials. Water Center alone. NRG Stadium was also turned went from $3 –5 per case to $17 –42 per case. into a shelter.” Luckily, I had stocked up on water days be - fore. Gasoline prices went up as well. In the People have lost event you did not stock up before the storm, you were pretty much unable to get anything everything here. They unless your neighbor had what you needed. have lost their jobs, cars, In some cities, residents were told to write their names and social security numbers on homes, family members, Texas National Guard Soldiers respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. (Photo by Staff themselves in case they needed to be iden - and their lives. Our death Sgt. Tim Pruitt) tified after the storm.” toll keeps rising. the ground helping communities with dis - port each other. “I met more neighbors. We aster clean up in Columbus, Texas and the were six days without electricity and keeping The worst was not over, according to surrounding area. She stated how some res - mom cool became so much better since a Davis, after the hurricane passed. In the idents thought that she was with FEMA com - neighbor with electricity and a cord let us cities of Houston and Katy, for example, one ing to help them.” plug in an a/c. Another neighbor with a gen - of the reservoirs began overflowing into the A week after Harvey, Houston remained erator let us plug in our fridge and a fan. I neighborhoods. “The decision was then in survival mode. “The roads were opera - hate to think where we’d have been without made to release the waters from the reser - tional but some areas were still underwater,” them. We may have been without electricity, voirs, intentionally flooding the homes that said Davis. “People were gutting their homes but we were far from powerless.” were nearby, to prevent the dams from fail - and needing cleaning supplies. They were ing. So, if you survived without any damage throwing everything out on the streets, but during the hurricane, your home was now it was just sitting there. The debris had not going to be intentionally flooded within cer - been picked up and it was foul smelling and tain areas.” becoming toxic. They were going to send What positive things arose from this de - the evacuees that were currently at the struction? Davis describes how the com - George R. Brown Convention Center to munity rallied to help. “I witnessed every day Northwest Mall but changed their minds people step up and help their communities. even though portable toilets had been set People have been traumatized but are work - up there. The Red Cross came under a lot Joy Davis worked with other Greens to get ing through that to help their community the of criticism here for staying in five star hotels needed supplies to neighborhoods not get - best way they can. The Cajun Navy from costing close to $200 a night. They claimed ting proper or timely government assistance. Lou isiana saved so many lives. Companies a portion of their website that had an area sent massive trucks in to rescue people and that distributed financial assistance to Har - During the storm, however, evacuations transport them to shelters. Mosques opened vey evacuees had crashed. However, the do - became mandatory. “The flooding was cat - their doors to evacuees, Gallery Furniture nation portion of the site was still up and astrophic. Highways were submerged up to turned its store into a shelter. Hilton Furni - running. People that were in the shelter the highway signs on the overpasses and our ture was transporting people in their com - came out with how the Red Cross handled roadways looked like rivers. It was not ‘all pany trucks to shelters. Harris County Greens donations that were received and a King - Joni Leviness, who stayed to take care of her hands on deck.’ People were calling 911 to like myself and my son Victor Mendoza of wood Representative that is on our City mother through Hurricane Irma in Florida, be rescued. Their calls went unanswered or the GPUS Youth Caucus began to organize Council went viral telling people not to do - links the global environmental crisis to capi - they experienced long wait times.” Davis de - clothing drives. They went from residence nate to the Red Cross. School started back talism. scribed how Houstonians turned to social to residence picking up clothes from those while some of the children and teachers had media to use apps like Zello, sending out willing to donate to the hurricane evacuees. lost everything.” Leviness reflected on how to move for - emergency requests for rescues because They knew something else had to be done When asked about what the future may ward from this experience and what it water was coming into their homes, forcing because access to Houston was extremely hold for Houston, as rebuilding efforts com - means to be Green, “I was trying to think how them to climb onto the roof to survive. limited and people needed help. Those af - mence, Davis said, “Houston will recover, re - I could pay it forward so I set up a sign where “The Mayor put out a call to anyone who fected by the hurricane lost everything so build, and become even more resilient than I’ve been free cycling for the past two plus had a boat to come to Houston and assist they were not able to make it to donation before. I believe there were lessons learned years. . . . Hurricane Irma cleared away more in rescues. There were boat and helicopter pick-up sites. Some places required you to that will help our city be better prepared for of the debris from the diseased and decay - rescues happening 24 hours a day/every have identification to get assistance.” when these events happen again in the fu - ing systems that need to go. The old systems day. Some portions of the highway were Davis and her son began a campaign in ture.” As of November many still had no gov - that are resource extractive and predatory, turned into drop-off points for those being which Greens all over the country donated ernment assistance. are shown for what they are. Each crisis high - rescued by helicopter. . . . Our Mayor has to help get supplies directly to the hurricane lights the gaping holes which are leaving peo - faced harsh criticism for telling people to evacuees or areas that had not received any Hurricane Irma in Florida ple to die, like the extremely vulnerable in shelter in place, however he stands by his assistance from governmental agencies. Joni Leviness , a Green from Oklahoma nursing homes, and in their own homes with decision.” “The people helping those affected by who has been caring for her mother in Hol - day to day healthcare needs, housing needs, “Most of the photos you have seen re - the Hurricane and providing direct outreach lywood, Florida since March 2015, weath - clean food, water, air and connectivity needs garding the flooding in the Houston, Texas to these neglected communities are indi - ered Hurricane Irma by staying in place, which increasingly is apparent that it cannot area is my neighborhood. I resided in this viduals with a passion to help others and since her mother refused to evacuate. happen within this capitalist system. As a same area when Tropical Storm Allison hit grassroots organizations. Robin Denise Har - “Listening to the local public radio WLRN Green I’ve known this for a long time, that which brought about 28 to 30 inches of wa - ris is a Green I had direct contact with as on a transistor radio made me realize just these systems can and will be replaced with ter and we survived. . . . I was fearful of falling well. She was in Texas that was actively on how deep the need for connection is espe - alternatives as more people recognize that cially in times of turmoil. . . . What I heard energy must be resourced into these sys - mostly was all the systems that were so tems, rather than expending energy into op - Want to distribute Green Pages locally for touted as being prepared were not, and the posing the capitalist system, which just Woodlake Dam depth waters were ready to feeds on any energy you give it.” outreach and partybuilding? break free.” We are continuing to collect stories on Bundles available for purchase: $30/100, $15/50, shipped On September 15th Leviness reported the effects of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and ORDER ONLINE at www.gp.org/store having been without electricity for days and Maria for our next issue. Please submit your that the community came together to sup - stories to [email protected] 3 Volume 20 • Number 1 www.greenpagesnews.org Que Viva Puerto Rico Libre!

By David McCorquodale, Green Party of Delaware

In the late spring of 2017, the Latinx Caucus Ricans believe the island still exists under Elias as the U.N. committee meeting and of the Green Party of the United States colonial rule. Taxes are imposed on imports who has joined the Latinx Caucus, ad - (GPUS) released a statement by co-chair that make consumer goods two to three dressed the motivation behind the U.S. ac - Darlene Elias , in support of the actions of times more expensive than on the U.S. main - tions: “[Puerto Rico is] treated as resort is - the New York Puerto Rican Day parade, land. Corporations do not pay taxes on the land for the wealthy and famous, yet our which noted that “it is now to the point that profits they extract from the island. While island has a population of Boricuas who it [Puerto Rico] can no longer sustain itself the Puerto Rican government is $73 billion have lived there for generations and are and have lost faith in the political system. and a humanitarian crisis now exists. . . .” in debt, corporations have extracted over poor with the lack of medical and schools Only 23 percent of residents living on the is - That statement was prescient as the situa - $600 billion in profits in recent years. Even for the people.” land showed up to the polls to vote in the tion has become exponentially worse after a modest tax would have eliminated the most recent plebiscite. This is a very low the devastating destruction from Hurri - debt. GPUS calls for forgiving the debt and While the Puerto Rican number when you take into account that canes Irma and Maria. ending the tax on imports. Though Puerto Puerto Rico consistently has high voter turn The GPUS platform has called for Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they cannot vote in government is $73 billion out. It is also by far the most telling state - Rican independence as the only solution the presidential election and they are not in debt, corporations ment of the Puerto Rican people’s desire for that would allow the Puerto Rican people to represented in Congress. independence.” Those preferring independ - address their own problems. While it could In June, Elias addressed the U.N. Com - have extracted over ence boycotted the plebiscite. require a history course to understand that mittee on Decolonization, severely criticiz - $600 billion in profits in Elias’ statement continues: “However, Puerto Rico has long been treated as a col ony, ing the “establishment of the Financial Over - the U.S. should not assume, under false pre - a brief outline may help to understand. sight and Management Board, otherwise recent years. Even a tenses as it did with Hawaii, that Puerto Rico Originally populated by native Taino known as the Junta, [which] is just a measure wants to be a state. Instead, Puerto Ricans people, Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for put in place by the U.S. to ensure that its modest tax would have should be allowed to govern themselves as Spain late in the 15th century. It endured var - benefactors continue to prosper from the eliminated the debt. an independent state and or sovereign en - ious forcible takeovers by other European predatory lending practices of its banks and tity - whichever the people elect. The Green nations, but Spain again controlled it in the corporations under the guise of helping the Hector Lopez , a Puerto Rican who has Party maintains that it is only when Puerto late 19th century. Meanwhile, after the intro - people of Puerto Rico.” been active in the Connecticut Green Party Rico is able to exercise their right to self-de - duction of African slaves and waves of Iber - That was before the island was devas - for over 20 years, adds “Now they want a termination and dictate its own circum - ian immigrants, the culture had become cre - tated by storms. Now it is even more obvious Puerto Rico empty of Puerto Ricans so that stances that it will prevail. In conclusion, true ole Hispanic. After the Spanish-American that debt repayment will not be possible. they can build a paradise for themselves, no democracy is the only path to liberation and war, the United States took it over. However, the foot-dragging repair efforts Puerto Ricans allowed. This was done in as a party we will continue to stand with Puerto Rico is now known as a “free as - seem to be pointing to another nefarious Hawaii and now the Hawaiians find it too ex - Puerto Ricans towards this end. We do thank sociated state”, a change, which occurred solution. Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans pensive to live there in their homeland. By the committee in advance for its consider - in 1952, following an uprising for independ - have given up and have migrated to the U.S. the way, gentrification has already begun. ation and noble effort in realizing our mutual ence in 1950 and international pressure. In - mainland. Some suspect that the goal is to When speaking before the U.N. com - goal of decolonization and seeing Puerto dividuals are U.S. citizens, and some have simply wait until many leave. mittee last June, Darlene Elias pointed out “the Puerto Rican people are despondent Rico succeed. Que Viva Puerto Rico Libre!” fought and died in U.S. wars, but many Puerto Monika Ponton Arrington , who met How to deal with all the garbage New York Greens propose Pay-As-You-Throw

By Mark Dunlea, Green Party of New York State

The production of garbage and waste is a garbage). based on the number and size of waste con - state. The Green Party in Brooklyn helped huge problem throughout the planet. The The Green City Project of the Green Ed - tainers that they use. In some communities, organize an effort to get rid of plastic bags. creation of waste depletes critical natural ucation and Legal Fund (GELF) had pro - households are charged directly for waste New York City spends $12 million annually resources and its disposal usually creates posed a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system collection (usually through direct billing) to dump 10 billion plastic bags in landfills. additional harmful pollution. Disposing of for Troy 17 years ago. Students at Rensselaer based on the number of bags or cans set Many more bags get stuck in trees, storm garbage is one of the biggest expenses tax - Polytechnic Institute (RPI) had conducted out at the curb. Others require residents to drains, sewage-treatment plants and recy - payers face at the local level. Also, the dis - a study of the city’s solid waste program purchase special trash bags, tags, or stickers cling machinery. posal of waste is often an environmental jus - which is available on GELF’s website. The that include the cost of waste collection in Research shows that plastics originat - tice problem as landfills, incinerators and study recommended a volume-based sys - the purchase price. ing from land account for 80 percent of transfer stations are often situated in low- tem such as used in Binghamton as well as The Greens pointed out that the city global marine pollution. Plastic bags never income communities of color. composting and an improved recycling sys - must educate residents about the environ - break down. Instead, plastic breaks up into The best way to deal with garbage is to tem. Residents who throw out more garbage mental and economic benefits of a PAYT tiny little pieces that end up in the ocean to avoid creating it in the first place. Those who to be landfilled would pay a higher rate. The program prior to implementation. Pam - be consumed by wildlife. There are an esti - create the garbage — the initial manufactur - study also recommended overhauling the phlets, leaflets, community meetings, and mated 46,000 –1,000,000 plastic fragments ers — need to be held financially responsible city’s moribund recycling programs and es - public hearings are all useful methods of in - floating within every square mile of our for its ultimate disposal. One simple step is tablishing a municipal composting pickup creasing public awareness. Education will world’s oceans. to require packaging to be made of reusable program. When the Greens re-released the increase compliance, and should be contin - While the City’s had limited legal ability or recyclable material. For waste that re - study, it became front-page news and dom - ued well after the program goes into effect. to deal with plastic bags due to state law, af - mains, we should first reuse and then recycle inated the discussion at the city council “A Pay-As-You-Throw program in Troy ter four years the Mayor agreed to sign a bill it. The goal is to have nothing left to landfill. meeting. would be a win win, both for saving residents that imposed a five-cent fee on plastic bags The Greens have long opposed the in - and the city money, as well as, finally working (with an exemption for purchases made with cineration of waste as it emits toxic pollu - A Pay-As-You-Throw on the terrible waste problem that is de - food stamps or WIC). The governor and tants, including heavy metals and dioxin, un - stroying the planet. Many people do not re - state legislature took the unusual step of dercuts recycling and costs taxpayers lots program would be a alize Green policies helpful to the environ - blocking the city law under pressure from of money. The Green national platform calls win-win, both for saving ment, actually save citizens money and the plastic bag industry, but the governor for a zero waste policy. Zero waste empha - bolster job growth. The volume-based set up a task force to make a recommenda - sizes waste prevention as opposed to end- residents and the city garbage system is one such example,” said tion for state action by the end of 2017. of-pipe waste management. Zero waste fo - money, as well as finally Deyva Arthur , a Troy resident and long-time Greens elsewhere in the state have cuses on restructuring production and Green. helped enact laws that ban plastic bags or distribution systems to reduce waste. working on the terrible The Democrats eventually amended impose a fee. The Green Party is now work - In Rensselaer County, located three their fee proposal to say they would study ing for a bill to ban them statewide, with a hours north of NYC, local Greens have helped waste problem that is the implementation of the PAYT system over fee for other bags. Other cities across the make a volume based garbage system a ma - destroying the planet. the next three years. The Republicans — who country starting with California have cut jor issue. In order to hide a 15 percent tax in - probably were more motivated by causing plastic-bag use by 60 percent or more. crease, the mayor of Troy decided this fall “A volume-based municipal solid waste problems for the Democratic mayor — balked, to propose moving garbage from the city program introduces financial incentives to saying “we want a PAYT system now, not a budget and instead impose a $190 per house - recycle and disincentives to discard recy - promise of possible future action.” Eventu - POSITIONS OPEN hold fee on garbage disposal. The Democ - clables with trash. An increase in the recy - ally the garbage fee was removed, leaving a GPUS needs people with skills in organ - rats argued that such a fee would provide cling rate means increased revenues for the $3 million hole in the budget. The real effect izing, volunteer coordination, project man - an incentive to reduce the amount of gar - city from sale of the recyclables, and a de - was to kick the issue over to the new incom - agement, event planning, social media, bage. The Greens and the Republicans point - crease in tipping fee expenditures,” said ing City Council, which will have a new Dem - writing, graphic design, and fund raising. Some of this work is paid, and some vol - ed out that if you wanted to reduce garbage, ocratic majority. Several of them have stated Prof. Steve Breyman of RPI, one of the co- unteer. Tell us what you can do, and let you should charge the fee based on how authors of the study. their support for a PAYT system. us put you to work growing the party! much you throw out while doing recycling Under a volume-based system, resi - Other approaches to reducing garbage write to: [email protected] for free (Troy only recycles 6 percent of its dents are charged for waste collection are being proposed in different parts of the 4 Features GREEN PAGES • Summer 2017 This red state is turning Green A profile on Texas

From GPUS.org

The nation’s second-largest state is also one But there are challenges in organizing Still, as America is changing, so is Texas. of its reddest. In 2012 and 2014, Republican in a state that covers more than a quarter- As of 2010, nearly 38 percent of the state’s candidates for president, governor, and U.S. million square miles and that has more than population was Latinx, with 45 percent of Senate all topped 57 percent of the vote in 250 counties. Co-chair Laura Palmer says, residents non-Latinx whites. Only one out Texas, and the state has not had a non-Re - “Because the state is so large, party cohe - of three students in the state’s schools to - publican governor or senator in more than sion is one of our biggest challenges. Getting day are non-Latinx whites. 20 years. But even in such seemingly inhos - to know party members in other areas, “Our humane perspective on immigra - pitable terrain, the Green Party is making in - keeping track of the status of local parties, tion is certainly welcoming to the Hispanic roads. and having the ability to screen volunteers community,” Palmer says. “Poverty, social This past June, 2017, Alexsandra An - for key roles are all enormous concerns.” justice, and the need for single-payer health - nello won a seat on the El Paso city council Palmer says the GPTX has started to imple - care all resonate here, as does ending the in a run-off election. She garnered more ment an “intentionally regional approach,” drug war.” than 60 percent of the vote against an in - urging locals in the same parts of the state cumbent. In 2012, two Green candidates for to work together. Poverty, social justice, statewide office (state Supreme Court and Beyond the physical and logistical chal - railroad commissioner) received nearly lenges, some aspects of the Green agenda and the need for single- 500,000 votes each, and the GP national are a challenge to sell in the Lone Star State. ticket received more than 24,000 votes af - “Obviously Texas is deeply invested in oil payer healthcare all ter receiving fewer than one thousand state - and gas, so the complete transition to re - resonate here, as does wide in 2008. Two years later, Green U.S. Sen ate nominee Emily Marie Sanchez took ending the drug war. 1.2 percent of the vote, and U.S. House can - didate Antonio Diaz finished second in a Renaud says Greens in Texas are reach - three-way race with 15 percent of the vote. ing out to the state’s Latinx community by In 2016, Green George Altgelt was elected to working with the new GPUS Latinx Caucus the city council in Laredo, a city of 250,000. and producing campaign literature in Span - ish. He adds, “Many of our members, candi - Texas is a red state, dates, and officers are Latino/a or speak Spanish, much like Texas as a whole.” so there is no ‘lesser evil’ “For years, we have watched as the es - tablishment agenda grinds on,” says Palmer. risk in voting Green. Regardless of which party is in power, we GPTX already set a new record in 2016, continue our imperialist wars and policies with more than 50 candidates running for that benefit big business.” But Texas “is very offices across the state. There are candi - liberty-loving. . . . To the degree that GPTX dates for the U.S. House in 19 of the state’s can project itself as non-statist and respect - 36 districts. This was the first time the Green ful of the rights of individuals while also rec - Party fielded candidates in a majority of the ognizing the need for government to func - state’s races. GPTX has held workshops to tion for the common good, we emerge as a prepare for a petition drive for ballot access. viable alternative.” Five people have already declared to run for Palmer sees opportunities for the party specific offices in 2018 with others intending newable energy is received with some anxi - gas sector, because everyone will be allowed as voters become disenchanted and turn - to run for an undecided office. ety and skepticism,” says Palmer. “But even a basic living.” out declines. “Texas is a red state, so there is no so, people seem willing to concede that it is Renaud sees a similar challenge. “While “With all the billions of dollars that are ‘lesser evil’ risk in voting Green,” said Aaron a transition that must eventually happen. people can easily identify with rooting out poured into elections each cycle, the estab - Renaud of GPTX. “Besides, the Democrats There is also resistance to the idea of a basic corruption, fair campaigns, environmental lishment parties can’t even motivate more do not have the energy or motivation to fix income, as if people can’t believe that we protections, and other common-sense than one-third of voters to participate,” she the campaign finance system, in that regard could actually provide for everyone. . . . Still, ideas, the myth of the American Dream is notes. “As soon as Greens build enough they are just as culpable. In the end, I would I think the assurance of basic income could still very powerful, especially in Texas,” he awareness in the general public, we are say to vote for the only party that doesn’t be a comfort to those who have anxiety says. “There are many that do not acknowl - poised to emerge as a major factor in U.S. accept corporate donations. I would say to about systemic transition; so that people edge the relationship between economic elections by giving the disenfranchised two- put real people into office, not politicians.” need not fear losing their job in the oil and and social oppression.” thirds something to vote for.” Politics and music stay in the family Portrait of a Utah Green – Brendan Phillips

By Deanna Dee Taylor, Green Party of Utah

Brendan Phillips can be described in ing class.” Also like his grandfather, Phillips many ways. He is a stay-at-home dad of two has a deep love for music. “My dream would boys, musician and DJ, activist and grandson be to one day own a record store which of musician/dissenter, Utah Phillips. The 34- would serve as a social hub for local musi - year-old was also Green Party write-in can - cians, producers, and DJs. I got my first gui - didate for Utah’s Congressional District 3 tar at ten years old, and played my first gig special election this fall. in a bar at eleven.” “I began organizing at the young age of 17 years old.” Phillips said he never chan - neled all of those experiences into politics Nothing inspires me more until 2016, when I was inspired by the Bernie than seeing different Sanders campaign. “Prior to that, I was large ly non-participatory. I felt elections were a folks, from different walks sham...I felt my vote was a wasted effort. of life, coming together in The Sanders campaign showed me a grass - roots effort can indeed have an impact at solidarity to fight for the the ballot box.” common good. Much of Phillips’ passion for politics is not coincidental and can be attributed to Though Phillips is an active Green Party his grandfather, legendary folk singer and la - member, he had to run as an Independent bor organizer Bruce (Utah) Phillips. “My grand - candidate in the special election for Utah’s father ran for U.S. Senate in 1968 on the Congressional District 3 in November. The Peace and Freedom Party ticket. He was an Green Party of Utah had not yet achieved anti-war activist and champion for the work - ballot access at the time of the filing date. Brendan Phillips helped revive the Green Party of Utah, and get it on the ballot. 5 Volume 20 • Number 1 www.greenpagesnews.org

Phillips became attracted to and joined Phillips identified seeing grassroots One of the most crucial issues facing the Green Party because of its platform. “It democracy in action as the most positive the Green Party, from Phillips’ perspective is the ONLY party whose platform aligns al - thing about working in the Green Party. “To is restrictive ballot access legislation. “I also most perfectly with my ideals. The Green see solidarity and direct action unite the feel that other crucial issues we face include Party rejects war, oppression, and capitalist people is an inspiring experience, and it is billions of dollars in private interest money, exploitation. The party supports grassroots this experience that oftentimes keeps me and corporate biased media. These things democracy, social justice, environmental going. When you can gather with those fight - keep the corporate backed oligarchy in stewardship, and non-violence. The party ing for the same things, stand together in place.” offers a perspective and platform that com - solidarity, and collectivize your energy….it Phillips states that an organized strat - pares to no other party.” can be very powerful, inspiring, and change- egy to combat these crucial issues must be Phillips was the driving force behind the making. There is nothing more inspiring than developed. “That can be done through elec - petition to get 2016 Green Party presidential seeing collective direct action directly influ - toral reform, utilization of independent me - candidate Jill Stein on Utah’s ballot. At the ence change.” dia, and well-organized state parties. We time of the presidential election, Utah did Bruce “Utah” Phillips, labor activist and folk must fight to get big money out of politics, not have an active Green Party, however, singer “The most un-American and loudly call out those who accept this Phillips was instrumental in reviving the Green money.” Party of Utah. After a year and half of recruit - thing you can do is to stifle He describes the most rewarding part ing members and heading up the petition Ballot Access Committee. dissent.” — Utah Phillips of being a Green. “Nothing inspires me more drive to achieve ballot access, the party “I have marched/rallied for countless than seeing different folks, from different reached the requirements of Utah’s ballot issues ranging from healthcare, tribal sov - The greatest difficulty as a Green for walks of life, coming together in solidarity to access laws and became an official party ereignty, police brutality, air quality, war, and Phillips is dealing with his own fear and self- fight for the common good.” with the state. many more. I have actively lobbied on capi - doubt. “Politics are dog eat dog. They are Phillips carries his family legacy true to The party’s first annual convention was tol hill for bills relating to land use, Bears Ears, designed to keep the average guy out, and the words and music of his grandfather held in June where Phillips was elected to voter privacy, election reform, and social the status quo in place. People like me are through the history upon which he contin - serve as one of two national delegates to justice.” Phillips serves on the Board of Di - mocked and intimidated, and encouraged ues to build quoting Utah Phillips, “Yes, the the GPUS National Committee and govern - rectors of The Long Memory Project, an ef - to simply butt out. I often feel like a fish out long memory is the most radical idea in this ment liaison for the Green Party of Utah. He fort to restore the “barn”, which was an old of water, which is exactly how the establish - country. It is the loss of that long memory also serves as secretary of the Young Greens caboose that served as his grandfather’s ment wants me to feel. They want me…to which deprives our people of that connec - of Utah and is a co-chair of the National recording studio. Phillips is also the secretary return to my non-participation. Sometimes tive flow of thoughts and events that clarifies Green Party Youth Caucus. He is also the of the Tooele County Historic Preservation it’s hard to convince myself I am doing the our vision, not of where we’re going, but Northwest regional coordinator for the GPUS Commission. right thing.” where we want to go.” What would Green tax reform look like? The national platform on fair taxation FAIR TAXATION Fair taxes for corporations and between the socially and privately created their acts. Federal and state taxes must be strong ly the wealthy wealth of land, by increasing the taxes on Impose a carbon fee on goods imported progressive. End corporate welfare, such as the bail- the former to retain for society the value from nations with lower carbon taxes than in Our current tax system is outrageously outs for Wall Street, the big banks and the that it collectively creates and lowers them the U.S., based upon the carbon spent in man - unjust. It is riddled with loopholes, subsidies automobile industry; subsidies for agribusi - on the latter to reward individuals for their ufacturing and transporting them to the U.S. and dodges for corporations and the super- ness, Export-Import Bank loan guarantees; initiative and work. To ensure that prices reflect their true Other tax reforms rich. Most working people pay too much in tax abatements for big box stores; the tax Simplify the tax code. Make it transpar - environmental cost, enact a system of True taxes compared to corporations, multi-mil - loophole for “carried interest” from private ent, understand- able and resistant to the Cost Pricing (TCP) for goods and services. lionaires and billionaires. Many of our biggest equity and hedge fund managers; tax de - machinations of powerful corporate and TCP is an accounting and pricing system and most profitable corporations pay little ductibility for advertising and business en - wealthy interests. that includes all costs in the price of a prod - or no tax. Much investment income is taxed tertainment; offshore tax avoidance Eliminate tax incentives to send jobs uct. TCP charges extractive and productive at less than the rate workers pay. schemes; giveaways for new sports stadi - overseas. industries for the immediate or prolonged We can afford to cut taxes for most ums and casinos. Raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, soda damage (pollution of air and water) and di - people if we make corporations and the su - Impose a financial transaction tax on pop and other junk food. per-rich pay their fair share. Then we can cut trades of stocks, bonds, currency, deriva - minishment of natural resources caused by them even more when we halt our nation’s tives, and other financial instruments. wasteful spending on wars, weaponry and Block financial transactions with tax militarism. havens, to stop tax evasion. We call for progressive taxation, shifting Decrease the $1 million home value cap Tax bill another reason tax from individuals to corporations, taxing on the mortgage interest tax deduction for “bads” not “goods,” taxing unearned income federal income taxes, to reduce the tax sub - at the same rate as earned income, taxing sidy provided to those living in the most ex - to vote Green speculation on Wall Street, and cutting cor - pensive homes. porate tax giveaways. Restore the estate tax. By Joy Davis, Green Party of Texas We will institute comprehensive tax re - Apply the Federal Insurance Contribu - As one of the Green Party’s National Out - form to simplify the tax system. We will elim - tions Act (Social Security and Medicare) reach Committee co-chairs as well as a inate loopholes and other exemptions that taxes to investment income and to all levels co-chair of the National Women’s Cau - favor corporate and wealthy interests over of income, not merely the first $106,800 cus, I want to let you about the senate tax justice. earned. and house versions of the GOP Tax Re - Small business, in particular, should not Oppose the privatization of Social Se - form bills and what it could mean for you. be penalized by a tax system which benefits curity. Tuition waivers, for example: cur - those who can “work” the legislative tax Enact a wealth tax of 0.5% per year on rently, grad students who work as re - committees for breaks and subsidies. We an individual’s assets over $5 million. search or teaching assistants are exempt support substantive and wide-ranging re- from paying taxes on the tuition waivers form of the tax system that helps create Eco-taxes to help save the planet Establish a system of carbon taxes on they receive in exchange for work. Under jobs, economic efficiencies and innovation all fossil fuels, to begin to reflect the real en - the House bill, the exemption for tuition within the small business community. We vironmental cost of their extraction and use. waivers would be eliminated. This means will end “corporate welfare.” Smaller busi - Carbon taxes should be applied as far up - graduate students would have to count nesses are the USA’s great strength. Greens stream as possible, preferably when pos - the waivers as income, even though they believe government should have a tax policy session of the carbon-bearing fuel passes did not receive the money directly. Now, which encourages small and socially re - from extraction (for ex- ample, coal mine; under the Senate bill, the exemption for sponsible business. oil wellhead or tanker; gas wellhead) to the tuition waivers would remain in place. The upcoming 2018 elections are so Political democracy remains a distant next entity in the supply chain (for example, The Senate version of the Tax bill important. A total of 468 seats in the U.S. promise without economic democracy. A coal shipper or utility; oil refiner or importer; also includes a provision to allow for Congress (33 Senate seats and all 435 principal instrument for achieving economic natural gas pipeline). Offset potential re - drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife House seats) are up for election next No - democracy is our tax system. Taxes are the gressivity for lower income individuals via Refuge. We continuously see the damage vember. means whereby we fund our public services. the Green Tax shift that lowers income taxes that occurs when these pipelines leak. It We want you to not only vote Green. They can also help create equity, justice, and/or other approaches. is an environmental disaster. We want you to join the Green Party and health and sustainability. Eliminate tax subsidies for the oil, gas, On a side note, Al Green (not the en - get involved at the local level as well as Cut taxes for wage workers coal, nuclear and timber and mining indus - tertainer), U.S. Representative from the national level. We also encourage you Exempt people earning less than tries. Texas, pushed forward with Articles of to run for office. We want to continue see - $25,000 per year and families earning less Enact a Green Tax Shift that shifts from Impeachment against Donald Trump. ing Green candidates getting elected, so, than $50,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) taxing people and work (via income and pay - Now Republicans are the ma jority in the let’s send a message to Congress. Every from the federal and state income taxes. roll taxes) to taxing natural resource extrac - House and the Senate; however, there Representative that voted in favor of this Exempt food, clothing, prescription tion, use, waste and pollution. were Democrats who voted in favor of tax reform bill, we will vote against them medications, other necessities and second- Enact a system of Community Ground tabling the impeachment resolution. in November and vote Green in 2018. hand goods from sales taxes. Rent/Land Value Taxation that distinguishes 6 News GREEN PAGES • Summer 2017 Maine legislators join Green Party

By Deyva Arthur, Green Party of New York State

The Party’s commitment to clean money cently, Chapman has worked with United politics and real democracy has been a sig - Technologies Center. His research concen - nificant cause of two Maine State Represen - trates on renewable energy and energy ef - tatives while in office to defect to Green. ficiency. He currently sits on the state Joint Henry John Bear and Ralph Chapman Standing Committee on Agriculture, Con - both joined the Maine Green Independent servation, and Forestry. Party this fall, making them the highest-ranking elected Green officeholders in the country. “The Maine Green “I have joined the Maine Green Inde - pendent Party in order to highlight the democ - Independent Party is racy-diminishing effects of corporate funding influence on the statehouse party lead er ship demonstrating, by its of Maine’s two largest political parties” Rep. Ralph Chapman of Brookville, Maine actions, how to behave as Chapman said of his reason for leaving the (Photo by Linda Coan O'Kresik, Bangor Daily Democratic Party. “I saw more clearly that News) though the Citizens United even our state legislature is largely con - Supreme Court decision trolled by accountability to funding sources, food for her family.” not people. The Maine Green Independent Bear has held office since 2013 and was were overturned.” Party offers an alternative. In essence, the the first elected member of the Maine House — Ralph Chapman Maine Green Independent Party is demon - Rep. Henry John Bear, Tribal Member Repre - of Representatives on behalf of the Maliseet strating, by its actions, how to behave as senting the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians people of the Houlton Band. Like Chapman, Olsen thinks this may be the start of a though the Citizens United Supreme Court (Photo by Joe Phelan) he left the Democratic Party to join the trend for politicians to choose the Green decision were overturned.” Greens. Party co-chair, Jon Olsen said “We Party. “We hope that other legislators of ei - The Green Party does not accept cor - also decided to join the Maine Greens. “I Greens have long understood that our val - ther major party will consider following porate donations, in contrast to the Democ - have found that our issues are very similar,” ues of ecological wisdom, stewardship, and [their] lead and that new aspiring candidates rats and Republicans. In his fourth term serv - said Bear on why he joined the party, “espe - social justice are congruent with those of will do so as well. Toxic political environ - ing District 133, which comprises Blue Hill, cially on the issues of the environment and the traditions of First Peoples in this land,” ments, like physical toxic environments Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick and civil rights and sustainable economic devel - Chapman also has a dedication to the must be decontaminated.” Surry, Chapman decided to change is affili - opment and income equity. I believe in environment and ecological sustainability. Maine has been a high point for the ation after lawmakers overturned citizen- health care for everyone who can’t afford it A scientist for more than 25 years, he has Green Party. Chapman and Bear follow John initiated legislation particularly in regard to and I believe in ensuring that one person’s worked at Massachusetts Institute of Tech - Eder in highest office holding Greens. Eder ranked voting and minimum wage increases. hard day’s work results in a living wage, nology’s Lincoln Lab and Tufts University’s served two terms from 2002 – 2006 in the A month after Chapman defected, Bear enough for a house and a car payment, and Electro-Optics Technology Center. More re - Maine House of Representatives. California candidate arrested at DACA protest

On December 5, Green congressional can - for Congress to immediately begin the didate Angelica Dueñas was detained by process for comprehensive immigration re - police, after demonstrating in Senator Di - form towards a legal path to citizenship for anne Feinstein’s Los Angeles office in sup - all NOW. port of permanent protection for DACA We chose Senator Feinstein’s office to (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) re - highlight her role and responsibility as a sen - cipients. Dueñas made a statement about ior Senator from California, a state with the DACA and her detention: most Dreamers in the country. While we were prepared to be arrested The current presidential administration if necessary to promote this issue, we were is on the path of destroying millions of peo - shocked when we were detained and es - ple’s lives — including by taking away DACA corted off the property in handcuffs by po - protection from over 800,000 Dreamers, lice officers within seconds! This suggests putting them at risk to lose everything that insufficient interest in the Senator’s office they are working for. Breaking up families and in hearing our concerns. destroying homes. And robbing us all of the We believe that our elected officials are rich contributions Dreamers have to offer. public servants. Their role is to make their I and several others went to Senator Fe - constituents’ voices heard and fight for our instein’s office today to exercise our First issues. We also believe that it is our respon - Amendment rights, in order to highlight the sibility as community members that our rep - importance of protecting our DACA recipi - resentatives hear our demands. With the ent sisters and brothers’ right to stay in the 2018 elections approaching, it is time to Angelica Dueñas country they call home. identify who stands with the People — and permanent protection to the Dreamers. For the Green Party of Los Angeles County We condemn President Trump’s repeal vote accordingly. I know that this is what our constituents Statement on DACA go to: of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals That’s why we took the step of getting want in CA 29. In English: losangeles.cagreens.org/is - (DACA), and we call for Congress to imme - arrested in order to highlight the inactivity sues/daca-nov-2017. In solidarity, diately pass legislation to permanently pro - of our elected officials. We hope our mes - In Spanish: losangeles .cagreens.org/is - tect young immigrants who came here as sage gets through to Senator Feinstein and Angelica Duenas for Congress, sues/daca-nov-2017-esp children without legal status. We also call that she supports a Clean Dream Act to give angelica4congress.com.

Greens of the Americas meet in Cancun The Federacion de Partidos Verdes de las Americas (FPVA) held its annual meeting No - vember 26-29 in in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, with Greens from eleven countries in attendance — Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and the United States. The Green Party of the US was represented by three delegates, picture here from left to right Bahram Zandi (first on left), Mike Fein - stein (four from left) and Ahmed Al-Touny (last on right). They are pictured here with members of the Young Greens of the Americas, that also met in Cancun over the same dates. Also pictured is Maria Isabel Moreno Salazar (fourth from right), who at 23 years old is the youngest member of Colombia’s national legislature. In addition to general busi - ness meetings of the FPVA, delegates and young Greens met with Green Mayors in Cancun and Puerto Morelos, and attended a debate among three candidates seeking to be elected next president of the Green Party of Mexico (Partido Verde Ecologista de Mexico). The FPVA has been meeting annual since 1998, working on international Green issues and promoting the growth of Green Parties throughout the hemisphere. Prior to the FPVA, Greens in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. formed CANAMEX in 1991, to bring Greens together from the three countries to work to oppose the North American Free Trade agreement being negotiated at that time. Eventually CANAMEX led to the founding of the FPVA. 7 Volume 20 • Number 1 www.greenpagesnews.org Saving the Menominee Michigan Greens support mining moratorium

By Aimee Cree Dunn, Green Party of Michigan

The proposed Back 40 Mine will poison Metallic sulfide mining creates acid mine really must do is prove that sulfide mining Menominee County waters, members agreed drainage that can persist for thousands of can be done without polluting ground and at a recent meeting of the Green Party of years, destroying entire aquatic ecosystems surface water. If this advanced technology Michi gan (GPMI). They continue to support and leaving a lasting heavy burden for tax - existed, then that law would not even be an and promote a moratorium of metallic sul - payers. And the fact is, there’s never been issue.” fide mining similar to a moratorium in Wis - such a mine that didn’t seriously pollute “Also known as the ‘Prove It First’ law, consin. its surrounding waters. This kind of mining the mining law in Wisconsin has helped pro - threatens our traditional lifestyle of hunting, tect their North Woods for nearly 20 years,” Also known as the ‘Prove It fishing, and gathering from a healthy land. Cree said. “In 2006, GPMI passed a resolu - It threatens a sustainable heritage that goes tion calling for a similar sulfide mining mora - First’ law, the mining law back centuries. torium in Michigan. Like Wisconsin, we’re a in Wisconsin has helped Menominee County resident and mother water-rich state that could be devastated Regina Chaltry said “The local communi - The Oxbow on the Menominee River by metallic sulfide mining and the inevi - protect their North Woods ties around the Menominee River and Green table pollution it entails.” for nearly 20 years. Bay are joining together to stop this mine ministration of Tommy Thompson,” GPMI GPMI’s call for a Wisconsin-style mora - from happening, which is evident by the member Linda Cree adds. “Unfortunately, torium says: “No metallic sulfide mining will The Back 40 Mine would involve sulfide number of surrounding counties, cities, efforts to repeal the moratorium have occur in Michigan until it can be proven that ore mining only 60 to 100 feet from the towns and Tribal governments who have been launched recently by those hoping to one metallic sulfide mine in the United States Menominee River and would create an 83- passed resolutions against the Back 40.” develop a new mining district extend ing or Canada has operated for 10 years and acre open pit mine over 750 feet deep as “Wisconsin passed a moratorium on from northern Wisconsin and across the been closed for 10 years without contami - well as 152 acres of tailings. It will impact not metallic sulfide ore mining in the state in western Upper Peninsula of Michigan.” nating the groundwater or surface water.” only the land and waters of the Upper Pennin - 1998 after enormous pressure from people Chaltry points out that the moratorium For more information visit the GPMI sula, but also those of bordering Wisconsin. all across Wisconsin on the pro-mining ad - doesn’t ban mining. “All mining corporations website at www.MIGreenParty.org.

George Martin, SC co-chair candidate with Ajamu Baraka, 2016 VP candidate

Cheri Honkala speaking at the Saturday plenary meeting; seated: Akeem Browder, Seth Lisa Durden, NJ Lt. Governor candidate Kaper-Dale, Ajamu Baraka

Margaret Flowers speaking during a work - shop; also Julie Varughese and Darryl! Moch

Attendees outdoors on the NJIT campus Members of the Latinx Caucus SC Co-chair Andrea Merida with Adrian Boutureira, National Political Organizer 2017 Annual National Meeting, Newark NJ

Jill Stein speaking at Kaper-Dale / Durden fundraiser

John Rensinbrink addresses plenary after Caucus members air grievances during Saturday evening fundraiser Tamar Yagar recognized for her many years being recognized on his birthday of organizing Annual National Meetings 8 Elections GREEN PAGES • Summer 2017 News across America More Green candidates enter races in 2017

In 2017, Greens across the nation have been voted to accelerate the phase-in of the electorally active and involved with the most $15/hour minimum wage. While council mem - candidates running on an off-year election. ber Cam Gordon (G) argued for a faster Here is a summary of some of what they phase-in for large companies, he reluctantly have been getting up to: supported the five-year phase-in that the Nationally, 44 Greens were elected, majority of council supported. bringing the total number of Green office - The Georgia Green Party has posted an holders to 137. In addition, despite 2016 hav - online interview with Dr. Margaret Flowers ing the lowest number of enrolled Greens in on single payer healthcare, which can be 15 years, 2017 experienced a 19 percent in - found at georgiagreenparty.org. crease of registered Greens with a total of In New York, Jabari Brisport ran an in - 257,389. This makes the Green Party of the spiring campaign for City Council in Brook - United States the fourth-largest party in the lyn, receiving 29 percent of the vote and country, and the largest that doesn’t accept demonstrating a Red-Green Alliance for corporate money. Greens and Socialists around the US! In Green Party of Utah gains ballot access: Glens Falls, Robin Barkenhagen received On September 18, the Green Party of Utah 35 percent of the vote for Councilor-At-Large, received notification from the Lieutenant riding a swell of community support that we Governor’s office that it had met the 2,000 know will only grow with him in the fights signature threshold to gain ballot access as ahead. In Syracuse, first-time candidates a political party in Utah. This allows for Green Eric Graf and Serena Seals broke into dou - Party candidates to appear on ballots in ble-digits, representing movements for So - Akeem Browder, Green candidate for NYC mayor marches to shut down Rikers Island Jail. 2018/2020, and voters will be able to register cialism and Black Lives Matter ( see article (Photo by Tomas Mantilla) to vote as Green beginning November 30. below ). On June 10 in El Paso, Texas, Alexsan - The Green Party of California and the more choice in elections, not less,” said plant in May, finally began on December 11. dra Annello won a City Council seat in Dis - Green Party of Los Angeles County have en - Michael Feinstein , former Green Mayor of The defense attorney was allowed to pres - trict 2. Although it was a non-partisan elec - dorsed the Initiative to Repeal The Top Two Santa Monica and co-founder of GPCA. “Top ent only one witness, a revered elder of the tion, Annello was endorsed by the El Paso Candidates Open Primary Law, a ballot Two elections undermine democracy by Puyal lup Tribe. As it happens, the jury de - County Green Party. measure that would overturn Top Two elec - limiting voters to only two general election cided the case on the basis of her testimony. On June 30 the Minneapolis city council tions in California. “Californians deserve choices, while driving up the cost of running The many counts against our two heroines for office and making ballot access more fell under two charges: Trespassing and Ob - difficult.” Organized efforts are underway to struction of Police. On the first, defendents gather the needed 365,880 signatures to were found Not Guilty; on the second, as place it on the November 2018 ballot. Tacoma Police had no jurisdiction on tribal The Green Party of Pennsylvania is cel - lands, they were declared Not Guilty and ebrating several election victories for 2017. were free and clear of all charges. Out of ten candidates running, six were elected Making history in the Canadian province to office. Jules Mermelstein , statewide of Prince Edward Island, voters in the riding candidate for PA Superior Court Judge, was of Charlottetown-Parkdale elected Green not one of those elected. However his strong Party of Prince Edward Island candidate showing was a victory in its own right, ensur - Hannah Bell in the November 27 provincial ing minor party status for GPPA for two more by-election, garnering a hugely impressive years. His vote count of 106,131 was more 35.4 percent of the popular vote, beating than eight times the number of registered the governing Liberal Party by 7.2 percent. Greens in the state. Mermelstein needed to Remarkably, the Greens won ten of the 11 get 2 percent of the number of votes re - polls as voters sent Bell to the PEI legislature. ceived by the winner with the highest vote She becomes the first female Green Party total in order for the Green Party to keep mi - member east of British Columbia to win a nor party designation in PA, and he achieved seat in a Canadian provincial legislature. The over 9 percent statewide. PEI Greens now have two seats, as leader In Tacoma, WA the jury trial of two Peter Bevan-Baker won the riding of Kellys grandmothers who, with others including Cross-Cumberland in the 2015 provincial two Green Party Tahoma members, had general election. There are now six elected Jabari Brisport (lower center) gained significant attention from the media and his constituents locked themselves to the auger at the un- Green Party members in Canadian provin - in his bid for city council in Brooklyn. permitted but under-construction LNG cial legislatures. New York gets attention in local elections

By Peter LaVenia, Green Party of New York State

2017 was a banner year for Greens in New ter; Eric received 19.8 percent of the vote, York: we put forward 47 candidates and per - and Serena 10.9 percent. In the town of haps the most significant number of serious Glens Falls three Green candidates, Robin local campaigns in our party’s history. As Barkenhagen, Rich Cirino, and Ben Lapham, Greens, we find our greatest success in local running for City Councilor At-Large, Mayor, races, where we reach the electorate door- and 4th Ward Councilperson respectively, to-door and do our best work countering were invited to debates, profiled by the local the influence of big money by educating vot - media, and in Ben Lapham’s case, endorsed ers about our platform and putting forth a by the town’s paper. Robin received 35 per - determined volunteer effort. Local election Akeem Browder (right) ran for NYC mayor to cent of the vote, Rich 15 percent, and Ben years tend to be ignored by the media, and speak out about the unjust death of his 22 percent. often by the voters, too, yet this year was brother Kalief Browder (left). Photos cour - quite different: the amount of press and ex - tesy of Democracy Now . citement generated by our local candidates This year’s local was unprecedented. party mention in the press. Cassandra campaigns and the A quick rundown of some of our cam - Lems , running for Nassau County Executive paigns shows why this is so: Jabari Brisport , on Long Island, was invited to participate in organizations on which running as a Green and a Socialist for New Cassandra Lems, Green candidate for county a candidate debate for the office, a major step they were built have laid York City Council’s 35th District in Brooklyn, executive in Nassau County forward for candidates in Nassau. Howie was profiled in New York Magazine , The In - Hawkins , running for mayor of Syracuse, the groundwork for a tercept , and the Huffington Post . Jabari’s socialist left can unite and build on his suc - participated in multiple mayoral debates successful defense of our race energized the local party and brought cess. and received prolific local media coverage, dozens of activists into his campaign and Akeem Browder , running for mayor of and he placed third in the race, ahead of the ballot line. donations to reach New York City’s level for New York City and brother of Kalief Browder, Republican Party’s candidate. Eric Graf and matching funds. Jabari received 29 percent is the founder of Shut Down Rikers and a so - Serena Seals ran for 2nd and 4th District Greens across the state were taken se - of the vote, and represents a new and hope - cial justice advocate; his fierce criticism of Councilor in Syracuse, and represented riously this year as candidates, from Albany ful sign that the Greens and the resurgent the criminal justice system won him and the platforms for socialism and Black Lives Mat - to Buffalo, upstate to downstate, due to 9 Volume 20 • Number 1 www.greenpagesnews.org years of hard work and struggle on the part of local party activists. We are heading into a state and federal election year, where our ballot-status will need to be maintained by a strong gubernatorial candidate receiving at least 50,000 statewide votes. This year’s local campaigns and the organizations on which they were built have laid the ground - work for a successful defense of our ballot- line. Moving forward, our local candidates and activists will help us develop our Green agenda for New York State, but more than that, they will be the nucleus of our success as we continue our struggle to transform our towns, cities, and villages into a space where Ben Lapham, Green candidate for city coun - grassroots democracy and people, not cil in Glens Falls, NY received 22 percent of profit, rule. Serena Seals, Green candidate for city council in Syracuse, NY the vote. Connecticut Greens successful this election Small, local campaigns make it possible

By David McCorquodale, Green Party of Delaware

The Green Party of Connecticut ran 30 of the New London Town Committee opines, candidates in the elections held this past “To me, it’s an absurdity that we ever feel November and saw 12 endorsed candidates the need to engage in this sort of game play - win office. Although an off year for statewide ing, but for now it’s one of the very few ways elections, the state had many municipal po - we can level the field.” It appears that Con - sitions open. If Greens start to make serious necticut Greens choose these alliances with inroads in getting candidates elected to po - the party that is out of power as Republicans litical office, it will probably begin in a state control Waterford. On the other hand, in like Connecticut, where in a relatively small New London Miriam Martinez won a seat city there can be many offices available for on the board of education two times with which to run. an endorsement from the Republicans. Mar - GPCT currently has eight chapters with tinez is running strictly as a Green this time. two more in formation. Each chapter con - trols its endorsements in its local town or county chapter, with five chapters putting “Windham Greens won forward candidates. The GPCT website lists four out of six races, and dozens of Greens serving in positions in mu - nicipalities. Many are voluntary, but before we were the second this election GPCT also had eight people in highest vote getting party. (left to right) Baird Welch-Collins, Joshua Steele Kelly, Darcy Van Ness, Carl D’Amato and An - elected offices. drew Frascarelli after being sworn in. (Photo: Baird Welch-Collins, Facebook) In this author’s state of Delaware, with We’re damned proud of exceptions for non-partisan elections of ourselves!” — Jean de Smet de Smet , who ran for Mayor. De Smet, who for Board of Education, and Cora Santaguida boards of education or small, non-partisan was the running mate of Cliff Thorton’s gu - for Constable. Leif Smith lost re-election town councils, or the totally Democratic- bernatorial bid in 2006, won the seat of First for Constable in Redding. party-controlled city of Wilmington, every - Here are the highlights of the elections Selectman, now retitled Mayor, in Windham Mirna Martinez , a previously twice- thing is run at the county or state level, making for each chapter: in 2007. This time, in a four-candidate race elected New London school board member it quite expensive to run a serious cam paign. Of the nine Waterford Town Commit tee for Mayor, de Smet lost with 37 percent of sought re-election. In two previous elections Political appointees make many decisions endorsed candidates, seven were elected. the vote, with 41 percent going to the De - Martinez received the endorsement of the with little public participation. Waterford has four Town Meeting Districts, mocrat, who was also on the Working Fami - Republican Party. This time she ran solely But in Connecticut, citizens can not but each district elects five or six people. lies ballot line. Other Green Party candidates on the Green ballot line. The election featured only run for partisan election on school boards Greens elected one person in each district: in Windham were elected in multi-position 15 candidates running for seven seats. Each or small city councils, but for boards of fi - Andrew Frascarelli (1st district); Baird races: Douglas Lary (Board of Finance, 20 voter could only vote for one candidate. nance, zoning and planning, assessment, Welch Collins (2nd); Joshua S. Kelley (3rd); percent), Cassandra Marineau (Board of Martinez won a seat with 1,160 votes, 7.2 per - fire department commission, or constable. and Carl D’Amato (4th). Darcy Van Ness Education, 11 percent, and Mike Wester - cent of the vote, compared to the highest Such a situation allows Greens to run small was elected to the Zoning Board of Assess - field (Board of Assessment Appeals, 17 per - vote getter receiving 9.3 percent. Erick Car - campaigns that can reach most constituents ment. All of these candidates received en - cent). Corey Krohn (Town Committee, 13 rion , also running for a school board seat without great expense. dorsements from the Democratic Party. Two percent) was not elected. for the first time, was not elected with 730 In Waterford, the town committee en - Democrats, endorsed by the Green Party, In Williamantic, another town in Wind - votes (4.5 percent). dorsed nine candidates. A couple of these were elected: Deborah Roselli Kelly to the ham County, Dagmar Noll won a town coun - The Shoreline Chapter, newly formed candidates were registered Democrats with Board of Education and Michael Buscetto cil seat in a six-person multi-position race, this past spring fielded four candidates. In the rest being Greens. The Democratic Party to the Board of Assessment Appeals. Two with 26 percent (771 votes) to 25 percent the town of Madison Charles Owen got 12 also endorsed all of these candidates. The Green candidates for the Board of Finance, for the Working Families candidate and 24 percent running for the Board of Finance, GPCT does not allow cross-endorsement Kevin Kelly and Bill Collins , were not elected. percent for the first Democrat. Said De Smet while Michael Abbondanolo received five on the state level, but chapters may do so. In Windham, the most prominent of its of the showing in Windham County, “Dagmar percent for a Board of Election seat. In the Ronna Stuller, Secretary of GPCT and Chair Town Committee’s six candidates was Jean Noll won a seat on the Town Council, which town of Clinton Hugh Birdsell ran for Board is a great achievement. Windham Greens of Education while James Connolly ran for won four out of six races, and we were the the Planning and Zoning Commission. None second highest vote getting party. We’re were elected. damned proud of ourselves!” Overall the Green Party of Connecticut In Fairfield County, none of the Green is gaining ground for local political offices. candidates won. Hector Lopez was seeking In this election it added a total of nine newly re-election as Constable in New Canaan, elected candidates, plus Mirna Martinez’s while John Amarillo was another Constable re-election and the cross-endorsement of candidate. In Stamford, Brian Merlen ran two elected Democrats, while losing two for Board of Representatives, Jackie Pioli elected positions for Constable.

state, caucus, and committee reports State parties and GPUS Committees and working groups are where the nuts and bolts of party work gets done. We encourage short reports in Green Pages to let everyone know what you are doing. Send to [email protected]. photos of local actions Don’t just post to Facebook, send your photos in to Green Pages for inclusion in the next issue: [email protected]. Remember to include caption details, and photographer ci - tation. Greens across the country appreciate knowing that they are part of a larger movement. Connecticut Greens ran an unprecedented number of candidates for an off-election year. 10 Elections / Opinion GREEN PAGES • Summer 2017 Stein/Baraka build the Green Party A review of the effects of the 2016 presidential campaign

By Dave Schwab, Wisconsin Green Party

Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka ’s 2016 Presi - the accounts of the national party as well as dential campaign was the Green Party’s 23 state parties and 2 caucuses, a new most highly visible campaign since Ralph recognition of legitimacy from a social me - Nader and Winona LaDuke first brought the dia platform that has become a high-profile Greens to national prominence in 2000. The venue in US politics. Stein/Baraka ticket won 1,457,226 votes, 1.1 Other organizations on the progressive percent of the 2016 total. This was the left have started to show an increasing in - Greens’ highest share of the Presidential terest in the type of independent politics vote since 2000, when Nader and LaDuke championed by the Green Party. Demo - earned 2.74 percent with 2,882,955 votes. cratic Socialists of America, which has Although Stein and Baraka didn’t get to paint drawn attention as the largest socialist or - the White House green, their campaign both ganization in the US with over 30,000 dues- set the party on a course for growth, and paying members, shares many goals with challenged it to harness the momentum of the Greens and supported a number of a national election. Green campaigns in 2017. Our Revolution, In May of 2016 there were 216,200 reg - the organization founded by Senator Bernie istered Greens in the United States, a 15- Sanders after his Democratic primary run, year low. By August 2017, the number was the ballot in 2016. Oklahoma, and New Hampshire which oth - even endorsed several Greens. Many Sanders 257,389, a growth of 41,189 or 19 percent. New state parties have come online in erwise have low activity or even no affiliated supporters gravitated to the Green Party af - The Green Party is America’s 4th-largest states where the party hadn’t been active state party. ter the Democratic Party’s blatant efforts party, after the Libertarians, and the largest before 2016, including Utah, Montana and While the national party doesn’t keep to deny Sanders its nomination, while others that doesn’t accept corporate money. While Nevada. Greens in Missouri, previously split detailed fundraising records, the party has who initially considered forming a new party still small compared to the Democratic and between the Progressive Party and a St. roughly 7,500 donors over the past two are deciding to go Green rather than rein - Republican parties, the Green Party’s recent Louis chapter affiliated with Green Party years, including 1,400 monthly sustainers. vent the wheel. growth demonstrates a staying power that USA, have reunited as the Missouri Green However, the party has not yet managed to The historic unpopularity of the estab - few national parties have achieved in the US. Party. Many established state parties have harness the fundraising potential tapped by lishment parties’ 2016 nominees inspired a In 2017 the Green Party had the most experienced an influx of both new members the presidential campaign. A November 2016 groundswell of support for systemic changes candidates running for office in an off-year and reactivated veteran members. ballot access email acknowledges: “We are to the US political system. A September election in 12 years. With 44 Greens getting entering a key election year, yet we have re - 2016 Suffolk University/ USA Today poll found elected it brought the total number of Greens The 2016 campaign markably low financial reserves and are fac - that 76 percent of Americans wanted the in office to 137. Two State Representatives ing cuts to our party’s proposed budget Green and Libertarian candidates in the in Maine joined the Greens this year, a new was particularly across the board.” This raises critical ques - presidential debates, although the people’s landmark for one of the first state parties success ful at using social tions about what steps the party must take will was predictably overruled by the DNC/ (see article page 6 ). Many candidates who in order to sustainably fund a national or - RNC-controlled Commission on Presidential didn’t win nevertheless made a big impact, media to bypass the ganization. Debates. A September 2017 Gallup poll found such as Jabari Brisport , who set a new rec- gatekeepers of corporate The Green Party’s media presence grew that 61 percent of Americans — a record high ord for a Green running for New York City thanks to the 2016 campaign, which saw — agree the Democratic and Republican Coun cil with 29 percent against an estab - media and reach the landmarks such as the first hour-long CNN parties do such a poor job representing the lished Democratic incumbent ( see article town hall devoted to the Green presidential people that a new major party is needed. page 8 ). public directly. ticket. While much of the coverage was an - In Maine, 52 percent voted in 2016 to Hard work and campaign donations put On the national level, the Green Party tagonistic and focused on how Greens enact Ranked Choice Voting at the state the Stein/Baraka ticket on the ballot in 44 of the United States now employs 5 staff threat en the lesser-evilism of the two-party level, the first statewide victory for the grow - states and Washington DC, and earned members: an office manager, web manager, system, it nevertheless opened channels ing voter choice movement. Long years of write-in status in 3 additional states. Only 3 media director, fundraiser and national po - for independent thinkers to learn more dogged Green organizing played a critical states did not allow a Green vote for Presi - litical organizer. Although several state par - about the party. role building up to this win, including cam - dent. This was the closest Greens have yet ties employ at least one part-time staffer, The 2016 campaign was particularly paigns for statewide office as well as the come to achieving national ballot access in both the state and national parties remain successful at using social media to bypass successful campaign to use Ranked Choice the face of discriminatory ballot access overwhelmingly volunteer-driven organiza - the gatekeepers of corporate media and Voting in Portland, Maine’s largest city. Now laws. With the help of the presidential cam - tions. reach the public directly. This insurgent Maine Greens are gaining momentum and paign, state Green parties retained ballot The national party has 5 accredited presence on social media demonstrated members in the fight to defend Ranked Choice status in 21 states. Since then, Utah Greens caucuses: The Women’s, Black, Latino, Lav- enough support for the campaign that the Voting from the bipartisan establishment, have gained ballot status and North Carolina ender, and Youth Caucuses. Indigenous and corporate media had to grant at least a small which quickly went to work to sabotage the has lowered its requirement from 94,000 Disability caucuses are in the process of amount of coverage, if only maintain the il - people’s will. signatures to 12,000, making it likely that forming. The Youth Caucus has experienced lusion of an objective free press. In April Greens will soon get on NC’s ballot for the particularly solid growth, with close to 200 2016 Jill Stein joined the top trending topics Jill Stein joined the top first time in history. The Green Party’s Ballot dues-paying members on the caucus’ online on both Facebook and Twitter, and when in - Access Committee is working to add addi - forum, and an active presence on more than terviewed live on Facebook by ABC News trending topics on both tional ballot lines in 2018, including states 50 college campuses and in almost every she shattered their previous record for view - like Nevada and Indiana where Greens missed state, including states such as Alaska, Idaho, ership ten times over. Twitter has verified Facebook and Twitter, and when interviewed live on Facebook by ABC News she We need green voices in this nation! shattered their previous We need Green legislators in Congress! record for viewership We need you to keep the Green Party Strong! ten times over. The 2016 campaign played an unmis - What can I do? Make a commitment: takable part in revitalizing the Green Party, and inspiring new members, chapters and Donate what you can to strengthen our voice I would like to give the following to keep our party strong: candidates across the country. It also revealed so that we can make our vision a reality. If អ $1000 អ $250 អ $100 អ $50 អ $25 អ Other Amount: ______you have given recently, please consider giv - continuing challenges the party faces in har - ing more. And, if you haven’t given in some I would like to give an ongoing monthly gift of: nessing the energy of campaign seasons to time, please consider making today the day អ $100 អ $50 អ $25 អ $10 អ Other Amount: ______build the independent political force for you give. ____ CREDIT CARD: Automatically charge my credit card every month. people, planet and peace over profit that the current historical moment so urgently If you can only afford a little each month, you Name ______can become a monthly sustainer so your do - demands. To break through the faltering two- nation can be spread over time. Help make Street Address ______party system to real power, Greens will need our voice stronger with your contribution. City ______State ______Zip ______to engage in revolutionary self-criticism about Our accountability to future generations de - how to organize a party that can mobilize the pends upon what we do today. Home Phone ______Email ______rapidly growing number of Americans who MAIL this form with your enclosed CHECK or Occupation* ______share the vision of a better world. MONEY ORDER to: Employer* ______Green Party of the United States Dave Schwab served as the Communications PO Box 57065 CREDIT CARD Washington, DC 20037-0065 Circle one: VISA MASTER CARD AMEX DISCOVER Director for the Stein/Baraka campaign, and now serves as a Co-chair of the Wis - CC# ______Exp. ______CVC Code ______Save a tree & go to www.gp.org to donate. consin Green Party. 11 Volume 20 • Number 1 www.greenpagesnews.org A peace dividend: end war, get paid!

Commentary by Daniel Martin, Green Party of Pennsylvania

Ajamu Baraka, Green Party running mate in Rachel, author of The Peace Dividend , writes: tails of how we would pay for it, consider the toward actual “defense.” Moreover, the ar - the 2016 presidential election recently wrote “To get the plan underway requires that we following: ticle cites a 2011 University of Massachusetts “Urgent: we need an anti-war movement to package peace in an entirely different way, 1. In a report by the Department of De - study indicating that “military spending is curtail the U.S. rogue state which continues that instead of only appealing to pity and fense (DOD), it estimates that the wars in the worst way to create jobs … Putting the to be a danger to the whole world.” Nothing conscience, we focus on personal self-in - Afghan istan, Iraq and Syria cost each U.S. same money into any other area—from in - could be more true. Before we can solve any terest. This is not meant to be cynical. It’s taxpayer $7,500. frastructure to transportation to alternative of our domestic problems, it makes sense not that people don’t care about suffering. 2. According to the War Resisters League, energy to health care or education—creates to work towards the single-most effective It’s that most individuals care first about the 28 percent of our multi-trillion income tax up to twice as many jobs as military spend - way to simultaneously save lives, free up suffering of those immediately around them, revenue goes towards current military ex - ing does.” money to invest in a greener economy, and not those in far flung nations they can barely penditures, with another 20 percent for 4. A Michigan State University study de - directly take care of people: ending wars. find on a map.” past military costs, including veterans’ ben - tailing DOD and Housing and Urban Devel - Shouldn’t this be the number one focus of opment budgets between 1999-2015 found the Green Party, and that which most sets $21 trillion unaccounted for, on top of our us apart from the parties in power? already $20 trillion deficit. Former Assistant But perhaps the prospect of ending war Secretary of Housing Cath erine Austin Fitts may not be enough incentive alone for the explains, “This is $65,000 for every man, majority of Americans to take action. As a woman and child resident in America.” seasoned activist in the antiwar movement, The point being, the money exists and I’ve observed various strategies fail over the can be made available for a peace dividend. years. Some of us try to explain the imprac - But there are many people who are not ticality of our wars to people, others try to at the starting point yet of realizing how appeal to conscience. Some flaunt their ide - wasteful and unjust our last 16 years of war - alism and share their utopian visions of fare have been. This is an opportunity to ed - world peace. None of these things seem to ucate them about the fiscal costs of war, in have enough widespread appeal to connect addition to the concepts of blowback, the with the masses. War has become so in - sham of the so-called “war on terror” which grained in our culture, and our oligarchs have has only exacerbated terrorism, the conse - so effectively sold the threat of terrorism quences of regime change, the real reason and “evil” dictators, that most people turn a we went to Iraq, PNAC, neoconservative ide - blind eye. And because it is waged far across ology, etc. the globe and with minimal American casu - Money talks, and people listen, it’s really alties these days, war is an abstraction to that simple. If national level candidates run Anti war march, Washington DC, 2007 (Photo composite by David Doonan) the majority of the populace. on this platform, could the media really con - Now imagine passing by an antiwar rally Many will be skeptical of this idea. Jill efits and interest on the national debt, (most tinue to ignore us? Will people really vote and seeing a sign that said “Peace Dividend: Stein ran on a platform which included can - of which is estimated to be created by mili - against their own self-interest? Could the End War, Get Paid!” Would this get your at - celling student debt. Many of us had high tary spending). That’s a total of 48 percent Green Party finally win seats, and move our tention? What if a candidate for U.S. House, hopes for the popularity this might gain for of our taxes spent on defense. country closer to peace? Senate, or President promised to introduce Greens, but were profoundly disappointed 3. A recent article which appeared in a bill or action that would not only end wars, on election night. But there is a huge differ - The Nation , “Here’s Where Your Tax Dollars Daniel Martin is a two-time Stein supporter but give people money . . . a share of the ence between promising to eliminate debt for ‘Defense’ Are Really Going,” notes that and voter, and three-time contributor to money we’d be saving by not going to war, for a small subset of the population, and nearly half of the over $600 billion DOD’s Counter punch.org. Active with his local, Lan - and that the government retroactively owes promising, say, $14,000 to every American 2016 budget was spent in the form of con - caster County Green Party (PA), he is a mem - us for 16 years of trillions of dollars wasted household. tract awards to corporations. It goes on to ber of 1040 for Peace, and a board member on these doomed-to-fail ventures? John Without getting too much into the de - show a shockingly low amount of this going of Peace Action Network of Lancaster. End-of-life options an important civil rights issue

Commentary by Dawn Lentz, Green Party of Delaware

sion with their doctor. This means that they tle bit of control, where now they have none. to choose their end-of-life options with the might obtain prescriptions to send them Why do I find this issue so important? I am a aid of their physician. into permanent sleep and eventually stop terminal patient. We recognize that advances in science their hearts, allowing them to die with dignity. I’ve been diagnosed with a rare disease have created medical interventions that of - called Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA). SCA is ten increase suffering and prolong the dying Terminal patients’ a hereditary, degenerative, neurological con - process. We believe in securing social justice dition; I will eventually die from complica - for all people, and so believe that citizens inalienable civil rights tions such as aspiration pneumonia. I will be have the right to choose their end-of-life op - This spring the Green Party of Delaware de - need to be recognized by completely aware of my body’s inability to tions. Medical aid in dying enables a mentally clared support for a bill introduced in the perform the most basic functions, like bath ing competent, terminally ill adult other options Delaware legislature pertaining to the end- allowing them the and eating. Ultimately, even talking will be in the face of unbearable, inevitable suffer - of-life options a terminal person may or may freedom to choose their impossible. I fear these final months the ing. We recognize that the choices a person not decide to choose. most, when I will watch my loved ones cry makes at the end of life are inalienably Under current law, a terminal patient is end-of-life options with and listen to hushed conversations about ground ed in that individual’s life experience left with only two choices: either decide to me from a tomb-like body. and values. suffer, expiring slowly, swimming in pain and the aid of their physician. There’s no cure for what I have. No mir - In summation, GPDE is committed to uncertainty; or choose to end their life by Opponents call this bill assisted suicide acle will save me. My only hope of not having supporting civil rights, which are protected suicide — a tragic decision that is often not legislation, but this is not so. It provides for to endure months of distress and being a under our constitution. I urge other Greens made jointly with family members, to whom an educated decision to be made between constant burden to my family is the possi - to begin inquiring about adopting end-of- it may come as a terrible shock, leaving sur - a terminal patient, two doctors and the pa - bility of having a doctor help me to safely life options legislation in your state. This isn’t vivors traumatized. And suicide may cancel tient’s family. It informs insurance companies and painlessly go to meet my creator. about what you personally agree with: It’s insurance policy benefits. that these patients were terminal, meaning This summer, GPDE collected 280 sig - about addressing terminal patients’ civil Delaware House Bill 160, the end-of-life that they were definitely going to die. The natures on a petition explaining how termi - rights. options bill which will come to a vote after question becomes when, and how. nal patients’ rights are being infringed. GPDE January 2018, will give terminal patients an - Many tears will be shed, but they will be supports HB 160, and agrees that terminal Dawn Lentz is a member of the Green Party other choice. House Bill 160 will allow termi - shed either way. This legislation will give ter - patients’ inalienable civil rights need to be of Delaware and the founder of the MOT nal patients to make their end-of-life deci - minal patients the opportunity to have a lit - recognized by allowing them the freedom Lower Delaware Local of GPDE.

Green Pages editorial board is a skills-based GPUS com - Do you have a way with words? mittee dedicated to the production of Green Pages. Do you have a passion for communicating ideas? Prospective members should provide information on Turn all those midnight hours to good use — their experience in writing, editing or design to: Join the Green Pages editorial board. [email protected]. 12 Opinion GREEN PAGES • Summer 2017 On the necessity of the Green Party addressing adultism

Commentary by George Reiter, Green Party of Texas

politics that arise from the mistreatment of for making corporal punishment of children coping mechanisms we put in place when children make progressive politics nearly im - illegal, (as it is in 51 other countries). Beyond we were children take over when something possible. The tendencies to see things in that, we need to stand, and be seen stand - in the present triggers a hurtful experience terms of good and bad, others as enemies, ing, for the welfare and full humanity of chil - of the past. When triggered, we fight with and to punish those we hold to be ‘bad’, are dren, in every issue with which we are in - each other over perceived slights that aren’t regarded as unobjectionable and righteous volved. intended, see people as antagonists to be when applied to children. These attitudes dominated by better arguments, by outvot - have become internalized in adults for whom If we intervene now, the ing them, by outmaneuvering them, rather growing up being punished for being ‘bad’ than reaching for them to see what they are By adultism I mean treating children and was a way of life. children being born needing from us and their world. young people with less than full respect for I would suggest that progressive politics We were not always that way. As chil - their humanity. That this is a problem in our needs to be based on the assumption that today will be far more dren, before we got too hurt, we were willing culture should be clear enough from the fact love is the ground of being of all human be - able to create a world out to love and be loved by anyone we met. This that children are the only humans in the so - ings, that there are no intrinsically evil peo - is our inherent nature, covered over by the ciety who can be hit with impunity, and in - ple, and that the differences between us of their love for it, rather pain inflicted by a culture that didn’t know deed, adults are encouraged to do so as a that lead to conflict are there as the result than their fear of others who we were. We need to take responsibility way of seeing to it that they “learn right from of growing up in an oppressive culture. That for our past hurts, not act on the feelings wrong,” learn to respect their elders, and culture is internalized through misinformation and authority. they evoke when triggered, and let the feel - cease their “bad behavior.” The practice is and mistreatment at an early age. The mis - ings surface to be released when it seems so prevalent and accepted in our culture treatment has systemic aspects that serve There is also work we need to do on our - safe enough to do so. Healing is possible, that nearly 90 percent of people surveyed to reinforce racism, sexism and deference selves. We do not usually see the extent to and we need to find a path that works for us will tell you that a little spanking is necessary to the upper classes, the latter through the which we have internalized attitudes about as we work to heal the society. every now and then to maintain discipline, destruction of our inherent sense of self- ourselves and the world as a consequence Here is something that works for me, even though there is ample evidence that worth, to be replaced by an endless striving of the hurtful treatment we had to accept reminding me of who we are. If you are up corporal punishment, even in its lightest to be ‘good’ enough. If we are to end these (from mostly well-intentioned adults) as for it, try making warm eye contact with form of an occasional spanking, is harmful “ism’s” in the culture, we will have to stand children. These attitudes and patterns of young children you meet. You will find they to children and produces no positive effect against adultism, the means by which they behavior, limit our ability to think and coop - are mostly delighted to make contact with on behavior. are installed in us as children. If we intervene erate with others. We hold on to our anger, you, and I am guessing you will be delighted It is necessary to take on adultism in the now, the children being born today will be resentment, sadness, embarrassment and with them as well. culture, not only because of the harm being far more able to create a world out of their fear from times when we felt powerless in done in an ongoing way to children, but also love for it, rather than their fear of others relation to the adults around us. These past George Reiter is co-chair Harris County Green because the dysfunctional aspects of our and authority. In the short term, let us stand experiences lie in wait. The emotions and the Party in Houston, Texas. How to get Universal Health Care

By Ursula Rozum, Green Party of New York State

Universal health care is a political idea which story to share and our personal experiences health care, dental, vision, hearing, pre - is finally getting the attention it deserves. are the most powerful tool we have to put scription drugs, lab tests, medical sup - There are now single-payer healthcare bills the current market-based health care sys - plies, trans services, etc. in several state legislatures. At the national tem on trial. Sharing our health care stories • No narrow networks or insurance company level, the Improved and Expanded Medicare is a first step in exposing the degree to which bureaucrats telling us which doctor we for All Bill (HR 676) has more Congressional the current system erodes our human dig - can see or telling doctors what treat - cosponsors than any previous year. The nity and creates unnecessary emotional and ments will be paid for. 2018 campaign season is well underway and financial distress. Asking people about the The New York Health Act would be paid the future of healthcare will be a primary challenges they have faced is a powerful way New York Health Act developed the follow - for by progressively rated taxes. Employers election issue across the country in state to raise consciousness about how the cur - ing principles to help frame our demands: will pay 80%, employees pay 20%. People and federal level races. rent system is broken and to invite them to who earn less than $25k/year pay nothing. Universal: Everyone is included and can A commitment to establishing a univer - join in the fight to advocate for the system It will costs less than current system be - meet their healthcare needs and there sal, public health program runs deep in our that meets our collective needs. Because cause we will save money from not paying are no out-of-pocket costs (also known Green Party DNA. The Green Party has always everyone, regardless their political ideology, high administrative fees to private insurance user fees). had the right position in support of universal utilizes the health care system and has loved companies and because New York will be Comprehensive: Full benefits, choice of health care but how can we move beyond ones who use the health care system, shar - able to negotiate for much better rates with doctor and covering all medically nec - being right and holding the right position to ing about our experiences is a way to build drug companies. Also, when we don’t have essary care as determined by the pa - building the power necessary to transform trust and bridge political divides. to worry about “user fees,” the out of pocket tient’s health care professionals. the healthcare system into one that is hu - costs associated with going to the doctor, Equity: Funded fairly, based on ability to pay, man and democratic? Asking people about the we’re more likely to go in for wellness visits, with access to high quality care assured Many self-described progressives are catch health problems early, and need less for all and everyone, regardless of in - already familiar with the concept of “single challenges they have specialty or emergency care. come or wealth, is covered by the same payer” health care. “Single payer” refers to Disagreements exist within the health - health plan. the process of paying health care providers. faced is a powerful way care reform movement and in the Green Accountability and Transparency: The The idea is simple: 1) people and businesses to raise consciousness Party of the specific demands that we people running the plan will be account - pay into the healthcare system (the more should be making, whether to fight for a bill able to the public and the health pro - money you have, the more you are asked to about how the current at the state or the federal level. When we gram will be run according to public contribute) 2) the government administers system is broken. shift our organizing to focus on the chal - policies and laws. a public health care fund to pay doctors and lenges and struggles we face in the current Participation: Everyone has a meaningful hospitals and 3) everybody is covered. Uni - In New York, the Green Party of New system, the stories we tell and the relation - voice in decisions that impact us all. versal, single-payer health care is on the York is an endorser of the New York Health ships we build will be valuable for fights at radar of those who are engaged in political Act, a bill to establish a state-wide public Public opinion is on the side of universal both levels. The opposition, led by the in - activism and who are organized in some sort health program, modelled on the national healthcare and it’s steadily growing. Accord - surance and pharmaceutical industry, of organization. National and state level sin - Improved and Expanded Medicare for All Bill ing to a June 2017 Pew Research poll, 60 claims that universal health care would be gle-payer bills are endorsed by labor unions, in Congress (HR 676) The key features of percent of Americans say the federal gov - too expensive and that it could never work. faith communities, physicians organizations, the New York Health Act are: ernment is responsible for ensuring health We know that the opposite is true, that the and community groups. care coverage. Winning universal health care • Everyone, including the unemployed and current system is inhuman and unsustain - Missing from the movement to pass will be liberating for the vast majority of undocumented, is covered; able and does not work to meet our collec - universal health care are those most im - Americans. It’s a reform that will shift power • No more out of pockets costs: no de - tive health care needs. pacted by the disparities fo the system: im - to working class people who will no longer ductibles, no copays, no premiums; As mainstream political support grows migrants, people of color, the poor and be tethered to jobs just for the benefits or • About 98% of New Yorkers would spend for universal health care bills at the state and working class. at risk of losing life savings due to an illness. LESS on healthcare than they do now national level, it becomes more and more To build a movement that can win uni - Few issues allow us to connect with as many according to an economic analysis con - likely that political elites will try to push versal health care, the next step is to engage people as when we discuss health care. Or - ducted in 2015; through legislation that in name, claims to those who have the most to gain from trans - ganizing around our health care experiences • Provides comprehensive care that is equal be “universal health care” but really does forming the system and bring them into the is key to building strong local movements to current Medicare/Medicaid and cur - not transform the system in the way that is leadership of this fight. But how? that will help us win the right to health care rent state insurance standards, includ - necessary to establish a sustainable system Health care is an issue that impacts all and the many other changes we wish to see ing: primary, preventive, specialists, that reigns in costs and guarantees care for of us. Everyone has a personal health care in our communities. hospital, mental health, reproductive all. In New York, the campaign to pass the