Firesign Theatre's classic "I Think We're All Bozos on This Bus" Well, well. If I believe what I'm seeing on various Green-oriented Facebook pages, my beloved Green Party has profound internal disagreements over the wisdom of Jill Stein's recount effort. Some partisans are wringing their hands about a possible schism. That would be a shame, but only temporarily.
It is now officially OK to call it "Jill Stein's recount effort." It's not the Stein/Baraka campaign that is spearheading the requests, since Ajamu Baraka has stated quite explicitly that he does not support it. It's not the Green Party's effort either, and it never was: The National Steering Committee voted against it, 5-3 with one abstention. Dr. Margaret Flowers, Green nominee for US Senate in Maryland, is one of many Green who spoken vigorously in opposition; plenty of candidates, as well as rank-and-file Greens, have approved of it.
Even some within the party are suspicious about the recent revelation that the Wisconsin recount will cost more than originally stated*—suspicious, that is, of Stein herself, not of the Wisconsin Secretary of State's Office and its attempted extortion. I feel for Stein, trying to do the right thing, getting jerked around by state officials, and feeling nibbles on her bum from people who were her staunchest allies mere weeks ago.
It is now officially OK to call it "Jill Stein's recount effort." It's not the Stein/Baraka campaign that is spearheading the requests, since Ajamu Baraka has stated quite explicitly that he does not support it. It's not the Green Party's effort either, and it never was: The National Steering Committee voted against it, 5-3 with one abstention. Dr. Margaret Flowers, Green nominee for US Senate in Maryland, is one of many Green who spoken vigorously in opposition; plenty of candidates, as well as rank-and-file Greens, have approved of it.
Even some within the party are suspicious about the recent revelation that the Wisconsin recount will cost more than originally stated*—suspicious, that is, of Stein herself, not of the Wisconsin Secretary of State's Office and its attempted extortion. I feel for Stein, trying to do the right thing, getting jerked around by state officials, and feeling nibbles on her bum from people who were her staunchest allies mere weeks ago.
Will all this dissension lead to a break-up? Where will the defectors go: join existing parties, form a new one? Green Alternative Party, anyone?
This party is due, possibly overdue, for a shake-up. I saw portents of that shake-up when the influx of Sanders supporters began. That influx could not happen without some fundamental changes resulting, both in the party's overall structure and its aggregate ideology.
My prediction, FWIW, is that we may lose some long-standing & valued members, including some high-profile candidates, but we will gain more than we lose, mainly because all this media attention has made more American voters aware that the Green Party exists. My hope, FWIW, is that some canny political organizers will be among those gained.
Will all these new members water down the Green message and pay mere lip service to the Ten Key Values, turning a party governed by principle into just another political gang, because you can't win elections without compromising your ethics? Will they exert pressure for the party to begin accepting corporate donations? It's a legitimate concern. If the Party should bend on principle, surrendering to Realpolitik, I would leave.
But I won't leave just because of an internal squabble, or just because a small percentage on both sides are acting like assholes. I loathe interpersonal drama to the pit of my introverted soul, but I love the Green Vision too much to abandon the movement or its political vehicle. Sure, we're all (or mostly) bozos on this bus, but somehow we're getting wherever that bus is going, and our consciences are still relatively clean.
* for your sanity's sake do not read the YouTube comments!
This party is due, possibly overdue, for a shake-up. I saw portents of that shake-up when the influx of Sanders supporters began. That influx could not happen without some fundamental changes resulting, both in the party's overall structure and its aggregate ideology.
My prediction, FWIW, is that we may lose some long-standing & valued members, including some high-profile candidates, but we will gain more than we lose, mainly because all this media attention has made more American voters aware that the Green Party exists. My hope, FWIW, is that some canny political organizers will be among those gained.
Will all these new members water down the Green message and pay mere lip service to the Ten Key Values, turning a party governed by principle into just another political gang, because you can't win elections without compromising your ethics? Will they exert pressure for the party to begin accepting corporate donations? It's a legitimate concern. If the Party should bend on principle, surrendering to Realpolitik, I would leave.
But I won't leave just because of an internal squabble, or just because a small percentage on both sides are acting like assholes. I loathe interpersonal drama to the pit of my introverted soul, but I love the Green Vision too much to abandon the movement or its political vehicle. Sure, we're all (or mostly) bozos on this bus, but somehow we're getting wherever that bus is going, and our consciences are still relatively clean.
* for your sanity's sake do not read the YouTube comments!
RSS Feed
