Hello,
After reading your recent article, “Green Party Must Rethink National Strategy,” I wanted to respond with a few thoughts and observations.
First, as a registered Green for almost a decade, I personally am very offended that there are Green Party candidates whose campaigns rely heavily on Republican funding. I would likely not vote for such a candidate, and I am disappointed that the party has allowed the situation to occur. However, we all know that Democratic candidates often take money from some pretty unsavory sources, as well. More importantly though, focusing on the source of a Green campaign’s funding clouds the only important issue in a discussion of third party viability and strategy – the so-called “spoiler problem.”
When discussing the spoiling of elections, the Democratic Party is so utterly consumed by pointing fingers in every direction, that it entirely misses placing any of the responsibility on itself. Democrats, when in power, have had the opportunity to at least try do something to fix the problem, and have clearly chosen not to. Let us not forget that Democrats benefit from the two-party system as well. There are some very simple fixes to the spoiler problem, the most basic of which is the requiring of runoffs between the two highest vote-getters in an election.
Second, you demonstrate how it is often the case that Green candidates’ polling numbers drop as elections approach. Therefore, the Green Party could just as well make the reverse claim * that its elections are “spoiled” by a broken electoral system dominated by two parties in which Green-leaning voters are intimidated into voting for Democratic candidates. And let’s be honest here about the Democratic Party – in more cases than progressive Democrats might like to admit, their party’s candidates are virtually indistinguishable from their Republican opponents on a whole host of issues.
Third, you state “*yesterday’s Pennsylvania poll and virtually all others find Greens taking votes from Democrats.” This common assumption that progressive votes automatically start off as Democratic ones, but are then “taken” by Greens is, I believe, extremely arrogant. Votes should not be taken by candidates, but, rather, they should be earned.
Yes, this somewhat a disagreement over semantics, but underlying that word choice is the exact mindset that is constraining any positive evolution of our democratic system of governance. Even despite the often piss-poor Democratic candidates, it takes courage for us Greens to cast our votes for the candidates who have earned them, often in face of extreme disapproval from our progressive allies.
Finally, the article implies that Greens helping the Democratic Party take power would later result in more opportunities for participation by third parties like the Greens. If history provides any insight to the future, such a scenario is not very promising.
Thanks for providing an opportunity for these issues to be discussed. I look forward to the day when they are no longer problems!
Sincerely, Catherine Rauschuber
Randy,
Just finished reading your article, “Chronicle ‘Balco’ Reporters Do Not Receive Public Support.” Great, great article. Your perspective is refreshing since everything else I’ve come across covering the subject is blatantly one-sided. Your references to grand-juries being open to outside influence is both intriguing and frightening.
I’ve never read any of your work prior to this story, but will keep an eye out now. Keep the good ideas pure and flowing.
Peace.
Kris Fenrich
Yo, Casey,
Is Bill Drypolcher, president of Zephyr, going to give back all the Ellis Act blood money he made in commissions (perhaps put it towards a fund to help tenants or some such do-goody thing), or does he enjoy his upper-income tax bracket too much to avoid being a hypocrite? I’ll believe his sincerity when it’s sincere.
James Kraus, Attorney at Law, Zacks, Utrecht and Leadbetter
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