Senator Bernie Sanders has suspended his 2020 campaign…
Where does that leave you? Perhaps you were a volunteer for and/or donated to his campaign. For the second time in four years, Senator Sanders has courageously taken on the full force of the Democratic Party establishment, seeking that party’s nomination for President, and lost. Where does that leave you, the enthusiastic Bernie supporter now that his campaign is suspended?
You were not simply supporting a person. You were part of a cause: Single-payer healthcare, the rights and economic well-being of the working and middle classes, his Green New Deal, stop endless war, and so much more! The Democratic Party establishment pulled everything out of its arsenal to defeat Senator Sanders’ campaign for one reason: It did not like his platform. It was not about him. It was about what he stood for. Now, that Sanders is defeated, it hardly seems likely the party will embrace whole planks of his platform. Oh, sure, the Democratic nominee will make some concessions for the sake of getting votes in the general election, and – once the election is over – it is likely those campaign promises will expire, regardless of who wins.
So, there you are, a progressive who surely cannot vote Republican, and you seem to feel hope drain from you with the very thought of voting for traditional Democrats. The Green Party of Washington has good news for you! You will likely find much in our platform and in our values that seems “right at home” to you. You need not vote Republican in protest, and you need not accept the Democratic nominee as your own. Why vote for either of the major parties when they continually demonstrate they do not value the things important to you? Remember, the current Democratic front-runner told a room full of very wealthy donors last year that if he was elected, nothing would fundamentally change for them. This means “more of the same” neoliberal domestic policy that generates larger wealth and income gaps, and more degradation of Mother Earth. Deep down, we all know that we cannot afford to head in this direction any longer.
As a progressive, you yearn for change, and so do Greens all over the world. Greens are members of the Green Party in their own countries. Additionally, Green refers to an international movement of Green Parties across the globe. Greens seek to act in harmony with the earth – our source of life and vitality – and, thus, bless all of earth’s inhabitants, human and otherwise. Greens take a holistic approach to framing policy. Greens are not interested in soundbites that sell, but in policies that are, in fact, sound and healthy. Please consider the following facets of the Green Party platform in the United States:
- Green New Deal – Years before the 2019 legislation sponsored by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Markey, the Green Party was promoting its Green New Deal. It was an official part of Dr. Jill Stein’s presidential campaigns in 2012 & 2016. Green gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins had a Green New Deal in his campaign in 2010. Greens in the United States took inspiration from Greens in Europe who called for their version of a Green New Deal in 2006. So, this idea that we can renew and bless Mother Earth, and by so doing, renew and bless humanity economically has been around for a while. The centerpiece of this bold plan is to transition to 100-percent clean energy by 2030. Here is a video of Dr. Jill Stein explaining in 2016 how the Green New Deal will create jobs – the right kind of jobs. https://youtu.be/PGDjnUXmWFM
- Healthcare – The Green Party supports single-payer universal health care and preventive care for all. We believe that health care is a right, not a privilege.
- Livable Income – We affirm the importance of access to a livable income, including…
- A clear living wage standard should serve as a foundation for trade between nations, and a “floor” of guaranteed wage protections and workers’ rights should be negotiated in future trade agreements. The United States should take the lead on this front — and not allow destructive, predatory corporate practices under the guise of “free” international trade.
- The Four Pillars of the Green Party Platform:
- Democracy – We demand public financing of elections, open debates, and more representative voting systems.
- Social Justice – Falling wages and rising bills are hitting most of us, and the most vulnerable are hit the hardest. We demand a living wage and a real safety net.
- Ecology – The human cost of climate change is too high. We need to get off fossil fuels and on to renewable energy.
- Peace – Our country’s long wars and worldwide military presence are immoral and unsustainable. Our military budget must be cut dramatically.
- The Ten Key Values – The Four Pillars are supported by our Ten Key Values. As a progressive, these values of ours are likely already values of yours. We hope that as you read, you will find a home in the Green Party. We welcome you.
- Grassroots Democracy
- Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
- Ecological Wisdom
- Non-violence
- Decentralization
- Community-based Economics
- Feminism and Gender Equity
- Respect for Diversity
- Personal and Global Responsibility
- Future Focus and Sustainability
Our platform may be found at: https://www.gp.org/platform
Learn more and join us! –> https://greenpartywashington.org/
#WeAreGreen #VoteGreen2020 #DemExit #GreenEnter