Asa Gordon will be presenting the class “Democratizing the Electoral College” on Thursday, July 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm through the Social Action & Leadership School for Activists (SALSA) of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in Washington, DC. The class description at the SALSA website is: here.

Asa Gordon of the Douglass Institute of Government

From the class description:

When we vote for the President of the United States, we are actually voting for a slate of our state’s presidential electors that have pledged to cast their votes for a Presidential Candidate. Each state’s presidential electors are equal to the number of representatives it is entitled to in Congress. All but two states, award all of their presidential electors to the party candidate who receives a majority of the votes cast in the state on a “winner take all” basis. This means, unless a vote is for the candidate receiving the most votes within a state, that vote is effectively disregarded as null and void and does not help in a national tally the candidate for whom it was cast. “Winner take All” is not required by the constitution, and in nearly half of the states where it is applied, it is not even based on state law. This lecture will provide a historical context and report on recent developments in a Civil Action to reform and “Democratize the Electoral College”. The Civil Action seeks a Federal court order for proportional allocation of a state’s presidential electors to reflect the popular vote split for presidential candidates in states without a “Winner take all” provision in the state’s election law.

For questions, or to register for the class, you may call (202)234-9382, ext. 229 or send an e-mail to netfa at hotsalsa dot org

Background - Asa Gordon’s work as noted at the SALSA website instructor’s page:

The Civil Action Gordon vs Cheney was filed on July 28th, 2008, to commemorate the Century and Two Score years anniversary of the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Gordon’s work has been celebrated by officials such as Rep. John Conyers, who in response to a proposed solution brought forward by Gordon on voting rights remedy declared, “This is the most amazing proposition that has ever been brought forward, and if it is accurate, it could change the whole outcome of the voting process in the United States.”

Background - A quotation from the pro se lawsuit Asa filed, Gordon vs. Cheney/Biden:

“[T]abulation in the Hall of the House of Representatives of majority polled presidential electors from unbounded southern states ungrounded in either state or federal law, constitutes a discriminatory abridgment of the voting rights of minority polled presidential electors based on race and/or party affiliation in violation of the mal-apportionment penalty clause pursuant to the United States Constitution (Amend. XIV§2) and statutory Code (2U.S.C.§6)”,
Gordon vs Cheney/Biden. More information at Gordon’s web-site: here.

Capitalism does not exist anywhere in the world today. Not really, at least. The US economic system, based largely on the Keynsian theory of central management, has empowered a political class to enable a ruling class which have for over a century oppressed the American citizen and led to a gradual decline in the ability of people to be independently prosperous in modern society. This sort of central management is far closer to Marxist theory than it is to true capitalist theory as espoused by the Austrian school of economics. Central management has allowed for corruption to be centralized, created readily available paths for the most powerful mega-corporations in areas ranging from military contractors like Blackwater and Halliburton to retail giants such as Walmart, to impose draconian regulations and to even go so far as to lead to human death and suffering on a massive scale.

Regulations by the government may seem well-intentioned to the uninitiated. When the government says “we’d like to help the environment,” it’s natural for someone to believe that they are helping the environment by doing something such as limiting pollution and imposing penalties for polluters. While this may seem on the surface to be a noble goal, the truth of the matter is that what’s really happening is that a massive bureaucracy is being created. We all know that mega-corporations have a lot of control over the government we live under. It shouldn’t be difficult, then, to realize that if these mega-corporations didn’t want such regulations, they could have stopped them from coming into existence. They do want them, however, and here’s why. Those bureaucracies cost millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars a year to comply with. The regulations go vastly beyond simply saying “don’t pollute or you’ll get in trouble”, and instead create these massive, expensive bureaucracies. These compliance costs create a barrier to entry in many industries, which means that only the mega-corporations who can afford easily to comply, can do so at all. That drives up prices for the consumer, and absolutely prevents competition which would help to protect the consumer from the mega-corporations by allowing someone else to “do it better and cheaper.”

Another good example of this is the FDA. At many points in history, new medicines were developed by accident by brilliant individuals working at home. Now, it’s impossible for this to occur, since the FDA would regulate them out of existence. The pharmaceutical giants which love the FDA’s existence because it allows them to hold their power over that market also lobby for things like continuing marijuana prohibition to prevent medical marijuana from becoming popular. Many patients who use medical marijuana illegally suggest that it works wonders, yet the federal government maintains prohibition against it. It just isn’t profitable for the mega-corporations in the pharmaceutical industry. They can’t patent it.

Beyond that, the inherent corruption of the Keynsian-Marxist system we live under has created a new class - the non-productive political class of politicians and bureaucrats who contribute little if anything to society while working to enforce regulations that maintain the oppression of the most productive classes in society. The political class has one mandate from the ruling class which created it - to help the ruling class to maintain its power and build barriers to prevent others from becoming a part of the ruling class, while pretending to be somehow benevolent, and not looking or smelling like the ruling class to the majority of the citizenry.

It’s our belief as libertarians that the only way to empower working people is by removing the power from the corrupt political class which enables them to serve the ruling class. That means dramatically shrinking the size and scope of government at all levels. Only then can people be truly free to compete against the mega-corporations successfully. Socialism and corporatism (also known as the Keynsian economic model of central management) empower that political class to serve the whims of the ruling class, which allows for the exploitation of workers. A truly free market - which is something that we absolutely do not have in this state or this country today - would allow every individual to be a capitalist and to potentially, through their own hard work, entrepeneurship, and motivation, and to potentially join the upper class. Big government does not create trickle down wealth, it leads only to trickle-down poverty. Big government steals wealth from the people and delivers it into the hands of the ruling class through inflationary monetary policy, bailouts and corporate welfare, and by preventing free competition from rising up from the productive classes of society.

I hope you’ll join us in our fight to help regular people in the state of West Virginia achieve the prosperity they deserve.

-Paulie

415 690 6352

***********************************************************************

Report of the 2009 Mini- Convention of the Libertarian Party of Alabama

Held on June 27, 2009

Please know that we had a good attendance of 26, per my count; that doesn’t include a visitor that came in from the street with her little girl to get information about the LPA during one of the breaks. I will forgo naming every one that attended here, however thank you all again for your attendance.

Special thanks go to Stewart Flood, our National Regional Representative, who attended because that is part of his duties to give a report of the National activities and because he wished to attend. He honored us by giving a report from National and answering questions. Special thanks also go to Dr. Paul Cleveland; who spoke on the “State of the Nation’s Economy,” and who had an interesting Q & A time. Please know that you missed not only a very informative, but entertaining presentation and discussion if you were not there.

Your newly elected officers for the year 2009 are as follows:

Chair: Mark Bodenhausen by a vote of 14 to 8
Vice Chair: Matthew Givens by a vote of 13 to 10
Treasurer: Gordon Maddox unanimously
Secretary: Sarah Wires unanimously

Per changes to the Bylaws, which I will tell you about in more detail later, we changed from ten (10) District Chairs to four (4) Regional Representatives. The fours Regions are comprised of:

Huntsville and Florence
Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Gadsden
Montgomery, Selma and Auburn
Mobile and Dothan

Your newly Elected Regional Representatives are:

Huntsville and Florence: Dr. Deborah Gordon
Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Gadsden: Mr. Chris Carr
Montgomery, Selma and Auburn: Dr. Roderick Long
Mobile and Dothan: Pending contact with the current Chair, Leo McDermott
(Since Leo has been a power house in that area, a breath of fresh air, and while we sincerely hope he continues to hold that position - with the expansion of the area; we felt we should make sure he would wish to serve if elected, before a vote was taken, etc.)

Your new At-Large Person is Paul Frankel, of Tuscaloosa.

ByLaws Changes: As mentioned above the ByLaws were changed at this convention. The changes are as follows:

Motion by Stephen Dow: To change the wording of the sentence in Article IV, Section I, starting at “ten metropolitan..” to “four regions, each running east-to-west across the state, the first to include Huntsville and Florence; the second Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Gadsden; the third Montgomery, Selma, and Auburn; and the fourth Mobile and Dothan.” Replace all occurrences of “District Chair” in the bylaws by “Regional Representative,” and all other occurrences of the word “district” by “region.”

This motion was seconded and passed by the attending voting body. During the discussion of this motion an amendment was submitted by Anna Alldredge, regarding changing the number of At-Large Persons from two (2) to four (4) so the Regional Representatives would have more help. The amendment did not pass; however, the original motion by Mr. Dow carried and was accepted.

Stephen Dow made another motion to change Article IV, Section 5, regarding the EC meeting rules; but this motion did not pass.

During the course of the above discussions a motion was submitted by Mike Rster, regarding changing the title of the “District Chairs’ to “Issues Chairs.” However, after a discussion, Mike withdrew the motion. So, the changes to Article IV, Section I, regarding changing “District Chairs” to “Regional Representatives” and “Districts” to “Regions” were the only changes made to Article IV.

Stephen Gordon, presiding Chair, made a motion to change: Article III, Section I, where it states, “The officers are elected at the Annual party Convention by all Party members present…” to “The officers are elected at the Annual Party Convention.” This motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Gordon Maddox submitted a motion regarding creating a new position for the purpose of out reach. The motion read as follows: “I move that the LPA appoint one or more persons as recruiters for the purpose of signing new members, forming new area groups, requesting members make voluntary contributions to the LPA and other functions that will increase the vitality of the LPA. Such person may be given the title of Vice-President of Education.”
The motion was discussed and after an amendment that the title be changed from “Vice-President of Education” to “Director of Out-reach,” the motion passed.

Since Mike Rster has served the LPA Executive Committee and the membership with service far above and beyond the call of his duties a motion was presented by Anna Alldredge that was seconded and passed, that “In express respect and gratitude,” we bestow Mike with the title of Vice-Chair Emeritus of the LPA; which he accepted. He was also presented a gift certificate by Mark Bodenhausen on behalf of the EC members.

To my knowledge this is a correct condensed summary of the events of Saturday’s LPA Convention. The highlights, if you will. Again, the first draft of the LPA Minutes will be posted to the EC this week. Thank you all. Be well.

Respectfully submitted:

Sarah Wires,
Secretary of the LPA

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, July 2, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

Statement from Cynthia McKinney; Israel holds ‘Free Gaza 21′ in a
prison in Ramla, Israel

• Cynthia McKinney calls WBAIX from Israeli prison:
http://www.WBAIX.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkPvzSZRuDo

• Texas Greens will participate in a press conference on the Free Gaza
21 in San Antonio on Friday, July 3

WASHINGTON, DC — Former US Representative and 2008 Green presidential
candidate Cynthia McKinney has issued a statement on the seizure of
the Free Gaza Movement’s ‘Spirit of Humanity’ relief boat by Israeli
gunboats in international waters on Monday.

Ms. McKinney and 18 other members of the ‘Free Gaza 21′ are currently
being held in Givon prison in Ramla, Israel. Two of the Free Gaza 21
have been released.

Cynthia McKinney delivered the following statement by phone:

“We were in international waters on a boat delivering humanitarian aid
to people in Gaza when the Israeli Navy ships surrounded us and
illegally threatened us, dismantled our navigation equipment, boarded
and confiscated the ship. All of us on board were then taken off the
ship and into custody, and brought into Israel and imprisoned.
Immigration officials in Israel said they did not want to keep us, but
we remain imprisoned. State Department and White House officials have
not effected our release or taken a strong public stance to condemn
the illegal actions of the Israeli Navy of enforcing a blockade of
humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians of Gaza, a blockade that
has been condemned by President Obama.”

Ms. McKinney and other Free Gaza 21 members have refused to sign a
self-incriminating ‘deportation form’ stating that the Spirit of
Humanity was violating the Israeli blockade and trespassing Israeli
territorial waters by attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza. In
fact, the Spirit of Humanity was in international waters when it was
illegally seized by the Israeli navy in an act of piracy. The
imprisonment of the Free Gaza 21 and the Israeli navy’s jamming the
boat’s navigation system are further violations of international law
– as are Israel’s blockade of Gaza, occupation of Palestinian
territories, and violations of Palestinians’ human rights.

The boat was on a voyage to deliver medical supplies, cement, and
children’s toys to Gaza following an appeal by President Obama for
supplies to be sent to Gaza. Because of their refusal to sign the
form, Israeli authorities will reportedly hold Ms. McKinney and other
Free Gaza 21 members in the prison for three more days before the
Israeli Government can either choose to release them or continue to
detain them.

In a phone call with WBAIX from the prison (listen at
http://www.WBAIX.org), Cynthia McKinney said, “It is incumbent upon
President Obama to stand by his reported policy of easing the Gazan
blockade and of allowing building supplies, medical supplies, and
school supplies to go through,” adding “we call upon President Obama
to use the highest level of his authority to transmit this message to
the Israelis.”

Along with Ms. McKinney, Nobel laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire is
among the Free Gaza 21’s international list of human rights activists.
(Democracy Now! interview with Ms. Maguire from her prison cell:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/2/nobel_peace_laureate_mairead_maguire_speaks)

The Green Party of the United States has called for the immediate
release of the Free Gaza 21 and for permission for the Spirit of
Humanity to resume its delivery of urgently needed medical and other
supplies to Gaza, which is suffering the effects of a brutal invasion
by Israel last December and January
(http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=230).

Green leaders have urged party members and other concerned about the
situation to call the White House, the US State Department, and
members of Congress.

Texas Greens (http://www.bexargreens.org /
http://txgreens.org/drupal), in coalition with the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (San Antonio), Muslim Public Affairs
Council, Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, and Fellowship of
Reconciliation, will hold a press conference on the Free Gaza 21 on
Friday, July 3, noon at the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
(http://www.esperanzacenter.org), 922 San Pedro Avenue in San Antonio.
The contact for the press conference is Kat Swift, who ran for the
Green presidential nomination in 2008. Ms. Swift can be reached at
210-471-1791 and kat@txgreens.org.

For further information and updates, see the Free Gaza Movement web
site (http://www.freegaza.org). For more communications and updates
from Cynthia McKinney, visit her Green Party page
(http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.php) and blog
(http://dignity.ning.com).

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• International Committee of the Green Party: http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

Green Party releases:
• “Breaking news: Cynthia McKinney aboard detained Free Gaza Movement
relief boat,” June 25, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=228
• “Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and
Sanctions on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation,” March 26, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=192
• “Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli
occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely
to resume,” January 19, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July
23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
• North Carolina page http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html
• Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

~ END ~

America’s Independence Day Tea Parties

Free & Equal.org/ ReTeaParty.com
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Chicago’s 4th of July Non-Partisan Tea Party Is On!
Chicago, Il - On Saturday July 4th, hundreds of “Tea Parties” will be held across the nation, drawing attention to the American people’s growing dissatisfaction with the actions of our Federal government.

Unfortunately, many of the Tea Parties are organized by “Astroturf” political consultants, intent on making the Tea Parties nothing but an artificial Republican Party rally, complete with the feigned outrage of talk radio talking heads.

The Free & Equal.org/ ReTeaParty.com Tea Party to be held in Chicago will be something very different.

Chicago’s Independence Day Tea Party will take place this Saturday, July 4th, 2009. The event will take place from 12 Noon until 4pm in Gateway Park at Navy Pier.

The America’s Independence Day Tea Party Movement is a nationwide demonstration forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation.

On July 4th, 2009, we are asking Americans everywhere to re-declare our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

The Independence Day Tea Parties are very different in nature from other tea parties taking place around the nation. The Free & Equal/ ReTea Parties are non-partisan in nature, and will feature speakers and guests from across the political spectrum.

“The Chicago Independence Day Tea Party is a fully nonpartisan event, with guests from all across the political spectrum,” said Free and Equal Chair and event organizer Christina Tobin.

Tobin added, “This will be a forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation. While we may disagree on the solutions, on July 4th, 2009 we will come together as Americans to peacefully express our dissent from the current political status quo.”

Free & Equal.org & ReTeaParty have announced the speakers for the Chicago Tea Party. This diverse list of speakers includes members of several different political parties, activists from assorted political backgrounds, and authors who continue to challenge the current political status quo.

12:00 - 12:25 Christos Dimoulis, Concerned Youth of America (Member NCFCA
National Debate Team)

12:30 - 12:45 Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge

12:45 - 1:00 Richard Lorenc, Director of Outreach at Illinois Policy Institute

1:05 - 1:20 John Bambenek, Author and Activist: The put-back amendment;
reforming the State Legislature to be responsive to the people

1:30 - 1:45 Theresa Amato, Campaign Manager for Ralph Nader for President
2000 & 2004, and author of Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice
in a Two-Party Tyranny.

1:45 - 1:55 Rosanna Pulido, (IL 5) Former Congressional Candidate

2:00 - 2:10 Artist Marc Rubin, Art and Freedom

2:15 - 2:25 Charlie Howe, Green Party Activist & Candidate

2:30 - 2:45 Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United of Illinois

2:50 - 3:00 Adam Andrzejewski, Republican Candidate for Governor of Illinois

3:05- 3:15 Rev. Isaac Hayes, Republican Congressional Candidate

3:20 - 3:30 Peter Lewis, Former Illinois State Coordinator for Ralph Nader 2008

3:30-Close Christina Tobin, Founder & Chair, Free & Equal Elections.

For more information on this, and other Free & Equal/ ReTea Parties, contact Christina Tobin at 312-320-4101, or Christina@FreeAndEqual.org

ReTeaParty.com & The America’s Independence Day Tea Party Movement is a nationwide demonstration forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation.

Free & Equal is a non-partisan election reform and activist organization dedicated to improving ballot access laws in the United States.

Many states have restrictive requirements that make it difficult for Independent and Third Party candidates to place their names on the ballot.

Free & Equal will challenge these laws, through lobbying of state legislators, court challenges, and initiatives.

Free & Equal will also engage in activism for causes independent of the current two-party duopoly.

####

In a note posted to his Facebook page, Dave explains his decision:

Hi Everyone,

As most everyone has heard this week, unemployment has reached the 9% mark and signs of it slowing is unlikely. Also, as some may know after 18 months of being unemployed and struggling with an occasional freelance AV job I have secured a job as Electronic Recording Specialist for McHenry County (IL). One unfortunate part of this position is that I am required to resign as State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Illinois as well as Chair of Libertarian Party of McHenry County. So to ensure there is no misunderstanding of the reasoning for my resignation from these positions, I have copied the text of the regulation below:

J. Political Activities

Court reporting services employees, shall not:

1. Become a candidate for nomination, or election to, or accept appointment to any public office;

2. Hold any office in, or solicit funds for any political organization; or

3. Publically endorse, publically oppose, or solicit funds for candidates for public office.

Except as indicated below, any employee who engages in any of the above activities shall be deemed to have vacated his or her position and shall be discharged.

As you see from the above text there is no room for exception. Reading the text gives guidance as to what activities I may or may not participate in the future. It does not require me to give up my political affiliation with the LPI or LNC.

This regulation also prevents me from continuing my run for Libertarian National Committee Secretary so I am dropping out of that race as well.

In a small humorous side note; one former presidential candidate (R) can breath a sigh of relief now. I can no longer be an outspoken critique of Ron Paul.

LGBT Democrats express outrage over Obama administration defense of DOMA

WASHINGTON — Representatives from America’s third-largest party greeted Democrats protesting the Obama administration’s legal arguments defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) outside a Thursday Democratic National Committee fundraiser aimed at gay and lesbian donors, and shared with them information on the Libertarian Party’s advocacy for marriage equality.

“The Obama administration extends their hand for donations from the LGBT community, and then slaps us in the face with the other hand with the defense of DOMA,” said Catherine Sumner, Libertarian National Committee Gay and Lesbian Policy Adviser.

“Libertarians agree that government should stay out of the marriage issue, and that DOMA should be repealed,” said Sumner. “We welcome Democrats who agree with us to join the only party that will defend their rights, the Libertarians.”

The activists voiced their disappointment over a legal brief filed by the Obama administration asking a federal court to uphold the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages. Standing outside the Madarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C., which hosted a DNC fundraiser featuring Vice-President Joe Biden aimed at collecting funds from gay and lesbian donors, the protestors voiced their displeasure.

While the Obama administration has voiced its opposition to marriage equality and support for DOMA, and the DNC refuses to call on the administration to change its policy, Libertarians have no qualms about their support for marriage equality.

“White House lawyers take over two pages of documentation, citing case law, purposely not citing Loving vs. Virginia, that in so many words, indicates that gay marriage is not natural and thereby not an inherent constitutional right,” said Sumner.

For more information on this issue, or to arrange an interview with the Libertarian Party, please call Director of Communications Donny Ferguson at 703-200-3669 or 202-333-0008, x. 225, or email Donny.Ferguson@lp.org.

The Libertarian Party is America’s third-largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting http://www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

“America’s First Party”
An Open Letter to Bill Maher from the Green Party
July, 2009

Dear Mr. Maher,

We were thrilled to hear you talk about us when you discussed the need for a new party — a “first party” — during the June 19 broadcast of ‘Real Time.’

The only part you left out were the words “Green Party.”

Here’s what you said:

“We don’t need a third party.  We need a first party.  You go to the polls and your choices are the guy who voted for the first Wall Street bailout, or the guy who voted for the next ten.”

“Shouldn’t there be one party that unambiguously supports cutting the military budget, a party that is straight up in favor of gun control, gay marriage, higher taxes on the rich, universal health care — legalizing pot — and steep, direct taxing of polluters?  These aren’t radical ideas.  A majority of Americans are either already for them or would be if they were properly argued and defended.”

“[W]hat we need is an actual progressive party to represent the millions of Americans who aren’t being served by the Democrats.  Because, bottom line, Democrats are the new Republicans.”

Hey, Bill, we’re over here!  What you described is the GREEN PARTY!  We already exist!

Maybe you forgot about us because the major media have an aversion to mentioning the Green Party and our candidates.  Maybe the FCC has banned “Green Party” along with the late George Carlin’s seven dirty words, “Chomsky,” “End the Drug War,” and other language that offends delicate sensibilities.

For the major networks, and apparently PBS and NPR too, the very idea of more than two candidates in an election makes talking heads explode.

If Green candidates started getting elected to higher office, the radical ideas that aren’t really radical would get a fair hearing and a chance of passage.

Imagine if a few Greens got seated in Congress.  Greens don’t take corporate contributions, so they’d be immune to the influence of Exxon-Mobil, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Raytheon, Monsanto, etc.  When Rep. Nancy Pelosi sends out orders not to seek a probe of Bush-Cheney officials who authorized torture dungeons, Greens could tell her to take a hike.

A few Green congressional victories would cause a seismic shock to the political landscape.  Democrats would no longer have Republicans as their sole competition.  The scope of national debate would no longer be Dems on the left, Repubs on the right, a phony middle ground between them, and a narrow range of political ideas comparable to the corner grocery limiting your choice of beverage to Coke or Pepsi.

With some Greens in Congress:

• Democrats couldn’t pretend to be the antiwar party while voting for more war funding.

• Single-payer national health care would be on the table and might even pass.   President Obama and most Democrats already know single-payer is the best proposal.  But they feel compelled to appease the health insurance, pharmaceutical, and other lobbies and find common ground with Republicans who believe the free market has sufficient mojo to cure every illness and injury.

• We’d hear the truth: that “emissions trading” is a license for corporate polluters to keep polluting, that “clean coal” is a plot to turn West Virginia into a crater, that the trillion-dollar Wall Street bailout and confiscation of savings and pension money are the greatest transfer of wealth from working people to big banks in history.

There’s a bipartisan consensus that corporate profit margins always take precedent over Americans facing financial ruin over a health emergency or credit card debt or a mortgage or a lost job.  Whenever you hear the word “bipartisan” on the evening news, check the silverware.

What are we going to do about this situation, Bill?  If you really want a “first party” for America, will you throw us a bone on your show?  Will you have a Green candidate or Green leader on once in a while?  (Ralph Nader doesn’t count — he’s not a member of the Green Party.)

How about Rev. Billy Talen of the Church of Life After Shopping?  Rev. Billy is now a Green candidate for Mayor of New York City (http://www.voterevbilly.org).

Rosa Clemente, our 2008 vice-presidential candidate, said that the Green Party “is more than an alternative, it’s an imperative.”  Based on your comments, Bill, it sounds like you might agree with Rosa.

We look forward to hearing back from you.  You can see what we’re up to on our web site (http://www.gp.org).

Sincerely,

The Green Party

http://www.lpwv.org/2009/06/30/why-i-loathe-ayn-rand-and-you-should-too/

Many in the liberty movement worship and idolize Ayn Rand, author of The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, and a myriad of other novels and shorts. Ms. Rand, however, hated the liberty movement and the Libertarian Party in particular. Rand was particularly critical of the LP’s presidential candidates running in opposition to Nixon and Reagan, as she was herself both a staunch Republican and advocate of authoritarian statism. Unlike what many believe, Rand in fact believed that a strict authoritarian state with dictatorial powers was the best way to impose her brand of objectivism and capitalism on the unwashed masses. In fact, it’s quite clear that Rand in fact loathed the productive class of society in general.

Rand is quoted in “A Nation’s Unity” in 1972 as saying “ If, at a time like this, John Hospers takes ten votes away from Nixon (which I doubt he’ll do), it would be a moral crime.“ Furthermore, she goes on to state, speaking of the Libertarian Party “Capitalism is the one system that requires absolute objective law, yet they want to combine capitalism and anarchism. That is worse than anything the New Left has proposed.“ If these two quotes - an endorsement of statist president Richard Nixon, and a lambasting of anarchism while stating that capitalism requires absolute objective law, do not show you that Rand was in fact a statist, then perhaps you’re dense.

Regardless of her beliefs in statism however, perhaps you should also give consideration to her hatred for you, as libertarians. “Now here is a party that plagiarizes some of my ideas, mixes it with the exact opposite—with religionists, anarchists, and just about every intellectual misfit and scum they can find—and they call themselves Libertarians, and run for office.”, Rand stated in a 1975 interview. She makes an accusation of plagiarism (which is, in fact, quite common for Rand - even though there’s never any credible evidence thereof given whatsoever) while denouncing the Libertarian Party and libertarians. History shows that Rand never supported libertarians politically and in fact unilaterally sided with statist Republicans.

Throughout her career, Rand showed a genuine loathing for the productive classes of society - those who were not her beloved “capitalists”, but were the workers that allowed such people to do anything whatsoever. Face it - without workers, there’d be no industry. Yet while claiming moral superiority, Rand lambasted those very workers while championing the non-productive classes of society. By supporting statist Republicans, she championed the political class. In Atlas Shrugged, she clearly showed a love for the non-productive “management” class. On the other hand, her dislike for the productive class - those who actually do useful things and create useful things - was obvious in many of her writings.

Not everyone in the liberty movement cares much for the Libertarian Party, it’s true. Many of those who choose not to support the LP are in fact great activists, philosophers, thinkers, writers, and otherwise. Just because they choose not to support the LP does not make them authoritarians or statists. Rand, however, has clearly shown herself to be a statist and proponent of the useless political class in America. Her writings, thoughts, ideas,. and statist notions of capitalism ought be tossed out of our philosophy once and for all.

Ayn Rand hates you, and philosophically, you can do so much better than her drivel.

The latest from www.freegaza.org reports that the humanitarian vessel Spirit of Humanity has been attacked and boarded by the Israelis 23 miles off the coast of Gaza. Former US Congresswoman and Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney is among the 21 human rights workers taken prisoner off the ship.

From Free Gaza, the ship Spirit of Humanity has left Cyprus and is heading for Gaza. Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney is on board with 20 other humanitarian workers, along with supplies. The last relief ship that McKinney was on for Gaza was rammed by the Israeli Navy and escorted to port. Will the Spirit of Humanity arrive at Gaza?

Tuesday, June 30th update from Free Gaza website:

Call off your attack dogs
By Free Gaza Team / Tuesday, 30 June 2009 01:15

We just spoke to the passengers. Everyone is OK, but the situation is still very tense. They continue to be surrounded by Israeli warships which are threatening to open fire. The Israeli Navy is actively jamming all navigation systems in violation of international maritime law, endangering the people on board.

Former U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, speaking from on board the SPIRIT, stated, “I am extremely angry. We demand that the Israeli government call off their attack dogs. We are unarmed civilians aboard an unarmed boat delivering medical and reconstruction aid to other human beings in Gaza. Why in God’s name would Israel want to attack us and threaten our safety and welfare. I call on President Obama and the international community to intervene now to prevent this situation from escalating with potentially drastic results to the civilians on board.”

Since the boat’s navigation equipment is being jammed, it has turned westward in order to stay in international waters.The Captain and crew are working from the most ancient of navigation equipment…the compass to stay clear of Israeli waters.

At the Green Party Watch website and Free Gaza website, there are lists of action alerts and addresses to write to in order to support the free passage of the Spirit to Gaza.

(excerpt from) Times Herald-Record on-line
Ex-mayor’s wish list offers 100 ideas for New Paltz
West ‘in remission’ from electoral politics
By Jeremiah Horrigan / Posted: June 29, 2009 - 2:00 AM

NEW PALTZ — Jason West was bitten early and hard by the political bug. It’s taken him to national prominence, and it’s sent him crashing to the political ground.

The former house painter-turned-mayor is back painting houses here after a brief sojourn out West, where he discovered first-hand the severity of California’s economic (and employment) crisis. But the political bug still has him. And while he said he’s not ready to mount any campaigns for office just yet, politics is in his blood — “and I’m only in remission.”

West will jump back into electoral politics “at some point.” But until then, he’s concocted something called “100 Ideas for New Paltz” (http://100ideas.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/welcome/), a blog in which he offers a list of projects big and small to improve the village…

Some of Jason West’s 100 ideas for New Paltz are: Form a public power utility; Buy the streetlights, run ‘em on solar; Require curbside compost collection; Expand the reed beds [successful way to manage sewage, previously instituted on a small scale by Green Party elected officials in New Paltz]; Ban pesticides; Grow the downtown uptown; Outlaw subsidized sprawl; Ban chain stores; Create [and fund] more public art; Plan tree plantings for the effects of global warming on forests; Put living roofs on bus shelters; Make the bus stops more convenient; Re-design main street for more people fewer cars; Use instant runoff voting; Educate about domestic violence; Create a local currency; Make it easier for locals to go to Suny New Paltz [State University]; Abolish corporate personhood; Recognize the rights of nature; Use only native plants when landscaping

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Archival photo of Jason West. From the 2004 Green Party convention, a Nader gathering.

Jason West, 2004. Photo by Kimberly Wilder.

The Independence Party of Minnesota, the party of former governor Jesse Ventura, officially has major-party status in the state, and is third behind the Republican Party and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The Green Party formerly had major-party status.

You can read the whole article here.

On June 24 Root was on Fox News to discuss government limits on bonuses in companies receiving bailout money:

On June 26 Root appeared on Fox News to criticize cap-and-trade proposals: