An open letter to the Green Party NC

From Brandy Baker
member, Maryland Green Party

Dear Green National Committee:

I am contacting you today to discuss Amendment 835: the Economic Democracy Amendment which was co-sponsored by 14 state Green Parties and caucuses. There is a small minority of GNC delegates who promise to vote the proposal down in spite of such grassroots support. Some have vowed to violate the wishes of their co-sponsoring states and to vote against the proposal.

In addition to the 14 state parties and caucuses who have supported Amendment 835, there is a petition circulating in support of the amendment which, in two and a half days, has garnered over 1000 signatures. Some of the signatories are Greens, but a surprisingly large number are not registered Greens who say that they will join the Green Party if 835 passes.

Here is a link to the petition as well as some of the comments on it from those who will join the Green Party if this amendment passes. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/898/027/102/voice-your-support-for-the-green-party-of-the-united-states-becoming-anti-capitalist/#sign

Justin from CA says:
"Add your name to the list. Make the US Green Party take a clear and unified anti-capitalist position. Otherwise, one might think, what's the point?"

Carver from TX:
"Capitalism is an ethically bankrupt system that now manipulates our every day ness."

Tim from NY:
"Reform will not fix our current system - it needs to be replaced. If the Green Party adopts an anti-capitalist stance, they will [have] my membership and my contributions."

Amilcar from NY:
"If this could happen I would consider joining the Green Party, and it would be a pleasure to donate my skills to your campaigns."

Beth from VA:
"I would join the Green Party in a heartbeat if this amendment were approved by the National Committee!"

Bob from CA:
"I was Green for many years and then I joined Peace and Freedom, socialist/anti-capitalist. I would again like to consider Green but not as long as it supports capitalism."

Brent from OR:
"I'll vote Green if the party is explicitly anti-Capitalist."

Hannah from MN:
"If you want to be a relevant party to 2016 you should maybe side with the majority of millennials who don't support capitalism according to the Harvard University Survey, but really it's your own choice to die out so whatever."

Luke from DC:
"I would join and engage with the Green Party if this passes."

Gabriel from CA:
"I am not a member of the Green Party but this amendment would persuade me to join and give my efforts to it. The climate is in peril. We must advance an alternative economic vision to make the best of an increasingly ominous reality before us."

Devon from OH:
"If the Green party rejects capitalism and adopts a platform of economic democracy I will join the party and engage in political activism on its behalf."

"Name Not Displayed" from MI:
"I will join the Green Party if this amendment is added, a party that is for the people and the planet must be critical of the economic system that has caused them such grievous harm."

Max from AK:
"I would certainly join the green party if they were to adopt an explicitly anti capitalist position andand, hopefully, Marxism in particular. I'm a big fan of Richard Wolff's work, and I think he's one of the best analysts of modern capitalism. From an ecological standpoint, there's absolutely no reform that could ever make capitalism sustainable. Any party that calls itself "green" must attack."

Ric from CO:
"It's long overdue. If the Green were to go anti-capitalist, I'd be all-in. This is the perfect moment... While the two capitalist parties are crumbling under the weight of their own contradictions..."

Name Not Displayed from CA:
"I will join the party if it becomes anti-capitalist."

Farah from CA:
"would join if passed"

"Name Not Displayed" from MA:
"Would join if this was passed."

"Name Not Displayed" from CA:
"I am not currently a member of the Green Party, but I would join the party if this amendment passes. The struggle to protect our environment and the struggle to create a more just and democratic society are the same struggle. We will not achieve one without the other. We will never effect a lasting change in a system where making a profit is the primary motivation; large corporations and the governments that they have bought will never allow this. The Green Party has an excellent opportunity to be a true alternative that can organize and fight for the environment and the 99%."

and Griffin from PA:
"I would join the Green Party in a heartbeat if it were to take a firm anti-capitalist stance."

This is just a sampling of signers who support the amendment. There are also many more who say that they will join if this passes.

Please do not let the small old guard on the GNC decide this amendment. If all of the

GNC delegates voted and if those of you who have not chimed in on this debate were to vote yes, this is an important battle that we could easily win. We need the drive and energy of the many new members who would come to the Green Party with the passing of this amendment. It would revitalize the Green Party and make it the party of the most important social movements in this country, including the movement to save our environment from the horrors of capitalism.

Best,
Brandy Baker
member, Maryland Green Party

Unfortunately, a response from one of the NC members calls these supportive comments above “Idle threats” a not very political response and one that reveals the level of pettiness we are dealing wit. BB