contrary to what many greens and dems will tell you, there's no one reason gore couldn't/didn't win. dems who lay blame solely on the greens are just avoiding the real issue which is what the fuck is wrong with our party (and there's a LOT wrong). greens who say it's all the dems and gore are just as delusional. scapegoats are easy. the truth is hard. there's a constellation of reasons king george is now leading (and i use that term loosely) the country. and it's going to take a constellation of solutions to get him out.

i think the greens have some pretty good ideas -- the instant run-off, the "none-of-the-above" option on a ballot -- and i agree with a lot of their stands on the environment, big development and the corporatization of america. but they also have some ideas that are completely whacked. that's cool, though. somebody's gotta skip steps one through 10 to drag the stragglers to two. i wanted to learn more, so i went to a benefit in my neighborhood.

unfortunately, i didn't really learn much about the green party platform. what i did learn is that the greens are really pissed off at democrats for blowing the election. i have never been to a political rally for a group i shared views with and felt so damn disenfranchised.

what galled me was this bashing and whining and bitching and moaning the greens were doing about democrats baiting them and slamming doors in their faces during neighborhood walk-abouts. that's bad behavior from anyone and the greens are right to be pissed about it. but, that's exactly what they were doing at the benefit -- bashing me and, figuratively any way, slamming the door in my face.

the greens were up there talking about what bastards the dems were. that we're the only ones holding a smoking gun. sort of like, everyone sucks, we rock. if you don't think like us, you're stupid or evil or both. their arrogance and righteous indignation left me thinking they were no better than the people they presented as the bad guys. they played right into every negative stereotype people at large have about greens. they seemed like fringe players who were just as exclusive as the other parties. and their platform started getting lost in the vitriol.

all the greens' talk of being the party of inclusion seemed awfully duplicitous when they were making me feel very EXCLUDED because i voted for gore, because i hold them somewhat accountable for the aftermath, because i think the real way to push change is from the bottom up in local, then state, then national elections. when in god's name did *i*, the dyed in the wool liberal democrat, become the bad guy? the way they were talking, *i* was an establishmentarian whore. talk about seeing the enemy and it's us.



i know the concept of back-room politicking is anathema to the greens, but i fail to see what's wrong with sitting down for a cigar and a little deal-making if it gets you one step closer to the change you really want. where the hell is that ethic (in ANY party) these days? when did everybody become so goddamned partisan?

the greens don't seem to understand that they NEED people like us, the dems who're willing to vote libertarian or green or independent because we vote on issues, not party lines. in my district there are 2000 registered greens and their candidate needs 4000 total votes. if she's going to get those, it's reasonable to assume they'll come from dems. but if the greens keep up their dem-bashing antics, they'll lose us. and the opportunity to win will go with us. i know i walked in there thinking i'd vote for her. now i'm not so sure.

You know what? I totally agree with you on this subject. Politics should not be, this is for my party and this other half is for your party. We all work under the same country, and should work together in unity to help each other out. It shouldn't matter what party you're in. We all have the same needs, but it's party and their "tradition" that's seperating us. Anyways, politics should be run by us, "THE PEOPLE!!!"

Arm your desires! Go Anarchy!!!