{"article":{"id":214,"heading":"Greens Rally for the DNC","author":"Nathanael Jordan","created":"2000-07-31 14:04:38","modified":"2005-08-15 00:17:53","last_modified":"Mon, 15 Aug 2005 07:17:53","article":"","contact":"njordan5@hotmail.com","link":"www.votenader.org","address":"","phone":"(831)426-0904","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"interview with Volunteer Coordinator\r\nSanta Cruz Greens campaign for new election formats\r\nalternative institutions in the making","numcomment":2,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/2000\/07\/greens.doc","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2000\/07\/214.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":220,"heading":"huh?","article":"is this encoded, or goobledygook? (i really am that clueless)\r\npeace, chance","author":"chance","parent_id":214,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-05-10 19:06:39","modified":"2019-10-28 23:12:27","fileurl":""},{"id":221,"heading":"is this better?","article":"Greens Rally for the DNC \r\nby Nathanael Jordan 12:00am Tue Nov 30 '99 \r\nphone: (831)426-0904 njordan5@hotmail.com \r\n\r\n\r\ninterview with Volunteer Coordinator \r\nSanta Cruz Greens campaign for new election formats \r\nalternative institutions in the making \r\n\r\nRally for the DNC\t27 July Ralph Nader knows the story. Sure, the\r\n\u201crepublicrats\u201d have set the rules to keep themselves in control.\r\nGranted, the presidency legitimates a flawed system based on racialized\r\nexploitation. That\u2019s what makes the Green campaign so important: they\r\norganize for direct representation. The Greens see the presidential race\r\nas a way to both spotlight injustice and promote direct action.\r\nVolunteers focus these purposes in two main areas: First, Greens mean to\r\nchange who designs the debates. Second, the Nader campaign promises to\r\nsupport independent initiatives across the country. With these\r\nintentions, the organizers demonstrate one way to challenge corporate\r\nauthority. David Espinoza, volunteer coordinator for the Santa Cruz\r\nchapter, spoke on these goals at a recent prep meeting for the DNC. For\r\nthe first, the Greens challenge the Commission on Presidential Debates\r\n(CPD) as a means to reveal who limits national politics. \u201cA little bit\r\nof background on this \u2013 The Commission on Presidential Debates dis not\r\nexist prior to 1987. Before that, the debates were run by the\r\nnon-partisan League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters made a\r\n\u2018mistake\u2019: they let an independent into the debates (I believe it was in\r\n1984). That, of course, ruffled the feathers of the Republican\/Democrat\r\nparty\u2026These two parties are in the business of staying in power. So,\r\nthey established the CPD, and set a 15% polling rate for any third party\r\nto qualify to get into the debates\u2026It\u2019s funded by things like Budweiser\r\nand big tobacco\u2026 \u2026Nader has filed a lawsuit saying that violates earlier\r\nlaws that political campaigns could not be funded by corporations.\r\nThat\u2019s one aspect.\u201d The other, of course, is the grassroots pressure.\r\nEspinoza and the tabling volunteers coordinate a postcard drive to\r\nconvince the CDP that people know what\u2019s going on. What is more, the\r\ncampaigners contact elected representatives to cosponsor Rep. Jackson\u2019s\r\nbill to lower the entrance level to 5% (HR 373). That percentage of\r\nvoters parallels the number that will bring the greens federal support.\r\nIts what they do with that support that makes the difference. According\r\nto Espinoza, the long term goal of the Nader campaign is to provide\r\nbacking for local elections. To do that includes getting the public\r\nsupport to show more than 5% of voters. With that number, the Greens\r\n\u201cqualify for federal matching funds,\u201d says Espinoza. Nader\u2019s campaign\r\npromises to provide such money to city and state candidates. At that\r\nlegislative level, Nader promotes the Concord Principles for all\r\nofficials. He would enact protections for \u201cwhistleblowers\u201d who organize\r\nagainst corporate abuses. In such ways, the Greens offer legal support\r\nfor direct action movements. The DNC stands as a chance to coordinate\r\nstrategies and plan actions. Nader\u2019s campaign offers vital resources for\r\nchallenging corporate-led politics. David Espinoza calls for your\r\nsupport during the Los Angeles convergence: \u201cJust look for the green\r\nflags.","author":"chance","parent_id":214,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-05-10 19:06:39","modified":"2019-10-28 23:12:27","fileurl":""}]}