Reply #6: i'll tell you why... [View All]

[whalerider55]

first, let me say that I am genetic democrat who is currently a green party member. i am also an elected green party member; twice elected to my local school committee.

i joined the greens because their agenda was consistent with mine, and was action-oriented, and contrasted with both dems and pugs in that regard.

having said that, I have long advocated that the party needs to start at the grass-roots level, in towns and communities, where relationships and community building matter and party affiliation is less important.

there is a designed split between the local green party and the one that exists on the national level. the national level is highly decentralized, and is designed not to create and dictate candidacies but to support efforts to get greens elected on a national level. the Nats don't pick'em, and they don't vet them.

locally, it seems to me that greens are very weakly organized, and aside from at keeping us in touch with one another, is not in the position to actively organize and support local greens running for office. they've have been completely uninvolved in my two campaigns; but i also have to say that my party affiliation has been unimportant in those races as well. ideas and relationships, and most importantly, transparency matter.

I contacted the national green political director over romanelli, complaining that romanelli was hurting us both nationally and locally, and should be repudiated. i told them that in effect, he had become the poster child for everything the greens stood against; he was taking corporate money to draw attention away from critical issues.

i was told that their role was to support; that they would have advised him not to take the money if he had asked them to, but he didn't ask.

when i told them in a secinnd e-mail that their response was inadequate, lacked integrity and would drive local greens like me out of the party, they sent back a thomas paine quote telling me that now was the time for patriots to hold true to the course that had been set.

so, sadly, I'm done with them. i'll get down to city hall next week and un-enroll; and inform the state people that it is because of the attitudes and practices at the national level that i'm checking out; that at the national level, they act just like my Rahm Emmanual, Liddy Dole, and the rest of the politcal lifers.

sheesh. another idealist with his tail between his legs.

whalerider