[GNC] questions from MA delegate (JEN) to Kent Mesplay

[Mike Heichman]

Hi Everyone:

Jen sent an e-mail to Kent and I wanted to share the response with the
delegation.

Mike Heichman





on 6/14/04 3:00 PM, Kent Mesplay at kentmesplay at presidency.com wrote:


Hello Jennifer (et al, as I am forwarding this to others):

Please see below for my answers.  I am rather pressed for time, at the
moment, so my apologies for responding briefly.

Kent 

----- Original Message -----
From: JMelanieMazer at aol.com
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 03:56:01 EDT
To: kentmesplay at presidency.com
Subject: questions from MA delegate

                                         to Kent Mesplay
                    1) What is your position in regards to the genocide in
the Sudan?  What
                         should we do?
The first step is to formally recognize genocide as such.  In the link that
follows, it looks like Colin Powell will decide.  In general, the U.S. is
reluctant to concern itself with genocide unless our business interests are
directly impacted.  If we were really interested in promoting peace and
democracy, we would do so.  Back when machetes were being used by Tutsis and
Huttus (check spelling, please) in Rwanda I wondered why the U.S. couldn't
go in with high-tech "silly string" or nets or tranquilizer guns or whatever
to stop the senseless hacking.  The short answer, other than we are
incompetent at being the World's Police, even if we wanted to be, is that
the U.S. Government really does not care about genocide.  Furthermore, our
nation is based on genocide, which is part of the problem.  Being such, it's
a "delicate" problem, formally.  Will we ever have a War Crime Tribunal and
punish George W. Bush and friends?  Probabl y not.

http://allafrica.com/sudan/

As Greens, about all we can do is issue statements, right now.  Ideally, we
would provide the Sudanese people with seeds, books and tools, in addition
to food, so that they can regain self-sufficiency.  A young Republican,
helping out the Greens in Rhode Island, presented this idea to me in regard
to how we could best help the Iraqi people: seeds, books and tools.  A
longer-range answer is that we can show the world, by example, what it means
to promote peace and justice.  However, as an aggressor nation, we fail as a
role model.  There really is no simple solution.  If you have some favorite
talking points, Jennifer, I would like to know of them regarding this issue.

                     2)  Would you boycott the election if there is no paper
trail?
No.  Some states, such as my own (California) will have a paper trail.  If
we are to protest, it would be more effective to speak out strongly on the
issue of a paper trail, nation-wide, while we continue to campaign.  Issuing
joint statements, with other alternative parties, would send a strong
message.  I plan to work with presidential candidates from the other "third"
parties and decry the absence of paper trails.
                   
3)  No third party or independent is going to win.  Then why do you insist
so?
Why do you insist that we can't?  Once we are on the ballot in several more
states we can become more than just potential "spoilers."  Why create our
own obstacles?  If we don't believe that we can win, we certainly will not
win, nor will we present much of an interesting race.  Either we run, and we
run to win, or we stay home.  There is no "safe" middle ground.  I do not
think I exaggerate by saying that MOST people are looking for an alternative
to Bush and Kerry.  They already know about Nader.  In the mind of the
electorate, these are their only options.  I seek to provide another option.
A high-profile running mate would help with obtaining free publicity.  We
really are NOT going to do well if we plan to lose.  In a real three-way
race the dynamics are considerably different from a two-way race.  Once we
poll around 15% popularity among eligible voters (I include counting those
not yet registered, i n this), then we become real contenders.  The
electoral college math works.  We can win.
                 There is winning and winning.  We will only win if we lose
this year.  
I disagree.
                       I happen to believe actually that neither Bush nor
Kerry will win either.
We all lose.  I have heard talk of a coup.  We may not even have elections.

                               Thanks for answering questions if you can.
You are most welcome!  Please consider voting for me:  if not in an early
round, then in a later one.
                                               Jennifer Mazer
jmelaniemazer at aol.com
                                                   delegate for
Green-Rainbow Party




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