[External Relations] Kimberly Wilder Suggestions for GPUS Reform

[Owen Broadhurst]

For those who care (and haven't heard it before) here are some
things that need to be done:

1. A whole grassroots revolution at national where we make sure the
Steering Committee and Coordinating Committee do not exercise too
much over-control.

2. Create ways for grassroots greens to grieve against national.
(Right now, the National pretends to be laissez-faire, but tends to
support a certain clique, much like laissez-faire capitalism
hypocritically supports the rich.)

3. Fix the blaring injustice that Coordinating Committee members
have carte-blanche to join national committees, but grassroots
greens wanting to participate must run an obstacle course of
approvals. (Often, with the national being rude and difficul t as
greens try to jump through the hoops of membership.)

4. Stop having Steering Committee members control all committees.
Steering Committee members should not also be chairs of committees.
We are a national party of hundreds of thousands of members. We need
to spread the work out.

Also, while the system of Steering Committee members having
portfolios is still new, I already see some of them using those
portfolios to control committees.

5. Create the groundrules for a convention years ahead of time, so
the strucuture has a chance o be form somewhat free of candidate
influence.

6. Have a clear way of inviting speakers and planning the convention
that is open and grassroots and even INVITING of input. Don't allow
any small groups to hijack the agenda by last minute invites (ie:
Medea Benjamin invite.)

7. Remember that you can find a party somewhere that has all our
issues. What makes us diffe rent is suppossed to be our process and
authentic democracy. We must cherish it as much as or pet projects,
and not give in to people or ideas because they are convenient or
glamrous or because we feel a sense of urgency.

~Kimberly Wilder