[statecom-discuss] [statecom] from Nancy Lee Wood: Presidential nomination....GRP MIA!
Mike Heichman
mikeheichman at verizon.net
Sun May 25 17:58:08 EDT 2008
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for sharing your concerns and your thoughtful proposal. I am
sending this to the Statecom-discuss e-mail list (It doesn't belong on
the statecom list.)
My response to your message, proposal and concerns:
1. This controversy has certainly been painful and it has not been
handled well. Some people believe that I am one of the people to blame.
While many of the leaders of our party do not seem to have strong
opinions about this controversy, for others it has turned into a
struggle over principle and unfortunately, a struggle between people.
2. The GRP is part of a worldwide political party and movement. Because
we have been a merged party since 2002, I believe that our connections
to the GPUS is not as strong if we had remained the MA Greens, (Note: I
am not regretting the merger for one moment. In fact, I came into the
merged party through my membership in the RCP. For some of our, members,
including myself, the fact that we belong to a larger entity than our
statewide party is important. My guess is that you have chosen to be a
member of the NC because you also believe in that connection.
3. At times many of us have felt demoralized by this controversy and it
has effected our energies for party building. It is true that some
members of our party have continued to work hard on behalf of our party
despite this controversy. For example, I am involved in a couple of
projects with Chuck Turner in Boston, am working to try to resurrect the
Boston chapter, will be going to a meeting of the Rainbow Caucus at the
end of this month, am a member of the CDLC and the Platform Committee
(which refuses to meet), am an active member of the ABWG Project an
active member of the "Minority Report" and a member of State Committee.
There are other leaders of our party who continue to be very active
despite the fact that this controversy has been a big obstacle.
5. I don't think that deciding to "drop-out" of the presidential race
will solve the social/psychological/political/spiritual problem that
effects us. Instead, such a decision I believe would add to the
demoralization.
6. Why is it that so many of the "leaders" of our party are not very
active at all? Why is it that some of the leaders of our party, who are
doing a lot of work, are obstructing the possibility of more of us doing
the work? A few examples:
a. What happened to SPWG? I don't believe that there are many who
have been involved in that project (whether an active member or for the
many members of our party who have participated in this project) believe
that this project became unimportant? Our party needs a strategy and a
strategic plan. I brought this up at the last meeting of the State Comm.
I know that there is interest. Why is it still not moving?
b. A number of members of the CDLC participated in very difficult
discussions about this controversy. One of the complaints that was
raised was that this was preventing us from addressing the important
work of the committee. We elected new leadership on February 21 and have
had one meeting on April 8. Why? I have repeatedly called for the
co-chairs to call meetings-not only to deal with the controversy, but to
do the other necessary work? Why is it that I am the only one that has
complained?
c. When I joined the ABWG, I also joined the Platform Committee. I
have been unsuccessful in having the Platform Committee meet. ABWG has
the responsibility to have our work approved and strengthened by a
larger group of members. I want to know about the work of the Fossil
Fuels Committee. I want us to decide whether or not we will get involved
with the coalition that is working to defeat the attempt to repeal the
state income tax. The Rainbow Caucus has been working on the Foreclosure
Crisis and has asked the support of our party for their campaign. Why am
I the only one that has been calling for the Platform Comm. to meet?
d. Why is it that the Membership and ComCom Committees haven't had
meetings for months? Who is complaining?
7. These are just some of the things that I have noticed. I am sure that
others know about some other major things in our party that are not moving.
8. How can we expect that every member of the StateCom belong to a
committee and not have committees that meet? And what will happen if a
meeting will be called? Who will answer the call?
9. In addition to the presidential campaign,the Foreclosure Crisis and
the ABWG Project, the State Party doesn't have much that is going on.
Why is it that very few of us so far have become involved with the ABWG
Project? We have phone conferences on a weekly basis and very few are
involved in the call. A few others have been active outside of our
meetings. Will the leaders of our party, especially those who are not
actively involved, get involved in this project and work to get one or
more of our questions on the ballot in their area. If not, why not?
10. Yes, this controversy has been a bummer, a demoralizer and a drag.
However, it doesn't answer the concern that you raise in your message.
Hopefully, others will join in this discussion.
Mike Heichman
jstein at massmed.org wrote:
> forwarded from Nancy, who's having trouble posting -jill�
>
>
> All,
>
> For the life of me, I cannot understand all the hoopla over the GRP
> presidential nomination when in the broad scheme of things� - IT
> DOESN'T MAKE A RAT'S DIFFERENCE!� �
> It seems to me our precious time, energy and talents would be far
> better spent focused on regional, state and local
> issues/campaigns/relocalization efforts in food security/agriculture,
> public rail transportation, home heating and housing security,
> rethinking education for post-carbonism and "green jobs" etc., etc. -
> especially given that we have entered the period of permanent and rapid
> declines in oil� (and all fossil fuels) - the real unraveling of our
> current social system.� We, as a party in MA and New England, should
> be at the forefront of providing analyses, alternatives and solutions
> to the royal mess that is soon to escalate as prices of oil continue to
> climb making food, heating, transportation, health care access, etc.
> more expensive, less secure and/or inaccessible to all but the very
> rich.�
> But no!� What are WE in the GRP doing?� Dithering around with the
> nonsense of presidential nominations - as if our pathetic little party
> had any real influence on the national level in the first place - when
> our real potential influence lies within the region, state and local
> communities.� Where is the MA GRP at the time when all hell is about
> to break loose?� � MIA!� � What a real shame!
> SUGGESTION:
> Can we please give up this presidential nomination effort?� Can we
> forgo having a presidential slot on the MA ballot altogether?� Trust
> me - the public does not care one iota if there is a GRP presidential
> candidate on the ballot. � People are far more concerned about the
> "shit-storm" (James Howard Kunstler's term) descending upon them as
> humankind finds itself propelled into permanent escalating energy costs
> - and all that this entails - and with no leadership to be found
> anywhere.�
>
>
> Can we please get down to the other work the co-chairs and committees
> are trying to do that this nonsense is distracting us from? This is the
> work that will truly bring people in to the party, and start to deal
> with the growing crises at the local/state/regional level.
>
> Nancy Lee Wood
> PS:� This all would be quite comical if it were not for the real
> tragedy of time/human waste and lost opportunities in helping the
> public get through what promises to be� � -� at the very least� -�
> a frightening and very difficult two-decade period.� Truly, the
> silliness and impotence shown by the MA GRP would make Petra Kelly role
> over in her grave.
>
>References
>
> Visible links
> Hidden links:
> 1. file://localhost/webmail/driver?nimlet=showcanvas
>
>
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