It's not easy being green

I think I have let it be known that I have all but divorced myself from the Democratic Party and it is very obvious I have never had any relationship other than animosity toward the self-serving Republican party. With Mark’s input, this year I have decided to support the Green Party of the United States. The Greens seem to have most of the things in their platform which I miss from the old “New Deal” Democratic party which was alive and well until the Vietnam fiasco ended Lyndon Johnson’s presidency.

One of the many things that do need changing to help the party to succeed is to find a better name than “Green”. I’m sure none of us have anything against the color green, and in some European countries green parties have had some good (and bad) impact.

In the U.S., the words “politics” and “green” together have been stigmatized into a derisive term, “tree huggers”. Most Americans who will even give it a thought when asked if they know what the Green Party is and who its candidates are will probably answer with their own question, to wit, “Isn’t that the tree huggers” whom they know as environmental extremists and elitist activists.

I applaud the Green Party for is stance and fight against the wanton destruction of the environment of the only world we have; I say for the most part, tree huggers, elitists, and other activists are sorely needed. What I don’t applaud is the name “Green” attached to a party, even a very liberal party that wants to be a player on all stages of reform through politics. “Green” is going to do nothing more than turn off the average Joe and Jane voters because the “tree hugger” stigma will be the first thing that pops into their minds. We need a new name for the party which the American people can positively adhere to. Americans need to know there is much more to the Party; we have good ideas for the economy, infrastructure, political reform, environment, foreign diplomacy, healthcare, education, and stern controls on big finance and businesses that have learned to master most legislation from the local level on to the federal level by using the influence of lots of money and strong-arm power.

Let’s be much more than “those tree-hugger guys”; let’s get the ball rolling to save this country before it is too late. What is your idea for a new name for the party which encompasses what the majority of American people want the country to be?

Have a green Wednesday!