Politics | Green Party Information

Why Health Reform is Necessary

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 18: New Jersey Governo...

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How can anyone look at the state of the healthcare industry in the United States of America today and think we do not need some type of health reform? Politics aside, the health care system in this country is in crisis and this country’s leaders must step up and acknowledge the old way of doing things is inefficient, unsustainable and dangerous.

During the vitriolic debate over health care reform that gripped this nation recently, many of those against health reform repeatedly stated that America has the best health care system in the world. But the numbers tell a very different story. In fact, according to the World Health Organization America ranks not first among the countries of the world, but 37th. Yes, 37th – below Costa Rica and a little above Cuba.

Americans pay more per individual for their health care than people in any other country, but get substantially less in return. America’s infant mortality rate is the second worst in the modern world, in large part due to the lack of prenatal care and pediatric care for people with limited health insurance and low incomes. Health care-related debt is by far the number one cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. Only in America can you be saved from cancer and lose your home to the bankruptcy court because you can’t afford to pay for the treatments that saved your life.

America is undeniably the greatest country in the world. But there are huge problems facing us now and looming on the horizon – problems that must be addressed. Access to good, affordable health care is a right, not a privilege for the few who can afford it. This country is facing an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and an aging population, which will put an even greater burden on the health care system and America’s wallet. Now is the time to address this issue with solid, thoughtful health care reform.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Health care, Health care reform, Politics

The Basics of the Green Party

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It may not surprise you to learn that the Green Party takes its name from the common use of the word “green” to indicate things that are good for the environment. Members of the party believe in sustainable farming and business, and laws that protect the environment. Party members support the search for and use of alternative fuels sources; and encourage individuals and businesses to live in and produce goods in ways that cause no further harm to the planet.

You may be surprised, however, to learn that these same people support the development of universal healthcare. The Green Party platform says that access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege that should be reserved for the few who can comfortably afford it. An overwhelming number of workers in the United States simply can’t, based on the wages they earn, which leads us to another pillar of Green Party beliefs.

The party strongly feels that workers in this country should be paid a living wage. The minimum wage, decided upon by the government, is not enough to survive on, which leads many people who work full time to live in poverty. These same people then must fall back on government assistance programs to provide their families with food, medicine and more. In another effort to even the playing field for workers in the U.S., the Green Party supports higher taxes for the wealthy.

Some think the belief system of the Green Party is too far to the left, using phrases such as “bleeding heart liberals” to define the party’s members. But at its core, the party supports the Constitution of the United States and the rights and freedoms of United States citizens. It is possible, however, to support these ideals and still recognize that our government and our society have plenty of room for improvement.

Filed Under: Green Party Of Tennessee Tagged With: Green, Green Party, Parties, Politics

Constitution as Politics

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When pundits declare that modern politicians are trampling on the Constitution the declaration might be more of plea for attention than a statement based on fact. The United States was founded based on a code of laws that applied to the era. While an element exists to elevate the Constitution to the status of a sacred cow, the document was created by humans and is flawed despite its brilliance.

The Founding Fathers would not have recognized the nation they created 100 years after its birth let alone the modern United States. Technology has caused such an inconceivable shift in the way that humans live that laws created by those who grew up in the 18th Century could not possibly be the sole basis for governance in modern times.

Despite the understanding that change is inevitable, the Constitution has become a political issue lately. The debate centers on whether the Constitution is a living document or if it is open to interpretation. The debate between strict constructionists or those with a more liberal view of the Constitution became part of the media horse race between Republicans and Democrats. While the debate might create a strong narrative the argument is more about political stance than actual concerns with governance.

How could people that saw the horse and wind powered sails as the ultimate forms of transportation conceive of a world with instantaneous communication around the world? One of the most important aspects of the original draft of the Constitution was the power granted to Congress to declare war. All the combined fire power in the history of the world up to the lives of the Founding Fathers is dwarfed by the destructive power of a singular nuclear warhead.

As a result of this change in technology the president has the power to declare war almost at will. Congress has not declared war since World War II. With their own lives at risk political leanings ebb.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Congress, Declaration of war, List of national founders, Politics, United States, United States Congress, United States Constitution, World War II

The History of the U.S. Green Party

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Originating from the Association of State Green Parties, the Green Party was officially recognized in 2001. The primary goal, at the time, was for the national Green Party to support existing state parties and to encourage formation of parties in all 50 states. Currently, the Green Party still considers this focus an important component of the party’s work. As well, the Green Party hopes to present itself as a viable alternative within the political workings of the government.

Ideologically, the Green Party believes in environmentalism, grassroots democracy, social justice, and decentralization of resources. One of the primary tenets of the Green Party is the idea of conserving natural resources and focusing on living in balance and with respect for the earth. Followers of the Green Party work to encourage involvement in the government at all levels and to make sure elected officials stay accountable to the general public.

The Green Party supports the concept that people must work to tear down barriers created by race, class, gender, age, and so on. Other important party ideas include promotion of global peace, respect for diversity, and personal as well as global responsibility. In the Green Party, the Green National Committee is the decision making body and is made up of delegates from accredited state parties and caucuses. Generally, the Green Party tries to leave decision-making to the state parties.

Currently, the Green Party has won elections at the local level, such as spots in the Maine House of Representatives, the California State Assembly, and the Arkansas House of Representatives. In 1996 and 2000, Ralph Nadar ran for president as the Green Party candidate. Other candidates ran on the Green Party ticket in 2004 and 2008. Many states have Green Parties, including the Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party, the North Carolina Green Party, and the Green Party of Tennessee.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Arkansas House of Representatives, California State Assembly, Green, Maine House of Representatives, Official, Politics, Ralph Nader, Tennessee

Green Party: You Heard of Them?

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Stepping into the polling booth or filling out a mail-in ballot can be a daunting task. Who has time to keep up with politics on a federal level, much less a local one? Even for the informed voter, it’s hard to grasp the issues of the two main political parties-Republican and Democrat. What about myriad of small, underdog parties that most people have never even heard of? How can someone be expected to know where they stand on issues? Who has the time? For most voters, their vote usually comes down to a choice of Republicans or Democrats.

But is that right? Are Americans doing themselves a favor by restricting their political spectrum? What about the communists, socialists, anarchists, and all the other individuals that run for office outside of a main political party. Don’t they have some good ideas? Shouldn’t they be heard?

Spoilers or Real Challengers?

Perhaps for some, mention of the Green Party brings a bad taste to the mouth. In the highly contested 2000 presidential election, the Green Party- under candidate Ralph Nader- took home 2.74 percent of the National vote. Certainly not a large chunk. National media speculated that the Green Party, whose supporters would typically align with Democrat ideals, cost Al Gore the pivotal state of Florida. Some say that if Nader didn’t run, Al Gore would have won Florida, thus winning the election.

But in recent years, Green party candidates have done much more than play spoiler. Green party members began running for U.S. political office in 1985. A Green Party member has never held an elected position on the Federal level. The party has held local and state positions, and can be a huge political force in small elections. Across the US, there have been Green Party mayors, State Representatives, and local city council members. The Green Party may not be well-known or understood, but they have certainly played a part in shaping the political landscape of the U.S.

Remember: there is more to your ballot than two parties.

Filed Under: Green Party Of Tennessee Tagged With: Al Gore, Democratic, Florida, Green, Politics, Ralph Nader, Republican, United States

Learn About One of the Main Principles of the Green Party of Tennessee Before Joining

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One of the main tenets of the Green Party is grassroots democracy, which is a principle that many people advocate. However, not everyone is aware of what it means, as they may simply assume it sounds nice and decide to support it. Before truly understanding the ideals of the Green Party of Tennessee, it is helpful to know more about one of the major goals.

These days, many people complain about big government making all our decisions for us. They claim to be unhappy with the choices that the elected officials in Washington, D.C. make, and some are even dissatisfied with the choices made by their local politicians. For such people, the idea of grassroots democracy may be quite appealing, as it turns the power to the ordinary citizen rather than unknown politicians. Many in the Green Party of Tennessee encourage those in every city to get involved in making decisions by forming groups at the local level, rather than simply listening to those at the national level of politics.

Nearly every city likely has enough residents who are tired of politicians who they do not know making decisions. A grassroots effort is merely an organized group of people who want to exercise some power at the local level when it comes to decisions that affect them. The Green Party of Tennessee encourages the formation of such groups since it allows individuals to get back the power that they deserve. After all, many people believe that they are the best ones to make decisions for themselves.

Before joining either a grassroots group or the Green Party of Tennessee, it is helpful to know the beliefs involved. The point of this kind of group is to encourage citizens to be involved in the decision-making procedure. The Green Party of Tennessee strives to educate people about this idea, as well as increase participation in politics as a whole.

Filed Under: Green Party Of Tennessee Tagged With: California, Government, Grassroots democracy, Green, Local Parties and Branches, Parties, Politics, United States

The Green Party Hopes to Improve Politics and More with Green New Deal

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Those interested in politics may be curious about what certain political parties have been up to recently. One party that separates itself from the two main parties of Republicans and Democrats, the Green Party, has created a “Green New Deal.” This plan lists some of the goals of many of those in this political party. However, one does not have to be well-versed in politics to find out what these objectives are, and perhaps agree with them.

One of the first hopes of the Green New Deal is to cut military spending by over 70%, since many feel that given the state of the economy, our country needs to focus on paying for other helpful programs. Similarly, other ideals seek to increase income for the country, such as by legalizing marijuana, and investing in mass transit, conservation, and renewable energy, thereby creating union jobs for citizens. It is the hope of those involved in politics at any level that some of these principles will increase the flow of money in this country, assisting both individuals and the nation overall. Additionally, some of the Green New Deal objectives seek to improve certain types of assistance for citizens, such as creating tuition-free college and a single-payer healthcare plan so that everyone has access to these benefits.

Other changes that many Green Party members endorse include improving the standards surrounding labor, health, and the environment, and keeping credit card companies from implementing outrageous interest rates. Finally, it is the hope of many people who pay attention to politics to reform rules surrounding campaign finance, and get rid of corporate personhood, which will require amending the Constitution. Enacting many or all of these policies will ensure that those in the Green Party are able to lead the country in the direction that they desire, hopefully improving various aspects.

Filed Under: Green Party Of Tennessee Tagged With: Green, Green New Deal, Green Party of England and Wales, New Deal, Political party, Politics, Public transport, Single-payer health care

The Green Party of Tennessee, and That of the World, Is Indeed “Green”

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If you have ever wondered what significance the word “green” holds for the Green Party, it may be time to find out. Perhaps not surprisingly given the modern usage of this term, green refers to a tendency to place a lot of importance on the good of the environment. While most of the tenets of the Green Party of Tennessee now go beyond environmental responsibility, as do the principles of the worldwide organization in general, it is nice to know the original objectives of this party that revolve around being truly green.

These days, the Green Party of Tennessee is concerned with topics involving social justice, grassroots democracy, and progress in general. However, the party started out focusing more on the conservation of our planet’s resources, such as water, forests, and natural habitats. Members of this group often create ideas and amendments to the Constitution concerning such topics, especially when it comes to issues that many are concerned with, such as renewable energy. Those interested in learning more about such topics to find out whether they agree may look to the Green Party of Tennessee to get more information on environmental issues that deal with politics.

Unlike the two main political parties that many people know these days, the Green Party, and offshoots that have similar beliefs, exists outside of the United States, as well. Therefore, there is the Green Party of Tennessee, along with parties from every other state, and then there are green groups in various other countries. In fact, the origin of this political party is Germany, and it is still quite popular in parts of Europe, though it was formed in the 1970s. Though the principles of the Green Party of Tennessee and other areas have since evolved to include nonviolence, decentralization, and participatory democracy, to name a few objectives, this party did indeed start out focusing on the “green” aspect that it still espouses today.

Filed Under: Green Party Of Tennessee Tagged With: Environmentalism, Grassroots democracy, Green, Parties, Political party, Politics, Renewable energy, United States

Tea Party Makes an Impact on Politics

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One of the latest occurrences to shake up politics is the Tea Party movement, which is a large group of people who claim to be tired of the status quo in Washington, D.C. This group has decided to take matters dealing with politics into its own hands by organizing events throughout the country aimed at protesting current political conditions and representatives in an effort to invoke change. Though many in the movement are politically conservative, there are people of all political parties, ages, races, and beliefs in the Tea Party.

Not surprisingly, the name of the group is derived from the legendary Boston Tea Party, as both movements share the common theme of being against excess taxes. Large events that hundreds of thousands attend are put on by the Tea Party in major cities across the country, riling up people that otherwise might never be interested in politics. In fact, it is believed that the movement has helped some underdogs get elected into office, coming as a complete surprise to many. In any case, the Tea Party idea sent voting Republicans out in droves during the 2010 primaries, causing them to outvote Democrats by a large margin.

Clearly, whether the Tea Party movement is a positive addition to politics is pure opinion, but there is no denying that it has pushed many would-be bystanders into the political arena. Americans worried about the effect of current policies on their lives, such as increased taxes, healthcare reform, bailouts, and earmarks, to name a few, have simply banded together to protest these changes. In general, the tenets of the Tea Party include determining whether new laws are in fact constitutional, requesting a more balanced budget, decreasing both taxes and earmarks, and considering a simpler tax system. Since many Americans agree with such principles, it is no wonder that so many have joined the Tea Party bandwagon of late.

Filed Under: Social Justice Tagged With: Boston Tea Party, Conservatism, Democratic, Politics, Republican, Tea, United States, Washington D.C

About Green Party of Tennessee

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The Green Party of Tennessee is the state party organization of the Green Party in Tennessee. The party is committed to non-violence, social justice grassroots democracy, and ecology. Greens are trying to regenerate democracy in the Unites States without any support from any of the corporate donors. Green Party is in great effort to provide practical solution for real problems in society.

Green National Committee is the highest deciding authority and this composes of members from recognized state party and caucus. The main aim of this party is to make Green Party into practicable political party of the United States. The operating principle of this party is to be simple and focused. While establishing the presence of Green in policy updates and politics, the Green Party also work on the growth at the local and state level.

The Green party is supported by small contributions from citizens and from thousands of volunteers from the local as well as national level. The national level office work with the national organizing works and field organizers work with local party and people to mobilize greens in election activity, voter registration process, and every day citizen action.

The party works on broad platform that includes protecting the natural environment, protecting human rights, and providing social justice. The budgetary needs and financial resources are taken care at the state level. The party also works consistently with concerns and issues within the community. The party does not accept any donations from corporate. They don’t encourage corporate control and influence over media, government, and society.

The party works on ten key values: grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom, social justice and equal opportunity, decentralization, non-violence, gender equity, community based economic justice, personal responsibility, respect for diversity, and sustainability with future focus. The key values are used as the basic principle and these are defines and adapted to fit each state.

Filed Under: Green Party Of Tennessee Tagged With: Ecology, Grassroots democracy, Green, Human rights, Parties, Politics, Social Justice, United States