BLOG IN YOUR FACE

Tons of things have built up inside of me lately: On Sunday my church pastor mentioned that in 20 years, China will be the only world super power. I read the other day that our world’s water supply will be reduced by 40 percent in the next 50 to 60 years. I look at rising gas prices and our dependence on oil and how depressing that is. I watch the two major political parties go back and forth like 3rd graders in a school yard, but in the long run, nothing really gets accomplished. Jaci and I came home from a movie the other night and we just sat on the stairs and talked about the future of the United States and what it is going to be like when and if Jaci and I are ever able to retire or have children.

My point is this: I think the way that America and the rest of the world has evolved in the last 50 years is nearly irreversible. I am not saying we are all going to hell in a hand basket, but my GOD we need change. And I am not talking the kind of change that Obama thinks he is talking about. He may want to change everything that the Republicans are doing wrong, but it still won’t be PROGRESS. We need change in the form of progress.  We need brand spanking new ideas. We need to turn the thrift store into Rodeo Drive.

I wasn’t really sure how to make the transition into this paragraph so I will just start talking about it, I guess. I learned about the Green Party while studying in Wales, UK in 2004. I shouldn’t say that this was the first time that I have ever heard of Ralph Nader or the Green Party. This came back in 2000 when he was one of the many unmentioned parties opposing the Gore/Bush rivalry. In fact, the only time I ever really heard the media speak of the Green Party was when everyone was griping and complaining that Florida was lost because people voted for Nader instead of Gore and that he “stole” votes.

Anyway…focus Andy…

I first learned about the Green Party and really got to understand its fundamental values while studying in Wales. I made friends with two girls and a guy from Sweden and I learned about their system of Social Democratic government. It just seemed to make so much sense! And the people of Sweden are so incredibly happy and have SO MUCH pride in their country. All of this happiness while keeping its nose out of world turmoil and being leaps and bounds ahead of the game in environmental awareness and activism.

In my search to discover those same views and values in an American political party, I began to take a lot of interest in the Green Party. The Green Party is a party for the PEOPLE, people!!!! Greens bite their thumbs at big corporations. The Greens also believe that humans can live in harmony with the planet like peas and carrots…like hamburger and taco seasoning…like #2 and toilet paper.

The Greens believe that the root of a lot of society’s problems stem from the gap between rich and poor; and even the rich and middle class. Lets pretend that the population of America is 100 people. 20 of the richest people have half of the country’s income. The poorest 20 people only make a total of 4 percent of the the country’s income. Who do you think has an easier time exercising their democratic rights? The rich guys with half the country’s money or Joe Shmoe who is dressed in rags. In our ridiculous capitalist society, our politics are controlled by money and big corporations. If you don’t have money, you don’t get a fair chance at being heard and America cannot possibly call itself a democracy under these conditions. The Green Party believes this is unjust and unfair. Politicians are the last people that should be sell outs.

Do a little research and you will see that all types of media and advertising are controlled by less companies than I have fingers (I haven’t had any tree mulching accidents and don’t have an abnormal birth defect giving me additional phalanges). So, with so few sources for Americans to get information, how can we possibly be aware of and take advantage of all of our alternatives? How is that a democracy?

I realize that profit is always important in business, but the Green Party looks at our market system a little differently. You see, when we completely base our production on profit, we neglect and destroy our air, water, soil, trees, plants, animals, minerals and fossil fuel resources. On top of that we face global warming, rising sea levels, changing weather patterns (can you say Katrina? How about that Earthquake in Kentucky today? That ain’t normal…) and drought due to our recklessness and disregard for the environment. How can we ever harness the power of alternative energy and reduce the effects of polluting the environment when petroleum and Big Bad Oil have a death grip on our economy and our politicians? The Green Party (and I) believe there is simply something wrong with this picture.

We don’t need to spend half of the federal budget on the military. We don’t have to have as much pain and strife in America as we do. We can have smarter and healthier children. We can be proud of our jobs and organize labor for the individual not for the corporate machine.

I realize that the Green Party does not have all of the answers. But I think that as we go to the polls in November, we MUST be aware of ALL of the candidates. There are some ideologies out there that never get a breath of mention in the media and I think that there are some ideas out there that could make America a better place for future generations.

Check out the Ten Key Values. Check out the Green Party Platform. You may like what you see…you may not. I just know that for me, I would rather watch Barney and Friends than pay attention to the political garbage going on right now.