Election Follow-Up

This is a thank you and a wake-up call. The two-party system does not work and it's time to rise up and not expect a gutless political party to go back to it's progressive roots. <!--break--> <p>Fellow Progressives,</p><p>I would like to start by thanking everyone who helped on my School Board campaign.  I am incredibly humbled by the time, money and effort people gave to help us affect change for our kids.  The results weren't what we wanted, but as you'll see, there is hope.<br /><br />The election is over and we definitlely didn't expect the results that we got – at every level.  But should<br />we really be surprised?  A number of progressives have made the decision to work within the Democratic Party to bring it to the left.  Well, the Presidential candidate was a corporatist who bragged he would<br />continue to kill people.  There was a candidate in New York for the House of Representatives who said she<br />didn't think there should be gun licences at all.  Other &quot;prominent&quot; local Democrats gave public support<br />to a State Senate candidate who is anti-choice and anti-gun control.  Very few Democrats around the<br />country would come out in support of gay marriages. And I'm leaving out a lot of other examples in order to be relatively brief.<br /><br />The Democratic Party is not the voice of progressives.  You can't claim to be and run the candidates and wage the campaigns they do.  A wasted vote is one cast for a candidate you really don't agree with. That's where the Green Party comes in.  It's time for a truly progressive political party to rise up.  I'm confident in my assumption that  you believe in the pillars of the Green Party: grassroots democracy, social and<br />economic justice, nonviolence, environmental protection.  Both of the major parties have gone away<br />from these ideas.<br /><br />In my School Board race, my opponent was void of any ideas.  He insisted that everything in the city school<br />district is well.  Ask teachers, students and parents if they agree.  My ballot position was horrible, but<br />that's no excuse.  We ran the best campaign we could given the circumstances.  So what do we do now?<br /><br />We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and go (non-violently) kick some butt.  The Republicans are<br />where they are because they started going after local offices decades ago.  They built their party up from<br />the bottom.  That is what we need to continue to do. The elections of next year will focus on town boards,<br />city council and the like.  Are you ready to bring about Green victories?  Are you ready to run yourself?<br /><br />I have made a decision to not run for City School Board in 2005, even though there are 3 seats open. I<br />want to work on other Greens'campaigns to get them elected.  I have the background and experience to help make that happen, but it can't be done by one person. <br /></p><p>This is your wake-up call – are you going to let others make the decisions that put mediocre candidates on the ballot? <br /><br />I know you're busy, we all are.  But what is important to you?  This election was an abomination.  Don't be<br />embarrassed, don't be depressed, don't even be mad.  Just be determined.  If you're in school get a Campus Green group going.  If you have kids, bring them to meetings/protests/activities – get them involved, it doesn't matter how young they are. Teach them to be activists.  As individuals,  to make our world vision a reality we're going to have to do things that we haven't done before.  We're going to have to go<br />door-to-door, approach people, get on committees, hit the streets.  You have skills and interests that can help true progressives, including yourself, get elected.<br /><br />I had never dreamed I'd run for public office.  But since I have I have met the most amazing people and<br />done the most amazing things. Get in on the fun!  Do things you wouldn't normally do.<br /><br />In the next year the Greens will be running people for local offices and we will be working to get a<br />gubanatorial candidate for 2006.  In January we will be electing new local officers – think about running<br />for Co-Chair, Vice-Chair, Treaurer or Secretary.  We particuarly need women and people of color to be at<br />the front of this party.  When I say &quot;we&quot; I mean you.  This is your party.  One that truly represents your<br />ideals.   Don't wait to see what the Greens will do – help make the decisions.<br /><br />We cannot continue to vote out of fear.<br /><br />OK, pep talk over.  The Greens next monthly meeting is Monday, December 13th at 7pm at 179 Atlantic Avenue.  Let's get to work!<br /><br />Dave Atias<br /></p>

<p>This is a thank you and a wake-up call. The two-party system does not work and it's time to rise up and not expect a gutless political party to go back to it's progressive roots.</p> <!--break--><p>Fellow Progressives,</p> <p>I would like to start by thanking everyone who helped on my School Board campaign.  I am incredibly humbled by the time, money and effort people gave to help us affect change for our kids.  The results weren't what we wanted, but as you'll see, there is hope.</p> <p>The election is over and we definitlely didn't expect the results that we got – at every level.  But should<br />we really be surprised?  A number of progressives have made the decision to work within the Democratic Party to bring it to the left.  Well, the Presidential candidate was a corporatist who bragged he would<br />continue to kill people.  There was a candidate in New York for the House of Representatives who said she<br />didn't think there should be gun licences at all.  Other "prominent" local Democrats gave public support<br />to a State Senate candidate who is anti-choice and anti-gun control.  Very few Democrats around the<br />country would come out in support of gay marriages. And I'm leaving out a lot of other examples in order to be relatively brief.</p> <p>The Democratic Party is not the voice of progressives.  You can't claim to be and run the candidates and wage the campaigns they do.  A wasted vote is one cast for a candidate you really don't agree with. That's where the Green Party comes in.  It's time for a truly progressive political party to rise up.  I'm confident in my assumption that  you believe in the pillars of the Green Party: grassroots democracy, social and<br />economic justice, nonviolence, environmental protection.  Both of the major parties have gone away<br />from these ideas.</p> <p>In my School Board race, my opponent was void of any ideas.  He insisted that everything in the city school<br />district is well.  Ask teachers, students and parents if they agree.  My ballot position was horrible, but<br />that's no excuse.  We ran the best campaign we could given the circumstances.  So what do we do now?</p> <p>We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and go (non-violently) kick some butt.  The Republicans are<br />where they are because they started going after local offices decades ago.  They built their party up from<br />the bottom.  That is what we need to continue to do. The elections of next year will focus on town boards,<br />city council and the like.  Are you ready to bring about Green victories?  Are you ready to run yourself?</p> <p>I have made a decision to not run for City School Board in 2005, even though there are 3 seats open. I<br />want to work on other Greens'campaigns to get them elected.  I have the background and experience to help make that happen, but it can't be done by one person. </p> <p>This is your wake-up call – are you going to let others make the decisions that put mediocre candidates on the ballot? </p> <p>I know you're busy, we all are.  But what is important to you?  This election was an abomination.  Don't be<br />embarrassed, don't be depressed, don't even be mad.  Just be determined.  If you're in school get a Campus Green group going.  If you have kids, bring them to meetings/protests/activities – get them involved, it doesn't matter how young they are. Teach them to be activists.  As individuals,  to make our world vision a reality we're going to have to do things that we haven't done before.  We're going to have to go<br />door-to-door, approach people, get on committees, hit the streets.  You have skills and interests that can help true progressives, including yourself, get elected.</p> <p>I had never dreamed I'd run for public office.  But since I have I have met the most amazing people and<br />done the most amazing things. Get in on the fun!  Do things you wouldn't normally do.</p> <p>In the next year the Greens will be running people for local offices and we will be working to get a<br />gubanatorial candidate for 2006.  In January we will be electing new local officers – think about running<br />for Co-Chair, Vice-Chair, Treaurer or Secretary.  We particuarly need women and people of color to be at<br />the front of this party.  When I say "we" I mean you.  This is your party.  One that truly represents your<br />ideals.   Don't wait to see what the Greens will do – help make the decisions.</p> <p>We cannot continue to vote out of fear.</p> <p>OK, pep talk over.  The Greens next monthly meeting is Monday, December 13th at 7pm at 179 Atlantic Avenue.  Let's get to work!</p> <p>Dave Atias</p>