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| Michigan Greens Review 2002 Election, Look to the Future. |
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Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence Michigan Greens Review 2002 Election, Look to the Future The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) reviewed the progress and problems of the 2002 campaign at its post-election wrap-up meeting Saturday at the Wesley Foundation building on the Central Michigan University campus in Mount Pleasant. Unofficial returns show that all 11 statewide Green candidates won enough votes to keep the party on the Michigan ballot for 2004. The top vote-getter among them, U-M Regent candidate Susan Fawcett, received over 120,000 votes. So did Donnelly Hadden, nominated at the Greens' August convention for the state Supreme Court -- technically a non-partisan race. That figure is over 12,000 more than Scott Trudeau got in his race for a seat on the U-M Board in 2000 -- even though turnout was heavier in that Presidential year, and national figures Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke drew extra attention to the new Green option on the state ballot. In all, 33 candidates represented GPMI on the ballot at all levels in the state -- and about a dozen of them briefed the meeting on what went right and wrong with their campaigns, and their recommendations for future races. Comments ranged from broad and lofty targets to such simple suggestions as getting post-office boxes and getting better media coverage by learning how to ask for it . . . and asking for it. The party will continue to reach out to the estimated 150,000 voters in Michigan who supported at least one Green candidate -- and to those who were frightened away from voting for Greens by talk of "wasted" votes and "spoiled" elections, as Nader was accused of doing in the 2000 presidential race. Attendees agreed that it is the current plurality voting system, which does not work well when there are more than two candidates for an office, that enables minor parties to "spoil" races for the major parties -- and vice versa. Greens back instant-runoff voting (IRV), a system used around the world and starting to spread across this country. IRV lets voters express their full preferences, and ensures that those who win elections are actually supported by a majority of votes cast without the time and expense of a second round of voting. Working with Others on Issues of Peace and Justice During the lunch break, the attendees helped their hosts rebuild and re-install a peace sign at CMU's Wesley Foundation building. The sign, which says "No War in Iraq -- Not in Our Names", has been vandalized four times in the past week and a half: at various times, it has been knocked down, spray-painted over, and even burned. Peace is one of the top issues Greens are working on, and building coalitions around -- for many, it is *the* top issue. Reform of elections and campaigns -- including IRV -- is another major issue. A third is control of water -- "production" (actually extraction) by Perrier/Nestle in Mecosta County already, and possible "profitization" of the Detroit water system through an unelected authority. These issues and others mentioned at the meeting tie into the Greens' highest principles, the Four Pillars. Ecological wisdom is the Pillar for which Greens are best known, but the other three are just as important: social justice, grassroots democracy, and non-violence. Attendees agreed on the need to promote Green values through working visibly as individual Greens with like-minded groups on these issues and more. The party is also growing in its own right; new and revived local groups are starting up in several areas, including Mount Pleasant. Several candidates promised they would be back. So will the party, which easily retained its position on the ballot for 2004, has paid off its campaign debts, and is already planning its next statewide meeting -- in Detroit in February. Anyone wanting to find or start a GPMI local in their area, or make a donation to the party, can contact the Green Party of Michigan Committee at 548 South Main Street; Ann Arbor, MI 48104 or by calling 734-663-3555. The party also has a Web site at: http://www.MIGreens.org
e-mail: info@MIGreens.org |
