Posted at peaceandfreedom.org:
Announcing its intention to challenge the Democrats and Republicans in 2010, a national organizing effort to build a new electoral party of the left has announced its interim leadership and basic unity statement. Debra Reiger of Sacramento, who also serves as North State Organizer of the Peace and Freedom Party, is the Interim Chair of the National Organizing Continuations Committee (NOCC). The committee was empowered to coordinate the multi-state effort at the National Organizing Conference held on August 1 in San Francisco. The Interim Secretary is Georgia Williams of Fresno, who also serves as Secretary of the Peace and Freedom Party State Central Committee.
“We oppose rule by the wealthy and their corporations” says Reiger. “Their bloody wars, their exploitation of workers, their oppression of working people and dissidents at home and abroad continue no matter which big-money party holds office. We are working to build a national slate of candidates for Senate, House of Representatives, and other offices in the 2010 elections – and that’s just a start.”
Williams comments that “Some people claim the Democrats are socialists. This is ridiculous. It becomes clearer every day that the Democrats are capitalists who serve the corporations and their wealthy owners. The NOCC serves as an umbrella organization for people and organizations who think the working people of our country should own the goods and services they produce and run the economy.”
Welcoming the participation of existing organizations, the NOCC unity statement describes the coalition as “multi-tendency” and “non-sectarian.” “We are building the umbrella organization that will enable a broad range of left activists to run for office,” explains Reiger.
For further information, contact: Debra Reiger by email or by phone at (916) 698-8131
Unity Statement, as adopted August 9, 2009 by the National Organizing Continuations Committee (NOCC)
We agree that the Republican and Democratic parties through which the United States ruling class and its corporations exercise political power do not and cannot represent the working people of our country. The interests of working class people require that these parties be challenged from the left by an independent party based in the working class.
It is our intention to form a multi-state multi-tendency non-sectarian electoral organization committed to democracy, socialism, feminism, environmentalism and racial equality. We oppose discrimination based on sexual and gender orientation, immigration status, and all other barriers used to divide us. We oppose all U.S. wars, occupations and interventions. We seek broader ballot access for left candidates and campaigns.. We support and actively help fight for a democratic and militant union movement.
Our immediate goal is to qualify for the ballot a broad national slate of candidates for the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as other offices, in the 2010 elections. We expect this work to further the goal of bringing a left alternative to the voters nationwide, to represent the struggles of working people and all the exploited and oppressed for improved conditions and for real power over their own lives and the future of our country. We see this electoral initiative as being directly linked to organizing struggles in the workplaces, schools, and communities.
As a Green who tables a lot and often wears the Kelly Green t-shirt I no longer get hit with you guys cost Gore the election. I get friendly receptions and more people come up and take the literature.
Michael, a few questions.
1. Are the state parties going to keep separate names, or adopt the same name?
2. You said that the state parties are going to remain somewhat independent. If that’s the case, how do you expect to build a national brand/name recognition and a national base of support? How do you expect to remain organized and united while remaining somewhat independent from other state parties?
3. How are you guys going to avoid further factionalization of the left? Are you going to make efforts to reach out to the Green Party and its members?
And Jeremy, I think the Green party’s brand was largely ruined in 2000 with Nader. And since then it’s been ruined since they haven’t really won any major races and most people kind of think of them as not being able to win. I support them because they’re the only somewhat major left of center party, but honestly I don’t think their brand will do too well until we’re far enough away from 2000 that most people don’t care or blame Nader anymore (and that’s only if they present themselves as a credible alternative in conjunction with that).
Don
Then I suppose we can take you off of the Moral Committee?
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Best wishes, but they have done sooooooooo little in California [since 1967] that plz forgive me for not getting too excited. Guess the hype is part of the process. Too bad it is a big part of the non process!
Don Lake, been there done that …….
In the USA, socialism flies like a lead balloon.
Peter M., Can you be a little more specific about the insanity that you say seems common here at IPR comments? Perhaps a socialist (socialism= a good idea that doesn’t work) visiting a predominately libertarian site to address an ex-green? Or maybe the radical libertarians chomping at the bit to donate & kiss ass to a republican counterrevolutionary? Or a used car salesman who is running for president calling himself a libertarian conservative which are mutually exclusive, not complementary? Could you be a little more specific?
Peter,
Excellent question. The P&F are an explicitly socialist political party. Many of the other progressive parties are not, including the Minnesota OP.
however, we all agree that respectful dialogue shall be paramount. With us OP folks, we have had strict Leninists, Stalinists, Trotskyists (I’m an old trot myself) non socialists and all kinds here.
We are all agreeing on one primary objective. Opposition to the corporate corrupted, two party system. In Minnesota specifically, we are all on board for Single payer healthcare, no compromise on that.
However, each state shall keep their own state partied identities. Common goals in building opposition is the key.
Think of it this way. If all of us were in a life raft, dependent on each others skills to stay alive, then that reality makes us work together.
It is in that spirit that we are working together. Common goals and common objectives.
Hopefully this post won’t get drowned in the insanity that unfortunately seems common here, but I have a question for Michael Cavlan.
How do the various state Progressive parties plan on successfully bridging the gap with the Peace and Freedom Party, considering that the latter is an explicitly socialist party, and the former are not? Speaking as someone who supports the formation of a socialist electoral alliance, I don’t see how the non-socialist progressive parties could be successfully integrated into such a coalition without the watering down of socialist principles.
I meant to say loner, not longer.
Jesse Ventura was not a longer. The Reform Party of Minnesota persuaded him to run, so he entered the Reform Party primary, won that, and then won the general election. A Reform Party Lieutenant Governor was elected with him. In 2000 the party had changed its name to the Independence Party and it elected a State Senator from Rochester.
CT
Well, since you are answering your own posts, then I guess you also answered your own question, as to if you are insane or a comedian, eh?
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Robert, the greens and libertarians don’t have enough support to win the election. Most of them are still close to the Democratic or Republican parties anyway. Even you voted Republican. Only true left-leaning anarchists like Paulie are really equally far apart from both parties. Robert, the only chance is for you, a green libertarian, to run with a Christian socialist as running mate. The only Christian socialist to have complete name recognition is Jimmy Carter. Therfore,
Milnes-Carter 2012.
and Kavlan, you have been punke’d. The Green Party Supporter that made comments was actually me, asking about myself.
The problem is that the Greens still have the international brand. Setting up a leftist party in opposition to the Greens is doomed to fail because the Green brand will simply out-compete all others.
I suppose if P&F unites with some other more isolated third party groupings that have their own significant support then it could be good for providing two major engines for ball0t-access for progressive candidates, much like the liberty conservatives have either the Libertarians or Constitution Party.
A 6 party system I think would be alright for government, although such would have to occur without some mandate.
Although right now for third parties my biggest hope is to have Jesse Ventura run in 2012 for President, hopefully uniting some of our discontent in a mainstream candidate. Although the question remains what ballot-line he would select or if he would waste all the money to go independent.
We need a viable third party to split the vote 3 ways. The Progressive Party COULD have been that party except it also is split between left (GP) & right (LP). The vestiges of the Progressive Party in Vermont etc is leftist & mostly northeastern hence very limited. It needs to coordinate itself. Vote coordination is the key. One GP or LP candidate on EVERY ballot. BOTH party inclusive blocs vote for that one candidate. Believe me, I’ve put A LOT of thought into this.
Right, Jesse Ventura was an Independent/loner and/or Reform Party. Since he didn’t have a slate of sympathetic supporting winning downticket candidates he was vulnerable to dem & rep sabotage. He could have joined the 2008 race what with his book “Don’t Start the Revolution without Me” in at least the Lp race. But I guess he preferred body surfing.
If we start soon we do have enough time to win in 2012 with The Progressive Libertarian Alliance Strategy. Your energy is needed to correctly act out the Strategy, not to just act out. If the Progressive Party had won in 1912, this 100 years would have been quite different. If TR had selected a progressive democrat for vp very possibly. So, we’ve paid the price already. Let’s not compound the historic error, ok?
Sorry
I meant to say that the Dems and Repubs sabotaged his ADMINISTRATION.
In fact example A is from Minnesota.
Jesse Ventura won the Governor’s race. So the Repubs and Dems conspired together to sabotogue his campaign.
However, in the Senate race, even though BOTH parties screamed that “you have to vote for us or it is the end of the world”, a full 18% voted for neither.
THAT is what I am talking about. Winning elections and a symbolic office is useless until you change the mind set of the voters.
I am talking long term strategy here.
Robert
Being serious about exposing and opposing the pro-war, corporate corrupted two party system is the goal. Anyone who talks of winning with the current system in place is delusional, quite frankly. No matter which “strategy” one picks.
Anything after that is icing on the cake. We are talking about peeling back decades of indoctrination and cowardice. This is a battle for the long term.
I only hope that we have time.
There are 2 problems with Nader’s Independent Strategy although he did get enough ballot access in 2008 to win. 1. He lost as soon as he chose a fellow leftist/progressive as vp. He should have selected a woman libertarian vp for fusion ticket. 2. Independents are loners. They have no slate of downticket ballot candidates. So even if they were to win -& voters realize this & do not vote Independent-they would be engaging with a democrat & republican Congress & judiciary. Which can block all proposed legislation & override all vetoes & subsequently pass its own legislation etc. making the Executive virtually meaningless.
PPF, I wish you luck but upstartgreen & CT are right. This is just further factionalizing the left. Even if you get Milsted’s help/endorsement & get some understanding what you are doing-creating a “new upper left party” you still are directly competing with the GP & LP. & it sounds like you are not going for upper level i.e. straight leftist which will consign you to failure by alienating 1/3 of your potential vote-The Libertarian Vote/Cato Institute. I’ve already rejected Milsted’s new upper left party on these grounds & will also reject your PPF. The correct Strategy is The Progressive Libertarian Alliance Strategy which takes advantage of the already in place GP & LP. Energize them instead of splitting off like the BTP. Do you understand what you are doing or are you just acting out your frustrations?
Upstartgreen
better that than some party which pretends to oppose the pro-war, corporate corrupted system.
Actually, what this is is a coming TOGETHER of those who are SERIOUS about opposing the demopublicans, republocrats and the corporate money which owns them.
But of course, I am a former Green candidate for US Senate, Green observer in the 2004 Ohio Re-Count, former Green Party National Delegate, tried to work on the Cynthia McKinney campaign and, oh yes, former Green.
So lets talk of how the National GP factionalized itself and DELIBERATELY (IMHO) the Nader supporters in the GP.
have that discussion and then talk.
And the left keeps factionalizing. Just what we need another leftist party to confuse the public and dice up the progressive vote.
Paulie
What we are talking about (in the early stages) is having all of us who have ballot access and will create a coalition of states parties who will agree to provide ballot access to the desired candidates.
GP supporter. yes, good old Catholic Trotskyist has been here for a while.
Any plans for ballot access?
Who is this guy Catholic Trotskyist? Is he really insane or is he a comedian?
I guess he does have a point because we greens really do have some serious internal divisions to overcome, but the rest of that post was complete nonsense. From your response Mike, it seems like he’s been here for a while?
Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
LOLOL
Poor old CT is going to pop a fuse when this thing takes off.
Lord,
Take me my psychotic medications, including my haldol, lithium and zanax.
In the right doses.
amen
Keep going, Kavlan and other PFP and Naderite losers. The only way you even have a chance of winning is to follow the Milnes progressive alliance strategy, or better yet, the Catholic Trotskyist fringe alliance strategy which involves allying not only with the Libertarian party, but the Constitution Party as well. But you losergreenians and other third party losers are too divided to ever have hope of doing anything like that, so your only effect will be to keep the Republican satanic conspiracy in power (except the Constitution Party, which helps our commanding revolutionary general Barack Obama). Meanwhile, the Catholic Trotskyist movement goes onward and upward; with Garamendi winning the Democratic primary in California’s 10th district special election, the favored candidate of Catholic Trotskyism. Soon Barack Obama will announce his pro-life position, institute universal healthcare, end the wars, and move towards ending US sovereignty, bringing in the worldwide socialist movement. It may take longer than I first thought, but the signs are already there, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
The LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, ER YE ER YE, THEN SHALL THE EYES OF THE BLIND BE OPENED, AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF OPENED, AND THE STREAMS SHALL FALL LIKE WATER. READ THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
Danny
Before I contacted them, they had already had a number of mainly west coast states involved.
With the contacts I have acquired from the national GP (folks who were banned or just left in disgust) on the east Coast as well as the contacts and work we in Minnesota have been doing with Wisconsin, Vermont, Washington state, this thing is already gathering steam.
Just as we expected.
I only heard California officials in Peace and Freedom in this effort… where is everybody else?
Just contacted these fine people.
Onwards and upwards. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont and Washington State Progressive Parties had already been talking and co-ordinating on this.
Now we are connecting with these guys.
Wow, almost like we are serious about building an alternative to the pro-war, corporate corrupted two party system.
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