RE: Southwest Journal column on Greens in Minneapolis by our
Listmaster. David Brauer argues that at least in Minneapolis---a
one-party town since the Republicans don't seem to run any kind of
credible opposition candidates--the Greens wouldn't be stuck in the
spoiler role. Greens could run for City Council, etc. and actually
serve as worthy, credible opposition to the DFL. Here's the link for
the whole column:
http://www.swjournal.com/swjournal/myarticles.asp?P=324499&S=212&PubID=5737&EC=0
I, a progressive DFLer who recently vowed I'd never support
the Greens even for dog-catcher, would be willing to take a look at a
Green candidate for city council. Of course, I live in Ward 13, which
would probably be the last ward in the city to go Green. But I'm sick
of DFL Corporate Mumbo-Jumbo-Focus-Group-Testing and I'd love a
couple of real elections in this town.
Of course, if the Greens did get some city council seats,
they'd actually have to make policy instead of just posturing. And as
soon as you do actual policy, you tend to lose your absolute purity
status. It would make the Greens grow up a little. In fact, there's
two hard steps in political maturity: getting elected and then
governing. And governing isn't for teenagers; it tends to be a less
glamorous grown-up task, as Jesse Ventura is discovering.
Governing is something the US House Republicans--six years as
a majority party--have still failed to do. They know how to tear
down, foam at the mouth, act out free-floating paranoia and launch
investigations. (Very Age 15 ) They just don't seem to know how to
come up with coherent, workable policies. (Very 35-year-old and up
stuff.)
I grew up among the Christian Right. And, unfortunately, many
of the Greens remind me, on an emotional and political level, of Pat
Robertson's followers or the Republican folks who endorsed Allan
Quist over Arne Carlson a few years back. The Greens come from the
other side of the political spectrum, but in terms of attitudes and
action, they are soul-mates of the Christian Right. It's Demonize
Your Enemies. All or nothing. Heaven or Hell. Now or never. Saved or
Damned. Vegan or Death.
So far, both the Greens and the Christian Right have often
perferred losing and being pure and righteous than to engage in the
messy, and yeah, compromising work of politics. But in
Minneapolis--where they are not doomed by a two-party system to be
the spoilers--they might have an opportunity to grow up and try
governing. I probably agree with the Greens on 70 percent of the
issues--I might even wish 'em well.
And then again, I might not. Right now, I'm still a Democrat
and yes, I'm still sore. A couple days after the election we had a
Clipboard/Fundraiser guy from Clean Water Action knock on our door.
Now I've been giving to Cleanwater Action for years. But this time,
as he started his speech, I said, "Before you go any further, why
don't you tell me who you voted for in the last election."
He said, "Well, I have great sympathy for Gore---"
"Never mind. Just tell me who you voted for."
He said Nader and I said, well thanks, but because you
weren't there for me on Nov., 7th and I'm now not going to be here
for you. Cleanwater Action can send me someone who voted for Gore.
And I shut the door.
Of course, afterwards, I felt guilty because I was raised to
be a Minnesotan and this wasn't exactly Nice. But in fact, if
Cleanwater Action in Minneapolis can't find anyone among themselves
who voted for Gore, that tells me something about their political
judgements. And why should I give'em money to do political action
when I think they failed big-time in the last month?
In sum, the Greens could have a future in Minneapolis. But
then they'd actually have to govern. And before they got to the
governing stage, they'd have to WOO (hint: this is different from
lecturing) angry progressive voters like me who hold them partly
responsible for the Recent Unpleasentness. Instead, what I'm hearing
from Greens is a call to arms, more war, more targeting of
progressive politicians (like Wellstone) who "sold out."
Very 15, guys.
Somewhere between Heaven and Hell is a real world that needs
both idealism and pragmatism. And leaders who are willing to enter
the messy, yet worthy work of governing. I'd like to see the Greens
succeed in Minneapolis as grown-ups. On those terms, I really do wish
them well.
Lynnell Mickelsen
Linden Hills, Ward 13
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