To characterize members of the Green Party as simply DFLers who have lost
their way or who have gripes is both arrogant and ignorant, in my view.
WM: To be fair, some Green Party members are former DFLers--Dean Zimmerman, Annie Young, Ed Felien, among others. How great their numbers are I cannot say.
AY writes...
Of course, I am very tired of this overused line which is now almost eight years old. One correction, I thought Ed Felien went back to the DFL this year for caucuses. Now just a couple of other reminders:
- Some history: Actually the DFL gave me the opportunity to consider "jumping ship" by doing that thing they do best - process. The same as this year, they called quorum before that third seat received an endorsed candidate. Although the DFL supported me in the beginning and for the most part its members have continued to do so by helping to return me to office, the fact is I felt sort of "put out to pasture".
And when I did make my final decision it was after mulling over and discussing with many all the options - and it was not any easy decision. But I have been told I have tenacity and stick-to-edness - so I am sticking Green for awhile. But as in anyone's life only time will tell.
- At the last GP state convention the Greens for Wellstone votes didn't even garner 20%. I would make a gross generalization that that is about all there is of the fallen away DFLers. And my guess is it is not even 20%. Just because two of us have some name recognition doesn't mean there are hundreds of folks like us that were old Democrats.
I also wonder how many times any of you have thought about asking Dean and I why we really left and jumped ship. I cannot speak for Dean on this one but I can tell you mine has to do with ideology, the 10 Key values, my heart and more. And I will tell you also that it wasn't as much about the people as it was about where were the young people. And in 2000 they were Greens. And in 2004 many young people have gotten engaged all over the place because they finally are getting it. It is this awful mess on our planet they are inheriting and they want to start setting the country and city back on the right track.
Let's move on. And believe it or not a lot of greens of many stripes (party or not) are all on the same bandwagon in one way or another...anybody but BUSH!
But watch out next year in the City Election - we'll see where the Greens are then. That will really give us a more wholistic picture of what's happening right here in River City with political parties and third parties and such.
Annie Young
East Phillips
To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity. --Donald A. Adams
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