LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Great reasons to go Green

Posted

To the editor:

All of my adult life, I have been a member of the Democratic Party — the party of FDR that brought us Social Security — providing old-age and widows’ benefits. The Wagner Act, which protected the right of workers to join unions and engage in collective bargaining with employers. The Civilian Conservation Corps, that provided temporary jobs, employment on construction projects, and youth work in the national forests. The Federal Housing Administration to combat the housing crisis of the Great Depression.

And let’s not forget the Glass-Steagall Act, which prohibited commercial banks from participating in the investment banking business.

So, here it was, the summer of 2016, and so many of us thought that Bernie Sanders had a winning chance. Much like FDR’s dream, Bernie’s dream was our dream: Medicare for all, free higher education for all, $15 minimum wage, full employment, cut military spending, abortion rights, dealing with climate change, ending “endless” wars, gun background checks.

He opposed (and still does) the monopoly of the big banks, private prisons, militarized police, unconditional military support for oppressive regimes.

But the fix was already in. The Democratic National Committee had decided, long before any primary, that their chosen candidate would be Hillary Clinton — with all her baggage.

He should not have run on the Democratic ticket for, if anything, the Democrats have shown themselves to be something other than democratic. If anything, the Democratic Party — much like the Republican Party — has shown itself to be duplicitous, corporatist, opportunist, militarist, xenophobic, neo-liberal disaster capitalists, more interested in the support of their deep-pocketed contributors than the welfare of the people. More in keeping the United States fighting endless wars — yes, the United States is still involved in 76 wars worldwide, according to The Nation and U.S. News — than supporting education, affordable health, and rebuilding our infrastructure.

What was one to do? The choice was between a warmonger and a moron. I was desperate, drifting, not knowing where to turn. Then I read all the positions of the Green Party. They were those of Bernie Sanders and the presidential candidate Jill Stein, who just like Bernie, had not accepted one cent from corporations. Her support had all come from individual contributors.

I sent her $25. But, more importantly, I decided to divorce the Democratic Party and enroll as a Green. 

I have not regretted it.

What is happening all across the country is that people are waking up to the realities of the Democrats and Republicans — two sides of the same counterfeit coin, and that those who support working people are in another viable party, the Green Party.

Irene Díaz-Reyes

Irene Díaz-Reyes

Comments