Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The need for a new narrative in America -- NOW -- and just maybe how to start!
This is a letter written to an environmental writer at Truthout.Org. It sheds light on some of what it may take to start saying, thinking, and--gasp!--actually ACTING on a new narrative.
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Dear Kelpie,
I want to comment on your well written Truthout article (Jan. 18), "Where Is the Energy for Freedom?"
You say, there are "disturbing signs that the Democrats are not really looking at the big picture about energy." That could sadly be expanded to many other issues, as the the DLC-DNC model for decision-making in general avoids any Big Picture thinking, preferring, instead, not to "rock the boat" nor to upset potential major donors (read, bankers, oil and pharmaceutical companies, etc.).
Cheney's closed-door "Energy Policy" always really included the War in Iraq (as borne out by the recent rollout of the brazen Production Sharing "Agreements") — yet this is not being articulated, even by the "new" Congress. America is kept in the dark.
I wonder WHEN truly concerned people will finally realize that new political thinking is required, not just a re-shuffle. That just cannot happen in today's Democratic Party--it's not something progressives can "win," coerce, or demand from their leadership or structure. The Democratic mindset is just built in--as the last 40 or so years bear out.
On the other hand, the Green Party has long organized and spoken out in favor of alternative sustainable energy policies and a transparent, decentralized process for rational decision-making, in general.
If we wish to see any change on the ground, we must change the narrative of our nation. New words and visions have to be articulated and broadcast throughout the land. That narrative is the one coming from today's Green Party. Broad people-based and solution-based thinking exists right now in this land. It is apparent in the Green Party Mission, its Platform, and its Ten Key Values — and in its recommended approach to many of the problems of our time. In large part, this is due to its global vision which informs the Green understanding of the causes of problems, and the bases for solutions.
Greens are articulating that needed narrative every day, with consistency. It is time to amplify that vision, to help that narrative reshape the political landscape of America.
It seems not only sensible, but urgent, that progressives and other concerned citizens should embrace such a voice that already exists—to add to it, shape it further, give it more breadth and depth, and to strengthen it. Support is needed to amplify that needed voice.
The Green narrative includes talking about the democratic process, as well. Greens and many other citizens have looked on aghast as vital elements of our system of government and social safety-net have been eroded, weakened, and hijacked with nary a raised voice nor a troubled glance from the Democratic Party officials: healthcare, women's rights, wages, fair and honest election practices, civil liberties, energy, bankruptcy, and of course, the environment. Katrina...well, that just lingers, a festering wound to society and psyche.
The narrative we need cannot be jammed down the throat of the Democratic Party as decades have proven. It will not come out of their "loudspeaker" to be heard or discussed by the population at large. At best, it is an internal debate. Any and all intelligent discussion has been at the margins of that party. So maybe it's time for progressive people to put aside all that frustration, and help build a party that actually agrees with them—and says the right words to a hungering public.
Just as it is foolhardy and dangerous to wait to deal with energy solutions and with global warming, it is equally foolhardy to wait to have a coherent political voice to articulate, fight for and LEAD the people in these crucial issues on as many fronts as possible. This cannot be done just through NGO's (who have their own funding limitation problems anyway).
We need a party to do this. We have the party. Now. Time to grow it. Time for the capital G Green.
There will likely be a perceived need to continue to vote for some Democratic candidates for a time, as the ship of the new growing narrative leaves port and gets up steam. That might prove to be a tactical choice for some, as the electorate changes; but although some progressives Dems would have us think that people should not be jumping from the Democratic ship, it is really about getting out of a leaky and foundering vessel, into one whose course is going our way — whose destination (a re-birth of democracy's spirit and sustainable, peaceful living for all) is our own.
We need to have green, safe, and sensible policies, hear green thoughts, have green dialogs, and do green planning.
Kelpie, why not help the Green Party to help you spread your message? Consider supporting the Green Party as a means to that end. Register Green if you have not already done so. Get others to join and help shape our future. Add your voice and make this new narrative a sane and sustainable one for everyone to share.
==============
Dear Kelpie,
I want to comment on your well written Truthout article (Jan. 18), "Where Is the Energy for Freedom?"
You say, there are "disturbing signs that the Democrats are not really looking at the big picture about energy." That could sadly be expanded to many other issues, as the the DLC-DNC model for decision-making in general avoids any Big Picture thinking, preferring, instead, not to "rock the boat" nor to upset potential major donors (read, bankers, oil and pharmaceutical companies, etc.).
Cheney's closed-door "Energy Policy" always really included the War in Iraq (as borne out by the recent rollout of the brazen Production Sharing "Agreements") — yet this is not being articulated, even by the "new" Congress. America is kept in the dark.
I wonder WHEN truly concerned people will finally realize that new political thinking is required, not just a re-shuffle. That just cannot happen in today's Democratic Party--it's not something progressives can "win," coerce, or demand from their leadership or structure. The Democratic mindset is just built in--as the last 40 or so years bear out.
On the other hand, the Green Party has long organized and spoken out in favor of alternative sustainable energy policies and a transparent, decentralized process for rational decision-making, in general.
If we wish to see any change on the ground, we must change the narrative of our nation. New words and visions have to be articulated and broadcast throughout the land. That narrative is the one coming from today's Green Party. Broad people-based and solution-based thinking exists right now in this land. It is apparent in the Green Party Mission, its Platform, and its Ten Key Values — and in its recommended approach to many of the problems of our time. In large part, this is due to its global vision which informs the Green understanding of the causes of problems, and the bases for solutions.
Greens are articulating that needed narrative every day, with consistency. It is time to amplify that vision, to help that narrative reshape the political landscape of America.
It seems not only sensible, but urgent, that progressives and other concerned citizens should embrace such a voice that already exists—to add to it, shape it further, give it more breadth and depth, and to strengthen it. Support is needed to amplify that needed voice.
The Green narrative includes talking about the democratic process, as well. Greens and many other citizens have looked on aghast as vital elements of our system of government and social safety-net have been eroded, weakened, and hijacked with nary a raised voice nor a troubled glance from the Democratic Party officials: healthcare, women's rights, wages, fair and honest election practices, civil liberties, energy, bankruptcy, and of course, the environment. Katrina...well, that just lingers, a festering wound to society and psyche.
The narrative we need cannot be jammed down the throat of the Democratic Party as decades have proven. It will not come out of their "loudspeaker" to be heard or discussed by the population at large. At best, it is an internal debate. Any and all intelligent discussion has been at the margins of that party. So maybe it's time for progressive people to put aside all that frustration, and help build a party that actually agrees with them—and says the right words to a hungering public.
Just as it is foolhardy and dangerous to wait to deal with energy solutions and with global warming, it is equally foolhardy to wait to have a coherent political voice to articulate, fight for and LEAD the people in these crucial issues on as many fronts as possible. This cannot be done just through NGO's (who have their own funding limitation problems anyway).
We need a party to do this. We have the party. Now. Time to grow it. Time for the capital G Green.
There will likely be a perceived need to continue to vote for some Democratic candidates for a time, as the ship of the new growing narrative leaves port and gets up steam. That might prove to be a tactical choice for some, as the electorate changes; but although some progressives Dems would have us think that people should not be jumping from the Democratic ship, it is really about getting out of a leaky and foundering vessel, into one whose course is going our way — whose destination (a re-birth of democracy's spirit and sustainable, peaceful living for all) is our own.
We need to have green, safe, and sensible policies, hear green thoughts, have green dialogs, and do green planning.
Kelpie, why not help the Green Party to help you spread your message? Consider supporting the Green Party as a means to that end. Register Green if you have not already done so. Get others to join and help shape our future. Add your voice and make this new narrative a sane and sustainable one for everyone to share.
