Local Commentaries
(2009-08-12)
Commentator Bill Knight
Sometimes Democrats don't seem able to organize a two-piece Domino set; at other times Republicans and Democrats show such likeminded discipline to serve their lobbyist and campaign contributor masters, they seem too close for comfort.
As Washington's Demo-cans and Republic-rats work to thwart the will of the people on ensuring affordable health care for all (about 65% of Americans support this goal), Illinois' Green Party recently met in Champaign-Urbana and reminded voters that differences can be good.
Politics can be like religion in the sense that variety compels cooperation. Eighteenth century philosopher Voltaire said, "If there were only one religion there would be danger of despotism. If there were two, they would cut each other's throats. But there are 30, and they live in peace and happiness."
If there were parties beyond the two Wall Street spinoffs, maybe there'd be chances for compromising for the common good rather than patrons, or prioritizing re-election instead of public benefits.
Illinois' Green Party is now a qualified party on Illinois ballots, and for the 2010 election, the Greens are running a slate for statewide offices plus dozens of legislative posts, Congressional seats and county positions. Headed by gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney (who got more than 10% of the vote in 2006), the ticket includes LeAlan Jones for U.S. Senator. Jones is a Chicago writer who was featured as a 13 year old with friend Lloyd Newman in David Irsay's award-winning 1993 public-radio piece "Ghetto 101."
Sheldon Schafer, an area Green delegate who also got about 9% of the vote running for west-central Illinois' 18th Congressional District seat in 2008, said, "More political parties would be good. The other two parties are more and more like each other in many respects."
The Green Party tries to set itself apart with 10 key values, stressing its "four pillars" - grassroots democracy, social justice, ecological wisdom, and nonviolence.
The others are decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, feminism and gender equity, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility, and future focus and sustainability.
Whitney favors an increase in the income tax with property-tax reductions; a state bank where tax receipts would be deposited so the state earns interest; and a single-payer health-care system. Also, he said as Governor, he would oppose using any Illinois National Guard troops to fight "illegal and immoral" wars abroad, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Whitney doesn't want to criminalize abortion, he adds; policy should try to prevent unwanted pregnancies. He said he would back a law allowing citizens to carry concealed guns but would allow counties to opt out.
Nationally, about half the country sympathizes with most of the Greens' platform, according to two recent studies, "New Progressive America" and "The State of American Political Ideology, 2009." They say that about 47% of Americans are progressive and about 48% are conservative - although big majorities agree on many issues.
For instance, 80% agree that "government investments in education, infrastructure and science are necessary to ensure America's long-term economic growth"; about 65% agree that "government has a responsibility to provide financial support for the poor, the sick and the elderly"; 76% agree that "America's economic future requires a transformation away from oil, gas and coal to renewable energy sources"; and about 75% agree that "government regulations are necessary to keep businesses in check and protect workers and consumers."
Apart from party affiliation or self-identified descriptions like conservative or progressive, there's a consensus that today's "spectrum" of political parties doesn't often show. Most progressives agree with conservatives on Social Security and trade issues, for example, and most conservatives agree with progressives on the role of government.
Back here in the Prairie State, there's potential for more voices reaching common ground, Schafer says, adding, "Illinois is a special case. Most people want a choice to vote for other than more corruption and collusion."
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