From: Dale McMillen <dmcmillen@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: alt.politics.greens
Date: 27 Jan 93 22:17 PST
Subject: Re: THE MONEY SUPPLY AND CURRENCIES
Nf-ID: #R:cdp:1678600108:cdp:1678600172:000:3993
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!dmcmillen    Jan 27 22:17:00 1993


Micheal Spencer,
 
I don't know why you continuously want to peg me as a socialist.
I know I have said that I find myself leaning to some form of
decentralized democratic socialism, but this is a far cry from
the type of socialism you seem to want to label me with.
 
The challenge, and the place that needs continuous work, is finding
ways to keep this system or any system "decentralized" and "democratic".
 
All of the "thugs" you keep bringing up -- Hitler, Mussolini, Mao,
or Huey Long -- have had serious troubles with these two concepts.
Any political organization or philosophy has similar troubles.  Just
look at your local city council, state legislators and congressmen, or
look at your friends in your local Democrat, Republican, Libertarian,
or Green Parties and you will find some who wish to dismiss these
fundamental principles of political fairness for either expediency or
devotion to some "higher goal".
 
It is failure to hold on to decentralization and democracy which breeds
power and corruption.  Ultimately, it is important to keep priorities
straight, and remember that while the principle of democracy and
decentralization may seem messy and slow in the real world, the most
important thing is to value all people and their views.  It is not just
whether we get from here to there, but how we proceed.  It is the
process that counts.
 
If we want a world where all people are treated fairly and nature
is treated with the same respect we give our mothers, then we must
begin treating people fairly and respecting nature.  Even if we don't
acheive certain successes like lobbying legislators for fairer
taxation, or stopping toxic dumps, or getting our people elected we
will have succeeded if we have treated people fairly and respected
nature in the process.  The ends do not justify the means, but
they are inseparable.  There is no way to peace, peace is the way.
 
The most important thing you can remember about The Greens is
our commitment to grassroots democracy and decentralization.
Our commitment to these principles is the way we commit ourselves
to the common person.  We believe if you treat people fairly
they will be able to empower themselves and their communities
to take care of the things that matter to them: food, shelter,
clothing, clean air and water, interpersonal relationships,
and spiritual connections to God and nature.
 
Our commitment to socialism, capitalism, the free market, or
anything in between is clearly subordinate to the principles
of decentralization and grassroots democracy.
 
While it may be possible for a Hitler or a Mao to co-opt the
Green message and claim the allegiance of Green Party members,
I would nearly guarantee that it would be more difficult for
this potential dictator to co-opt Greens than any other political
party you could name, including the Libertarians.
 
Look at the fascination the Democrats have with their "messiah"
Clinton.  Look at the way Libertarians were suckered by Ronald
Reagan, who did more to consolodate power and deprive people
of their civil rights than anyone else in my lifetime.  And, well,
the Republicans since they seem thrive on top-down patriarchal
structures which are antithetical to decentralism and grass-roots
democracy.
 
Dale
 
PS  I agree with you when you said "I prefer reformation to
transformation."  Or, to state it another way: "evolution
versus revolution."  I recently read where a long-time activist
who has been working on racism say "We need both urgency and
patience.  We need urgency because we can never let ourselves
become complacent while the status quo remains unjust.  But,
we also need patience because we need to realize the depth our
problems go to the very heart of our institutions and our attitudes
about each other.  We need to realize that we participate in the
same racist institutions and attitudes as those we are fighting,
and it is only when both friend and foe have learned to discard
the sins of the past that we can ever be free."

Newsgroups: alt.politics.greens