[Sosfbay-discuss] San Jose - Whatever Happened to "Think Globally, Work Locally" ?

[alexcathy at aol.com]

Whatever happened to that great progressive slogan:

 THINK GLOBALLY, WORK LOCALLY

  As I write this the City of San Jose, third largest city in 
California, 10th largest in the nation, and the so-called Capital of 
Silicon Valley is in a major political crisis. San Jose Mayor Ron 
Gonzales has been indicted on six counts of corruption right in the 
middle of a very hotly contested election.

And yet...

I want to know what Greens think about what is happening here. To date 
I have not seen or heard a single comment by any of my Northern 
California Green Party comrades. Instead, I read e-mails about tedious 
plenary minutiae and, frankly, meaningless resolutions to impeach 
President Bush.

My personal feelings about this matter with Mayor Gonzales are similar 
to my feelings about the Clinton impeachment in 1998. Gonzales is a 
sleaze. But so are his enemies. And his enemies are my enemies. 
Gonzales is yet another example of one of these pain-in-the-ass "New 
Democrats" who likes to butter up the perpetually discontented 
"business community." He is a "Good Latino" with a Spanish surname who 
doesn't speak Spanish and is appropriately deferential to "Ruling 
Class" and the "Master Race." So, now the San Jose City Council -- all 
Democrats -- are making a big show of demanding the resignation of the 
"New Democrat" mayor over a deal wich they, in fact, approved.

The San Jose story (like the Oakland story and the San Francisco story 
and the Los Angeles story), is just another example of exactly how and 
why the 2 corporate parties are leading this nation to perdition.

 * * *

Last night I attended a presentation at Black Oak Books in Berkeley 
featuring Cindy Sheehan, Paul Rockwell, and Aimee Allison. They are 
co-authors of a new book titled "Ten Excellent Reasons Not to Join the 
Military." Cindy Sheehan made the important point that electing 
Democrats to Congress or even electing a Democratic president in 2008 
will make no difference unless we challenge the ideology that makes 
"Bushism" possible.

That was a nice segue for Aimee Allison to crow about how "that's why I 
am a member of the Green Party."

Aimee Allison is a candidate for the Oakland City Council. Out of a 
large field she has made it into the runoff election for this fall. She 
may win.

Think Globally, Work Locally.


Alex Walker
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