[Sosfbay-discuss] We're #5: Anaylzing Santa Clara's VoterRegistration Report of 5/19/08

[Tian Harter]

Fred Duperrault wrote:
> Very good points, Drew!
> 
> Additionally, the Green Party has to figure out how to raise money.
> In the capitalist system, public relations through advertising is a 
> prerequisite to growth. Notice how the political election system is so 
> influenced by the Madison Avenue principles.

I come from more of a "be the media" background. I got this cool light
for my bike at the maker faire in San Mateo County. It goes between the
spokes of the wheel and blinks color in dramatic fashion. I visited the
website of the company and saw "revolutionary lighting product."

http://www.monkeylectric.com/index.htm

Last Friday the creator was on the critical mass ride in San Francisco.
I told him that he had set a new high water mark for entertainment value
"revolution" in my world. The previous best had been an old hippie at
another critical mass ride years ago that told me "a revolution is once
around for a bicycle wheel."

He said "that's what we're trying to do."

The money people have to spend to get one of these lights is of the same
order as a politicial donation. For the money they get a nice light 
which gives them a tiny amount of additional safety and more "coolness."

Riding with this revolutionary light blinking away down a dark street
is fun in a way. Does it feel better than driving an air conditioned
car? I like to think so, but I'm biased. I prefer to think that all
cyclists are volunteers doing a profound political act.
> 
> A major reason why the Democratic Party has followed the Republican 
> Party toward the right (Direction, that is.), is its adoption of the 
> absolute capitalist way of thinking. Because the public has failed in 
> controlling the corporate monopoly of the political system, we have a 
> one party - Repubdecratic - monoploly. To survive, the Democrats have 
> adopted the too popular adage, "If you can't beat 'em (the oligar- 
> chists), join' em!"

The exact reason I prefer to think of "THEM" as all corrupt. The answer 
is not to join them, but rather to make being a good citizen a good
thing in more ways. Think globally, act locally is more than a bumper 
sticker! It's a good idea...
> 
> The Green Party certainly won't join 'em, but it's got to figure out how 
> to raise more money the ethical way.  There is a lot of competition out 
> there for the funding of nonprofit organizations.  Some of the big 
> financially successful nonprofit NGOs, like Greenpeace, Southern Poverty 
> Law Center, Habitat For Humanity, the Sierra Club and Doctors Without 
> Borders, do dramatic things that appeal to the humane emotions of
> generous donors.  It seems that dramatic good deed actions beget
> dramatic contributions.

I have vivid memories of right wingers being furious about how much bang
such people get from their "media stunts". I think it is a much better
value for everybody to make walking your talk a better value than 
leading a heard. Especially considering leading a heard takes a huge
amount of energy, whereas being a fellow traveler takes not much.
The whole "keeping up with the Joneses" thing would be so much better
if it was "being as sustainable as them", especially if they were good.
> 
> If the Green Party could put some of its "Values" into some tangible 
> good deed enterprise like, maybe, "Food For the Outcast", or "Mother 
> Green Earth" workshops, Green political contributions could dramatically 
>   increase.  Of course, the "enterprise" would have to be a separate 501 
> (c) (3) entity - founded and operated by Green Party volunteers.
> 
> A "Green Party Volunteers" entity, independent of the Party, might be a 
> way to achieve some tangible Green Party Value goals that could do
> a lot for the public image of the Green Party.

We're working on it, but more is always needed.
> 
> At least, it would be doing some earthly tangible good.
> 
Amen to that!
-- 
Tian
http://tian.greens.org
Come on down to my election night party tomorrow! Detail on my site...