[Sosfbay-discuss] [Fwd: [Activists] Happy 5th Birthday to PDA]

[Wes Rolley]

Fred Duperrault wrote:
> Take a look at David Swanson's remarks (below) about the credibility 
> of the "Progressive Democrats of America."
Today, I read Steve Welzer's article in Green Horizon.   (Spring 2009).  
In it, he takes both historic Socialist and Capitalist positions to task 
as failure... two sides of the same coin... an economy based on the 
exploitation of resources and the Ponzi shceme of perpetual growth.

He heads his conclusion with the phrase "Toward a Greening of our 
Civilization."

The problem with Progressive Democrats is that they ask the wrong 
questions thus come up with the wrong answers too much of the time.  
There are times when we agree, and should work as allies.  But the 
Greening of our Civilization is never to be on their agenda. 

I know that there are some who have viewed the Greens as the political 
face of the Progressive Movement.  If that were all we wanted to be, the 
by all means go join the PDA.  It is not enough for me.  I want more, 
more radical change, but change based on the solid understanding of 
human ecology.  Change the works toward a day when we no longer need 
caucuses because we understand our mutual humanness, a day when we pride 
ourselves on taking care of our neighbor, no matter who that is or how 
far away they live.

I have a sense that Yeats was at least partially right when he wrote.
> Turning and turning in the widening gyre
> The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
> Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
> Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
> The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
> The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
> The best lack all conviction, while the worst
> Are full of passionate intensity. 
He wrote of the Second Coming, a religious vision.  I would say that we 
are close to the times he describes and any approach couched in the old 
terminology: right / left, Democrat / Republican, Socialist / Capitalist 
will never stem the blood-dimmed tide.

Green to the day I die.


-- 
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente

Wes Rolley
17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024