State
Quarterly Meeting Report
Traverse City, Spring 2001
May 19-20,
2001
DRAFT
Contents:
Section 1: Summary of
Events………………….page 1
Section 2: Meeting
Minutes……………………. page 3
Section 3: Materials
…………………………… page 16
SECTION 1:
The following is a list of major issues that were taken to a vote at this meeting. For details about discussion on these issues, please see the Meeting Minutes (Section 2).
Election of Officers to State Central Committee
Treasurer: Marc Reichardt
Clearinghouse
Coordinator Dawn McClain
Locals
Liaison: Kevin Henehan
Meeting
Manager Ray Ziarno
Committee
Manager Paul Emery
Record
Keeper Adrianna
Buonarroti
Members
At Large:
Lynne Meadows
Matt Abel
Doug Campbell
Rick Stahlhut
Jim Moreno
Lou Novak
State
Representatives to Association of State Green Parties (ASGP) and Green Party
USA (GPUSA):
In light of the discussion about the
fact that 1) state reps had not previously been elected, but usually
volunteered to take over the posts and 2) that Steve Herrick is a member of the
ASGP Steering Committee, a post that would be lost to us at a crucial time for
the Party (see discussion of Boston Proposal in the Minutes, Day 2), 3) that there are no term limits for state
rep positions in the bylaws, and 4) that after the GPUSA caucus in August,
there may only be one national Green Party OR Michigan may disaffiliate with
GPUSA, thus making two of our state reps unnecessary, a decision was made to
refer this matter to the SCC to decide on a procedure for electing state reps.
Green
Party of Michigan Reform Proposals- See Section III, Materials, for an annotated
version of the Reform Proposals with their current status.
Bylaws
Proposals
(24 ballots returned)
- Replacement of Article IV (Officers):
Accepted by a vote of 19 Accept, 5 Modify
- Replacement of Article VI (Candidates for
Office): Returned to committee for revision by a vote of 10 Accept, 12 Modify,
2 Reject
- Addition to Article V, Section 2 (Rulebook):
Accepted by a vote of 21 Accept, 2 Modify, 1 Reject
- Replacement of Article V, Section 4
(Responsibilities and editorial rights of the Bylaws committee): Accepted by a
vote of 21 Accept, 2 Modify, 1 Reject
Platform
Proposals
(30 ballots returned)
-
Preface: Accepted by a vote of 23 Accept, 2 Modify, 5 Blank
-
Affordable Housing: Accepted by a vote
of 24 Accept, 5 Modify, 1 Blank
-
Public Education Funding: Accepted by a
vote of 26 Accept, 2 Modify, 2 Blank
-
Native Americans: Accepted by a vote of
25 Accept, 2 Modify, 3 Blank; clause on Leonard Peltier Accepted by a vote of
16 Accept, 3 Modify, 5 Reject, 1 Abstain, 5 Blank
-
Sexual Orientation: Accepted by a vote
of 28 Accept, 2 Blank
- Tax Justice: Accepted by a vote of 24 Accept, 4 Modify, 2 Blank
- Animal Rights: Accepted by a vote of 19 Accept, 7 Modify, 2 Reject, 2 Blank
- Trade Issues in Michigan: Accepted by a vote of 21 Accept, 5 Modify, 1
Reject, 3 Blank
- Living Wage: Accepted by a vote of 26 Accept, 2 Modify, 2 Blank
-
Rape
and Sexual Violence: Returned to the
committee for revision by a vote of 18 Accept, 10 Modify, 2 Blank
SECTION 2:
ASGP—Association
of State Green Parties
AWOG—Amber
Waves of Green (state newsletter)
DNR—Department
of Natural Resources
FEC—federal
election commission
FTAA—free
trade area of the Americas
GPMi—Green
Party of Michigan
GPUSA—Greens/Green
Party USA
ICQ—an
internet chat system
IRV—instant
runoff voting
PRA—personal
responsibility amendment
SCC—State
Central Committee of the GPMi
SQM—State
Quarterly Meeting
TC—Traverse
City
(Note: When words are associated with speakers,
they are paraphrases—unless quoted or in proposals.)
Next
SQM’s announced: August 4-5, Wyandotte
MI. November 10 & 11 (?) Grand Rapids.
Welcome
from Tom Mair, TC. Tom described the
many TC actions--Tax day demonstration, FTAA banner hang, FTAA demonstration,
Earth Week, “rock the boat”—combining music and politics very successfully.
JoAnne
Beemon—Green drain commissioner of Charlevoix County. She explained how every paradise is endangered by a force. How people like to see Engler as villain—but
he’s just a handmaiden to big money.
Read “Mandate for Leadership” by the Heritage Foundation. The Market and Profits are gods to these
people. It is appropriate for the GP to
talk about ethics. There is a higher
power than global capitalism and market forces. The higher power is democracy.
We have to un-corrupt government.
Downsizing government is popular these days, but the most efficient form
of downsized government is a dictatorship.
We need an ethic larger than corporate care. Any time you hear abatement, it is a corporate subsidy. Their agenda is Privatize--what happened to
the common good? We need a new
“eco-nomics.” The time to organize is
now. Everything is endangered. We can do this.
A
“moment of silence” was held as a gesture of consideration for Ken Mathenia’s
loss; he lost his daughter to a traffic accident a few days prior to this
meeting. Ken is a long-time Green Party
activist and officer, the Locals Liaison chair and active in the Bylaws
Committee.
Dawn
McClain: Described how “realos” (politics) and “fundis” (Green
values) need to come together, because we need both. Principles without action are just talking. Action without principles is, like our
current government, evil. We need
strong politics and a strong social movement.
Don’t label people. We must form strong locals and strong state
party. It’s not about proving we are
right—it’s about doing what IS right.
She then described the way the process was going to be run today.
Kevin
Henehan has PRA amendment petitions. A
short discussion involving the Personal Responsibility Amendment…medical
marijuana use, etc….ensued.
Great
pollution information and maps available by county from http://www.scorecard.org. Well worth a visit.
Pete
Ponzetti is running for Green nomination for Mich. House of Representatives
slot..51st District, Genessee County. His webpage…. http://www.expage.com/votepete2002
Darren
Wilkinson is running for Green nomination for Mi Secretary of State. His
webpages: http://expage.com/wilkinson4sos
&
http://members.tripod.com/wilkinson4sos/
Treasurer / Committee
reports
Treasurer’s
Report (Marc Reichardt). ~$650 currently
in cash account. Fundraising is fairly
steady. A Green supporter recently
donated $1,000. Still over $10,300 in
debt from petition drive. Debt reduced
roughly $4,000 since Kalamazoo meeting.
“Adopt the debt” concept from Ken Mathenia has helped greatly. Reminder to pick up AWOGs--$1/each donation.
Ken
Mathenia(not present) sent word that people wishing to offer donations in
memorial for his daughter should be sent to the GPMi for the purposes of
retiring the debt.
Fundraising
committee (Dawn McClain). Fundraising
committee is bogged down because everything is taking place by email--but no
action happening. She’d like to propose
the creation of “regional fundraising committees” so people can actually meet
in person. Craig adds that we’re on the verge of taking credit card info on the
web page.
No
other reports.
Peter Schermerhorn—makes proposal.
Any committee that cannot make a report at an SQM be dissolved. [no action taken]
Locals
Liaison—Ken Mathenia resigning.
Responsible for keeping a copy of the local bylaws and polling locals
for endorsements. Advises locals of
GPMi and SCC actions, and generally is the main “connection” between GPMi and
the local chapters.
Clearinghouse
coordinator—Dawn McClain has held office since January. She is willing to serve a full term of one
year. Responsible for correspondence,
emails, phone messages contributions, files of green-related information. She
inherited multiple databases, has caught up on communications and has issued an
updated membership list. Working on a
contributors database. Ideally, the
person in this position must have access to a computer with Excel/Word or
ability to convert. Maybe Access
database as well.
Committee
Manager / Chair—Marc Reichardt. He is
willing to serve a full term. Paul Emery is an additional candidate for this
position.
Treasurer—Marc
Reichardt is using QuickBooks to handle info.
The position is open to anyone wishing to run. Marc willing to serve a full term.
Record
Keeper—Chris Vannier is resigning.
Keeps minutes of SCC and SQM meetings.
Record keeper should post SCC meetings to main meeting list. Record keeper should also be helping
treasurer. Signs election related state
documents.
Party
Manager—Ray Ziarno. The position
requires a current, accurate membership list.
The manger is basically a coordinator who helps organize the SQM—but
local Green coordinator, along with volunteers, has much of the
responsibility. Handles announcements
for SQM. Finding or accepting
volunteers to help organize SQMs. A
detail person. Have to keep on bugging
people for details. Ray is willing to
continue serving in this position.
At-large
positions (six positions) on SCC. Lynn
Meadows, not present, but willing to continue serving. Robert Bruce resigned. Darren Wilkinson resigned. Jim Moreno is willing to continue
serving. Elizabeth Forest not
present. Need to be member of
GPMi. Access to Internet important. Meetings are conducted by ICQ (Internet) and
occasional face-to-face meetings.
National
Green parties—GPMi has reps. You must
have access to Internet for these positions.
Darren Wilkinson—Secretary of
State Candidate
He
will focus on election reform and instant runoff voting (IRV). Every vote and
every citizen counts. Encourage energy
efficiencies. Keep a more accurate
history of our state including the Underground Railroad, and the Native Americans. Thanks to you who have decided to run or
have worked for causes. “I wish all of
you vision…. and a mission and bravery… and spirit … and patience… and safe
travels.”
Rick introduces the concept of Open Space workshops for tomorrow (Sunday).
Since
the 1980’s northern Michigan was the site of the most extensive oil and gas
exploration in the nation. 20% of the
land ended up being used for oil/gas drilling, although the original plan was
for a much smaller area. State owned
forest. Decisions made in Lansing. Needed to have a full time watchdog—was 6
people. Now approx. 2400 members. Got a number of bills passed. Formed a coalition to move decisions about
the north woods from Lansing to the town halls.
Canadian company wanted to tap the gas under the
lake. Slant drilling. Citizen advisory committee. Michigan Natural Resources trust fund. Partnership model destroyed. Competition for use of the shoreline. Governor wants to allow drilling to proceed
without any citizen’s oversight or planning.
We don’t say NO.
We say HOW. Political
reasons—instead of opposing the offshore drilling, we are recommending the
state follow the science boards’ recommendations, which include forming a
citizen’s advisory committee. Facts
about GL drilling.
Bush energy plan is a “faith based approach; we have
faith that all will be well if we drill all of the oil and gas under public
lands.” We recommend a risks /
oversight approach instead. For
example, lots of problems in the Manistee area—accidents with “sour gas.” Kids knocked unconscious. The state didn’t change regulations—instead
instituted the official “nose” program—investigate, but it will take 2 days to
get there. The supposed benefit of GL
drilling? DNR says if we tap, then
state will get $100 million (royalty is normally 20%). Are 32 hours of light and heat in the US
worth the risk?
Question: why is your president of the board a land developer—conflict of
interest? Answer: We are not an
organization that says no, we say, ‘how to’.
We don’t think it’s bad what he’s doing. He’s being responsible.
Christopher Wright from Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay presented maps and a short summary of the history and current conditions of the Grand
Traverse Bay Watershed.
Dawn
announces—457 members in the state party.
Proposal (Pete S)—For officers of the party, or committee chairs, or reps, no one can hold more than one office. Action: tabled to Bylaws Committee, with instructions to craft a proposal that possibly limits number of offices that can be held or requires that a person that holds more than one position protect one position each SQM and the others go for a vote. If no one wants it, it stays with the person who currently holds it.
Elections
Nominations
· Chair/committee manager: Marc Reichardt and Paul Emery
· Treasurer: Marc Reichardt
· Locals Liaison: Doug Campbell, Kevin Henehan
· Clearinghouse Coordinator: Dawn McClain
· Record keeper: Adrianna Buonarroti
· Party manager: Ray Ziarno
· At large: Rick Stahlhut, Elizabeth Forest, Lynn Meadows, Lou Novak (debt reduction problem), Jim Marino (youth voting), [Matt Abel comment—let’s enlarge the SCC to include all counties], Matt Abel, Doug Campbell.
· ASGP—Marc Reichardt, Steve Herrick, Dana Cunningham, Darren Wilkinson
· GPUSA: Marc Reichardt, Juscha Vannier
Proposal from Steve Herrick—Steve and Marc stay on until three months later.
Another proposal (from Doug Campbell)—We elect the person who will, in August, replace Steve. Let them learn from Steve during the overlapping period.
Proposal from Pete Schermerhorn—we send this to bylaws—table until next quarterly meeting. Action: Group agrees to send to Bylaws Committee and defer decisions until next SQM.
Results
· Committee Manager—Paul Emery
· Treasurer—Marc Reichardt
· Locals Liaison—Kevin Henehan
· Clearing—Dawn McClain
· Record keeper--- Adrianna Buonarroti
· Party Manager—Ray Ziarno
· At Large—Lynn Meadows, Rick Stahlhut, Jim Moreno, Doug Campbell, Lou Novak, Matt Abel.
· ASGP/GPUSA—as is (see above).
GPMI Reform package
1 a All GPMI members should be mailed a postcard 4 x/year. It should contain a brief reminder of the upcoming SQM and where to go for more info (migreens web, email and phone; local web). [Action: consensus—I think]
Proposal [who?]—pass the entire Reform as package in one shot. Two blocking concerns. Pete Schermerhorn and David Spitzley. Blocked.
1 b. Action: consensus. All members having E-mail capability will be contacted at least monthly by the state party. In addition to SQM information, E-mail will contain details on how to join discussion groups, start a local, updates of state party actions, and related information.
1 c. there should be a statewide phone chain using regional volunteers in each area code for emergencies or as necessary. Action: WITHDRAWN
1 d Included in all GPMI party to member communications shall be the statement “Access the platform and the bylaws or call phone number ….” [Action: consensus—I think]
1 e. Action: consensus
Other issues
Proposal (Jim Nicita)—resolved that the GPMi apply for state recognition by the FEC. Action: consensus.
** End of Day 1 **
Day 2
Minutes from Sunday, May 20,
2001
Kevin- begins
talking about reform package proposal
items 23467 refer
toSCC
Kevin proposes
item 5 for discussion
a proposal is made
to send #5 to committee
ellis-UPNORTH
reports that no Local reports are being
made at meeting-
Kevin- wants Petes
idea to be his suggestion.
Withdraws 1a of
his reform proposal
(Ray)
ITEMS 2,3,4,6,7 OF
KEVIN HENEHEN'S REFORM
PACKAGE WAS
TABLED, TO BE
FORWARDED FOR SCC CONSIDERA-
TION. OTHER ITEMS WERE WITHDRAWN, OR
TABLED FOR FUTURE
CONSIDERATION.
(if you need the
reform package...let me know.)
Kay blocks. States that the proposal is violent.
Kevin wants to
drop the listserv moderators name, but
keep on with
listserv proposal.
Kevin reads aloud
from his reform proposal
Pete- says MIGREEN
list is not official
can't make
moderator shut down.
says that listserv
issue is wrong for this
level.
>
Art- Says that it
is inappropriate for anyone to tell
anyone else what
to do
Speaker says MI
GREENS list is OUR REPUTATION
Speaker says The
list is to refer people to.
Dawn has already dropped MIGREENS list.
22 pass
48- Suggests that
we request that MIGREENS be dropped.
David- compares
Greens to FOMOCO.
He is concerned
about the Moderator changing the
name of the
listserv.
Kevin- wants to
strike a
CONSENSUS- is not
reached.
The stack cont
Let it be resolved
that the GPMI strongly reccomends
to the moderator
of the discussion group
MIGreeNS@yahoo.com
A VOTE IS CALLED.
Art calls for a
vote-
12 for it
8 in favor
7 abstentions
The vote does not
pass.
Kay blocks. States that the proposal is violent.
Kevin wants to
drop the listserv moderators name, but
keep on with
listserv proposal.
Kevin reads aloud
from his reform proposal
Pete- says MIGREEN
list is not official
can't make
moderator shut down.
says that listserv
issue is wrong for this
level.
Art- Says that it
is inappropriate for anyone to tell
anyone else what
to do
Speaker says MI
GREENS list is OUR REPUTATION
Speaker says The
list is to refer people to.
Dawn has already dropped MIGREENS list.
22 pass
48- Suggests that
we request that MIGREENS be dropped.
David- compares
Greens to FOMOCO.
He is concerned
about the Moderator changing the
name of the
listserv.
Kevin- wants to
strike a
CONSENSUS- is not
reached.
The stack cont
Let it be resolved
that the GPMI strongly reccomends
to the moderator
of the discussion group
MIGreeNS@yahoo.com
A VOTE IS CALLED.
Art calls for a
vote-
12 for it
8 in favor
7 abstentions
The vote does not
pass.
(Ray)
A MOTION WAS MADE
TO DELETE THE "MI GREENS"
NAME FROM THE
CURRENT LISTSERVES. AFTER
CONSIDERABLE
DISCUSSION, AND BLOCKING
CONCERNS, THE
MOTION DID NOT PASS
BreAKOUT OPEN
MeetiNG Is beguN.
Rick outlines.
Rick-Alternative
Media - several sentences.
Kay Bond- living
wage proposal
{conservatioN-
mobilize on Nat. Gas. Prices.
IRVotng once was
A2 mayor elected in this way
Pete Schermerhorn
process of living values, meetings.
understanding
consensus
National Level
Representing. -how to get involved in
BOSTON initiative!
(Ray)
NORMAL BUSINESS
WAS RECESSED, AND THE
PARTICIPATING SQM
ATTENDENTS WERE ALLOWED
TO BREAK INTO
WORKING GROUPS (BREAK-OUTS)
TO INFORMALLY
DISCUSS VARIOUS
ISSUES..RELEVANT TO FUTURE
PARTY AND
INDIVIDUAL INVOLVEMENT. SUBJECT
ISSUES INCLUDED...
MEDIA, PROCESS (meetings,
consensus, etc. ),
LIVING WAGE, ENERGY CONSER-
VATION, NATIONAL GREEN INVOLVEMENT, AND
INSTANT RUNOFF
VOTING (IRV). AFTER LUNCH,
AND A
PRESENTATION, BREAKOUT "ORGANIZERS"
PRESENTED SHORT
INFORMAL REPORTS ON
RESULTS OF THE
SESSIONS. CONSENSUS TOOK
PLACE THAT THE
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS WERE
VALUABLE, AND
SHOULD CONTINUE AT FUTURE
SQMs.
Chris Grobbel
presents about
Mecosta Perrier
Controversy
Can the Green
Party adopt a resolution, start a
proposal.
Chris is asked to
provide the Greens with a draft
proposal that
would provide a starting point for a
resolution.
He says he will
jot down a few things.
______________
(Ray)
CHRIS GROBBEL
PRESENTED AN EXCELLENT
SLIDE SHOW AND
TALK REGARDING PERRIER
GROUP'S PLANS FOR
A BOTTLING WATER PLANT
IN MECOSTA COUNTY,
MICHIGAN. SLIDES AND
DETAILED
STATISTICS WERE PRESENTED, AND
CHRIS REQUESTED
THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
GREEN PARTY OF
MICHIGAN IN OPPOSING THIS
PROPOSED
EFFORT. BY CONSENSUS, IT WAS
AGREED THAT A
RESOLUTION WOULD BE SENT
TO THE GOVERNOR,
AND MEMBERS OF MICH.
LEGISLATURE,
OPPOSING THE PERRIER PLAN.
CHRIS GROBBEL
VOLUNTEERED TO PEPARE
SUBJECT
RESOLUTION, AND RAY ZIARNO AGREED
TO FORWARD SAID
RESOLUTION TO THE GOV.
AND STATE
LEGISLATURE MEMBERS. THE
RESOLUTION WAS
PRESENTED, READ, AND
APPROVED BY
CONSENSUS.
(EXACT WORDING OF
THE RESOLUTION WILL BE
ADDED TO THE
MINUTES AT A FUTURE DATE,
AND PRESENTED AT
THE NEXT SQM.)
People decide to
hear breakout groups reports.
{Platform comes to
the Fore, AS David begins speaking}
Kay- The Green
Party will provide computers for the
economically
disadvantaged members so they can fully
participate
The green party
will find provide used computers for
the economically
disadvantaged members so they can
fully participate.
Dave- Proposes
that we send this resolution to the
SCC.
Kay agrees.
(Ray)
KAY BOND MADE A
PROPOSAL THAT THE GREEN
PARTY OF MICHIGAN
ASSIST IN PROVIDING/DONATING
WORKING COMPUTERS
TO ECONOMICALLY DISAD-
VANTAGE MEMBERS,
TO ALLOW THEM TO FULLY
PARTICIPATE IN
PARTY BUSINESS AND EVENTS.
AFTER CONSIDERABLE
DISCUSSION, DAVE SPITZLEY
PROPOSED THAT A
RESOLUTION DETAILING SUCH
WOULD BE FOWARDED
TO THE SCC, TO BE CON-
SIDERED AND
REPORTED AT THE NEXT SQM.
Tom-proposes that
meetings could be evaluated at the
end.
Ray-suggests that
everyone who wants to comment on
meeting can write
it out.
A call for a vote?
Write down your
concerns an mail them y. to Ray.
abstention?
(Ray)
TOM MAIR PROPOSED
THAT SOME SORT OF
EVALUATION SHOULD
BE MADE AT THE END OF
SQM MEETINGS. AFTER CONSIDERABLE DIS-
CUSSION, IT WAS
DECIDED THAT ANYONE DESIRING
TO SUBMIT A
WRITTEN EVALUATION OF A MEETING
COULD DO SO AT THE
END OF SUBJECT MEETING,
OR PRESENT SUCH TO
THE MEETING MANAGER
VIA E-MAILS OR
LETTER. SUBJECT EVALUATION
WOULD BE KEPT ON
FILE AND UTILIZED FOR FUTURE
SQMs BY THE
MEETING MANAGER
Words of wisdom
and lifting
requires work,
dedication, cultivation.
FUTURE FOCUS!
State Nominating
Committee
was a marvel.
Advice -personal
responsibility each of us have a
personal
committment
Kevin is praised
for tenacity.
Find a person to
replace you after you have done
something.
How can we seize
the day and make our next
meeting better!
AWOG- get a
bundle? distribute?
(Ray)
JIM NICITA, A
LONGTIME GREEN PARTY MEMBER,
GAVE A FAREWELL
(AND MOTIVATIONAL) TALK
TO THE
PARTICIPANTS, STRESSING THAT THE
GREENS, AS A
MINORITY PARTY, NEEDS WORK,
DEDICATION,
CULTIVATION, AND FOCUS. EVERY
ONE OF US IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS
OF THE PARTY, AND
MUST DISCHARGE THAT RE-
SPONSIBILITY BY
PERSONAL COMMITMENT. JIM
RECEIVED A ROLLING
THUNDER OF APPLAUSE...
AND... THE SPRING
2001 SQM WAS ADJOURNED.
**End
of Day 2**
SECTION 3:
* Some materials have been
annotated with status of items at the end of the meeting.
GPMI
REFORM PACKAGE: All of the following guidelines will be helpful for smooth functioning
of the GPMI infrastructure, as we head into another potentially chaotic
campaign season. However, the drafters acknowledge that GPMI staffers are
overworked and currently dealing with a large backlog of data entry, and other
urgent tasks. Therefore, we recommend that these guidelines, with the exception
of the latter section labeled “Other Efficiency Proposals,” should not go into
effect until the November Quarterly Meeting. This will give GPMI staffers the
extra window necessary to deal with overdue data entry and consolidate the GPMI
databases into a single, workable resource. In addition, these proposals are
not to be considered as new Bylaws, but rather simply a kind of “binding
procedure” that staffers can follow in the future, like administrative
guidelines for office workers.
(The status of each item after the Traverse City
Quarterly Meeting can be found in bold text.)
Administrative
guidelines:
1)
Every registered member of the party should be contacted regularly by the GPMI,
as follows.
a. Everyone should be mailed a postcard four times a
year, one month prior to the upcoming Quarterly Meeting. This should contain
information for the Quarterly, while giving the person enough time to make that
date available. It should also contain basic GPMI information, and instructions
how to contribute money and renew a membership. Passed as the following
rewrite: “All GPMI members should be mailed a postcard four times per year. It
should contain a brief reminder of the Quarterly Meeting and where to go for
more info – GPMI web, email and phone, and local web, email, and phone.”
b. Everyone who has submitted an email address
should be contacted at least monthly by the state party. All the information
above should be contained. In addition, there should be instructions how to
join Green discussion groups, start a local, find a local already in existence,
and updates of state party actions. Currently, this function is covered by the
“Weekly Updates” from Ken Young. Therefore, this section would simply formalize
that relationship and lay down some simple requirements. Passed.
c. There should be a statewide phone chain, using
regional volunteers in each area code, to contact every member of the state
party, quarterly, by phone. Cost would be minimal; the Clearinghouse
Coordinator would make five or six long distance calls, and then each of the
regional coordinators would contact the volunteers in their own area, who would
then divide up the calls among themselves. The Clearinghouse Coordinator should
write a sample script for phone contacts and submit this to the SCC for
approval, as well as solicit volunteers, within a month of the passage of this
section. Discussed and withdrawn.
d. Every member of the state party, and every new
member from now on, should receive an annotated copy of the GPMI Bylaws. The
Bylaws Committee should produce these by going through the Bylaws item by item
and offering a brief explanation of each: what they mean, how they work, etc.
This will address a persistent problem in the GPMI: very few people are
familiar with the structures and procedures laid out in the Bylaws, ands all
sorts of contrary proposals are often introduced, and sometimes passed, before
anyone notices that they violate the Bylaws. Included with this annotated copy
of the Bylaws should be a list of the other regulations and procedures passed
by the GPMI. All members are owed this basic familiarity with GPMI rules. Passed
as the following rewrite: “All GPMI communication with members should include a
brief reference to where to find a copy of the bylaws and the platform, whether
by web or mail address.”
e. All SCC meetings, time, date, and place, must be
posted on the state party website with at least one week’s notice. All SCC
members, with contact info, should likewise be made available on the state
party website. Passed.
2.
Those who donate money MUST be recognized. Currently, when you send in a check
to the state party, you do not get a receipt or an acknowledgement of any kind.
Thus, contributors are unaware of whether their contributions were received or
when they were cashed. This is unacceptable. Therefore, all those who send
contributions should be sent a receipt within one week of their contribution
being received. In the case of money sent in as part of an application for or
renewal of state party membership, this receipt should be accompanied by a
confirmation of membership status, a copy of AWOG, contact information for the
nearest local, and instructions how to start one. Because of the work involved
in assembling new member packets, the timetable should be two weeks from
receipt instead of one. [suggest last sentence be changed to: “New member
packets can be pre-stuffed and sent out upon receipt of memberships.”] Numbers
2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 Referred to SCC for decision. SCC will provide report of
decision to next Quarterly Meeting.
3)
Local organizers should be assisted, not hindered, by the state party. Bob
Zuidema, who is trying to establish a local in Mecosta County, (Big Rapids
area) reported to me that he experienced delays of up to two months in
communicating with and obtaining materials from the state party. In addition, I
have requested database information from the state party and been made to wait
two weeks without response, at which time I was shunted to another person, who
again did nothing for over a week before passing me to a third person, who
looked up everything I needed in less than an hour. This is unacceptable. Therefore,
a. When an organizer contacts the state party
requesting to form a new local, he should receive his materials within two
weeks. These should include a list of all the contacts from that area in the
GPMI database.
b. The GPMI should notify the relevant local
whenever the database entries for their area are changed or updated.
c. When the GPMI receives a new membership with no
local specified, the individual in charge should immediately find the closest
local to that applicant. The applicant should be notified of that local and
provided with contact info within one week. The local organizer, in turn,
should be notified of the applicant and provided with the info on the
membership form. This will help ensure that organizers and volunteers are connected.
4)
State party websites and hotline recordings should be updated at least monthly.
These are our two most important outreach tools.
5)
Locals must show evidence of life. Each local should contact the GPMI Locals
Liaison quarterly with information about membership, recent meetings, and
recent actions, and use this opportunity to synchronize the information in the
local and state databases. Locals which do so will be considered active,
eligible to vote in Locals Polling. Locals missing the contact deadline twice
in a row will be downgraded to inactive, and lose their voting rights in Locals
Polling procedures. In addition, each local should send at least one member to
each Quarterly Meeting; if they are unable to do so, they should explicitly say
so to the Locals Liaison. These rules are intended to prevent the atrophy of
Green locals. Discussed and referred to Bylaws Committee for further study.
Bylaws Committee will return to next Quarterly with finalized language and
Bylaws section for approval.
6)
At the end of each Quarterly Meeting, the organizers should announce the date
and city in which the next one will be held.
7)
The state party website should always include a section detailing the exact
procedures which interested members should follow to get an idea passed and
implemented in the GPMI. Very few people know the proper procedures, or which
body (the local, the SCC, or the Quarterly) has jurisdiction, whether a
proposal needs to be a Bylaw or not, etc.
Other
Efficiency Proposals:
1)
Email list-serves. These are closely associated with the state party, through
the
word “migreens” in their titles. This leads people to believe they are representative of and under the supervision of the GPMI; therefore, even if this is not the case, the greatest care must be taken to avoid harming the GPMI’s public image via these tools. This problem was partially addressed when a disclaimer was added to all messages on the discussion list, stating that opinions expressed there were not necessarily those of the GPMI. The following two proposals should help as well. All GPMI officers, and all chairs of locals, should be required to be members on the GPMI business list-serve (provided they use email). A lot of our inefficiency problems arise from the fact that a lot of important people are not in the loop. This email list is pretty much the only avenue of communication for Greens statewide, especially if they don't or can't regularly attend the Quarterlies. Discussed and withdrawn. Informal recommendation: the Locals Liaison or a designee should provide regular summaries of important items of discussion to local chairs and party officers not using migreens-business, or their designees.
A more civil discussion list. The current migreens list has been prey to trolls using intimidation. The situation is compounded by the fact that the moderator of this list, Randym Jones, is rarely available and seems unable or unwilling to create or enforce rules of etiquette for the list. For example, I once actually received a death threat via the discussion list; I brought it to the moderator’s attention, asking that the person be removed, and it was ignored. Obviously, intimidation is not covered under respect for diversity, and our devotion to free and open dialogue does not have to mean we allow ourselves to be harassed. Therefore, the party should pass a resolution, as below, advising Randym to close down the migreens discussion list-serve. It should then be replaced immediately with another one, with clear rules of etiquette, and within the jurisdiction of the state party. This list should exclude those who have used legal or other threats against others previously. This would recap a similar procedure undertaken with the business list a while ago
RESOLUTION:
Let it be resolved that the GPMI strongly recommends to Randym Jones that the
migreens discussion list-serve should be closed down, effective one month from
today. The state party feels that the level of discourse has grown too
belligerent to continue operating the list under the word “migreens.” The list
will be reconstituted under GPMI supervision, and all participants will be
invited to join the new list, excluding only those who have used legal or
physical intimidation against other list members in the past. The new list should
have one primary rule: intimidation (defined as physical or legal threats) is
prohibited. Offenders will get a warning, and be expelled at the second
offense. After a period of six months, the offender may then be readmitted,
subject to the same rules. The new moderator will reserve the right, at the
recommendation of the GPMI, to institute additional rules as well. Other than
this, total freedom of speech and opinion should be practiced on the new list,
as customary. Finally, the GPMI wishes to thank Randym Jones for his work up to
now. Discussed and modified. Discussed again and modified again. Rejected
after additional discussion. Informal recommendation: an interested
person should establish their own list, which could then be considered the
“official” one in place of migreens.
Bylaws
Proposals
For each Bylaw Proposal
below, please circle “Accept”, “Modify”, or “Reject”. In addition to the voting options, there is also an area for
Comments. If you vote to Modify a plank,
please write suggestions on what needs to be changed in the plank. In any case, feel free to add any comments
you wish; improvements are always possible.
If the final vote on a plank is:
-
2/3 or more “Accept”:
The plank will be adopted as written and added to the official GPMI platform
-
2/3 or more “Reject”:
The plank will be discarded, and no further work will be done on the plank
-
Otherwise: The plank
will be sent back to the Platform committee for revision, taking into account
REPLACEMENT OF
ARTICLE IV
This is a proposal to replace the existing text of Article IV of the GPMI Bylaws with the text below. The proposal incorporates three major elements: 1) renumbering Sections (previously officer descriptions used continuous lettering, making alteration of duties difficult); 2) changing "Party Manager" to "Meeting Manager"; and 3) Sections 9, 10 and 11 replace existing language on Officer/SCC replacements and removal to cover several additional situations.
Article IV - -
Officers
Section 1: Elected Officers. The Green Party of Michigan shall have six elected officers. These officers and their responsibilities are:
Section 2: Treasurer:
a) submits to the State Bureau of Elections annual financial records for party operations according to Michigan Law as outlined in the "Handbook for Political Party Committees";
b) ensures Greens stay in compliance with state party filing requirements, including at a minimum filing the Annual Financial Statement to the state and can include reporting requirements for candidates and ballot initiatives supported by the state party;
c) disburses funds from State Campaign Finance Committee account and State Central Committee accounts and maintains the account ledgers;
d) Works with the Record Keeper and fundraising activists to ensure legally required records are collected with all funds raised (to include name, address, occupation, amount, etc. as outlined in the "Handbook for Political Party Committees";
e) Produces and submits, at every state meeting, a simple treasurer's report (report should include major income and expenses as well as other important issues);
f) Reconciles check registers with statement from financial institution where party funds are held.
Section 3: Record Keeper/Secretary:
a) Collects and maintains records of financial contributions, in a timely manner, for annual and other financial statements according to Michigan law as outlined in the "Handbook for Political Party Committees";
b) Maintains archives of all documents submitted to the State;
c) maintains archives of monthly bank account statements;
d) ensures ledgers are properly reconciled;
e) works with Treasurer and fundraising activists to ensure legally required records are collected with all funds raised, as in (Section 2: d) above.
Section 4: Meeting Manager:
a) schedules, organize, and publicize state meetings at least one month before meeting date;
b) solicits and collects agenda items for party meetings;
c) drafts, publishes, and distributes party meeting agendas 10 days before state meetings;
d) ensures state meeting minutes are published within 30 days after meeting for approval at next state meeting;
e) certifies persons who have not yet met requirements for voting membership, i.e., attendance at a quarterly state meeting within the previous four quarters, as voting members based on criteria as stated above in Article II, Section 1c.
Section 5: Committee Manager/Chairperson:
a) record goals, functions, and activities of committees formed at state meetings;
b) regularly monitor progress of committee activities;
c) collect committee reports at each state meeting for publication in state meeting minutes.
Section 6: Local Liaison:
a) if consensus cannot be reached for endorsements of events, organizations, or causes by the State Central Committee, the Local Liaison will contact locals about statewide events, organizations, or causes that are to be considered for endorsement, and consensus of a quorum of 2/3 of all valid locals will be sought as under Article VII, Section1b;
b) deadlines for consideration of endorsements by the locals will be communicated by the Local Liaison not to be earlier than one week nor later than two weeks from the last local being notified of a vote, and any votes not submitted to the Local Liaison by that deadline is to be considered an abstention;
c) votes of the locals will be tallied;
d) for purposes of vote taking, the Local Liaison is required to collect and maintain a list of all valid locals and contacts for statewide vote taking within each valid local;
e) report in writing to the state central committee or to the membership at a state quarterly meeting all matters that have been endorsed by the locals, and the tabular outcome of votes.
Section 7: Clearinghouse Coordinator:
a) sorts mail: - recycles junk mail - opens all other mail - routes mail to proper person(s);
b) responds to any questions, info requests, etc.;
c) records phone messages into a message book;
d) responds to phone messages if possible - - or else lets someone else know that they need to respond (phone them or e-mail);
e) mails out standard 'thank you' letters for new members or for any income;
f) updates phone machine outgoing message as needed;
g) checks e-mail or creates state party e-mail address to use for general state party communication with the public);
h) redesigns database as needed to easily/accurately track membership status, as well as coordinate with the Treasurer and Record Keeper regarding tracking money received from members;
i) updates database regularly - names, addresses, etc.;
j) maintains up to date list of contacts and locals around the state, as obtained from the Local Liaison, and uses this to refer new inquiries and members to the proper local.
Section 8: Officer elections shall be held at the spring state meeting. Any member present at the spring state party meeting may make officer nominations. Nominees shall give brief statements in support of their candidacy. If only one candidate is nominated for an officer position, they must be elected by consensus as outlined in Article VII, Section 1. If more than one candidate is nominated for an officer position, a vote shall
be taken by secret ballot. In case of a tie, additional discussion will be held, another secret ballot vote, and this will repeat until a tie is broken. Officer terms begin immediately and shall be one year from election.
Section 9: SCC May Fill Interim Vacancies in Party Leadership
If a GPMI officer or SCC position is vacated for any
reason before a completed term, the remaining SCC members shall decide by
consensus, or (failing consensus) by 2/3 vote whether to a) have a current SCC
member assume the duties of the vacated position; and/or b) make a temporary
appointment to the SCC until the next state meeting.
Section 10: Members may initiate removal proceedings against
Party Leaders
Any two GPMI members may allege that any GPMI
officer or State Central Committee (SCC) is in contempt of the goals of the
Green Party of Michigan and invoke the procedure in Section 5 of this article
to seek removal of those person(s) from their leadership position in the GPMI.
Section 11: Procedure
for Addressing Removal Complaints
1. To institute a recall proceeding against a party
officer or SCC member, the two GPMI members must prepare and submit to the SCC
a written complaint summarizing the allegations against the persons targeted
for removal and justifying the removal.
2. The SCC shall ensure that copies of the complaint
are forwarded (or made accessible) to all GPMI members at least 30 days before
a meeting where the removal will be scheduled for discussion.
If a
complaint is initiated and received by the SCC not later than 15 days before a
previously scheduled state quarterly meeting the SCC may elect to schedule
discussion of the recall at that quarterly meeting or to call a special meeting
of all GPMI members for that purpose within 45 days of the date the complaint
is filed.
3. At the meeting where the removal is to be
discussed, the motion will be handled as follows:
a) complainants will have up to 10 minutes to
explain their complaint and make the case for removal without interruption.
b) the target(s) of the complaint will,
collectively, have up to 20 minutes to respond to the complaint and defend
their actions without interruption.
c) the complainants will have up to 5 minutes to
restate and summarize their complaint
d) the targets will have up to 5 minutes to rebut.
4. Once the discussion is complete the GPMI voting
members in attendance shall immediately vote on the question "Shall (GPMI
party officer or SCC member) _________ named in this complaint be removed from
office?" An affirmative vote is a vote to remove, with a 3/4 supermajority
needed to pass the motion and effect the removal (and with abstentions counting
as negative votes). A separate vote will be held for each person targeted in
the complaint with the results of each vote entirely separate.
ACCEPT MODIFY REJECT
COMMENTS:
REPLACEMENT OF ARTICLE VI
This is a proposal to replace the existing text of Article VI of the GPMI Bylaws with the text below. It is intended to formally define the process by which individuals can become nominees of the GPMI for public office. It establishes the role of caucuses in the process, and enables the GPMI to make a binding decision on the "Top of Ballot" race for a particular election. This proposal does not describe any specific rules under which caucuses must operate once they have been declared and announced.
Article VI --
Candidates for Office
Section 1: The GPMI may nominate candidates for partisan elected offices in Michigan according to the following rules.
A) Green Party locals operating under Article III of these Bylaws and formally recognized by the GPMI may request permission from the GPMI to convene county and district caucuses for the purpose of nominating candidates for state legislative, county, city, and township officials as provided by Michigan law (currently MCL 168.686a).
B) Only caucuses convened with the express approval of the GPMI may nominate candidates to run as Green Party candidates. Such county/district caucuses shall observe and abide by any rules of procedure set forth in advance by the GPMI.
C) County and district caucuses shall not nominate candidates for any statewide or federal office nor for any local race outside of their own county/district boundaries, nor shall any county or district caucus nominate any candidate for an office placed higher on the ballot than the "Top of Ballot" race (see Section F below). County and district caucuses may submit to the GPMI resolutions of support in favor of the nomination of persons for such offices but such resolutions are strictly advisory.
D) Any county or district nominations that themselves violate or that result from violations of any part of this Article shall be treated as a resolutions of support to the GPMI and shall not bind the GPMI in any way.
E) Only the GPMI as a whole, assembled in a nominating convention, may nominate candidates for statewide or federal offices.
F) To ensure that the GPMI Minor Party ballot status is preserved, in years in which any statewide elections are to be held, the GPMI shall designate a specific office as the "Top of Ballot" race for the pending election and shall not nominate any candidates in any higher-ranking race. (The ranking of offices on the ballot is determined by the State of Michigan, and is, as of 2001, listed in MCL 168.697. The most current ranking shall always be used.)
G) This "Top of Ballot" designation shall not be changed after the second quarterly meeting in that year. If, at the first quarterly meeting, the GPMI fails to designate a "Top of Ballot" race, the default "Top of Ballot" race will be the lowest ranked statewide race.
ACCEPT MODIFY REJECT
COMMENTS:
ADDITION TO ARTICLE V,
SECTION 2
This is a proposal to add the following text to Article V of the GPMI Bylaws. It is intended to mandate the creation and maintenance by the SCC of a document to be called the "Rulebook" containing standing policies and procedures adopted by the GPMI. NOTE: The name one word name "Rulebook" was chosen for brevity.
Article V - -
Committees
Section 2: State Central Committees
g. The SCC shall ensure that, whenever the GPMI passes a motion that creates standing policy or procedure, such decisions are compiled and maintained in a document to be know as the GPMI "Rulebook", along with any other standing or ad hoc committee policies and procedures submitted. The SCC shall also ensure that:
(1) A hardcopy of the most current Rulebook is available for use at every statewide party meeting.
(2) The Rulebook is readily available to all GPMI members and locals and is maintained in its entirety in at least one generally accessible electronic format (such as flat text, Rich Text Format, or HTML) in addition to any other electronic or non-electronic formats.
ACCEPT MODIFY REJECT
COMMENTS:
REPLACEMENT OF ARTICLE V,
SECTION 4
This is a proposal to replace the existing text of Article V, Section 4 of the GPMI Bylaws with the text below.. It is intended to allow the committee to make editorial changes to the bylaws, and to define the committee's responsibilities for disseminating the Bylaws.
Article V - -
Committees
Section 4: Bylaws Committee
a) The Bylaws Committee shall maintain at least three and no more than twelve members and serve as a standing committee to consider proposed changes to the bylaws of the state party.
b) The Bylaws Committee may make editorial changes to the Bylaws (such as renumbering, reordering, and re-phrasing ) as appropriate to improve clarity, accommodate amendments, and maintain readability and consistency throughout, so long as they do not alter the content, meaning, or effect of the Bylaws. The Bylaws Committee shall submit all proposed editorial changes to the SCC. If the SCC decides that any specific change does alter the content, meaning, or effect of the Bylaws, the SCC shall notify the Bylaws Committee within 30 days and the change shall not by made except through the normal amendment process.
c) The Bylaws Committee shall ensure that a paper copy of the most current version of the Bylaws is available for use at every statewide party meeting.
d) The Bylaws Committee shall forward official copies of each revised version of the Bylaws to the Record Keeper and the Media Committee, and shall ensure that the full text of the Bylaws is readily available to all GPMI members and locals in at least one generally-accessible electronic format (such as flat text, Rich Text Format, or HTML), in addition to any other electronic or non-electronic formats.
ACCEPT MODIFY REJECT
COMMENTS:
Platform
Proposals
For each plank below, please circle “Accept”, “Modify”, or “Reject”. In addition to the voting options, there is also an area for Comments. If you vote to Modify a plank, please write suggestions on what needs to be changed in the plank. In any case, feel free to add any comments you wish; improvements are always possible. If the final vote on a plank is:
- 2/3 or more “Accept”: The plank will be adopted as written and added to the official GPMI platform
- 2/3 or more “Reject”: The plank will be discarded, and no further work will be done on the plank
- Otherwise: The plank will be sent back to the Platform committee for revision, taking into account
PREFACE
This Platform is a general overview of the positions and goals of the Green Party of Michigan. Specific actions and positions with regard to the subjects we address will be outlined in future handouts and position papers. We encourage comments on our Platform, and collaboration on revisions and position papers from community groups and individuals. We welcome you to contact us for more specific information on our positions, the candidates and issues we support, and people you can contact in your area about upcoming Green meetings and events.
The Greens are, in essence, everyone striving for peace, ecological sustainability, fair access to the necessities of life, and human, civil, and equal rights. The Green Party of Michigan seeks to work with people throughout the state, the country, and the world to make fundamental positive changes in our governments, economic systems, and overall well being. We recognize that these changes can only happen through the wills and desires of free people.
Our mission is to fight abuses of the political system, build positive alternatives, work for change in the current political structure, and keep a vigorous dialogue going in the community. We work in alliances and coalitions, we train new activists, we support other activist groups, we are involved in electoral politics, we are educating the public and we are building a community for the future. Join us!
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COMMENTS:
PART II - SOCIAL JUSTICE
1.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Houses built today are financially out of reach for most people. We believe that much of this problem stems from shortsighted development policies and poor use of existing residential neighborhoods.
Greens propose:
- We support policies which encourage the construction of affordable housing.
- We support legislation that promotes residential redevelopment in existing residential areas, especially the renovation of older homes and neighborhoods.
- We support development policies which require developers to include a range of housing, including affordable housing, in residential development projects.
- We support expanding the power of cities to reclaim and redevelop abandoned real estate.
- We support policies which provide education and access to capital to assist homeowners in reducing their energy costs, and building codes such as the Canadian R-2000 which mandate conservative energy consumption in new buildings.
- We support energy codes and increased enforcement of existing health & safety building codes for rental residential buildings.
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NOTE: The platform committee has identified a variety of housing-related topics that don't fit within the area of Affordability. The committee will be developing language for other areas of the Platform on these topics to present at the Summer SQM.
COMMENTS:
3. EDUCATION
a. PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING
As education is one of the key elements of both modern society and the activities of the Green party of Michigan, we find it crucial that equal opportunity for that education be made available to every person in the state.
Greens propose:
- An identical sum be provided by the state per child that does not rely on local property taxes for its funding. This money shall be used to ensure that all of our public schools remain current in such things as infrastructure maintenance, materials, books, and access to the educational opportunities available on the Internet/World Wide Web.
- That pay incentives be provided to encourage teachers to move to economically depressed areas to provide equitable methods of instruction, state-wide.
- That some degree of funding be set aside as state support for adult education and the lifelong expansion of the knowledge of all citizens of the state, should they so desire.
- That this funding be granted as lump sums subject to the authority of the local school boards, which will be more knowledgeable as to the needs of the local school districts.
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COMMENTS:
4. CIVIL AND EQUAL RIGHTS
d. NATIVE AMERICANS
Native Americans' rights are threatened. They face disputes over Federal and private lands in or bordering reservations; over treaty rights and obligations, and tribal sovereignty; and over the funding of Federal health and education programs on reservations. Bureau of Indian Affairs tribal and individual trust funds are missing literally billions of dollars. Meanwhile, governments, groups, and individuals continue -- intentionally or unintentionally -- to discriminate against and stereotype Native Americans.
The Green Party supports the efforts of Native American tribes and individuals to protect their rights and their traditions and to recover their money. We believe that democratically organized tribal councils are far more likely to serve the needs of Native Americans than programs conceived in and run from Washington. We call for an end to discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping.
ACCEPT MODIFY REJECT
NOTE: The Platform committee could not decide on whether to include a clause mentioning Leonard Peltier. While there was general support for his freedom, there was uncertainty whether his importance of a symbol of Native American rights and the opportunity to educate the public about him in the platform outweighed the fact that his imprisonment is not an issue specifically related to Michigan. As such, we are leaving it to the SQM. Please vote on whether to append the phrase "; and for the freedom of Leonard Peltier." to the last sentence in the text above.
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COMMENTS:
4. CIVIL AND EQUAL RIGHTS
e. SEXUAL ORIENTATION
The Greens support the diversity of human sexual orientation just as much as we support the diversity of human religious belief. Regardless of whether sexual orientation is a matter of choice or biology, as long as that choice is made between consenting adults it is neither the business of the state nor of other individuals to either judge or interfere.
Greens Propose:
- The immediate passage of laws granting the right to marry regardless of gender, and ensuring all rights and responsibilities currently extended to married couples (inheritance rights, insurance, taxes, etc).
- Eliminating sexual orientation as a barrier to adoption
- The addition of the category of sexual orientation to all existing hate crimes legislation.
ACCEPT MODIFY REJECT
COMMENTS:
6. TAX JUSTICE
Greens support progressivity in taxation as a matter of principle, believing that those who benefit most from our economy, and from the social structures which protect private property, have a responsibility to return more. Middle-class and poor people are paying an ever-greater proportion of federal taxes, while local and state taxes are too often inequitable and regressive. In addition, the tax code is a labyrinth of deductions, loopholes, exemptions and write-offs, the result of insider- and industry-lobbying that has damaged our economy as it has served the interests of business. We believe a central goal of tax policy should be "transparency" - that is, a system that is simple, understandable, and resists the influence of special interests.
Greens Propose:
- Reducing the tax burden for the working poor.
- Reducing subsidies, export incentives, tax loopholes and tax shelters that benefit large corporations and individual campaign contributors.
- Examining new approaches to taxation, such as environmental taxes, as a partial substitute for income taxes, in order to promote social objectives.
- Taxing capital gains the same as wages or any other income.
- Restoring a fair share from corporate taxes. The corporate share of taxes has fallen from 33% in the 1940s to 15% today, while the individual share has risen from 44% to 73%.
- Supporting appropriate tax incentives to reward socially responsible actions which benefit the community.
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COMMENTS:
PART III-A - ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
3. RESPECT FOR OTHER SPECIES
e. ANIMAL RIGHTS
As Greens, we believe that humanity should share the planet with all its other species. All policies concerning human settlement, food, energy, natural resources, water (fresh and saline), development and industrialization should be formulated to minimize further disruption of the nonhuman ecosystems' ability to maintain themselves. We don't believe that our species has a right to exploit and inflict violence on other creatures simply because we have the desire and power to do so. Our ethic upholds not only the value of biological diversity and the integrity and continuity of species, but also the value of individual lives and the interest of individual animals.
Greens Propose:
- Factory farming of livestock must be phased out in an ethically and environmentally responsible way.
- Unnecessary, ineffective, or inappropriate use of animal experimentation, such as its use in the cosmetics industry, must be terminated.
- Government oversight and regulation of the training and treatment of animals in circuses, carnivals, pet stores, and other commercial enterprises must be improved dramatically.
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COMMENTS:
PART III-B - ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABILITY
2. ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY &
LABOR ISSUES
c. TRADE ISSUES IN MICHIGAN
The Greens are opposed to all the various organizations - WTO, NAFTA, MAI, FTAA, etc. - born of the thrust by corporations for what they call "free trade." They seek to create new rights for investors, global rights which will override local democracy, community economics, and human rights. Republicans and Democrats compete over which can best advance "globalization" of corporate power; Greens wish to reverse it. We are against corporate control of government and subordination of constitutional self-government to international trade bodies, and for limitations on corporate power.
In Michigan, it is especially apparent that unions have been weakened and that real wages have declined for ordinary workers. Many of Michigan's manufacturing jobs have been moved to low-wage regions where workers' rights and environmental protections are invisible. In addition, the Great Lakes are threatened with water withdrawals which, under a regime of "free trade," the citizens of those states would be unable to prevent.
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COMMENTS:
3. DECENTRALIZED/COMMUNITY
ECONOMICS
e. LIVING WAGE
A living wage can be calculated on the premise that a person working 40 hours a week ought to be able to pay for basic housing without spending more than 30 percent of gross income. Most living wage laws have been passed by municipalities and apply to the employees of businesses having contracts with the municipalities.
Greens support these laws on the basis of social justice, grassroots democracy, decentralization and community-based economics. The Greens oppose all moves to prohibit and overturn local living wage laws at the state level.
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COMMENTS:
PART IV - PEACE AND
NON-VIOLENCE
3. RAPE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE
All people need to demand accountability for sexual aggression, a crime that affects all individuals in our society either directly by victimization or indirectly through the climate of fear and dehumanization that are it's legacy. The causes of sexual aggression may be many, but they all distill into this basic element: that humans are treated as commodities and objects, not people.
Greens propose:
- The development of and increased access to community mental health programs for male victims of rape, in addition an expansion of the programs already in existence for women.
- Better funding for community mental health programs for the support and healing of all victims of rape, regardless of gender or orientation.
- The development of counseling programs to help heal and reform convicted first-time rapists.
- The enactment of stronger penalties for rapists who are serial or repeat offenders, up to and including life imprisonment.
- The repeal of the law that allows previous sexual conduct of victims to be allowed into evidence. Such evidence verges on hearsay and does not meet the necessary standard of objectivity required by law. While evidence of past convictions is not only a valuable but a necessary aspect in assessing the guilt of the perpetrator, to use such evidence against a victim only adds to the trauma of the crime and has no use other than to intimidate the victim.
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COMMENTS: