Lets Talk
22/03/08 11:38 Filed in: Personal
I’m going to put forward a rather unorthodox view for
a Green Party member: that the party should willingly
co-operate and communicate with other political
parties and with companies. I say this is unorthodox
because, from my experience, it seems as if most
party members are very much of the opinion that the
Greens are the alternative to normal politics, and
that somehow by co-operating and communicating in a
meaningful manner with other parties, we are losing
something of our otherness. I don’t know how much
this is just something that occurs in the UK, and I
could of course, be totally wrong, but I was inspired
to write this post by another post
on a blog written by a friend of mine.
Here’s my point, as Greens, we seek to promote the environment and social justice through political means. If we can affect positive change and reduce environmental degredation or increase social justice, then our political ideology surely makes it our duty to do so. If we then have the opportunity to do that by working from the inside of parliaments, assemblies, councils, governments, and companies, why shouldn’t we?
The Green movement has drawn supporters and participants from across the traditional political spectrum. We are not a socialist movement, we are not a conservative movement, we are not a nationalist movement. So why do we have objections to, at the very least, trying to work with our “opponents”.
One oft cited reason for the ‘go it alone’ approach, is a desire to avoid any compromise in principles. This sounds admirable. But, while I am certainly not advocating that we throw out what is important to us in exchange for power, surely a process of slight mutual compromise and dialogue with other parties and organisations, which results in something that will benefit the environment or social justice, is favourable to a closed-mind approach that brings no change.
I think Greens need to reasses their approach to the ‘grey parties’, and consider whether they are achieving the most they possibly can.
Comments are welcome on this post, even if you aren’t green!
blog comments powered by Disqus
on a blog written by a friend of mine.
Here’s my point, as Greens, we seek to promote the environment and social justice through political means. If we can affect positive change and reduce environmental degredation or increase social justice, then our political ideology surely makes it our duty to do so. If we then have the opportunity to do that by working from the inside of parliaments, assemblies, councils, governments, and companies, why shouldn’t we?
The Green movement has drawn supporters and participants from across the traditional political spectrum. We are not a socialist movement, we are not a conservative movement, we are not a nationalist movement. So why do we have objections to, at the very least, trying to work with our “opponents”.
One oft cited reason for the ‘go it alone’ approach, is a desire to avoid any compromise in principles. This sounds admirable. But, while I am certainly not advocating that we throw out what is important to us in exchange for power, surely a process of slight mutual compromise and dialogue with other parties and organisations, which results in something that will benefit the environment or social justice, is favourable to a closed-mind approach that brings no change.
I think Greens need to reasses their approach to the ‘grey parties’, and consider whether they are achieving the most they possibly can.
Comments are welcome on this post, even if you aren’t green!
blog comments powered by Disqus
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