A Burning Question for Greens: If We Oppose the Corporate-Dominated Economy, What Do We Replace it With?

• Author: Whitney, Richard

A subscriber to our Illinois Green Party internet (http://www.egroups.com/group/illinoisgreens/info.html) discussion group recently raised a question of paramount importance to the Green movement that merits serious reflection and discussion. The question was phrased as a hypothetical about the problems that might befall our nation if Ralph Nader had been elected President:

Could anybody post a list of reasons why Nader won't ruin the economy? I have a friend whose reasoning against Nader is: "Our economy is based on corporations."

The person who submitted the inquiry was new to the Green Party (a green Green?) and it was apparent that she was hoping that one of our more veteran members could provide her with some quick, ready-made "ammunition" that she could use to answer her friend and win over another voter. Instead, she (and her friend) had inadvertently raised a question that is more profound than she suspected--a question that demands a better answer from our organization and the Green movement.

Of course, the friend's criticism fails to recognize the premise that, for Greens, putting an end to corporate domination over our economic and political institutions is not simply an "idea;" it is a necessity. The fate of the planet, and of our aspirations for creating a more democratic, humane, life-affirming society depend on it. Furthermore, since corporate domination is driving our society toward not only economic ruin but environmental and social ruin as well, the criticism that the overthrow of corporate rule will bring about economic collapse is rather hollow.

Still, most people are naturally reluctant to support a major change from the status quo without some assurance that it will be an improvement. Until the deterioration of the status quo begins to threaten their very survival, most people will be more inclined to accept a known evil that they have managed to live with than venture into an unknown and uncertain future. If we hope to ever win the support of the majority, we will need to be able to point to a coherent plan for transforming and/or replacing the corporations upon which tens of millions of workers presently depend for their livelihood. Otherwise, should the day come where the Green Party actually gains control of the government, while the economy remains under the thumb of the corporate powers-that-be, those same corporate powers would likely cause an economic collapse, which will be used to discredit the Green Party...