Electoral "or" Activist.

• Author: Murphy, Jason
• Position: Brief Article - Editorial

Politics is a tough business with difficult decisions all around. One must not only deal with theoretical questions but organizational ones in order to decide which organizations deserve one's loyalty, work, and time. Not joining any is no answer--nor is building a tiny, perfect, one. One reason why Synthesis/Regeneration is so important is that it is one of the few places where US Greens can deal with organizational and theoretical matters. I want to clarify here what it is that can set Greens apart from other progressive organizations. They can prioritize democracy in the US as they build Green organizations that support progressive actions and move their own campaigns.

A false dilemma poses only two options for Greens--they must be either electoral "or" activist. Greens are both and if they are not both then they are not worth joining or building. This isn't the defining split among Greens in the US and its terms do not define one Green organization or the other. This false dilemma has gripped many conversations in Green forums, including past issues of S/R and I hope we can be free of it soon.

The two-party system is one of the main reasons US public political debate is so boring and manipulative. We know this argument and only a hack or a cynic would argue that US democracy is anything but a sham. (That's why readers should metaphorically beat one liberal intellectual over the head per week--liberals cynically think all problems are reducible to mass stupidity without blaming the structures of power.) Most Greens have a long list of failures on the part of the Democrats. They are right but there is another point. Even if one of the parties was very good and progressive, that would not last long because there is no exit option if that party betrays the public interest. (This is why readers should not chalk up US evils to bad attitudes, bad spirits, or bad world views. The "axis of evil" is structurally rooted. The change of mind that is needed has already been made by many people.)

How to Win When You Lose

Greens prioritize democracy by running candidates who lose. Green candidates lose. Saying otherwise is playing the "what-if" game. Greens should understand that and run campaigns that make sense and that get things done even when they lose. There are two reasons. One: only by running third-party candidates will there be an incentive for the big parties to reform election laws. Neither party will pass instant runoff voting or...