Call for formation of a Green committee for Democracy and Independence.

• Position: Thinking Politically

The formation of a Green committee for Democracy and Independence (GDI) is necessary because there exist within our party conflicting views over political orientation and the role we should play in American politics. To maintain our Party's unity we must ensure that all viewpoints are respected, all members can participate fully in the institutions of the party, and all decisions truly reflect the will of the Green Party membership. To build a true alternative party for peace, social and economic justice, and the environment, we must institutionalize policies that declare our independence from the two corporate parties.

We therefore call on Greens to join us in the formation of the Greens for Democracy and Independence caucus around the four points outlined below. We ask individual Greens and appropriate Green Party institutions, locals, chapters, and states that support these founding points to subscribe to the GDI list serve.

It is our hope that at the next national conference the Green Party will overwhelmingly vote to democratize our internal policies in order to protect the rights of all our membership and maintain party unity.

We call on all Greens to consider our proposals and to declare their support for internal democracy and party independence, regardless of their political views on other issues.

One person, one vote

The choice of our Presidential ticket and our national leadership bodies must be based on the principal of "one person one vote." We must oppose all selection processes that disenfranchise members based on their location, or the registration laws of their state. All Greens must be fully respected with equality. This can only be achieved by implementing policies that assure every member's vote is counted equally.

Delegate selection must respect the vote of the rank-and-file

The election of delegates to our national nominating convention and other national gatherings must reflect the will of the membership. All delegations based on the vote of the membership must be chosen through proportional representation.

Candidates that receive votes must be able to select their own delegates. Delegates to national conventions cannot be pre-selected. They can only represent candidates they voted for in the primaries or caucuses.

Conventions must be sovereign. Delegates, who represent the rank-and-file, the clearest expression of the will of our membership, must be free to determine the rules and procedures, agenda, and policy...