Unity...At What Cost?

• Author: Sweeney, Barb
• Position: Green Party

As a lifelong labor and environmental activist, I have only recently registered as Green, and have become involved in GPUSA. I was initially exposed to the heavy handed manipulations of one of ASGP's. "flagship" parties here in New Mexico, and became disenchanted with the thought any party actually cared to hear my voice and concerns.

This "Boston Proposal" should not be another fait accompli. It's a good start, but how can anyone believe that two such diverse factions can come to an agreement, over the course of a few days?

The negotiating team was charged with crafting an agreement, not implementing one. There can be no definite immediate decision until all GPUSA members have had a chance to study and question the many facets and details over the course of time and meetings. What's the rush? There are many troubling and unanswered questions including finances, representation, control, and then the ever-popular and nebulous "we'll work these issues out later."

Many major issues seem to have been brushed under the table. Nothing that has taken decades to develop can be resolved in a few months. It will take a serious and concerted effort from both sides over the course of many negotiations.

Both factions claim to share the same vision for the future and regard for the Earth: however their style, structure, and attitude are vastly different.

I urge everyone to study the issues and details closely. How can there be equity when GPUSA (the original Greens) would have to give up the party name? ASOP would give up nothing and make no changes to its structure or attitude. Wholesale concessions would be made by GPUSA.

We are all connected. The healing of many issues such as the environment, health care, injustice against indigenous people, family disintegration, unemployment and many others will only come when we recognize that these issues are fundamentally interconnected. The path to creative solutions is to address these issues as a whole and not in...