This page shows resolutions which have been introduced for consideration at
the 2006 GPNJ Convention.
Resolution 1: GPNJ Candidate Endorsement Protocol
Introduced by the Bergen County Green Party
WHEREAS the Green Party is a political party that has had and will continue
to have candidates running for public office, and
WHEREAS the Green Party intends to end corruption in government and end the
influence on government by corporate money, and
WHEREAS the Green Party will not countenance the dilution or compromise of
our basic principles regarding a clean, sustainable environment, social
justice, grassroots democracy, and peace,
BE IT RESOLVED that in municipal, county, state, and federal electoral
races, the Green Party of New Jersey shall not endorse any candidate of
another political party and shall limit endorsement to a Green Party
candidate in good standing OR to an independent candidate who has sought
Green Party endorsement and who has been vetted for compatibility.
Resolution 2: Reducing Property Taxes and Introducing a State Tax
on Stocks and Bonds
Introduced by the Bergen County Green Party
WHEREAS the reduction of property taxes paid by homeowners and renters is
the biggest issue currently facing the state,
BE IT RESOLVED that the state legislature adopt a state tax on the value of
stocks and bonds, with appropriate exemptions for low and middle in come
people, along lines proposed by the Bergen County Green Party; and that the
resulting revenue be used to grant large rebates to middle and low income
homeowners and renters.
Resolution 3: Maintaining Green Party Unity
Introduced by the Bergen County Green Party
WHEREAS it is more necessary than ever to build the broadest unity of all
progressive forces, RESOLVED THAT we strongly oppose any proposal or
procedure for expelling a State Green Party because it may not support the
presidential candidate nominated by the Green Party National Convention.
Resolution 4: Democracy in the Green Party
Introduced by the Bergen County Green Party
WHEREAS democratic procedure is essential
RESOLVED THAT decisions made by the Green Party at all levels - local, state
and national - shall be by simple majority vote, and
RESOLVED THAT Presidential Nominating Conventions have the authority to
approve the rules governing their sessions.
Resolution 5: Policy Resolutions at the Green Party National
Convention
Introduced by the Bergen County Green Party
WHEREAS wise policy decisions can only be adopted after proper consideration
and debate,
RESOLVED THAT at least one full day of the National Convention be devoted to
a plenary session for presentation and debate on resolutions regarding
national policy and
RESOLVED THAT printed copies of all resolutions be mailed in advance to the
delegates of the Convention.
==========================================================
We next have three resolutions introduced by Liz Arnone (Ocean County).
We reproduce them her with her comments verbatim, so the numbering will
begin again at "Resolution 1". At the Convention, resolutions may be
referred to as "Bergen 1" or "Arnone 1", or perhaps another method will be
found.
--GDI PROPOSALS FOR ADOPTION BY NEW JERSEY – These proposals may be
adopted as is, or modified as desired. Each proposal speaks for itself.
It is my belief that if individual states adopted these proposals we would
be able to encourage the National and Coordinating Committees to implement a
fair and democratic process for representing the will of the members of the
GP.
Submitted by Liz Arnone
Proposal #1
Affirming Support for the Principle of Equal Representation for all
Greens
Background
The Association of State Green Parties (predecessor to the Green Party of
the
United States), established a Coordinating Committee at its founding
convention.
The Coordinating Committee allocated two delegates for each affiliated state
party. This allocation was modified in 2001 to reflect the population of
each
state. That, at least, was the stated goal. This new allocation assigned one
delegate to the body (now called the National Committee) for every 4
Congressional districts, with a minimum of 2 delegates per accredited state
party. As a result, roughly 3/4 of the delegates are still allocated on a
two-per-state basis with the rest allocated to a handful of state parties
from
populous states, independent of the number of Greens in that state. An
equally
unrepresentative allocation is used to determine the size of the delegation
for
each affiliated state party to the presidential nominating conventions.
It is likely the allocation of delegates for each affiliated state party on
the
National Committee will be modified in the next year or so. It is not clear
what
criteria will be used to determine how many delegates each affiliated state
party will be given.
What This Resolution Says
This resolution reaffirms our state party’s support for the principle of
“One
Green-One vote” (OGOV) which means that every Green’s vote should be counted
equally, independent of where in the country that person resides. This
resolution urges the National Committee to try to approach OGOV as much as
possible in any future reapportionment attempt, given current legal and
practical constraints.
Why This Resolution Is Needed
National Committee delegates and leaders from a few state parties have
expressed
their opposition to the principle of One Green-One Vote. Therefore, it is
important that our state party join other state parties, going on record in
support of this important principle. This will provide clear direction in
favor
of One Green-One Vote for any reallocation effort that might take place in
the
near future.
Resolution Text
The Green Party of <state> affirms the need to reapportion delegates to the
National Committee and the Presidential Nominating Convention such that each
delegation reflects, as much as possible, the principle of One Green-One
Vote,
where every Green’s vote is given equal weight, independent of where they
live.
We recognize that there are many factors that make One Green-One Vote
difficult
to implement, and that this goal may not be fully attainable in the short
term.
We acknowledge the need for a minimum level of representation from every
accredited and functioning state party, in order to increase the diversity
of
voices and to give representation to all Greens.
We further acknowledge that due to the wide range of election and ballot
access
laws in different states, it may not be possible to devise a single formula
for
measuring the number of Greens -- or even the level of Green Party support
-- in
every state.
Nonetheless, we call upon the National Committee of the Green Party of the
United States to make every effort, within the constraints described above,
to
reapportion delegates based on the ultimate goal of One Green-One Vote.
We instruct our delegates to all committees, especially the National
Committee
and Accreditations Committee to support every effort to implement an
apportionment system that takes the Green Party of the United States as
close as
possible to the principle of One Green One Vote.
We further instruct our delegates to the National Committee and other
committees
to regularly report back to the state membership on the progress of the
Green
Party of the United States toward implementing this resolution.
Proposal #2
Accurately Representing the Will of the Voters when Selecting Delegates
to the
Presidential Nominating Convention
Background
In 2004 the Green Party of the United States carried out its first truly
contested primary for selection of our presidential candidate. As a young
party,
we are still learning to operate within the world of electoral politics. For
now
we continue to use a system where Greens in each state elect delegates to a
national nominating convention, and the delegates select our presidential
candidate. Until our national bylaws are amended, and the amendments
cross-checked against legal requirements of individual states, we will
continue
to use this system.
What This Resolution Says
This resolution commits our state party to doing everything it can to ensure
maximum participation by all Greens in the selection of our presidential
candidates. It further commits our state party to ensure that our delegation
reflects the will of the memberss as closely as possible. Finally, we ask
the
Green Party of the United States to ensure these principles are applied in
all
states.
Why This Resolution Is Needed
It is critically important -- for our credibility in the eyes of the public,
as
well as post-convention party unity -- that our future presidential
candidates
be selected in the most democratic and participatory manner possible. In
order
to achieve this, every state party affiliate of GPUS must have policies in
place
that clearly demonstrate a commitment (1) to include as many Greens as
possible
in the candidate selection process, and (2) to reflect the will of the
members
as accurately as possible at the convention itself.
Resolution Text
The Green Party of <state> pledges to make every effort to involve as many
Greens as possible in the selection of our presidential candidate. We pledge
to
investigate all methods, including primary, caucus, mail ballot, online
vote, or
nominating convention, and to select a system that promises to maximize
participation by all Greens in our state.
We pledge to make every effort to ensure that delegates at a presidential
nominating convention reflect the will of all Greens in our state. We will
do
our best to select delegates for a given candidate from among the Greens who
actually voted for that candidate during the primary or caucus process,
given
travel and other restrictions.
These delegates shall represent, as accurately as possible, the vote totals
in
that state's primary, caucus, mail ballot, or nominating convention.
We recognize and value the freedom of GPUS state affiliates to operate as
they
see fit within their states. However, we believe that the presidential
nominating convention is a national affair. Therefore, it is important to
all
Greens that the nominating process be as participatory and as democratic as
possible. We call upon the National Committee of the Green Party of the
United
States to adopt criteria that will ensure wide participation and accurate
delegate selection in each state.
We instruct our delegates to all committees, especially the National
Committee,
to support every effort to implement a nominating process that takes the
Green
Party of the United States as close as possible to accurately representing
the
will of the membership when selecting delegates to the Presidential
Nominating
Convention.
We further instruct our delegates to the National Committee to regularly
report
back to the state membership on the progress of the Green Party of the
United
States toward implementing this resolution.
Proposal #3
Affirming the Green Party’s Independence from the Two Corporate Parties
Background
One of the primary political differences within the Green Party of the
United
States is over the nature of our relationship with the Democratic Party and
Republican Party. Some Greens favor electoral alliances with progressive
Democrats and election campaigns that will avoid “spoiling” the chances of
electing a Democratic candidate. Other Greens are opposed to the Green Party
of
the United States ever supporting, directly or indirectly, any Democrat or
Republican candidate for office, arguing that “lesser evil” campaigns lend
legitimacy to corporate parties, weaken the Green Party, and delay the
implementation of true electoral reform, among other negative effects.
What This Resolution Says
This resolution places our state party on record as opposing any party-level
concession to, or alliance with, the two corporate parties. This is a
rejection
of Green Party endorsement of any Democrat or Republican, and a rejection of
indirect support for one corporate party candidate over another. The
Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, or the leadership, of the
Green
Party of the United States shall not embrace a “safe states” campaign.
Why This Resolution Is Needed
In the recent history of progressive third parties, there are many examples
of
parties that tried to grow without challenging the corporate parties,
especially
the Democratic Party. For example, the New Party tried to grow through
fusion
candidates. Fusion is the practice of one party placing another party’s
candidate on its ballot line. The 1990’s incarnation of the US Labor Party
would
not challenge Democratic Party candidates at all. Needless to say, all of
these
efforts have failed. The most successful third party attempt in recent
history
has been the Green Party of the United States, which has consistently grown
whenever it has challenged the corporate duopoly. Unfortunately many people
in
the leadership of the Green Party of the United States continue to believe
that
Greens must now and then support Democrats as the “lesser of two evils.”
Resolution Text
The Green Party of <state> affirms that we consider the Democratic Party and
Republican Party to be at the service of corporate interests, regardless of
any
particular candidate that they nominate in a given year.
We, as a state party, will not endorse, place on our ballot lines, urge a
vote
for, raise funds for, or otherwise support any candidate from the corporate
parties. In this instance “support” is also interpreted to mean selective
opposition to a candidate’s opponent.
We also urge the Green Party of the United States and its national
candidates to
commit to the strategy described above for all national elections, and to
adopt
a policy that denies the support of any Green Party of the United States
committee to any candidate or campaign that violates the principle of
independence from the two corporate parties.
We also urge our city, county, campus, and other local affiliates to adopt a
similar policy.
This resolution does not in any way restrict the Green Party of <state> or
its
members from working with individuals from the corporate parties on issues
that
we support, including non-violence, social justice, electoral reform, or
environmental sustainability.
Furthermore, this resolution does not restrict individual Greens or groups
of
Greens from working for, raising funds for, or otherwise supporting any
candidate, as long as these activities are not done in the name of the Green
Party of <state>.
==============================================================
Resolution to Encourage Local Action on Climate Change
from Ted Glick, Essex County
WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the
international community’s most respected assemblage of scientists, has found
that climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely
responsible for increasing concentrations of global warming pollution; and
WHEREAS, recent, well-documented impacts of climate disruption include
average global sea level increases of four to eight inches during the 20th
century; a 40 percent decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness; and nine of the
ten hottest years on record occurring in the past decade; and
WHEREAS, climate disruption of the magnitude now predicted by the scientific
community will cause extremely costly disruption of human and natural
systems throughout the world including: increased risk of floods or
droughts; sea-level rises that interact with coastal storms to erode
beaches, inundate land, and damage structures; more frequent and extreme
heat waves; more frequent and greater concentrations of smog; and
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, an international
agreement to address climate disruption, went into effect in the 141
countries that have ratified it to date; 38 of those countries are now
legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on average 5.2 percent
below 1990 levels by 2012; and
WHEREAS, the United States of America, with less than five percent of the
world’s population, is responsible for producing approximately 25 percent of
the world’s global warming pollutants; and
WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the U.S. would
have been 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012;
RESOLVED, that the Green Party of New Jersey encourages its affiliates and
individual members to take action on this issue, including organizing to add
to the 11 local N.J. mayors who have already joined with over 200 others
around the country who have so far endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement. This agreement calls for local governments to move to
adopt greenhouse gas emission programs to reduce emissions at least to the
Kyoto Protocol target for their locality; and,
RESOLVED, that we urge our affiliates and members to follow up with mayors
who have signed or will sign this agreement to make sure they are actually
implementing greenhouse gas emission policies.
