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Of all the enemies of true liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be
dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is
the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and
debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the
domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the
Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors and
emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are
added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant
aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and
the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the
degeneracy of manner and of morals, engendered in both. No nation can
preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
War is in fact the true nurse of executive aggrandizement. In war, a
physical force is to be created; and it is the executive will, which is to
direct it. In war, the public treasuries are to be unlocked; and it is the
executive hand which is to dispense them. In war, the honors and
emoluments of office are to be multiplied; and it is the executive
patronage under which they are to be enjoyed; and it is the executive brow
they are to encircle. The strongest passions and most dangerous weaknesses
of the human breast; ambition, avarice, vanity, the honorable or venal
love of fame, are all in conspiracy against the desire and duty of peace.
Green Party of the United States Platform:
1. With half of all discretionary spending now going to the military,
the president requesting spending even the Pentagon thinks is wasteful,
and the Congress proposing even more than the president requests, Greens
believe the more than $300 billion DEFENSE BUDGET MUST BE CUT. The Green
Party calls for military spending to be cut by 50% over the next 10 years,
with increases in spending for social programs. Preventive diplomacy, a
strong economy and humane trade relations are our best defense. We must
maintain a viable American military force, prudent foreign policy
doctrines, and readiness strategies that take into account real, not
hollow or imagined threats to our people, our democratic institutions and
U.S. interests. Even so, Greens seek strength through peace.
2. The Green Party would press for the immediate start of the negotiation
of a treaty to abolish nuclear weapons, and for the completion of those
negotiations by the year 2002. We would cut off all funding for the
development, testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons, and
also cut off funding for nuclear weapons research. All nuclear weapons
should be taken off alert and all warheads removed from their delivery
vehicles.
3. We call for our foreign policy establishment to engage in a national
debate on how we can convert to a PEACETIME ECONOMY. We believe our nation’s
ultimate strength is in its people and a healthy economy. These will best
protect our national security interests over the long-term.
4. We endorse a reordering of priorities as to how our nation can best
achieve national security. The Green Party asserts that security and liberty
prosper together. HUMAN RIGHTS are the foundation of EMERGING DEMOCRACIES
and international relations. We argue that the support of democracy, human
rights and respect for international law should be the cornerstone of
American foreign policy.
16. We trust that NON-VIOLENCE provides a road to PEACE. We understand
the right of self-defense, yet believe we must move beyond behavior that
perpetuates violence. We oppose structural and direct violence of all kinds:
assaults against individuals, families, nations and cultures, the
environment and the biosphere.
17. We endorse an EXPANDED PEACE CORPS.
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