"The Greens/Green Party USA" (G/GPUSA) is a small, secretive group, which was once a significant national organization. It's one of two groupings which began in the Green Committies of Correspondance in the mid-1980s. "The Greens/Green Party USA" incorporated in 1991. Over the years, its more-or-less permanent leadership has expelled anyone who disagreed with them, and the explosive growth of real Green political parties in the United States has left them behind.

In 1995, they obtained the domain name GREENPARTY.ORG by fraud. In 1999, they secured it by extortion. In 2000, they exploited a mistake on the Nader campaign's Web site to raise thousands of dollars in the name of "the Green Party," the same year they adopted an "anti-platform" which embarrassed the candidate and which he was forced to disclaim on television.

In 2001, a proposal to merge with the Association of State Green Parties (which is now the Green Party of the United States and recognized as the Green Party National Committee by the Federal Election Commission) failed, despite a majority of delegates voting for it. Many participants believed delegates known to favor the merger were inappropriately disqualified, to rig the vote. Within two months, most of the affiliated states and locals left.

In 2002, I was thrown out of "The Greens/Green Party USA" for asking, in an internal forum, "What is the purpose of this organization? What is its future?"

The exact size of "The Greens/Green Party USA" is a closely guarded secret. Estimates range between 300 and 2000 dues-payers. Most of the dues-payers have no contact with the organization except its mailings. Many of the organizations listed on its "Affiliates" Web page (5 Feb 2003) either do not exist or are not actually affiliated. A "G/GPUSA state caucus" can be two or three people with no participation in the Green Party in their state, and no organizational structure.

On 12 November, 2004, Barbara Chicerio informed the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that Patrick Eytchison has been appointed designated agent for "Greens/Green Party USA". (FEC's copy, my copy).
On 14 October, 2004, Mr. Eytchison told the FEC that it had no reportable activity in the period July-September 2004 (FEC's copy, my copy) and that it was terminating its reporting as a political committee (FEC's copy, my copy). The report ends showing cash on hand of "-$7108.33" but no debts or obligations owed to or by the committee (FEC's copy, my copy). This report also shows no receipts for calendar year-to-date. If G/GPUSA had any income in 2004, it didn't report it to the FEC.

Cameron Spitzer, San José, California