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Proposal For Genuine Unity
G/GPUSA Green Congress, Chicago, May 2000
Unity between the Greens/Green Party USA (G/GPUSA) and the Association of State Green Parties (ASGP) can be meaningful and long-lasting only if it is based on an honest assessment of the strengths of each organization.
This means that the G/GPUSA should acknowledge the help of the ASGP in organizing a national political campaign. It means that the ASGP should acknowledge that the G/GPUSA has developed a structure which can include state parties as well as locals, has a history of managing money in its daily operation, and has functioning national centers and long-standing relationships with publications. Thus, genuine unity should be based on the Negotiating Committee of the G/GPUSA advocating the points below. The Negotiating Committee must bring departures from the points to the Green National Council for approval.
1. The G/GPUSA and ASGP jointly support the Nader/LaDuke campaign.
2. The merged organization will a recognize a national campaign headquarters created by the Nader 2000 campaign if it chooses to do so. The Clearinghouse in Lawrence, MA, the Green Electoral Action Resource Center in Chicago, IL will continue to function in their current capacity in the merged organization.
3. The G/GPUSA and ASGP will merge using the current structure of the G/GPUSA, which is open to every Green State Party, Green local, and anti-oppression caucus.
4. The Green Party will strive for representation of Women, People of Color, LBGT, and People with Disability/Seniors Caucuses in proportions no less than the population at the local or state jurisdiction represented.
5. In the merged organization, each dues paying member will receive a copy of both newspapers published and Synthesis/Regeneration magazine. Green Politics will be published by its current Editorial Board in Fall, 2000 and Spring 2001 and Green Pages will be published by its current Editorial Board in Winter, 2001 and Summer, 2001. By Fall, 2001, Green Politics and Green Pages will be fused by including all current Editorial Board members in both publications and guaranteeing the expression of the full range of views currently published in both papers.
6. Organized local parties will be the grassroots base of the Green Party with membership assemblies in which every member has voting rights.
7. State parties will have written democratic bylaws and at least one convention a year (whether it be a general membership assembly or a delegate assembly elected by locals).
8. There will be proportional representation of organized Greens elected from the grassroots base to state and national decision-making bodies.
9. There will be a national convention of the Green Party every year.
10. The Green Party will guarantee the right of delegates to decision-making bodies to make motions and speak to any motion.