What to do about the economy 

Greens will never get elected to higher office until enough people are convinced that a Green economy will work. Greens will not get elected unless they can credibly promise prosperity.  It creates a bind. No one has ever seen a post industrial Green economy in action.  Greens may believe it will work, I most definitely do, but making the case is difficult without nation states to point to as an example. Ecocommunities, while great, are not viewed as a sufficient example.

Pundits and candidates are all jumping into the recent brouhaha over the economy.  Everyone has a program to return us to good times.  Each of these programs is based on some old and dysfunctional way of growing the economy faster so as to create jobs and wealth.  On some level this is logical, more is more and it goes around more. But on a planet with crashing ecosystems and a climate regime being pushed through massive changes we are seeing limits to such a strategy.  I can not say the American public, or any public in the world, is ready to fully hear the message that we shall as a global community be using less very soon, but that time approaches. That poses a dilemma for the Green Party, to be clear about the changes needed or to skate over the difficulty of the transition. It can be difficult to show the public how less is more, so it is ever more critical that our candidates really articulate a clear agenda for creating a green economy, and find ways to point out the bridges sprouting up that are leading the way.

Here is today’s take on some imaginary Green candidate’s 5 point plan to be sent out in response to the current madness.

Immediately cut spending on the military by 50% and bring all American service personnel back to US soil with the minor exceptions of UN missions, the protection of embassies and similar functions. Phase in further cuts over the next 3 to 4 years.  The reduced reliance on violence by Uncle Sam will send a clear message to the world and lead to a world in which large militaries are ever more superfluous.  Asymmetrical warfare will dry up.

Use 75% of the money saved by reducing military spending for the building and rebuilding of American infrastructure, with the goal of eliminating all fossil fuel use in 10 years, and the reduction of fossil fuel use by 50% within 3 years.  This size investment will prevent unemployment, actually start to reverse global warming, and demonstrate to the world how serious we are about changing our place in the world. The global good feeling will create tangible results and prosperity.

Institute a single payer health care system that covers everyone.  We would immediately see a boom in small business and everyone would be healthier.

Build super energy efficient housing that people can actually afford. Every new building in America should be fossil fuel free and generate a surplus of energy from clean and renewable sources such a solar and wind. If everyone has a decent home, many of our other social ills are greatly diminished and that saves us even more money. Immediately convert every subprime and adjustable mortgage into a low interest fixed rate loan.  All the people who made money selling improper loans or monkeying with the financial system should bear the burden of the fallout.  Homeowners should not be losing their homes to financial manipulation. 

Grow food locally.  With global warming and overdevelopment irrigation water is disappearing, and it makes no sense to use fossil fuels to expensively ship food when that just makes the problems worse. Grow food at home, in cities, in suburbs, everywhere.  Grow jobs in our neighborhoods. With the dramatic drop in auto use, we can return much to greenspace, and rebuild our soils.  Building soil may be the best thing we an do to help ecosystems and stop global warming, as well as provide a truly nutritious and healthy diet to everyone in our communities. Related to growing food locally is the restoration of forests.  Healthy communities have healthy forests. Forests provide water, healthy soil, building materials, food, spiritual renewal, and recreation.

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