Were the Greens just sowing seeds in 2000?

[JVS]

In light of recent "purist bashing" I am wondering whether the Democratic party will be able to hold together. Is it possible that the Greens could reap a bountiful harvest by convincing the left wing of the party that its goals are being ignored?

[KG]

1. the left wing of the party already knows its goals are being ignored

the left wing of the party also knows the goals of working families, minorities, unions, etc. are being ignored by the dem. party in favor of big business. hence the increasing popularity of a progressive third party alternative.

[FlashHarry]

3. Hmm. I'd agree with that, if it were true.

Ignored is a pretty strong word.

[MadHound]

5. Hear hear KG!!

The Green party isn't sowing seeds, or deliberately stirring shit. They are simply picking up new members who have been left behind by the Dems. And yes, the Democratic party will wither on the vine if they don't change their ways. It may take a while, but it will happen.

[JVS]

6. By sowing seed I meant showing that they are there for us if we

get fed up.

Back in 2000 I though: "why would I leave my party?" but the concept of making such a decision had been introduced.

If things continue to go poorly for the left wing of our party I can see the temptation to leave the party grow.

[el_gato]

2. do or die time for the Democratic party

if the party implodes with more sellouts to corporate power
i think people are gonna really start looking for other options

that's why we have to get rid of the dlc losers and take our
party back

[Adjoran]

4. The Greens are trying to build a viable party

In Europe, they have succeeded, but the continent has long been the home of multi-party democracy. In America, no party has ever become viable without having the effect of killing off the weaker of the two major parties. If they don't do that, they wither on the vine.

The Whigs emerged from the ashes of the Federalists. The Repubs killed off the Whigs. Since then, no party has succeeded.

The progressive Bullmoose Party lived only as long as TR was their leader, returning the repub fold eventually. The Populists suffered a similar fate and were swallowed up by the Democrats.

The Greens only practical hope is to siphon off enough progressives from the Democrats to weaken and eventually kill the party. While a real threat, it is important to remember that the Democratic Party is the oldest continous political party in history.

The nature of our system requires that it will always devolve back into a two-party contest.

[DuctapeFatwa]

7. The bottom 75% income group has been marignalized to irrelevancy

It doesn't really matter what the concerns of low income and minority people are, the lower in income you go, the more percentage have been for all practical purposes disenfranchised.

No candidate who has corporate money has anything to offer this segment of the population, what their concerns are is irrelevant. Generally, the concerns have to do with a right to housing and a Living Wage.

The trend is toward costlier housing and lower wages, which will increase profits for the top 1% income group.