Talk:Green Rainbow Party Platform Working Group

BrianC: Wikipedia worked when the people who made the changes weren't trained or oriented ahead of time, nor did they have to agree together on what should be said before editing, so we really don't need to, and shouldn't say:


 * Before participating in the edit, please contact volunteer @ occupyboston.org. It's important for the editing group to have read through the background info and be up to speed on what the group is going. ...

Briancady413 (talk) 13:59, 8 September 2012 (EDT)

Thanks for setting up discussion page, Brian.

Joanna: I hope that the thrust of the preamble will be argument that GRP approach works better than status quo, assuming that readers already want a just society and sustainable economy. Platform did agree that we want the platform to be concise, readable, interesting, understandable, and attractive to potential members, voters and candidates, and provide elucidation of rationale for a Green-Rainbow program… So how can we say how GRP would work?

I'm still attached to a simpler preamble format which we could polish, in case we want that:

"Green-Rainbow values rest on understanding the interconnectedness of everything on Earth, respect for life, its creativity, and the capacities of human beings. Our Ten Key Values (link) imply a vision of the common good and offer guidance for the pathway.

"Formed in 2002 by the merger of Massachusetts Green Party and the Rainbow Coalition on the basis of their shared values and aspirations, (footnote/link to merger statement of 2002), the Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts supports the values espoused by the Green Party of the United States and Green parties worldwide.

"While governments are strangled by special interests, we seek ways for all residents of the Commonwealth to bring their reason, wisdom and energy to work towards a sustainable future.

"When economies are staggering from speculation in a worldwide financial system controlled by a powerful few, we recognize the interdependence of all on Earth and the role of local and international cooperation in safeguarding the ecosystems on which life depends.

Where social relations are blighted by inequality, discouragement, and violence, we seeks mean to enable all to thrive by providing for basic needs and nurturing healthy communities."

Notes moved from end of text: "[Joanna note: I withdraw the alternative organization I had suggested, hoping that preface can carry the ideas of ecological wisdom, respect for diversity, etc. being relevant to everything, with special attention to government, economy, and society. I tried to streamline preface. Right now, links and comments need to be digested to enable flow.] [BrianC: One of the decisions we did come to was to use the three-part division of the platform when writing. I realize, with curiousity, that we're neglecting that decision.]"

Joanna : Do you see how we could group paragraphs under three categories. I gave up trying to, but don't think that we should use 10 Vaules or topic summaries, such as you supplied.

Regarding "NOTES to Wiki participants"
When it comes to commenting on wiki articles, I think you try the `Discussion' tab, like this :)

Talk_pages gives an outline of how discussion pages work, but for the most part, it's just like editing any other wiki page.

It's a good idea to end your comments with four tildes " ~ " (sans quotes). This will get converted into a wiki signature.

srevilak (talk) 11:36, 26 August 2012 (EDT)

Preamble, Endorsing National
[Joanna: no qualification?] [Danny: I think we need to discuss this more. For example, does this mean if the GPUS platform gets amended that we automaticallly endorse?] [Terra: Occupy groups, in my observation] tend to endorse "actions" or "principles", rather than groups, for this very reason...that groups tend to change what they stand for over time without notifying you, so that you can pull your support, if you don't like the change.][At our 8/26 meeting, there seemed to be agreement that it would be o.k. to step back from a formal endorsement of the GPUS platform and instead say something to the effect that we agree with the values espoused in the GPUS platform. I will be making an edit accordingly. Feel free to revise.]

Preamble, Mentioning Commons in Preamble
[Terra: do we want to say something about wanting a "strong [commons]"?] [Joanna: Why here?] [T: It's core to the root of what I think David's point is...the illegal government subjugating the rights of humans and eco-systems to profit][Joanna: commons is a set of things, however you define it--but what does "strong" imply?]

Preamble, Encouraging local economies
DISCUSSION: [Issues with Favoring Locally Based Economies]

Preamble, Peace
[Joanna: Who added 'together in peace'? That carries the idea away from what government can do to help all to thrive, aside from reforming law enforcement, maybe. The intro can't have many specifics or it loses its pace.]  [BrianC: following phrase doesn't connect with preceding phrase][Danny: I didn't add it but I think placing of 'peace' is appropriate; it relates to mention of 'violence' 8 words earlier.] [Joanna: I added "violence" in place of "unfairness", which Terra questioned. I withdraw aeverything.]

Preamble, Taxation, Accumulated Wealth
[Joanna: If we think gov't has role in equalizing income and enriching opportunity, there is need for revenues to do it with, but maybe we can leave that unsaid.

[BrianC: the phrase 'taxing accumulated wealth' isn't specific enough, as I see it. We should shift taxes from wages and sales to polluting resource use, specifically. [Joanna: Specific types of taxation should go in body of text under 'rational taxation'.] [Brian: Let's leave taxation out of this paragraph on peace and equality]. [Joanna: This paragraph was not intended to be about peace and equality, but about what government can do for society to which it answers.] [Danny: I think that 'peace' and taking care of the vulnerable need to be a part of the preamble. 'A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.' The concept of 'self reliance' does not make sense to the most vulnerable: prisoners, many hospital patients, etc.] BrianC: I vote we wait to mention taxation until after the preamble, and so urge us to delete from 'Shift... through the line.

Preamble, Fairness
DISCUSSION:[Issues with Using the Words "Fairness" and "Unfairness"] [ Joanna: unfairness gone.] CLOSED DISCUSSION

three realms of wealth
John Michael Greer, in his _Wealth of Nature_, separated things of value into three groups: 1) Natural Capital: Things we value that nature provided. 2) Human-created Capital: Things we value that we made. 3) Financial Capital: Promises and other imaginary forms of paper wealth. He shows how the first is plundered and the last, inflated beyond any ability to repay, and how just measuring overall wealth obscures flows between these three forms of capital. Is this anything we want to address?