Carolyn Gage
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Party of the Future

11/10/2011

3 Comments

 
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It’s time for a new political party.  “The Party of the Future.” It doesn’t even have to be huge in order to be effective. It just has to be noisy.

I’m talking about a political party whose SOLE PLATFORM is to examine and publicize the long-term impact of any and all policies and legislation.

No focus on political expediency, compromise with corporate lobbyists, deal-making, etc. Because this party is only and ever about one thing: The Future.

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We pass economic policy that binds future generations to hopeless debt. We continue to enable an economic system based on unlimited growth of markets...  This has led to colonization, the horrors of NAFTA, and now a philosophy of perpetual warfare (we destroy massive infrastructures and then hire ourselves to rebuild them again). We engage in manufacturing and innovation that is solely profit-driven with inadequate  analysis to how these technologies may impact human society. We generate incredibly toxic waste that we flush into the ocean or waft into the atmosphere or shove into landfills. We have never yet come up with a plan for disposal of nuclear waste. 

The Party of the Future would generate ongoing pressure on the other parties to make concessions to these concerns. Because the Party of the Future would not be owned, and because it would have only one focus, and because it would have moral force behind it, it would have the ability to harass and prod the traditionally  lumbering and pandering political parties. 

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I actually believe that the rising generation of voters considers The Future important. Probably because they are facing the distinct possibility of not having one. 

And that is thanks to my generation.

I belong to the Generation of Irrevocable Destruction. It’s a shameful legacy. My generation of “Boomers” has seen… oh, goddess, what haven’t we seen: 
  • Extinction of species
  • Acid rain
  • Global warming
  • Nuclear accidents
  • Air pollution
  • Water pollution
  • Policy of “perpetual warfare” to support corporate capitalism’s demand for ever-expanding markets
  • Depletion of water supplies
  • Genetically modified food
  • Destruction of the rainforests
  • Pollution of the ocean
  • Massive oil spills
… and all kinds of things we probably haven’t even noticed yet.

What would it take to form The Party of the Future?  Not that much. A handful of committed folks with some social networking skills and a great webmaster. And a team of dedicated research folks.  Actually, scratch that. How about a team of folks with some common sense and decency who are able to communicate their concerns with clarity and accountability?

I’ll sign on. It’s the least I can do.

3 Comments
Jean Mountaingrove
11/10/2011 10:51:54 am

Yes, I'll sign on. You have begun something that will make a BIG difference.

Reply
cinderkeys link
11/10/2011 04:56:01 pm

Good idea. But ...

<i>What would it take to form The Party of the Future? Not that much. A handful of committed folks with some social networking skills and a great webmaster. And a team of dedicated research folks. Actually, scratch that. How about a team of folks with some common sense and decency who are able to communicate their concerns with clarity and accountability?</i>

In 1994, how many laypeople guessed that the Internet was going to change everything?

It will take more than common sense to tackle issues and technology we've never encountered before. At the very least, we'd need experts in the areas up for examination. They won't be enough, and they'll probably all disagree with each other, but they'll help.

Reply
Tina Gianoulis
11/14/2011 05:16:28 am

thanks for this great analysis, Carolyn, it never ceases to amaze me how, even though people can't seem to live in the moment, we also can't seem to remember the past or protect the future--where are we anyway?

Reply



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    Carolyn Gage

    “… Carolyn Gage is one of the best lesbian playwrights in America…”--Lambda Book Report, Los Angeles.

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