{news} Re: Please vote yes on GPUS prop. 247

Wed Oct 4 21:17:46 EDT 2006

Thanks for your response Charlie.

Clearly, you are entitled to your view on this though I happen to disagree with you, including the issue of balance.

But  my concern--no, complaint--here relates to your role as an elected  representative of the Greens in CT to the GPUS National Committee, and in that role you bear a responsibility to 1) share National Committee news with us, most especially proposals coming up for votes; and 2) solicit the views of your constituents on these proposals.  

In this case, neither you nor Tim informed us of this (or most any other) proposal, and didn't solicit our opinions on it.  Rather you chose to vote on this privately and as you say, informed by your perspective as a mediator.  

I only learned of the proposal yesterday from a representative from another state. As far as I know, I am the only person to express her opinion on this issue on the GPCT listserv.  

I repeat my earlier requests that you and Tim inform us of GPUS national business especially upcoming proposals/votes and seek our imput on them.

Many thanks, 
Justine 

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Charlie Pillsbury 
  To: 'Justine McCabe' ; 'CTGP-NEWS' ; 'Tim McKee' 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 11:44 AM
  Subject: RE: Please vote yes on GPUS prop. 247

  Justine:  I already voted NO, as I think, as a mediator, that this proposal is one-sided and unproductive.  I take issue with the national Green Party platform for the same reasons.

  However, I think the proposal will pass; last night yes votes outnumbered no votes by a 5-1 margin.

  Charlie 

  247 Saint Ronan Street 
  New Haven CT 06511 
  203-865-6575 
  chapillsbury at igc.org 

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  From: Justine McCabe [mailto:justinemccabe at earthlink.net] 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 9:09 AM
  To: CTGP-NEWS; Tim McKee; Charlie Pillsbury; CTGP Women's Caucus
  Subject: Please vote yes on GPUS prop. 247

  Charlie and Tim,

  I urge you both to vote for GPUS prop. 247 currently being considered by the GPUS National Committee (Voting until 10/8; proposal is listed below) 

  This proposal reflects planks from our platform and international law (right of return of refugees) and an position democratically taken by the party last year (divestment from Israel until Israel complies with international law). 

  The MA GP is to be commended for their persistently Green efforts to bring these issues before the citizens of Massachusetts.

  Thanks.  

  Justine McCabe

  New Milford

  (co-Chair, International Party, GPUS) 

  =============================================================

  http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=247

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  Proposal Details
        Proposal ID
       247

        Proposal
       Local Referenda Resolution for Divestment and Right of Return

        Presenter
       The Green-Rainbow Party Massachusetts GPotUS affiliate

        Floor Manager
       Jody Grage

        Phase
       Voting

        Discussion
       09/18/2006 - 10/01/2006

        Voting
       10/02/2006 - 10/08/2006

        Presens Quorum
       0.6666

        Consens Quorum
       A Majority of Yes and No Votes

  Background
  The Green Party of the United States National Commiittee passed on the date
  of 11/20/2005 a Resolution, number 190, that commits the Party to several
  actions in support of the set of principles contained therein. Such actions
  include, but are not limited to, calling on "institutions", "organizations",
  and "governments" to "implement a comprehensive divestment and boycott
  program". The resolution also reinforces Party support for 'Palestinian
  Refugees Inalienable Rights to Return to their homes and to receive material
  compensation for their losses'. Members of the Green-Rainbow Party have
  actively pursued public referenda to help enlist the Massachusetts state
  legislature's support for divestment, and also to have local legislators
  register their support of the right of return for the Palestinian diaspora.

  The Somerville Divestment Project has successfully petitioned to place two
  referenda on the ballot in a state representative district in Somerville, MA
  that are phrased as follows:

  1) Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote
  for
  resolutions calling on all governmental entities of the Commonwealth of
  Massachusetts to sell any investments they hold either in Israel Bonds
  or incompanies that supply military equipment to Israel ?

  2) Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote
  in favor of a nonbinding resolution calling on the federal government to
  support the right of all refugees, including Palestinian refugees, to return
  to their land of origin ?

  The Green-Rainbow Party has endorsed both resolutions, urges the national
  party's support and endorsement of such efforts, and hopes other party
  affiliates may pursue such efforts. This proposal if passed would accomplish
  one thing: The Green Party of the United States officially would endorse
  the Somerville Divestment Project's proposed referenda. 

  Proposal
  The Green Party of the United States endorses the following two ballot
  questions to be considered in the Somerville, Massachusetts state
  representative district:

  1) Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to
  votefor resolutions calling on all governmental entities of the
  Commonwealth of Massachusetts to sell any investments they hold either in Israel Bonds
  or incompanies that supply military equipment to Israel ?

  2) Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote
  in favor of a nonbinding resolution calling on the federal government to
  support the right of all refugees, including Palestinian refugees, to return
  to their land of origin ? 

  Resources
  CONTACT: Mr. Owen R. Broadhurst, 96 Elbert Road, Agawam MA 01001-3202,
  413.786.1508, owen.broadhurst at gmail.com

  References
  Resolution 190: http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=190
  Somerville Divestment Project: http://www.divestmentproject.org/ 

  Questions about this system?
  Contact the Voting Admin.
  The Green Party of the United States voting system is free software, licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
  You can download a copy here.
  To independently verify a ranked choice vote, or for information about how that works, go to Jonathan Lundell's Voting Page and upload the ballot file from the ranked choice vote result page. JL's ranked choice module is licensed under an alternate free software license. 

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