While The Republicans and Democrats were tearing each other apart in the debates of primaries and caucuses, the Green Party of the United States proved to the world that there could be civility even in disagreement.
The Green Party held their debate on the 14th of January 2007 in San Francisco, California. The moderators were Cindy Sheehan [of Protest Mom in Crawford Texas Fame] and the greatest radio announcer of America, KPFA’s Aimee Allison.
The candidates that participated in the debate were Cynthia McKinney, Jared Ball, Kat Swift, and Jesse Johnson. While there was a lot of cheerleading and heckling at times, there were examples of civilized discourse in which the candidates discussed issues such as Withdrawing from Iraq, Immigration, the farm bill, and the so called wasted vote.
For those who ask the question of the alternative parties being the wasted vote, I wander why the Republicans and Democrats waste their time to repress the Greens and Libertarians?
In fact, The San Francisco Chronicles conducted a poll of the Green Party in 2008. The amount of people who voted was 1,565. The following results were 42% of the people thinking that the Green Party could serve as an alternative political force. You cannot ignore 42% of the people.
I also wander who is the most civilized party when it comes to debates. Maybe the Republicans and Democrats can learn from the Greens and Libertarians in how to be civilized.
REFERENCE:
Vigil, Delfin: “Green Party holds presidential debate in San Francisco”; 14th January 2008
San Francisco Chronicles.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/14/MNMOUEQ25.DTL
El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso 