Guest Editorial: Greens Respond to Shaw's CritiqueChris Kavanagh, Green Party of Alameda Countybyline‚ Aug. 22‚ 2006I must respectfully---and forcefully---disagree with Randy Shaw's misdirected assessment of the Green Party of the United States, and the party's current development, direction and prospects ("Green Party Must Rethink National Strategy", Aug. 16). First, a few preliminary facts about the Green Party are necessary: Since its founding in the late 1980s, the Green Party has expanded exponentially. As of 2006, the Green Party now holds 220 elected offices in 28 states, including 60 elected officials across California. At least 371 Green Party candidates nationwide are seeking elective offices at all levels---local, county, state and federal---during the 2006 election cycle. By any conceivable measure or standard, the above Green Party elected official and candidate numbers represent nothing less than an extraordinary achievement for a relatively new political party formed only a decade and a half ago. |