Green Party in 2020 Conventions


On Budget & Economy: Steady-state economy better than increasing GDP

Economic growth, as gauged by increasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is a dangerous and anachronistic goal. The most viable and sustainable alternative is a steady-state economy. A steady-state economy has a stable or mildly fluctuating product of population and per capita consumption, and is generally indicated by stable or mildly fluctuating GDP. The steady-state economy has become a more appropriate goal than economic growth in the United States and other large, wealthy economies.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Civil Rights: Support International Bill of Rights for Women

The Green Party makes a strong and urgent call for U.S. passage of CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and ratified by 173 countries. It is also known as the Women's Convention, the Women's Bill of Rights, and an International Bill of Rights for Women. The United States is one of a very few countries and the only industrialized nation that has not ratified it.

We call for equal representation of women in Congress instead of the current 17% in 2012. We support the inclusion of an equal number of women and men in peace talks and negotiations, not only because these efforts directly affect their lives and those of their husbands, children and families, but also because when women are involved, the negotiations are more successful.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Corporations: Break up largest banks so that none is too big to fail

Break up our nation's largest banks and financial institutions so that none is "too big to fail." End taxpayer- funded bailouts for banks, insurers and other financial companies. Re-enact the Glass-Steagall Act, which prohibited bank holding companies from owning other financial companies and engaging in risky economic transactions. Oppose the federal government being the final guarantor of speculative investments.

Greens believe the legal structure of the corporation is obsolete. At present, corporations are designed solely to generate profit. This legal imperative--profit above all else--is damaging our country and our planet in countless ways. We must change the legal design of corporations so that they generate profits, but not at the expense of the environment, human rights, public health, workers, or the communities in which the corporation operates.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Corporations: Amend Constitution: corporations are not persons

We propose the following amendment to the Constitution of the United States:

The rights established by this Constitution and the laws of the United States of America are exclusively the rights of living, breathing humans, citizens of this country or residing therein. No corporation or other type of association or organization can have the status of a "legal person" and thus cannot derive rights from such status.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Crime: Ban private prisons; moratorium on prison construction

Ban private prisons. Implement a moratorium on prison construction. Redirect funds to alternatives to incarceration. Provide incarcerated individuals the right to vote by absentee ballot in the district of their domicile, and the right to vote during parole.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Drugs: End war on drugs: for legalization, treatment of abuse

Greens call for an end to the "war on drugs", legalization of drugs and for treating drug abuse as a health issue. The "war on drugs" has been an ill-conceived program that has wasted billions of dollars misdirecting law enforcement resources away from apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals, while crowding our prisons with non-violent drug offenders and disproportionately criminalizing youth of color.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Education: Free college tuition for qualified students; abolish loans

Provide free college tuition to all qualified students at public universities and vocational schools. Abolish all student and parent loans taken out to finance post-secondary and vocational education.

Eliminate police officers from our schools. Ensure school security personnel are trained for, and held accountable to, conflict resolution techniques and anti-bias training. Security personnel should demonstrate cultural competency and refrain from enforcing white supremacist oppressive tactics.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Education: Increased funding for the arts as essential

Eliminating all laws that seek to restrict or censor artistic expression, including the withholding of government funds for political or moral content. Increased funding for the arts appropriate to their essential social role at local, state and federal levels of government. Education programs in the community that will energize the creativity of every community member from the youngest to the oldest,
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Energy & Oil: End nuclear power, offshore drilling, & fracking

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Energy & Oil: Free mass transit; reduce energy use 50%

The Green Party supports a transportation policy that emphasizes the use of mass transit and alternatives to the automobile and truck for transport. We call for major public investment in mass transportation, so that such systems are cheap or free to the public and are safe, accessible, and easily understandable to first-time users. We need ecologically sound forms of transportation that minimize pollution and maximize efficiency.

Adopt energy efficiency standards that reduce energy demand economy-wide by 50% over the next 20--30 years. The U.S. can make massive reductions in its energy use through a combination of conservation and efficiency measures. We don't actually need any additional power. Instead, we can and should reduce our consumption of power. Adopt a national zero waste policy. The less we consume and throw away, the less we will need to produce and replace.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Environment: Polluters should have burden of proof of safe practices

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Environment: Strengthen Endangered Species & Clean Water Act

Water is essential to all forms of life. The Green Party calls for an international declaration that water belongs to the Earth and all of its species. Water is a basic human right! The U.S. Government must lead the way in declaring water a fundamental human right and prevent efforts to privatize, export, and sell for profit a substance that is essential to all life.

The Green Party supports a strengthened and enforceable Endangered Species Act. We support reintroducing native species to areas from which they have been eradicated, eliminating predator control on public lands, and reintroducing native predators where they would contribute to a viable ecosystem. We should educate ourselves about animal behaviors to overcome our culture's irrational fear of wildlife, and learn techniques of co-existence with other species.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Environment: Shut down waste incinerators; phase out landfills

Shut down existing waste incinerators, impose a moratorium on new waste incinerators, and phase out landfills. For all possible waste streams, we support the following strategies (in order of priority) as alternatives to incineration and landfills: (a) toxics use reduction; (b) source reduction, reuse, clean recycling or composting /digestion; or (c) neutralization, sterilization or detoxification methods where applicable.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Families & Children: Criminalize purchasers of sex, not the prostitutes

The Green Party calls for new U.S. legislation relating to prostitution modeled on the Swedish law passed in 1999 that has drastically reduced human trafficking and prostitution. That law criminalizes the purchase of services from prostitutes, pimps and brothel keepers instead of criminalizing the prostitutes.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Foreign Policy: Supports a Palestinian right of return, and a single state

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Foreign Policy: Self-determination for Kurdish people

The Kurdish people are the largest ethnic group in the world that is without an independent state. As a result, Kurdish people have historically suffered persecution and injustice. The Kurdish people have been besieged to the point of a current humanitarian crisis in towns such as Kobani, Syria. The GPUS expresses solidarity for and affirms the right to self-determination, self-defense, communal autonomy, freedom from persecution, and release of political prisoners for the Kurdish population.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Foreign Policy: Member of the community of nations; not above it

We strongly feel that our country should view itself as a member of the community of nations... not above it. The United States could well play a leadership role in that community but only if we become committed to an eco-social vision of peace, national self-determination, and international cooperation.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Government Reform: Universal voter registration; statehood for DC

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Government Reform: Open debates to third parties on sufficient ballots

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Homeland Security: Abolish nuclear weapons, WMDs, and land mines

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Homeland Security: Better care & support services for veterans

Provide better care for the wounded, sick and injured soldiers. Ensure that the Pentagon takes all steps necessary to fully diagnose and treat the physical and mental health conditions resulting from service in combat zones, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Ensure a smooth transition from active military service to civilian life by providing counseling, housing, emergency management, job protection and other support systems.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Immigration: All seeking asylum should be given permanent resident status

All persons fleeing political, racial, religious, or other types of persecution must be welcomed and given permanent resident status. The history of arbitrary denial of political asylum claims must be ended. Particular attention should be given to those minorities who are political exiles and refugees and those whose lives would be at risk if asylum is not granted.

We oppose the militarization of our borders, (mis)using the National Guard as border police, and building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. We call for the immediate dismantling of the border wall. We mourn the death of those thousands of men, women and children who have died trying to cross this border, where a couple of decades ago such deaths were virtually unheard of.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Social Security: Apply FICA tax to all levels of income including investments

Apply the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (Social Security and Medicare) taxes to investment income and to all levels of income, not merely the first $106,800 earned. Oppose the privatization of Social Security. Enact a wealth tax of 0.5% per year on an individual's assets over $5 million.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Technology: We support all efforts to achieve net neutrality

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On Technology: Protect software by copyright, not patent

The Green Party supports protection of software (free or proprietary) by means of the copyright. We strongly oppose granting of software patents. Mathematical algorithms are discovered, not invented, by humans; therefore, they are not patentable. Format patents only exist to restrain competition, and the harm falls disproportionately on programmers who work independently or for the smallest employers.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

On War & Peace: Supports 2015 Iran nuclear deal

The Green Party supports the "joint comprehensive plan of action" signed in July, 2015 which confirms Iran's status as a zone free of nuclear weapons. The Green Party supports the swift elimination of economic sanctions on Iran and looks to the normalization of relations between Iran and the United States. The Green Party also calls on Israel to dismantle its nuclear weapons program and sign on to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

The above quotations are from 2020 Democratic and Republican Conventions.
Click here for other excerpts from 2020 Democratic and Republican Conventions.
Click here for other excerpts by Green Party.
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Page last updated: Sep 07, 2020