Party Principles

The DC Statehood Green Party - Guiding Principles and Key Values 

The Party lives by several guiding principles. Among them are:

(1) Self-determination and Democracy;

(2) Economic Justice and Economic Democracy;

(3) Protection of all Human and Civil Rights;

(4) Protection of The Public Trust;

(5) Promotion of Participation in Government by All Citizens;

(6) Humane and Enlightened Treatment of Prisoners.

Self-determination and Democracy-- These form the only means by which the rights mentioned above, as well as the will of the People can be enforced.

Economic Justice and Economic Democracy-- We believe that the People have the inherent right, through a democratic process, to regulate and determine the economic relationships between individuals. Private profits must never take precedence over the interests of the people.

Human and Civil Rights-- The citizens of the District of Columbia have certain inalienable rights, at least on par with those shared by the citizens of the 50 states. We feel the citizens of the District have the right to: health care and public safety; good public schools, including vocational schools, a public university, a public law school, and adult education; affordable housing; ownership of their homes; freedom from domestic violence; and freedom from all forms of discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, sexuality, and age.

The Public Trust-- The People, through their government officials, have a responsibility to protect human and natural resources for the benefit of all, both for the present and future generations. This principle of a Public Trust necessitates care and great public input in the areas of: the care and use of the Environment; Zoning Regulations; use and planning of Infrastructure, including public water and roads; the Promotion of Healthy Families and Family Relationships; Care for those in Need of Special Attention from Society, including the parentless, the homeless, and the mentally infirm, among others.

Participation in Government-- To fulfill the promise of democracy, we need to bring government to the people. We propose doing this through decentralization. We would give every ANC district a seat on the City Council. That way everyone would truly have input, everyone could know their council member. No longer would the Council be owned by Big Money Interests. No longer would we see the same 15 faces running our government year after year.

Prisoners-- We must realize that we assume a tremendous burden when we decide to take away a person's freedom that we believe has done wrong to society. These prisoners, and their destiny are in our care due to this decision. As a humane society we have a responsibility to emphasize rehabilitation over incarceration. We need to aggressively treat mental illness and drug addiction both before and during imprisonment. As much as possible, we must try to prevent people from entering prison. Resources should be spent on preventative measures, not on more prisons. Finally, because prisoners are sometimes falsely accused and sentenced, and because of the historical racial unfairness on the issue, society should not take it upon itself to institute the death penalty.

Self-Determination and Statehood - Our party's central goal and the condition upon which all other achievements must be made. Total and permanent control over our own government is an essential right.

Social & Economic Justice -Statehood Greens oppose the present worldwide economic system with its poverty and injustice, and are working to end oppression based on class, sex, race, citizenship, national origin, age, ability, or sexual orientation.

Grassroots Democracy - Statehood Greens believe that the power concentrated in big business and big government must be returned to the people. We believe in direct participation by all people in the environmental, political, and economic decisions that affect their lives.

Non-Violence -Statehood Greens reject violence as a way of settling disputes--it's shortsighted, morally wrong, and ultimately self-defeating. We are working to crate a society where war is obsolete.

Ecological Wisdom - Statehood Greens recognize that the Earth sustains all life processes. Green ecology moves beyond environmentalism by understanding the common roots of the exploitation of nature and the exploitation of people.

Decentralization - Power and responsibility must be restored to local communities, within an overall framework of ecologically sound, socially just values and ways of living.

Community-Based Economics -Statehood Greens seek a new economics based upon the natural limits of the Earth, which meets the basic needs of everyone on the planet, and is under democratic, decentralized community control.

Feminism - The Statehood Green movement is profoundly inspired by feminism. The ethics of cooperation and understanding must replace the values of domination and control.

Respect for Diversity - We honor the biological diversity of the Earth, and the cultural, sexual, and spiritual diversity of Earth's people. We aim to reclaim this country's finest ideals: popular democracy, the dignity of the individual, and liberty and justice for all.

Personal and Global Responsibility - Statehood Greens are committed to global sustainability through both political solidarity and ways of living based on ecological principles that respect our bioregion.

Sustainable Development - Like the Iroquois Indians, Statehood Greens seek a society where the interests of the seventh generation are considered equal to the interests of the present. We must reclaim the future for ourselves and our children

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GREEN WORDS

"We do not have to accept or tolerate such glaring disparities in our society. We do not have to accept or tolerate bloated Pentagon spending, unfair tax cuts, attacks on our civil liberties, and on workers' rights to unionize. We don't have to accept or tolerate our children dropping out of high school, college education unreachable because tuition is so high, or our country steeped in debt."
- Cynthia McKinney, Green Party Presidential Candidate 2008