I am seeking the Green Party's nomination for U.S. Representative from Denver (District 1). The Green Party's state nominating convention will be held in early June at a time and location that has not been set yet. If there is a primary election, it will be held on the second Tuesday in August.
War is not Peace.
Freedom is not Slavery.
Ignorance is not Strength.
Gary Swing
for
U.S. Representative
District 1, Colorado
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
-- George Orwell
“We assert that no nation can long endure half republic and half empire, and we warn the American people that imperialism abroad will lead quickly and inevitably to despotism at home.”
-- Democratic National Platform, 1900
“It is natural for [people] to indulge in the illusion of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth... For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it."
-- Patrick Henry
My Reasons and Objectives for Seeking the Green Party’s Nomination for Congress
I view my objectives for a Congressional campaign in 2010 to be educational and an exercise in “speaking truth to power,” expressing resistance to a criminal government, exposing its crimes, being a witness for the reality of the present world situation, and offering potential solutions, while acknowledging that not all problems have solutions.
I feel that American society today is deeply delusional, that the world is on the brink of ecological, economic, and social catastrophes of unprecedented proportions, and that the path we are on will lead to mass destruction.
I reject the political strategy of “progressive populism” focusing on non-controversial ideas and promoting incremental changes. The message I want to represent is one of radical, principled opposition to American militarism and imperialism, with a focus on creating a sustainable society. I believe the human race has passed the limits to growth. The convergence of overpopulation, overconsumption, ecological destruction, and depletion of resources spell out an end to modern industrial society as we know it. We face either total collapse or a radical restructuring of our way of life.
I see American politics today as a web of lies. American militarism supports global fascism, but Americans are indoctrinated to believe that this country is the leader of the free world. We have an economy based on infinite growth in a world of dwindling resources. The atrocities of the American government over the past eight-plus years are sold to the public on the basis of the big lie of 9/11, with an imaginary “war on terror” in response to a self-inflicted wound.
I have a deep feeling of hopelessness for the future of our world. The most that I hope to accomplish is to speak the truth as I see it and to take a stand to be on the right side of history. I have no illusions about “winning,” being elected, saving the world, or being popular.
I believe it would take a great commitment from a very great number of people in order to create any kind of meaningful change in time to avert unprecedented catastrophe.
I prefer writing to speaking. I have never been comfortable with public speaking and have done it only because I feel it is important to speak out. Over the past thirty years, I have written hundreds of letters to the editor and editorials. In the past, my letters were widely published, but most of the commentary I have written since 9/11 has been rejected by corporate media sources.
My thought is to participate in demonstrations, write editorials, respond to candidate surveys, and participate in candidate forums that I am invited to.
I live on a low income. I don’t plan to spend a great deal of money out of pocket on a campaign and I would not seek to raise or spend more than $5,000.
Under the existing political system, and in the current social environment, I don’t believe that it is possible for any candidate who is worth voting for to get elected to a high level public office.
Vote returns for past Green candidates for Congress in Colorado running against both a Democrat and a Republican have varied from one to five percent. If you want to win elections, Congressional races are not viable for minor party candidates.
I am interested in being a candidate for Congress to express opposition to U.S. militarism. This is the appropriate office for this message.
I also feel that the overpopulation/over-consumption issue is critical. It’s the “elephant in the living room” issue. Everybody knows it is there, but nobody will talk about it.
I am seeking the Green Party’s nomination for a district that includes Denver and part of Arapahoe County, but I would need support from Greens throughout the state to receive the party’s nomination.
A strong Green Party is desperately needed. I support the message of nonviolence, ecological wisdom, decentralization, and social justice at the core of real Green politics.
I have read the national Green platforms, various state platforms, books by Green political leaders, writers like Petra Kelly, Ernest Callenbach, Herman Daly, and Richard Heinberg, and many Green candidate websites. I feel that these writers have great wisdom to offer, and there is much in the Green platforms that needs to be implemented for the survival of life on Earth.
Gary Swing, January 21, 2010 statement announcing my intent to seek the Colorado Green Party's nomination for Congress.
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