German Green Party moving further to the right.

Written By: BC Mary
Date: 2006-12-09 12:43:00
<a href="/article/84305182-german-green-party-moving-further-to-the-right">Article Link</a>

The Greens reflect the interests of wealthier middle-class layers who are largely wrapped up in their own personal careers and regard the impoverishment of broad layers of the population only from the standpoint of constituting a potential threat to their own lifestyles. Egoistic, vain and always with an eye to their own careers, they are prepared to debate everything other than the consequences of their own policies. All that remains of their former radicalism is a “radical realism”—i.e., a readiness to adapt to the existing order at whatever cost.

From this standpoint, the Greens are moving even further to the right. This was most clear in the congress debate over the deployment of the German army in Afghanistan.

Less than a decade ago, the Greens categorically rejected the dispatch of the German army for missions abroad. However, when the party took up government responsibility, it supported a series of deployments to the Balkans, Africa and Afghanistan, and assisted in the transformation of the German military from a territorial defence army to an international strike force. Now, the party vigorously opposes anyone who even hints of any sort of military withdrawal from Afghanistan, although the situation in the country has deteriorated significantly.

When one delegate, German parliamentary deputy Christian Stroebele, declared at the congress that “the dirty war led by the Americans in Afghanistan is a job-making machine for terrorists,” he was howled down by the majority in attendance. Stroebele was not even demanding the unconditional withdrawal of German troops, which cooperate closely with the Americans within the context of the ISAF mandate and operation “Enduring Freedom.” The so-called left wing in the party is no longer prepared to go so far. Instead, Strobele merely demanded a window of opportunity to develop an “exit strategy.” But even this was enough to unleash a storm of indignation.

Party Chair Claudia Roth intervened in the debate to declare that it “was about Afghanistan in the here-and-now, and not about principles.” The international colonial force ISAF is still needed for reconstruction, she claimed, and asserted that a signal of withdrawal has nothing in common with the Green Party’s policy of peace.

The leader of the Green parliamentary group, Fritz Kuhn, supported Roth and declared that a vote for a German exit strategy would be interpreted by the Afghans as follows: “They are leaving us alone, and the Taliban can return.”

The former environment secretary, Jürgen Trittin, accused Stroebele of renouncing Green foreign policy. In its role precisely as a party of “peace” the Greens stand for the “link between civil structures and military security,” Trittin said.

<a href="http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/dec2006/germ-de9.shtml">http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/dec2006/germ-de9.shtml</a>

[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on December 11, 2006]

As I keep on repeating, all political organizations and ideologies will sooner, or later, be taken over by special interest ruling classes, which now happens to be the neocon, scripturally supported by brainwashed neoclassical economists, the religion of the Money God.

Ed Deak.

I have often wondered where in fact the Green Party stood on those issues other then enviromental health. A government has also to be an accountant, lawyer and businessmen. These responsibilities outweigh any other agenda and must be done diligently. Back-stabbing,lieing and cheating are just the accepted attributes but not the contributing attributes. It's time politicians learn that self-serving makes them leaders only in their own realm.

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Expect little from life and get more from it.

I don't know which way the Canadian Green Party is heading now, but in the past few years it has been taken over by some unhappy, former PC elements and their program in the last election was very much "market economy"

Hope it will change with the new leadership ???????????

One of these days the world will have to decide, whether to "market" or "survive" ?

Ed Deak.

In other news, the New Zealand Green party is not moving further to the right. Does anyone here think the German Green Party is deciding worldwide Green Party policy??

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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

. . .Besides Mary, of course.

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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

Does anyone here think the German Green Party is deciding worldwide Green Party policy??<<

It would be interesting to see if the moniker has any common measures or if the name is the only thing in common. The parties were from the same ideals when they all started. (the four pillars)
In March 1972 the world's very first Green party (the United Tasmania Group) was formed at a public meeting in Hobart; in May 1972 a meeting at Victoria University, Wellington, launched the Values Party, the world's first national Green party. So it would seem the Green Party shares the same threshold throughout the world. Whether the German party is a rogue and dosen't follow the "four Pilllars or if the "green party" (without caps) is the deviant. There is no single Green Ethic.

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Expect little from life and get more from it.

Oh for Chrissakes, Caleb: one example does not a devotee make.

Oh for Chrissakes, Caleb: one example does not a devotee make. <<

Who?

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Expect little from life and get more from it.

“Hey”
“Mary” “no” “sense” “ of “ “hummer “ “eh?”

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Diogenes said:
"I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels."

"Oh for Chrissakes, Caleb: one example does not a devotee make."

My point exactally Mary. If the German Greens are moving more to the right, that example does not mean any other Green Party is.

So your comment "The Green Party's record in Germany is worth considering before Canadians decide to cast a so-called "Green" vote in our next election." is moot. Anyone who uses the German Greens as a measure for the Canadian Greens or the Kiwi Greens simply doesn't want to vote Green.

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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

So your comment "The Green Party's record in Germany is worth considering before Canadians decide to cast a so-called "Green" vote in our next election." is moot. "

Not moot if you just don't know and can't find out about economic positions and the like. Germany is just used as an example of how far afield some green parties can go and may go and still claim to be green. You should worry if you can't get answers.

"You should worry if you can't get answers." 
 
I'm not worried. I have Google. 
 
<a href="http://www.greenparty.ca/fiscally_sustainable.html">http://www.greenparty.ca/fiscally_sustainable.html</a> 
 
I would be more worried if I didn't bother to look for answers. 
--- "I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

Just for fun and I know you'll have better , I have Dogpile , all the web and a couple more

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Diogenes said:
"I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels."

I suppose with Harris out and May in, the Green Party here can be said to be moving at least back to the middle from it's centre right.........

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"No kingdom could be ruled without lies - - for lies are the things we use to build our reputations."........
King Arthur