Reflections of a grumpy Green

Sam Smith – Although I was among those who got the national Green Party going in the 1990s, enthusiastic as I was about its goals, I was never fully pleased with some of its strategies. Even back then, fellow founder Lunda Martin called me a curmudgeon. I felt at times as though I had joined …

Finding greener pastures and greener voters

From a talk to the Green Party of Montgomery County, MD, May 14, 2005 Sam Smith - Ten years ago next month a small group of us staged a conference of third party activists that led to several other meetings culminating in this country's first Green presidential campaign in 1996 and, in suitably confused order, …

A word from the Green Party’s Big Mac Caucus

Sam Smith I’m taking it in the chops from some Green Party members for not supporting Jill Stein for president. It’s nothing new for me. I’ve tried to discourage Green Party runs for president for a long time, feeling that, in most cases, building from the bottom up is the most useful thing a third …

Rafting down America’s real mainstream

Sam Smith, 2015 - I helped to start the national Green Party some years back because I was looking for a political organization in the American mainstream with which I could feel comfortable. I wanted to get out of the Democratic Party because I thought I might become liable under the racketeering statutes. I didn't …

Why it’s easy being Green

Sam Smith - After reading a dismissive description of the Maine Independent Green Party written by a conventional journalist, I found myself feeling freshly attached to my current political home – the first state Green Party in America. It’s a little like being attacked by Donald Trump; you figure you must be doing something right. …

History’s hints for third parties

Originally published in the Green Horizon Quarterly Sam Smith, 2012 - Added to all the other obstacles faced by third party activists is a paucity of analytical and historical guidebooks for their struggles. The media tends to be dismissive of third parties and lacking in understanding of their contributions to American politics. While some academics …

Growing Green: the birth of a movement

Sam Smith - I first became aware of the potential of third parties reading about the Dutch Provos in the 1960s. Teun Voeten would write much later in High Times: The Provos set the stage for the creation of the Merry Pranksters, Diggers, and Yippies. They were the first to combine non-violence and absurd humor …

It’s not easy being Green, but. . .

Sam Smith 2010 It's not easy being Green but it sure is easier than being a Democrat these days. I was reminded of this as I scanned some proposed changes and additions to the Green platform. Over and over I found myself reading stuff that not only fit my views but those of many Democrats. …

Greening America

SAM SMITH, MULTITUDES - In 1995, as an active member of the Green Politics Network, I joined a number of other Greens in hosting a conference of third party activists. Over a hundred showed up, ranging from one of the founders of the ancient American Labor Party to Greens, Libertarians, Perot backers, and Democratic Socialists …

Liberals and Greens

Sam Smith 2006 ALTHOUGH LIBERALISM HAS been on the skids for more than two decades, it has become the new fashion in that desiccated sect to blame Greens for the problem. Liberals don't worry about the dropping memberships and dramatic aging of groups like Common Cause and Americans for Democratic Action or the irrelevance of …