But a process of true transparency would have provided a version of the platform for consideration by all who participated, including those who posted language.
I am one of those who did participate, wrote language, showed up to my City Committee hearing in Worcester, submitted that language to the massdemsplatform.blogspot.com for inclusion, in effect, did everything possible to insure the platform reflected necessary values and priciples, commonly shared by the vast majority of us.
So the platform committee, the state committee have an obligation to provide transparency. But they are not. Go ahead, try to get copy of what will be voted on by the state committee this Saturday. Its secret. I’m not sure even the committee members have been provided advance copy. Should be a long document – a careful review would require advance copy. So it will likely be a vacuous vote, made under the duress of having something for the convention June 6th, votes on the presumption of transparency, but the fact of secrecy. Its being played by the insiders.
Now I’m not greedy – I just want a few words to be included, as guiding principal. I want this:
“Enter an international treaty on climate change prior to 2012, that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions a minimum of 80% by 2050, and reduce atmospheric carbon at a maximum of 350 ppm by the end of the century.”
Because we’re at a climate tipping point, because climate science is way beyond consensus, because we really need a “green new deal” now, because COP15 in Copenhagen this December must adopt a tough love approach and set stringent standards for the ongoing conduct of global commerce, so as to substantially reduce our collective carbon footprint, because time is running out. The term “a maximum of 350 ppm” is mandatory. I’m not willing to compromise planet earth, home to life, including that of the human species.
Do I want assurance that language was not conveniently dropped out of the platform? You betcha. Do I have a right, in advance of the state committee meeting, to see the platform governing the affairs of MY party? I do believe so. So, where is it? Being played by party insiders, like a paper football.
The platform is not officially adopted until the convention in June, at which time it is subject to possible amendments. The platform document that comes out of the platform committee is the one that will be presented at the convention. You, and everyone else, will have an opportunity to see the platform before it is adopted at the convention.
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p>Now, maybe the convention is an insider’s game as well, but I know that in my community anyone who wanted to be a delegate to the convention was able to become one.
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p>Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. The platform process this year has been more open than it has ever been.
SCO and David are correct about the process – the “voters” who will adopt the platform are the delegates at the convetion – not DSC members at the meeting this Saturday. Those DSC members will be presented with the recommendation of the Platform Committee and the delegates will receive it in the mail with their delegate guide.
The Platform Committee met last Thursday in Framingham and worked through their recommedations in a long – and late – meeting. Those recommedations are being prepared to be sent to all members of the Platform Committee, presented to the full state committee and made public with plenty of time for delegates to read and consider.
I appreciate your participation in the process. I look forward to the adoption of the platform in Springfield – but more importantly I look forward to Democrats all across Massachusetts using the document to organize around the goals in the platform that they are most passionate about.
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p>John Walsh, Chair
Massachusetts Democratic Party