Just look at why these people were jailed. They were jailed because they were standing up for what they believe in! Whatever your politics, this should be something that should be respected, not reviled! Think of the great leaders of the past who have gone to jail for what they believed in – as a matter of protest. Let’s see… Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandella, Howard Zinn (yes, I included a historian!), Rosa Parks, and so many more! These are just the ones I came up with in my own rummaging through my own brain in 2 minutes. One of the reasons these people were able to affect so much change was that they were willing to be arrested to bring focus to issues, even if it was only through the courts. Isn’t this courage, something to be lauded as the best of people and society, and exactly what we want from our leaders?

I’m sorry. If you really think that Rosa Parks’s arrest made her ineligible for future public office, then you are part of the problem, not the solution. Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala earned my vote by this act of protest. They pulled a strong Obama supporter away because I am tired of rhetoric and ready for action.

My personal opinion/preference is that the Green Party focus on already solid “liberal” districts like #1 where progressive voters shouldn’t be afraid to vote for whom they really want (rather than the lesser of two evils) for fear of delivering the election to some right-wing Republican goobah.

Far more worthwhile, IMO, than perennially focusing on a presidential candidate who will never win a single electoral vote. I’d be happy — for now, anyway — just to see ONE Green in the House of Representatives who can raise a stink and speak truth to power. That would be an invaluable foot-in-the-door.

So, now, if only we could better publicize such candidates in such districts (sigh, I had to visit this website in order to learn that Gary Swing even exists!).

I don’t agree with all of Mr. Swing’s platform (e.g., replace our progressive income tax with a regressive sales tax?? Really?!), however I will send Gary’s campaign my modest little donation this year in hopes it can be used to raise his profile a corresponding incremental amount.

The Green Party of the Pikes Peak Region meets regularly. There is a strong Green ticket for your area this year! I think the next meeting is tonight.

Find out more at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Party-of-the-Pikes-Peak-Region/250990824931096