We should support reforms that give communities more control over their own local economies.
We should support decentralization, and call for a community-based economics whose aim is local prosperity and self-sufficiency.
We support local production, local manufacturing, local sales, local recycling wherever and whenever possible. We encourage face-to-face relationships with local business owners and shopkeepers.
Successful local Green communities nurture everyone of all ages, generate good jobs and housing, and provide public services; creating cities and towns that educate everyone, encourage recreation, and preserve natural and cultural resources; building local governments that protect people from environmental hazards and crime; and motivating citizens to participate in making decisions.
SOLUTIONS
- Protect local businesses from the predatory pricing practices of chain and “big box” stores.
- Support incentives for co-operative enterprises, such as consumer co-ops, workers’ co-operatives, credit unions and other institutions that help communities develop economic projects.
- Allow municipalities to approve or disapprove large economic projects case-by-case based on environmental impacts, local ownership, community reinvestment, wage levels, and working conditions.
- Allow communities to set environmental, consumer, human rights, labor, health and safety standards higher than federal or state minimums.
- Invest in the commons: rebuild infrastructure; improve mass transit; protect and restore the environment.
- Support local living wage laws.
- Establish local currencies such as Time Dollars, Ithaca Hours and BerkShares, to strengthen local economies.
- Enact place of origin labeling.
- Enact corporate “good character” laws, requiring corporations, when applying for a permit, to disclose all violations of law they have committed. Empower officials to deny permits based on such information.
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Green Party Platform on the Issues
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