I saw that you worked in an organization called Clean Money San Antonio. Can you tell me more about the organization and your accomplishments there? (there were three articles from 2001 in the San Antonio paper, but they wanted me to pay for them). Co coordinator. Goal to get financial reforms in elections systems. Contribution and spending limits. Now, the more money you have the more voice you have. Helps those without the money to be competitive with those who do have the means and connections. Level the playing field. SA does have contribution limit. No public funding of campaign. Federal does this. Open access to government to everyone.
You are involved in the Bexar County, Texas and National Green Party levels. You are the co-chair for the Texas Green Party and the Public Relations person for the Women’s Caucus of the Green Party. How do these roles help you in your bid for the presidency? Elected party official at all three levels. In order to get the nomination, you have to court the party membership. Every party works that way. Having served as an elected official, I’ve been in front of everyone and they know and have seen me. Have developed and opinion of me. If I hadn’t been active in the party they would not know me.
What is the most misunderstood thing about the Green Party in your opinion?
We are responsible for the Dems loosing the elections of 200) and 2004
Solely and environmental party.
What is the most misunderstood thing about Kat Swift?
Good question. My physical outward appearance doesn’t necessarily reflect my abilities and confidence level. Very eccentrics in outward appearance. Dread locks. Dress strangely. Funky clothes and hair. This is stuff that people can use against me. Stop discriminating based on the way people look. Labels are harsh for candidates.
If a political advisor asked to get rid of dreadlocks, would you get rid of them? Haven’t decided. Knows that appearance means things. Must be nominated first. Goal for hair. Hair is a spiritual journey. If that coincides with nomination, good. If not, I’ll decide whether to make that compromise
Do you agree with all 10 key values of the national Green Party? Do you accept the entire platform as your own? Any personal disagreements with the national party platform?
War issues that need to be worded better. The value about feminism/gender has controversy. Personal opinion for people that doe not understand what feminism means. Gender equity. Egalitarianism. Equal voice to women. No equal rights amendment. 33 years old and no ERA. Hair is part of this. Women and Men to be treated equally. All have equal voice. Oct 2006 – status of women in this world Report. Woman’s rights and sexual slavery. People have to stand up for those who are oppressed.
When did you know that you would be an activist kind of person? Can you give me an example of that experience or an experience that got you on this track?
1999 – 26 years old. Cross roads training point in my life. Friends in Canada had asked to do some research at some forums. Started to become non apathetic. I had an impact on my friends so I could go to the forums. I could ask others questions for them. I look back on that and saw a difference and then the laws were changed. Asked about legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Been struggling to make more changes every since.
I see the local Bexar Green Party hosts general information meetings and has guest speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds. The Green Party in Texas at least seems very "grass roots" in nature. Is that key to the Green cause?
Monthly meetings of the Party. Has a movie night sometimes. Local film makers. Controversial figures. Grass roots is a key value. Know must have organizational structure. State and national organization because we have to. Want local participation. When you try to practice grassroots you run into barriers.
What would you do during your first 100 days in office as President Kat Swift? How would your 3rd party status help or hurt you in your agenda for the country?
Big Party. Society will have changed and citizens are making choices about their government. It would be something to celebrate.
Evaluate all the facets under control of the president. Go to every departments and talk to the people and find out what they need and want to do their jobs better. I’ve been on the low end of the business world before, so I know if you want to reorganize, you have to talk to the workers. What is needed to do that. Bring in really good people to audit. Make it more transparent. Implement changes. Support good things and stop the bad things.
Stop the war in Iraq and stop perpetuating war. Peace keepers in middle east. Idea out there that the person that brings peace to the Middle East will be the Anti-Christ. Wonder if that is why people do fix the middle east.
Convict people of war crimes. Join the international criminal court. Bush and Chaney.
Pardon people on death row –
National moratorium on death penalty.
100 years from now, how would you like to be remembered?
Youngest woman who was elected president. First Woman and Youngest President. That I changed the world. Achieved true democracy. Further civilization. Stopped religious in fighting. The person that made that change.
TXU – corporate profiteers. Minor different when sold. Looked at as a win. Arrangement not yet in writing. Same thing happened in natural gas market and with nuclear energy. Texas is one the dirtiest states. Texas Tech has a method to burn trash for energy. Solar new technology. Enough wind, but need more transmission lines. Digging up the coal is just as bad as burning it. Fully support the moratorium on coal plants. Need and EPA with sharp teeth
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