Green Party Fights Big-Bush Money

While Congressional District 18 Republican candidate Aaron Schock was holding a $500-a-person fundraiser with President Bush in Peoria 10 days ago, Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer was meeting people “for free” at the Illinois River.

“I’m campaigning the old fashioned way … for $20 worth of gas, as opposed to $20,000 for radio and television ads,” said Schafer. “If they’re inspired, they can go to my Web site or call my number. When you call the number, you get the candidate.”

Schafer is involved in a three-way contest with Schock and Democrat Colleen Callahan to succeed retiring GOP Congressman Ray LaHood of Peoria.

Schafer describes his style as “grassroots” campaigning.

According to the four pillars of green thought, which make up the main values of the green party, grassroots democracy is at the top of the list.

“People can be involved – not absent – from the political process,” said Schafer.
Schafer pulled out a map at the Logan County Fair Friday to demonstrate his efforts. The day before, he drove to Delavan, Mason City, Athens, Petersburg, Elkhart, Havana and Kilbourne.

The fair was just one of his stops on Friday.

“I can talk to a few hundred people, shake their hands and tell them what I stand for,” said Schafer.

The second pillar of green thought is providing non-violent solutions to global confrontations.

“My opponents have plan A and plan B,” said Schafer, “I have Plan C.”

He supports a complete, immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

“We will fight for a complete and immediate withdrawal from Iraq, while seeking assistance from the United Nations to help the Iraqi people restore order and genuine self-determination, with reparations from the United States to fund genuine reconstruction,” reads a post on Schafer’s Web site.

The third pillar of thought for the green party is social and economic justice. A good portion of Schafer’s platform is devoted to working families.

“I support paid family leave, paid sick days and paid vacation days for all workers in our country,” says Schafer. “I support measures that will encourage incentives and require public and private employers to enact flexible workplace practices for wage and hourly, professional and managerial employees, to accommodate working parents’ need to play a key role in the development of their children.”

He also supports replacing the federal minimum wage structure with a living wage structure, which would set the minimum wage in a locality that will allow a minimum wage worker to afford basic housing in the region with 30 percent of their income or less.

Schafer supports local businesses and believes the money from these businesses should be kept within the community.

According to his Web site, local-based business should be the mainstay of the country’s economic development. These businessmen have roots in the community, and the money earned stays in the community.

“Unfortunately, special interests have tilted the playing field legislatively so much that the impression has been created that local business can’t compete,” says Schafer.
He used local agriculture as an example.

“The policies are tilting the table towards large agribusiness and away from the family farms,” Schafer said. “I want to keep the business with our area farmers.”

The last pillar of thought for the green party, and not surprisingly, is supporting good environmental options. Schafer demonstrates this on his campaign pamphlet, which shows his picture, set to the background of wind turbines in Peoria.

He believes much of the local opposition to wind turbines comes from fear-based science and hinders good environmental progress.

He used an analogy involving the Rails to Trails project in Peoria.

“The Rock Island trail took 15 years to overcome the local opposition,” said Schafer. “There were all these fears that the trail would attract unsavory types.

“The momentum was based on lack of knowledge, and fear starts dominating.”

Schafer also said Congress needs a scientist. He received a degree in astronomy from Ohio State University and has been working in the field throughout his life.

“You see a lot of bad science out there,” said Schafer. “Decisions on wind and energy should be based on good science.

“I spent some time in Europe, and wind is everywhere. I don’t think people are suffering. I invested my retirement money in wind, so I’m putting my money where my mouth is.”