The Four Pillars of the Green Party

The Four Pillars are the basis of the Green Party. These core values are inseparable from each other, and in fact, sometimes overlap. Every chapter of the Greens - indeed, every Green - will have a slightly different interpretation of these values, so no written version should ever be taken as a final or definitive statement of the Greens. However, we spell these out clearly here because Greens exist to promote these values, not to gain fame or fortune. In the simplest terms, Greens envision a world filled with happy, healthy, dignified people, living in sustaining and sustainable communities, on a thriving planet. The Four Pillars are intimately tied to the Ten Key Values.

Ecological Wisdom
More than stop-gap solutions like recycling, this means living in harmony with our surroundings. Humanity is not separate from nature, nor do individuals live in isolation from each other. Our actions and lifestyles inevitably have an impact on our human and natural environment. We seek to minimize our negative impact and maximize our positive impact on both. We must live as Thoreau did: deliberately.

Social Justice
The promises of our Constitution and society are meant for all people, regardless of our superficial differences (including economic disparity). Everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy, meaningful life. Greens help individuals reach for that life. Further, we oppose efforts by business or government to infringe on the human rights of citizens of other nations, whether they are in the United States or at home.

Grassroots Democracy
The legitimacy of government is derived from the voluntary consent of the governed. The closer the decision-makers are to those who be affected by the decision, the more effective, efficient, and accountable government is. This value is based on Greens' unshakable conviction that people everywhere have the right to, and capacity for, self-determination.

Nonviolence
Violence is morally wrong and logistically ineffective, because it treats the symptoms of problems, not the root causes. Greens acknowledge the need to take desperate measures in self-defense in life-or-death situations, but non-violence to us means actively working to build a world where this is unnecessary. We also categorically reject the death penalty.