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Opposition op-ed: Vote Green!

The 2020 United States presidential election seems to be a contest solely between former Vice President Biden and President Trump. While those two are clearly the most present in the media and spend the most on campaigning, they are not the only candidates Americans can vote for. As a matter of fact, Americans should not vote for either one of them. If you are a winter sports enthusiast or anyone else who wants to see their environment preserved, cast your ballot for the Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker. This ticket, endorsed by the Green Party, focuses on environmental and social issues, and would provide an administration that is harsher toward global warming than either Biden or Trump.


Global warming means higher temperatures across the planet, which means it is harder for snow to form and accumulate, making winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding all but impossible without the use of large snow-making machines. It has become clear that individual actions cannot stop global warming alone, so we need to elect the administration that will take grand gestures to counteract the nation’s carbon emissions. Between the candidates mentioned above, the one with the most impressive track record regarding climate policy is unquestionably Howie Hawkins.

Ten years ago, Howie Hawkins ran for governor of New York while campaigning for a “Green New Deal.” This idea, a set of legislations aiming to combat global warming, would eventually find its way to the senate floor in 2019 when Senator Markey and Representative Ocasio-Cortez presented a version of the Green New Deal to congress. Hawkins’ plan was well received by Democrats in 2019, seeking to undo the damage done by President Trump, but Hawkins had the plan ready long before.


But wouldn’t voting for a liberal other than Biden spoil the vote? Not necessarily. In solid blue states such as Massachusetts and California, where Democrats consistently win by a large margin, voting Green would allow many environmentally conscious voters a chance for their voice to be heard. As Green voter Matthew Andrews explains, “Every poll in Massachusetts is showing Joe Biden at least 30 points ahead of Donald Trump. Because of our winner-take-all system, Biden will get all 11 seats on the electoral college.” The main result of voting for a Green Party candidate will be to let the government know what your priorities are as a voter.


So to preserve the environment for snowboarders and skiers, for artists and enthusiasts, and for all the future generations who deserve to enjoy the outdoors the way their ancestors did, vote for the Green Party. Will Howie Hawkins become the 46th president? Almost certainly not. But, if it becomes clear that there are many people who want comprehensive climate legislation, who want a Green New Deal, then maybe whoever is inaugurated on January 20, 2021 will feel an obligation to pass the meaningful legislation curbing global warming that has been missing during the past four years.

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