Why Elders need an Elders Caucus, and Why Greens need one, too
(NOTE: The Green Party Elders Caucus was denied accreditation by the GPUS National Committee on August 21, 2022. The Green Party Elders remain firm in the rationale for an Elders Caucus, but have accepted this outcome and will continue organizing and furthering its mission.)
The world is changing faster than ever, and the full participation of the elders in society is needed more than ever. But elders have traditionally been sidelined, and are treated as surplus now and earlier in life than ever before. If you are not elderly now, just wait: elders’ problems will soon be your own.
Despite the fact that many of the richest and most powerful people in our society are elderly patriarchs the poorest and most vulnerable, most ignored, and least-resourced people on earth are elderly.
I. There are numerous vulnerabilities, inequities, and abuses that elders are subject to in our society:
- Age discrimination in employment
- Ignoring the needs and voices of the elderly in healthcare
- Inability to find and afford appropriate housing with access to services
- Elder abuse in a variety of forms
- The impact of the COVID pandemic on elders has struck with more force than other groups
II. Accredited Green Party caucuses are defined as “a grouping of Greens, not explicitly ideological in nature, that has historically failed to attain adequate access to power in society at-large and/or within the Green movement.”
Both are true of elders.
The GPUS platform does not call out for rights for the Elderly. The platform barely addresses elder problems, issues, or solutions at all. Platform Section II: Social Justice mentions the elderly in passing under protecting Social Security and Ending Poverty (sections C and D).
The elder voice in our party is weak. While there are elders on the GPUS National Committee who are doing party work, elders are in need of the strength of an organized and focused voice to go beyond every day party work and bring attention and solutions to elders’ needs.
Those younger often feel that the experience of the elders has already been incorporated into practice; sometimes this is true, but with new problems presenting themselves to society and to our party, this is often not true.
Elders, as a group, have the need for a voice, and for representation, where we have traditionally lacked advocacy.
III. The Elders Caucus seeks to remedy this neglect, silencing, cruelty, and waste of lives, by speaking up for elders where others are not doing so and bringing the experience and wisdom of elders to bear on the urgency of today. This experience is too often brushed aside.
IV.The elderly are growing as a demographic segment of society, and elders’ issues start even earlier for some, as workers become excess baggage and families fragmented and impoverished. Elders’ lives are often precarious, and society is not organized to help.
The Elders Caucus is focused on meeting this urgent, growing need and growing opportunity for organizing and problem-solving.
The party needs the benefits of an organized Elders caucus.
The following quotes represent personal accounts from Green Party Elders:
“Issues specific to older people include employment discrimination, income, health (costs and services). In terms of inclusion, one person aptly put it ‘we’re invisible’ – I was actually told not to mention my age when applying for jobs.”
“Clearly, older citizens get the shaft all the time. It’s irrelevant that those who rule are old. They are the super-rich and most of the old are a long way from that.”
“As an elder person, I have a big problem with special needs transportation in our area, the enhancement of Medicare coverage, and protection of the Social Security we earned (entitlement) and now depend on.”
“Our humanity and environment are at risk. Ending the endless wars and avoiding nuclear catastrophe are what we as elders must prioritize.”
“There is no doubt seniors are disenfranchised when it comes to jobs, and the ever-increasing republican mantra of ending social security and medicare, ensures seniors need to work, work, work until the end.”
The Elders Caucus will work to provide educational materials on issues of special interest to all Green Party members and Green Party candidates regarding issues affecting seniors. The Elders Caucus will draft Green Party position statements, press releases, and platform amendments on these issues, provide linkages to organizations that share Green party values that advocate for seniors, and promote actions on issues affecting seniors.
Green Party Elders 