Ecological Democratic Party (ödp)
| Basic Program of the Ecological Democratic Party (ödp) |
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3. Issues and solutions Economy must recognize ecological foundations |
| The present economic concept, which is solely oriented towards material consumption, will fail. It is contemptuous of essential scientific-ecological, but also central economic principles. In particular, it simply ignores the fact that the planet’s resources are limited. Economics which do not pay attention to ecological foundations, is neither sustainable nor rational. That is why we, like many specialized scientists, commit ourselves to the basic principle of sustainability as the foundation of every human activity: Only what can be realized and justified for a long time and world-wide may be planned and translated into action today. In order to move from the short-term wasteful economy practiced at present to a sustainable, ecologi-cally responsible economy, harmful action (e. g. burning of fossil fuels, chlorine chemicals) must be made more expensive, and desirable action (regenerative energies, renewable natural resources, intelli-gent, effective procedures) be made cheaper by a far-reaching tax reform. Most importantly, the con-sumption of energy and natural resources and the emission of pollutants which goes with it has to be burdened with taxes. In compensation for this, the economy gets relief by the gradual reduction of taxes on human labour (incidental labour costs) which is customary today. Private households are relieved due to considerably lower value-added tax which is socially and ecologically blind. While the legal situation does not approve this, the consumers are repaid a per capita apportionment (“eco-bonus”) in compensation for the ecological taxes paid by them. This rewards all those who consume little energy, and burdens those who act unecologically. Our goal is a market economy which deals rationally with non-renewable materials, uses and develops renewable sources, organizes itself de-centrally, expresses politico-economic damage in prices on en-ergy and natural resources, and which is forced to accept social and ecological responsibility by gov-ernmental limitations. The conventional goal “to increase gross domestic product” has to be re-placed by the goal “stabilization of the life cycles”. In order to achieve this goal, ecological open-mindedness and the willingness for continuous dynamic development in research, technology, and organization are required. |
| Preserving the diversity of species and natural habitats |
| We call for a halt in economic activity if the superior goals of the preservation of species and means of survival require this. The last natural landscapes, the remaining diversity of flora and fauna, the streams of ground water, the fertility of the soil, and many other natural resources are of such high value that we can and must take them into consideration. The still remaining natural areas are to be protected against disturbing encroachments, isolated nature reserves must be networked. The con-sumption of space has to be stopped.
In educational establishments awareness for and knowledge about the network of life have to be pro-moted. The German European and foreign policy has to commit to energetic support of these goals of the protection of species and the means of survival, and to the safeguard of preservation of the still re-maining natural stock at international conferences and in the EU and UN committees. |
| The main principle of modern society: “Total competition”, “rebirth of the collective”, or “I and we”? |
| >During the last decades, an opinion - coming from a radically liberal school of economics - asserted itself almost dogmatically which allows the self-interest of individuals as the only valid basic presump-tion. This, together with a misunderstood kind of Darwinism short-circuited onto human society, resulted in a dangerous unculture of selfishness and omnipresent rivalry - the elbowing-out society is imminent. In contrast to this, there is the danger that ideologies of community which are hostile to freedom (espeicially race-based nationalism) is gaining in influence again: These false doctrines have, in the history of the 20th century, been the cause of terrible crimes, contempt of human rights and dignity, genocide, and war. The ödp regards the extremely liberal approach to an exaggerated individualism as wrong and danger-ous. Even more perilous, however, is collectivism of any colour. The ödp stands in the tradition of a view of the human being which recognizes a polarity of “I” and “we” and wants to form the social or-der according to a “field of tension between individualism and social- mindedness“ which can be expe-rienced in many areas. All rules, offers, institutions, and programs are to respect the rights of the indi-vidual and make the exercise of them feasible. At the same time, however, the social order has to invite solidarity, to orient itself towards public welfare, and to stimulate responsibility for oneself. State and society have to be organized according to the principle of subsidiarity as a support for coping with the risks of life. They are also to respect and create rights as well a commit burden in a certain way. Thus, as a compensation, overburdened and discriminated members of society can be relieved and pro-moted. The cultivation of this idea must advance on all levels: in practical legislation, in the open discussion in society, in journalism, art, education and science, in the composition of curricula, in town planning, in the forming of models of participation, and in many other activities. Public spirit must be experienced, learned, stimulated, and accepted as a central basic attitude of people thinking and acting in a self-confident and responsible way. This is the basic requirement for, and not the opposite of, a free way of living. |
| The principle of the welfare state remains valid |
| The welfare state stipulation of article no. 20 of our Constitutional Law may not be undermined. The point is to continually renew this important foundation of modern policy, and to adjust it to the needs of the time. For ex- ample, we will very soon have to succeed in reducing the one-sided burdening on the factor of work with social contributions, and also to draw more strongly upon the other factors. In particular, the con-sumption of resources can and must , in future, bear a part of the financial burdens of an efficient so-cial system by means of taxes. The main issue of a modern social policy will be to put through an em-ployment policy of a new kind: Work which is ignored today (e.g. education, care of family) has to be appreciated, new kinds of work (development and application of ecologically beneficial technologies, revolution in efficiency) have to be initiated, and in general, work has to be redistributed in manifold ways. This is the only way to avoid today’s cost explosion resulting from a high level of benefits (as a result of unemployment) with a massive decrease of contributors at the same time. |
| Justice for those who raise children and nurse people - protection of the unborn |
| For us, the family as a source of security during the first years of life is still the proven way of life. These are the years in which people gain the experience which essentially forms their later behaviour as adults. Therefore the ödp criticizes the system of injustice towards families and single parents which has been predominant for decades and which gaining strength. We are not interested in population policy: the free choice whether to have children, and how many, is one of the crucial rights of privacy of adult people. However, as long as the social system is constructed as the so-called “Generationenvertrag” (generation contract), the financial burden of children’s upbringing has to be justly divided between the parents and society. This is not the case today: Those who devote themselves totally or partially to bringing up children in the family often have to accept a decrease in income, higher costs, and, finally, even a reduced pension. Present family policy does not even come close to ensuring a more just distribution of burdens among men and women, between people who bring up children and the childless. On the contrary, even the subsistence level of families has been taxed. That’s why we clearly commit ourselves to the goal that society, within the scope of a just distribution of burdens for families, contributes to the costs of bringing up children to a much greater extent than at present, that the time taken to bring up a child is taken into account appropriately, and that bring-ing up children and nursing relatives (“family work”) has to be socially appreciated as a productive activity which is liable to taxation and social insurance as well as being remunerated to a greater extent than with the present children’s allowance. In addition, where it is desired, the compatibility of family and gainful employment has to be ensured by creating better conditions for part-time employment for men and women and by providing good child care in pre-school and school institutions. Models for financing a just family policy are at hand: By means of remuneration for bringing up children, a kind of salary, other payments such as the ridiculous public assistance for single parents could be replaced. Furthermore, unemployment insurance would be considerably relieved. A just family policy is also a basic requirement for the ethical protection of the unborn. It enables families, and especially mothers, to adopt and to bring up a child without fear of serious disadvan-tages. |
| Redefining work, freeing it from burdens, and dividing it fairly |
| The term “work” needs to be extended beyond the concept of gainful employment as it is understood today. Socially necessary and valuable activities which have been practically ignored in the past, e.g. family work must also be financially acknowledged.
The continual humanization of work as a very important goal may not be given up. Work which is harmful to mankind and nature must be replaced by socially and ecologically compatible work. This can be achieved by a tax reform, which is basic, ecological, and modelled neutral to total tax yield and social contributions. A model which has been examined and approved by many experts and institutions for the solution of this important problem, was submitted a long time ago; the political determination to implement it is missing. The ödp supports any efforts to promote partnership in economy; the ethical element of market eco-nomics has to be updated and strengthened by participation of employees in profits, models of inves-tive wages and the participation of all members of a company in entrepreneurial responsibility (espe-cially concerning the security of jobs). We support the market economy - but it must be ecologically and socially compatible! The currently existing one-sided burdening of work with taxes and social contributions should be drastically reduced for human work to become affordable again. In particular, the absurd dispropor-tion concerning the taxation of the factors work, consumption of resources, burdening of nature, and revenue on capital has to be effectively corrected: today, a large part of total taxes and social contribu-tions is received as a burden on the work done by human beings. The other factors are only burdened with a fraction of this quota. After an extreme increase of productivity, with a satiation of needs at the same time, the terms “full employment” and “right to work” have to be redefined. Instead of overloading a part of the people within working processes, the existing tasks of human work have to be appropriately and justly dis-tributed among all people. An appropriate distribution of tasks among all people can mean a reduc-tion of income for some people. However, the gain in privacy also means more quality of life. |
| Agriculture - natural and subsistent |
| Agriculture, originally the quintessence of an ecological circuit economy for the benefit of mankind, has become ever more industrialized and driven to mass production. The results of this development are disastrous: Soils are lixivated and contaminated, the situation in mass animal production are inde-fensible, more and more agricultural enterprises are forced to give up. The ödp supports agriculture which is compatible with nature, with proper care of animals and natural forestry. The ecological-social market economy makes intensified agriculture uneconomical and sup-ports the regionalization of the food-supply including direct marketing. Farmers get additional sales potential via new tasks, e. g. in the field of ecologically sensible production of raw materials and regen-erative energy sources. The chaos of the agrarian subsidies has to be replaced by a simple system of performance payments. The ödp proposes a contract for secure living on a basis of reciprocity, which, on the one hand, pro-vides ecological cultivation, and, on the other hand, ensures a secure income and real prospects for agriculture. Only in this way a stop can be put to the decline of farming businesses. At the same time, the rural, social, and cultural structures will be preserved. |
| Protecting animals |
| Animals are our fellow creatures. Thus it may not be tolerated that they are tortured, abused, and de-stroyed million-fold every day, neither in the name of science nor because of greed for profit or ignorance. The animal, unmistakably closely connected with man in its emotional life and its capacity for suffer-ing, has a right to a proper life without torture. Thus the protection of animals has to be included as a state objective in the Constitutional Law. The species-damaging battery animal industry has to be abolished in the same way as harrowing ani-mal transports. At the same time, any import of products manufactured to the detriment of animals way has to be prevented. Any physically or psychically torturing experiments on and with animals are to be prohibited. The commitment against torture and abuse of animals is a part of the ecological movement in its fight against the progressing spoiling and destruction of nature. |
| Renewing democracy |
| The ödp unconditionally supports the free and democratic order, as the Constitutional Law of the Federal Republic of Germany and the constitutions of the Federal States prescribe it. This order has given to the Germans a measure of freedom, unequivocal administration of the law, and possibilities of development which cannot be held in high enough esteem. Nevertheless, an actualization of the catalogue of State objectives should be done within the scope of a careful constitutional reform. In order to embody the protection of the natural foundations of life in the Constitutional Law as the most important and superior goal, it has to be added to the basic rights as an obligation on any public authority, and to gain the status of immediately applicable law. Similar policy applies to the protection of animals. However, democracy needs constant commitment of women and men of all generations and levels of society, continual renewal, and the effective correction of undesirable developments. In order to counteract the recognizable aversion of many people to the formation of political will and active par-ticipation, but also in order to strengthen the efficiency and the credibility of the democratic institu-tions, the ödp intends to initiate some re-forms. The influence of powerful lobbies must be limited The highest possible independence has to be secured for the democratic decision committees, so that the state can become the advocate of public welfare again. Thus we support a strict separation between political mandate and representation of economic interests as well as for a prohibition of donations to parties by companies and large organizations. Today, political decision-makers are often indebted to powerful groups and their short-term interests, by consultant agreements, directorships, and gifts. Credibility, objectivity and the continued survival of democratic institutions are suffering as a result. This dangerously strong influence of lobbyism as well as an emerging infiltration of corruption into the political system of the Federal Republic is to be consistently fought against, if necessary with the aid of new statutes. The courage to be honest The holders of political responsibility have to meet the existing willingness of the citizens to share bur-dens for the protection of the future, justly distributed in a solid way: they may no longer displace the gravest problems, hide the truth, and palliate hard facts. Nothing contributes more to people’s rejec-tion of politics than the experience of not having been taken seriously. Understanding and peaceful communication In politics special emphasis has to be put on a language which is understandable, and which respects the dignity of all persons involved. Many people are of the opinion that the issues of policy are too complicated and untransparent for them. In addition, they are afraid that the political debate often leads to insult and to damage of personal dignity. Implementing democratic civic rights Policy and administration have to be organized so clearly and close to the people that the citizens are able to participate in plans and decisions. Referenda and plebiscites should be possible on municipal, state, and federal level. In order to make it possible for the environmental associations to put through their requests we sup-port a general right of associations to bring suit. Strengthening the parliament, preserving the separation of powers The creeping loss in importance that the elected parliament has been experiencing for a long time compared with the government, can only be changed by an understanding of roles of the majority parliamentary group: they are also committed to the control of the executive power, and have, as rep-resentative of the people, to look after and to act for the rights and the interests of the citizenry. If the representatives of the majority parties unreservedly side with the government, the separation of pow-ers, as one of the basic pillars of democracy, will suffer. Preventing the accumulation of posts Since political opportunities for participation and responsibility ought to be divided among as many persons as possible, we support a clear reduction of the accumulation of mandates and posts. |
| Ensuring inner security |
| The democratic state has to be in the position to ward off dangers arising from the expansion of or-ganized crime. Increasing criminality is a challenge to society and state, because the citizen’s right to security is not fulfilled. In this situation, in addition to an effective police and judicial system, moral courage is also required, which has to supersede the mentality of turning a blind eye. The direct fight against crime should not remain the only measure, as frequently only symptoms treated, and the causes lie in our society and its political and economic organization. Thus, the ödp supports extensive measures for the prevention of crime. These range from the improvement of social condi-tions to upbringing and education to mutual respect, right up to the renunciation of the presentation of violence in the media. |
| Peaceful partnership in Europe and one world |
| The ödp supports the formation of a political union of the European states on the basis of a demo-cratic constitution which, according to the principle of subsidiarity, ensures the necessary rights for the regions and the states with a directly responsible regulation of their concerns. Conversely, the union, with the help of demo- cratically legitimated organs, has to be able and entitled to deal with all those concerns which require supra-national regulation. The ödp supports an active and creative role of the Federal Republic of Germany within the scope of the UN and of many other supra-national organizations. Equal-ranking goals of foreign policy and of partnership in international cooperation are:
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| Global Perspectives |
| International community Mankind will survive or perish together. This knowledge requires a different approach to international tasks. The world society has to develop its own order, universal peace ensured, economic power politi-cally controlled, resources, technology, and knowledge justly distributed, and our natural means of survival protected in the long term. The United Nations can take us closer to this goal. Therefore, their importance has to grow. They must become an instrument of non-violent world internal policy. Our aim is to strengthen them politically and financially. We support the strengthening of the International Court for ensuring essential human rights, the re-form of the Security Council, and the establishment of international committees on arms control within the scope of the United Nations. Social and ecological minimum standards We strongly support the advancement and the Europeanization and gradual globalization of the prin-ciple of the welfare state: The goal must be to reduce social and ecological “dumping” by international agreements. With the help of the UN and the World Trade Organization, the world-wide construction of an old-age pension has to be built up, as this, together with improved education, is the most im-portant contribution to dealing with population growth. Dealing with technology in a responsible way We have become hugely dependent on technology. Because of negative experiences (nuclear technol-ogy) we insist on the basic principle that the introduction of any technology has to be reversible. An international agreement on research into gene-technology and production is overdue. The mini-mum goals have to prohibit operations to the human idioplasm, to achieve a predicative bio-ethical convention, and to stop the use of gene-technological procedures in agriculture and food production. The use of atomic energy must be rapidly reduced. Ethically, it is a sorry situation when even those states which have voluntarily committed themselves to the renunciation of nuclear plants of any kind, in a national solo attempt, are endangered by radioactive catastrophes. A new key concept - sustainable development Unfortunately, most of the most powerful nation states and, influenced by them, also a series of inter-national or- ganizations are being led by a false key concept of development: Short-term success in economic growth is being striven for, disregarding the long-term social and ecological costs. Germany has to change the objective in its own sphere of responsibility and at the same time as a partner within Europe,: only the model of sustainable development can be successful in future and deserves any fi-nancial and personal effort. The question of the long-term protection and stabilization of the basic means of survival should be prioritized for discussion in all international agreements and organiza-tions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Agreed to at the ödp federal party congress on 22 June 1997 in Mainaschaff near Aschaffenburg This document was translated from german to english without payment mostly by Volker Reusing (ödp member), translation corrected and completed by Susan Ring (professional translator) |