tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15339850787901757522024-03-13T15:57:20.782-05:00Socialism: Theory & PracticeCapitalism is a "dog-eat-dog" system based upon the exploitation of working people. Socialism is a cooperative alternative to capitalism. The corporate media distorts socialism just as it lies about almost everything else in order to keep working people confused and disoriented. Solving our problems requires understanding socialism. Socialists understand the key to creating a better world is through: Education, Organization, Unity, & Action.Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-48922457596917446682017-04-02T17:55:00.003-05:002017-04-02T17:55:55.996-05:00Fidel Castro- How I became a Communist <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDpbSRtW9wHmpuIavuohGwEA29TkTjU2gcPyLQtPp00eypAzeWOjzTqelp2kEsxKTzwCTLBSplYtZilNPYicuaQxMQZk_My_VJI2VKhBcIXoyBaRm6d0dsjGLmP7jMnFnSn-mKmoxEuA4/s1600/Fidel+Castro+communismgr.blogspot.com.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDpbSRtW9wHmpuIavuohGwEA29TkTjU2gcPyLQtPp00eypAzeWOjzTqelp2kEsxKTzwCTLBSplYtZilNPYicuaQxMQZk_My_VJI2VKhBcIXoyBaRm6d0dsjGLmP7jMnFnSn-mKmoxEuA4/s320/Fidel+Castro+communismgr.blogspot.com.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The text is the transcript of a Questions & Answers session between <b>Fidel Castro</b> and students at the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif;">University of Concepción, Chile, on November 18 1971.</span></i></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was the
son of a landowner—that was one reason for me to be a reactionary. I was
educated in religious schools that were attended by the sons of the
rich—another reason for being a reactionary. I lived in Cuba, where all
the films, publications, and mass media were “Made in USA”—a third
reason for being a reactionary. I studied in a university where out of
fifteen thousand students, only thirty were anti-imperialists, and I was
one of those thirty at the end. When I entered the university, it was
as the son of a landowner—and to make matters worse, as a political
illiterate!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">…And mind
you, no party member, no Communist, no socialist or extremist got hold
of me and indoctrinated me. No. I was given a big, heavy, infernal,
unreadable, unbearable textbook that tried to explain political economy
from a bourgeois viewpoint—they called that political economy!</span></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And that
unbearable book presented the crises of overproduction and other such
problems as the most natural things in the world. It explained how in
Britain, when there was an abundance of coal, there were workers who
didn’t have any, because by the inexorable natural and unchangeable laws
of history, of society and nature, crises of overproduction inevitably
occur, and when they do, they bring unemployment and starvation. When
there’s too much coal, workers will freeze and starve!</span></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So that
landowner’s son, who had been educated by bourgeois schools and Yankee
propaganda, began to think that something was wrong with that system,
that it didn’t make sense…</span></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the son
of a poor man who later became a big landowner, I had the advantage of
at least living in the countryside, with the peasants, with the poor,
who were all my friends. Had I been the grandson of a landowner, it’s
quite possible that my father would have taken me to live in the
capital, in a superaristocratic neighborhood and those positive factors
at work on me wouldn’t have been able to survive the influence of the
milieu. Egoism and other negative traits we humans beings have would
have prevailed.</span></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily,
the schools I studied in developed some of the positive factors. A
certain idealistic rationality; a certain concept of good and evil, just
and unjust; and a certain spirit of rebelliousness against impositions
and oppression led me to an analysis of human society, and turned me
into what I later realized was a utopian Communist. At the time, I still
hadn’t been fortunate enough to meet a Communist or read a Communist
document.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49q4NelsLx6XItHitjIozc7Dq1ksRf76Lgq0f-nZ3xAP3viMB-66Gz9kmLo_Pa8Wm7r_GipNczti9FeVZGOsCW-rtBHHuE4kNRZoTpyK_m8mmVQZbT7-RZxDclVBtBN9C6jLa9neC4ESZ/s1600/FIDEL+CASTRO+SPEECH+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49q4NelsLx6XItHitjIozc7Dq1ksRf76Lgq0f-nZ3xAP3viMB-66Gz9kmLo_Pa8Wm7r_GipNczti9FeVZGOsCW-rtBHHuE4kNRZoTpyK_m8mmVQZbT7-RZxDclVBtBN9C6jLa9neC4ESZ/s640/FIDEL+CASTRO+SPEECH+1.jpg" width="508" /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then one
day a copy of the Communist Manifesto—the famous Communist
Manifesto!—fell into my hands and I read some things I’ll never forget…
What phrases what truths! And we saw those truths every day!</span></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I felt like
some little animal that had been born in a forest which he didn’t
understand. Then, all of a sudden, he finds a map of that forest—a
description, a geography of that forest and everything in it. It was
then that I got my bearings. Take a look now and see if Marx’s ideas
weren’t just, correct, and inspiring. If we hadn’t based our struggle on
them, we wouldn’t be here now! We wouldn’t be here!</span></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now then,
was I a Communist? No. I was a man who was lucky enough to have
discovered a political theory, a man who was caught up in the whirlpool
of Cuba’s political crisis long before becoming a full-fledged
Communist…</span></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I went on
developing. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to know imperialism more
concretely than I had through Lenin’s book. I got to know
imperialism—the worst and most aggressive of all… And I believe life has
given me a better understanding of reality. It has made me more
revolutionary, more socialist, more Communist…</span></div>
Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-83391609744335337192017-03-12T17:19:00.002-05:002017-03-12T17:19:45.842-05:00Greek Communist Party (KKE) prepares for convention, read their main document<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Click on this link for the entire document:</b></span><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1999380324"><br /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://inter.kke.gr/export/sites/inter/.content/download/ESES_En.pdf">http://inter.kke.gr/export/sites/inter/.content/download/ESES_En.pdf</a></span><br /></span><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17.0pt;">The basic
content of theme of the 20th Congress in a condensed form is as follows:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17.0pt;">"The
comprehensive strengthening of the KKE for the task of regrouping the labour
movement and developing the social alliance in an anti-capitalist/anti-monopoly
direction, in the struggle against imperialist war, for workers' power."</span></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://inter.kke.gr/export/sites/inter/.content/download/ESES_En.pdf"><br /><br /><br /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwHMEzYUSjqTWu8mMHSd_-CxNDoUbnLr35pVDaGCrdQaP3dQK-caZq_cLdjzinRj4J_dpKPwKnvCE_cG4gxl6yy4S5uBX-sN74NJpfe4NNTx3YdLBq7T2MHVE2H_LRQUImw-Xpj9G03pq/s1600/indexkkelogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwHMEzYUSjqTWu8mMHSd_-CxNDoUbnLr35pVDaGCrdQaP3dQK-caZq_cLdjzinRj4J_dpKPwKnvCE_cG4gxl6yy4S5uBX-sN74NJpfe4NNTx3YdLBq7T2MHVE2H_LRQUImw-Xpj9G03pq/s1600/indexkkelogo.png" /></a></div>
Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-42428400626662129132014-06-16T15:33:00.003-05:002014-06-16T15:58:35.169-05:00Why did Sam Webb distort this quote from Lenin?<div class="quoteText2">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>“An
end to wars, peace among the nations, the cessation of pillaging and
violence — such is our ideal, but only bourgeois sophists can seduce the
masses with this ideal, if the latter is divorced from a direct and
immediate call for revolutionary action.”<br /></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">―Vladimir Lenin<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="refbox">
Source/Notes: <br />
The Question of Peace (July–August 1915); Collected Works, Vol. 21, p. 293 - 1910s<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b><i>Here is what Lenin wrote... how can anyone support Wall Street's leading imperialist warmonger--- Obama--- as Sam Webb has done, and then claim to be for peace and the cessation of violence and then have the unmitigated gall to quote Lenin?</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<h3 class="title">
The Question of Peace by V. I. Lenin</h3>
<hr />
<div class="information">
<span class="info" style="text-indent: 0%;">
Written:</span> Written in July–August 1915 <br />
<span class="info">
Published:</span>
First published in the magazine <i>Prolelorshaya Revolulsia</i> No. 5 (28), 1921.
Signed: <i>Lenin</i>.
Published according to the manuscript.
<br />
<span class="info">Source:</span>
<i>Lenin
Collected Works</i>,
Progress Publishers,
[197[4]],
Moscow,
Volume 21,
pages <span class="pages">290-294</span>.
<span class="info"></span><span class="info"></span><br />
<span class="info">Public Domain:</span> <span class="infobloc_copyleft">You may freely copy, distribute,
display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
Archive” as your source.</span>
<span class="info"></span>
</div>
<hr />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:290">
</a><br />
<div class="fst">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:290">
</a><br /><br />The question of peace as an immediate programme of action for
the socialists, and in this connection the question of peace terms,
presents a universal interest. One can only be grateful to <i>Berner
Tagwacht</i> for its efforts to pose the question, not from the usual
petty-bourgeois national angle, but from one that is genuinely proletarian
and internationalist. The editorial note in No. 73
(“<i>Friedenssehnsucht</i>”), that the German
Social-Democrats who wish for peace must break (sich lossagen with the
policies of the Junker government, was excellent. Also excellent was
Comrade
A. P.’s<sup>[1]</sup> attack (Nos. 73 and 75) on the “pompous
airs of impotent phrase-mongers” <i>(Wichtigtuerei macht loser
Schönredner</i>), who are vainly attempting to solve the peace
question from the petty-bourgeois point of view.<br /><br /></div>
Let us see how this question should be posed by socialists.<br />
<br />
<br />
The peace slogan can be advanced either in connection with definite peace
terms, or without any conditions at all, as a struggle, not for a definite
kind of peace, but for peace in general <i>(Frieden ohne weiters).</i> In
the latter case, we obviously have a slogan that is not only non-socialist
but entirely devoid of meaning and content. Most people are definitely in
favour of peace in general, including even Kitchenor, Joffre, Hindenburg,
and Nicholas the Bloodstained, for <i>each</i> of them wants an end to the
war. The trouble is that every one of them advances peace terms that are
imperialist (i.e., predatory and oppressive, towards other peoples), and to
the advantage of his “own” nation. Slogans must be brought
forward so as to enable the masses, through propaganda and agitation, to see
the unbridgeable distinction between socialism and capitalism (imperialism),
and <i>not</i>
for the purpose of <i>reconciling two</i> hostile classes and two
hostile political lines, with the aid of a formula that “unites”
the most different things.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:291">
</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:291">
</a>To continue: can the socialists of different countries be united on
definite <i>terms</i> of peace? If so, such terms must undoubtedly include
the recognition of the right to selfdetermination for all nations, and also
renunciation of all “annexations”, i.e., infringements of that
right. If, however, that right is recognised only for <i>some</i> nations,
then you are defending the <i>privileges</i> of certain nations, i.e., you
are a nationalist and imperialist, not a socialist. If, however, that right
is recognised for <i>all</i> nations, then you cannot single out Belgium
alone, for instance; you must take all the oppressed peoples, both in Europe
(the Irish in Britain, the Italians iii Nice, the Danes in Germany,
fifty-seven per cent of Russia’s population, etc.) and <i>outside of
Europe,f</i> i.e., all colonies. Comrade A. P. has done well to remind us
of them. Britain, France, and Germany have a total population of some one
hundred and fifty million, whereas the populations they oppress in the
colonies number over four hundred million! The essence of the imperialist
war, i.e., a war waged for the interests of the capitalists, consists, not
only in the war being waged with the aim of oppressing new nations, of
carving up the colonies, but also in its being waged primarily by the
advanced nations, which oppress a number of other peoples comprising the
ma/only o the earth’s population.<br />
<br />
<br />
The German Social-Democrats, who justify the seizure of Belgium or
reconcile themselves to it, are actually imperialists and nationalists, not
Social-Democrats, since they defend the “right” of the German
bourgeoisie (partly also of the German workers) to oppress the Belgians, the
Alsatians, the Danes, the Poles, the Negroes in Africa, etc. They are not
socialists, but <i>menials</i> to the German bourgeoisie, whom they are
aiding to rob other nations. The Belgian socialists who demand the
liberation and indemnification of Belgium <i>alone</i> are also actually
defending a demand of the Belgian bourgeoisie, who would go on plundering
the 15,000,000 Congolese population and obtaining concessions and privileges
in other countries. The Belgian bourgeoisie’s foreign investments
amount to something like three thousand
million francs. Safeguarding the
profits from these investments by using every kind of fraud and machinations
is the real “national interest” of “gallant
Belgium”. The same applies in a still greater degree to Russia,
Britain, France and Japan.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:292">
</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:292">
</a>It follows that if the demand for the freedom of nations is not to be a
false phrase covering up the imperialism and the nationalism of <i>certain
individual countries,</i> it must be extended to all peoples and to all
colonies. Such a demand, however, is obviously meaningless <i>unless</i>
it is accompanied by a series of revolutions in all the advanced
countries. Moreover, it cannot be accomplished without a successful
socialist revolution.<br />
<br />
<br />
Should this be taken to mean that socialists can remain indifferent to
the peace demand that is coming from ever greater masses of the people? By
no means. The slogans of the workers’ class-conscious vanguard are one
thing, while the spontaneous demands of the masses are something quite
different. <br />
<br />
<br />
The yearning for peace is one of the most important symptoms
revealing the beginnings of <i>disappointment</i> in the bourgeois lie
about a war of “liberation”, the “defence of the
fatherland”, and similar falsehoods that the class of capitalists
beguiles the mob with. This symptom should attract the closest attention
from socialists. All efforts must be bent towards <i>utilising</i> the
masses’ desire for peace. But how is it to be utilised? To recognise
the peace <i>slogan</i> and repeat it would mean encouraging
“pompous airs of impotent [and frequently what is worse: hypocritical]
phrase-mongers”; it would mean <i>deceiving the</i> people with
illusion that the existing governments, the present-day master classes, are
capable-without being “taught” a lesson (or rather without being
eliminated) by a series of revolutions-of granting a peace in any way
satisfactory to democracy and the working class. Nothing is more harmful
than such deception. Nothing throws more dust in the eyes of the workers,
nothing imbues them with a more deceptive idea about the <i>absence of
deep</i> contradictions between capitalism and socialism, nothing
<i>embellishes</i> capitalist slavery more than this deception does. No,
we must make use of the desire for peace so as to explain to the masses that
the benefits they expect from peace cannot be obtained without a series of
revolutions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:293">
</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:293">
</a>An end to wars, peace among the nations, the cessation of pillaging and
violence-such is our ideal, but only bourgeois sophists can seduce the
masses with this ideal, if the latter is divorced from a direct and
immediate call for revolutionary action. The ground for such propaganda is
prepared; to practice that propaganda, one need only break with the
opportunists, those allies of the bourgeoisie, who are hampering
revolutionary work both directly (even to the extent of passing information
to the authorities) and indirectly.<br />
<br />
<br />
The slogan of self-determination of nations should also be advanced in
<i>connection</i> with the imperialist era of capitalism. We do not stand
for the status quo, or for the philistine Utopia of <i>standing aside</i>
in great wars. We stand for a revolutionary struggle against imperialism,
i.e., capitalism. Imperialism consists in a striving of nations that oppress
a number of other nations to extend and increase that oppression and to
repartition the colonies. That is why the question of self-determination of
nations today <i>hinges</i> on the conduct of socialists of the
<i>oppressor</i> nations. A socialist of any of the <i>oppressor</i>
nations (Britain. France, Germany, Japan, Russia, the United States of
America, etc.) who does not recognise and does not struggle for the right of
oppressed nations to self-determination (i.e., the right to secession) is in
reality a chauvinist, not a socialist.<br />
<br />
<br />
Only this point of view can lead to a sincere and consistent struggle
against imperialism, to a proletarian, not a philistine approach (today) to
the national question. Only this point of view can load to a consistent
application of the principle of combating any form of the oppression of
nations; it removes mistrust among the proletarians of the oppressor and
oppressed nations, makes for a united international struggle for the
socialist revolution (i.e., for the only accomplishable regime of complete
national equality), as distinct from the philistine Utopia of freedom for
all small states in general, under capitalism.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the point of view adopted by our Party, i.e., by those
Social-Democrats of Russia who have rallied around the Central
Committee. This was the point of view adopted by Marx when he taught the
proletariat that “no nation can he free if it oppresses other
nations”. It was from this point of view that Marx demanded the
separation of Ireland from
Britain, this in the interests of the freedom
movement, not only of the Irish, but especially of the <i>British</i>
workers.<br /><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:294">
</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v21pp74h:294">
</a>If the socialists of Britain do not recognise and uphold Ireland’s
right to secession, if the French do not do the same for Italian Nice, the
Germans for Alsace-Lorraine, Danish Schleswig, and Poland, the Russians for
Poland, Finland, the Ukraine, etc., and the Poles for the Ukraine-if all the
socialists of the “Great” Powers, i.e., the great robber powers,
do not uphold that right in respect of the colonies, it is solely because
they are in fact imperialists, not socialists. It is ridiculous to cherish
illusions that people who do not fight for “the right to
self-determination” of the oppressed nations, while they themselves
belong to the oppressor nations, are capable of practising socialist
policies.<br />
<br />
<br />
Instead of leaving it to the hypocritical phrase-mongers to deceive the
people by phrases and promises concerning the possibility of a democratic
peace, socialists must explain to the masses the impossibility of anything
resembling a democratic peace, unless there are a series of revolutions and
unless a revolutionary struggle is waged in every country against the
<i>respective</i> government. Instead of allowing the bourgeois
politicians to deceive the peoples with talk about the freedom of nations,
socialists must explain to the masses in the <i>oppressor</i> nations that
they cannot hope for their liberation, as long as they help oppress other
nations, and do not recognise and uphold the right of those nations to
self-determination, i.e., the freedom to secede. That is the socialist, as
distinct from the imperialist, policy to be applied to all countries, on the
question of peace and the national question. True, this line is in most
cases incompatible with the laws punishing high treason-but so is the Basle
resolution, which has been so shamefully betrayed by almost all the
socialists of the oppressor nations.<br />
<br />
<br />
The choice is between socialism and submission to the laws of Joffre and
Hindenburg, between revolutionary struggle and servility to
imperialism. There is no middle course. The greatest harm is caused to the
proletariat by the hypocritical (or obtuse) authors of the
“middle-course” policy.<br />
<br /></div>
Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-34631303773827885362014-02-23T19:57:00.001-06:002014-02-23T19:57:32.890-06:00Why did the CPUSA's Sue Webb lie to the International Communist Movement about Obama?<u>The lie</u>:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: red;">"The emergence of an extreme far-right accelerated
sharply in reaction to the overturning of the eight-year rule of the
right wing with the 2008 election of Barack Obama, an African
American and a liberal with a grassroots base and generally
progressive agenda."</span></b><br /><br />Is Barack Obama a "liberal?" <b>No</b>.<br /><br /><br />Is
Barack Obama's agenda a "generally progressive agenda?"
<b>No</b>.<br /><br /><br />Obama represents the most reactionary Wall Street imperialists, the
monopolists. Obama's agenda is solidly reactionary without any
progressive overtones except for the liberal and even left rhetoric he couches his reactionary agenda in. Mussolini was a similar master of linguistics.<br /><br /><br />To the extent Obama has a "grassroots
base" it is because of deceit and those on the "left"
like Sue Webb making up lies about him. These lies confuse people.
These lies cause disorientation. These lies divide the left. These
lies divide our movement especially the working class movement
already being mislead to begin with.
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.solidnet.org%2Fusa-communist-party-usa%2F15-imcwp-contribution-of-cp-usa-en&h=UAQFT2Zxs&s=1" target="_blank"><br /><br /><br />http://www.solidnet.org/usa-communist-party-usa/15-imcwp-contribution-of-cp-usa-en</a><strong><br /><br />Contribution
from the Communist Party USA to the International Meeting of
Communist and Workers’ Parties, Nov. 8-10, 2013, Lisbon, Portugal
(Delivered by Sue Webb)</strong><br />
Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-3745580034463579402013-06-22T12:55:00.000-05:002013-06-22T12:55:00.407-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI6uJ5lWFpMUk0I_5jvEeewV1JDWX_aRMkdThYCYc4t3ixrR-ja3oIYmwtSUMxwbe59hr0fdgIo-6rPRvdc7bSBOce_GrpYY3Bg49cVdgSCLJti3vlSiMaA25CNeJ9J3dN3VZ7rV_T_QG/s1600/lenin-statue-communist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI6uJ5lWFpMUk0I_5jvEeewV1JDWX_aRMkdThYCYc4t3ixrR-ja3oIYmwtSUMxwbe59hr0fdgIo-6rPRvdc7bSBOce_GrpYY3Bg49cVdgSCLJti3vlSiMaA25CNeJ9J3dN3VZ7rV_T_QG/s400/lenin-statue-communist.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-10577826236411212242013-04-13T22:36:00.000-05:002013-04-13T22:36:07.666-05:00 The Question of Socialism (and Beyond!) Is About to Open Up in These United States<div class="itemHeader" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39px;">This is a really interesting, enlightening, thought-provoking and educational read; anyone who is open-minded would do well to read this and use this article as a basis for further discussion even though much about real socialism is ignored just like some of the most successful co-operative enterprises are not brought forward and discussed--- perhaps because they are a little too close to real socialism and the Gar Alperovitz fails to mention the success of the Red Finn Cooperatives and the International Workers Order. And it is interesting universal social programs are not broached like a National Public Health Care System and a National Public Child Care System--- apparently out of fear of challenging the capitalist "market system" for which Alperovitz must think humanity can't do completely without.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39px;">But, this is worthwhile discussing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39px;">Additional reading might include "Socialism: Utopian and Scientific" since some of this being advocated borders on the utopian and even anarchistic side:<br /><a href="http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/index.htm">http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/index.htm</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39px;">Check out my blog for further information about socialism:<br /><a href="http://socialismtheoryandpractice.blogspot.com/">http://socialismtheoryandpractice.blogspot.com/</a></span><br /><br />Alan L. Maki<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39px;"> </span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 39px;">The Question of Socialism (and Beyond!) Is About to Open Up in These United States</span></h2>
<span class="itemDateCreated" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Friday, 12 April 2013 00:00</span><span class="itemAuthor" style="border: 0px; color: #9c162e; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/author/itemlist/user/46199" style="border: 0px; color: #9c162e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gar Alperovitz</a>, <a href="http://truth-out.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #9c162e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Truthout</a> | News Analysis</span></div>
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<span class="wf_caption" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: right; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 3px 5px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Capitalism Crisis." height="340" src="http://truth-out.org/images/041213-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: move; margin: 0px 0px 3px 5px; padding: 0px;" width="306" /><span style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding: 0px; width: 301px;">(Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/boojee/2841544952/" style="border: 0px; color: #9c162e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Shira Golding Evergreen / Flickr</a>)</span></span><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">With Americans' interest in socialism rising, we need to seriously consider alternative designs to the current system, argues Alperovitz, in this practical critique of some known models.<br /></em></div>
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Little noticed by most Americans, Merriam Webster, one of the world's most important dictionaries, announced a few months ago that the two most looked-up words in 2012 were "socialism" and "capitalism."<br /></div>
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Traffic for the pair on the company's website roughly doubled from the year before. The choice was a "kind of no-brainer," observed editor at large, Peter Sokolowski. "They're words that sort of encapsulate the zeitgeist."<br /></div>
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Leading polling organizations have found converging results among younger Americans. Two recent Rasmussen surveys, for instance, discovered that Americans younger than 30 are almost equally divided as to whether capitalism or socialism is preferable. Another Pew survey found those aged 18 to 29 have a more favorable reaction to the term "socialism" by a margin of 49 to 43 percent.<br /></div>
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Note carefully: These are the people who will inevitably be creating the next American politics and the next American system.<br /></div>
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As economic failure continues to create massive social and economic pain and a stalemated Washington dickers, search for some alternative to the current "system" is likely to continue to grow. It is clearly time to get serious about a different vision for the future. Critically, we need to be far more sophisticated about what a meaningful "systemic design" that might undergird a new direction (whether called "socialism" or whatever) would entail.<br /></div>
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Classically, the central idea undergirding various forms of "socialism" (and there have been many, many forms, some of which use the terminology, some not) is democratic ownership of "the means of production," or "capital," or more simply, "productive wealth." Quite apart from questions of exploitation, systemic dynamics (and "contradictions"), the core idea is simple and straightforward: Those who own wealth - and the corporations that operate it - have far more power to control any system than those who don't.<br /></div>
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In a nation in which a mere 400 people own more wealth than the bottom 180 million together, the point should be obvious. What is new in our time in history is that the traditional compromise position - namely progressive, or social democratic or liberal politics - has lost is capacity to offset such power even in the modest (compared, for instance, to many European states) ways the American welfare state once represented. Indeed, the emerging direction is to cut back previous gains in many areas - not to sustain or enlarge them. Even Social Security is now on the table for cuts.<br /></div>
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Perhaps the most important reason for the decline of the traditional reform option is the decline of labor: Union membership has steadily decreased from roughly 35 percent of the labor force in 1954, to 11.3 percent now - a mere 6.6 percent in the private sector.<br /></div>
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Along with this decay, and give or take an exception here and there, major trends in income and wealth, in civil liberties, in ecological devastation (and the release of climate-changing gases), in poverty and many other important indicators have been "going South" for several decades.<br /></div>
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It is, accordingly, not surprising that dictionary look-ups and polls show interest in "something else." If, as is likely, the trends continue, that interest is also likely to increase. But what, specifically, might that "something else" entail? And is there any reason to hope - even as interest in the word "socialism" grows in the abstract - that we might move from where we are to "some other system" that might nurture equality, liberty, ecological sustainability, even global peace, more than the current decaying one we now have?<br /></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Models of Socialist Structures<br /></strong></div>
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The classic model of socialism involved state (national) ownership of most large-scale capital and industry. But it is now clear to most observers that the concentration of such ownership in the state also commonly brings with it a concentration of political power as well; hence, the model can be detrimental to democracy as well as liberty (to say nothing, in real world experience, of the environment).<br /></div>
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Alternative places to locate ownership have been suggested by different traditions: in cooperatives, in worker-owned firms, in municipalities, in regions, even in neighborhoods. Some of the advantages and challenges involved in the various forms are also well-known:<br /></div>
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Starting at the ground level, there appear in virtually all studies to be very good reasons - <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">for small and medium-size firms</em> - to arrange ownership through cooperatives and worker-owned and self-managed enterprises. This is where direct democratic participation is (or can be) strongest, where a new culture can be developed and where a very different vision of work can evolve. Very solid proposals have been offered in such books as John Restakis' <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital</em> and Richard Wolff's <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism</em> (on what he calls "worker self-directed enterprises").<br /></div>
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On the other hand, for larger, significant-scale enterprises, worker-ownership may not solve some critical problems. When worker-owned large firms operate in a market-based system (as proposed by some progressive analysts), groups of workers in such firms may develop narrow interests that are not necessarily the same as those of the society as a whole. (It may be in their interests, for instance, to pollute the community's air and water rather than pay cleanup costs - especially when the firm faces stiff competition from other private or worker-owned companies.) Studies of worker-owned plywood companies in the Northwest found that all too easily workers developed narrow "worker-capitalist" attitudes (and conservative political views) as they competed in the marketplace. Nor does such ownership solve problems of inequality: Workers who "own" the garbage companies are clearly on a different footing, for instance, than specific groups of workers lucky enough to "own" the oil industry.<br /></div>
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Often here - and in several other variants of socialist ideas - it is hoped that a new culture (or ideology) or progressive forms of taxation, regulation and other policies can offset the underlying tendencies of the models. However, there is reason to be skeptical of "after-the-fact" remedies that hope to counter the inherent dynamics of any model, since political power and interest group influence often follow from ownership irrespective of good intentions and the hope that progressive political ideals, or ideology, will save the day. If the attitudes nurtured by the plywood co-ops turn out to be the norm, then new worker-owned companies would likely<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> generate strong support for regulations and taxation that help society at large but restrict or tax their own firm.<br /></div>
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Let me stress that we simply do not know whether this might or might not be the case. It is, however, a mistake to <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">assume</em> either that socially responsible regulations can be "pasted on" to any institutional substructure (especially if they create costs to that substructure), or that institutions will automatically generate a sufficiently powerful cooperative culture and institutional power dynamic in favor of regulations and taxation even if it adds costs to their own institution and is detrimental to the material interests of those involved.<br /></div>
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To get around some of these problems, some theorists have proposed democratically managed enterprises that are nonetheless owned by the broader society through one or another structural form. Although workers in the "self-managed" firm could gain from greater efficiency and initiative, major profits would go to the society as a whole. Still, note that in such cases, too, the incentive structure of the competitive market tends to create incentives to reduce costs - for instance, by externalizing environmentally destructive wastes. Also, when there are economies of scale, market-based systems generate very powerful pressures to adopt new technologies and prioritize growth (or lose out to other firms that also are under pressure to grow and adopt new technologies) - and this dynamic, too, runs counter to the needs of an ecologically sustainable future.) John Bellamy Foster's <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Ecological Revolution</em>, among other efforts, gives depth to the ecological foundational arguments further systemic designs must consider.<br /></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Designing for Community<br /></strong></div>
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We are clearly at the exploratory stage in connection with these matters, but the really important question is clearly whether a new model might <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">inherently </em>generate outcomes that do not require "after-the-fact" policy fixes or attempted fixes it is hoped the political system will supply. Especially since such "fixes" come out of a larger culture, the terms of reference of which are significantly set by the underlying economic institutions, and if these develop competitive and growth-oriented attitudes, the outcomes are likely to be different from those hoped for by progressive proponents. Lest we jump to any quick conclusions, it is again important to be clear that no one has as yet come up with a serious "model" that might both achieve efficiencies and self-directed management - and also work to create an equitable, ecologically sustainable larger culture and system. All have flaws.<br /></div>
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Some of the problems and also some of the design features of alternatives, however, begin to suggest some possible directions for longer-term development:<br /></div>
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For instance, a third model that has traditionally had some resonance is to locate primary ownership of <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">significant scale</em> capital in "communities" rather than either the state or specific groups of workers - i.e. in geographic communities and in political structures that are inclusive of all the people in the community. (By definition geographic communities inherently include not only the workers who at any moment in time may only include half the population, but also stay-at-home, child-rearing males or females, the elderly, the infirm, children and young people in school - in short the entire community.)<br /></div>
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Community models also inherently "internalize externalities" - meaning that unlike private enterprise or even worker-owned companies that may have a financial interest in lowering costs by not cleaning up environmentally destructive practices, community-owned firms are in a different position: If the community chooses to continue such practices, it is polluting itself, a choice it can then examine from a comprehensive perspective - and in a framework that does not inherently pose the interests of the firm against community-wide interests.<br /></div>
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Variations on this model include the "municipal socialism" that played so important a role in early 20th century American socialist politics - and is still evident in more than 2,000 municipally owned utilities, a good deal of new municipal land development and many other projects. "Social ecologist" Murray Bookchin gave primary emphasis to a municipal version of the community model in works like<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Remaking Society: Pathways to a Green Future</em>, and Marxist geographer David Harvey has begun to explore this option as well. (As Harvey emphasizes, any "model" would likely also have to build up higher level supporting structures and could not function successfully were it left to simply float in the free market without some larger supporting system.)<br /></div>
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Current suggestive practical developments in this direction include a complex or "mixed" model in Cleveland that involves worker co-ops that are linked together and subordinated to a community-wide, nonprofit structure - and supported by something of a quasi-planning system (directed procurement from hospitals and universities that depend in significant part on public financial support). An earlier model involving joint community and worker ownership was developed by steelworkers in Youngstown, Ohio, in the late 1970s.<br /></div>
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The Jewish theologian Martin Buber also offered a community-oriented variation based on cooperative ownership of capital in one geographic community. He saw this "full cooperative" (and confederations of such communities) as an answer the problems both of corporate capitalism and of state socialism. Buber's primary practical experimental demonstration was the Israeli cooperative commune (kibbutz), but the principle might well be applied in other forms. Karl Marx's discussion of the Paris Commune (and of the Russian village commune or <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">mir</em>) is also suggestive of possibilities in this direction.<br /></div>
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In the various community models there is also every reason to expect that specific communities will develop "interests" that may or may not be the same as those of the society as a whole. (Again think of communities located on top of important natural resources versus others not so favored.) The formula based on community ownership, however, may have a potential advantage that might under certain circumstances - and with clear intent - help at least partly offset the tendency for any structural form to produce narrow interest-group ideas and power. This is the simple fact that a fully inclusive structure that nurtures ideals of "community" - as opposed to ideas of individual ownership, on the one hand, or worker-group ownership of specific firms, on the other - may offer greater possibilities for building a common culture of community, one in which norms of equal treatment and common interest are inherently generated by the structural design itself (at least within communities and possibly beyond.)<br /></div>
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To the extent this is so, or could be nurtured, a systemic design based on communities (or joint worker-community ownership) might both allow for decentralization and also for the generation of common values. A subset of issues also involves smaller scale geographic community ownership, in the form of neighborhoods. And such a model might also include a mix of smaller scale worker-owned and cooperative forms, and even (larger scale) state and nationally owned public enterprise as well - a structural form that is now far more common and efficient in many countries around the world than is widely understood.<br /></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Questions of Scale<br /></strong></div>
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Social ownership by neighborhoods, municipalities, states, and, of course, nations (all with or without some formula of "joint" worker ownership) are not the only models based on the fact that geography is commonly inherently inclusive of all parties - and therefore potentially capable of helping nurture inclusive norms and inclusive cultures. A final formula (for the moment) for significant scale and ultimately large industry is also based on geography, but at a different level still. This attempts to resolve some of these problems (and that of genuine democratic participation) by defining the key unit as a region, a formula urged by the radical historian, the late William Appleman Williams, as especially appropriate to a very large nation like the United States. It is not often realized how very different in scale the United States is from most European nations: Germany, for instance, can be tucked into a geographic area the size of Montana. Nor have many faced the fact that our current 315 million-person population is likely to reach 500 million over coming decades (and possibly a billion by the end of the century, if the US Census Bureau's high estimate were to be realized.) During the Depression, various regional ownership models like the Tennessee Valley Authority were proposed, some of which were far more participatory and democratic in their design than the model that is currently in place. Legislation to create seven large-scale, publicly-owned regional efforts was, in fact, supported by the Roosevelt Administration at certain points in time.<br /></div>
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Many other variations, of course, also have been proposed. The Parecon model, for instance, would attempt to replace a system of market exchanges with a system in which citizens would iteratively rank their preferences for consumer goods along with proposed amounts of proffered labor time. Proposals, like that of David Schweickart in <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">After Capitalism</em>, pick up on forms of worker self management, but also emphasize national ownership of the underlying capital. Seth Ackerman, in a<a href="http://jacobinmag.com/2012/12/the-red-and-the-black/%20" style="border: 0px; color: #9c162e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">recent essay</a> for Jacobin, urges a worker-controlled model, but stresses the need for independent sources of publicly controlled investment capital. Other thinkers, like Michael Leobowitz in his book, <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Socialist Alternative: Real Human Development</em>, have taken inspiration from Latin America's leftward movement, and especially from Venezuela, to articulate a participatory vision of socialism rooted in democratic and cooperative practices. Joel Kovel in <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Enemy of Nature</em> argues that the impending ecological crisis necessitates a fundamental change away from the private ownership of earth's resources.<br /></div>
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And, of course, the question of planning versus markets needs to be put on the list of design challenges. Planning has its own long list of challenges - including, critically, who controls the planners and whether participatory forms of planning may be developed drawing on smaller scale emerging experience and also on a much more focused understanding of what needs to be planned and what ought to be independent of public direction. (Also how the market can be used to keep a planning system in check.)<br /></div>
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As noted, there is also the question of enterprise scale - a consideration that suggests possible mixes of different forms of social ownership: where to locate the ownership and control of very large scale firms is one thing; very small another; and intermediate still another. Most "socialist" models these days also allow for an independent sector that includes small independent capitalist firms, especially in the innovative high-tech sector.<br /></div>
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Related to all this is the question of function: The development and management of land, for instance, is commonly best done through a geographic institution - i.e. a neighborhood or municipal land trust. Public forms of banking and finance tend also to be best anchored in (though operated independently of) cities, states and nations. Though medical practices must be local, social or socialized health <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">systems</em> tend to work best in areas that include large populations - i.e. states or nations. In some cases, quite apart from efficiency considerations, ecological considerations make regions especially appropriate. (One of the rationales, originally, for the Tennessee Valley Administration had to do with managing a very challenging river system.)<br /></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">On the Ground Now<br /></strong></div>
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Finally, there is much to learn from models abroad - particularly Mondragon, on the one hand, and the worker-cooperative and other networks in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, on the other. The first, Mondragon, has demonstrated how an integrated system of more than 100 cooperatives can function effectively (and in areas of high technical requirement) - and at the same time maintain an extremely egalitarian and participatory culture of institution control. The Italian cooperatives have demonstrated important ways to achieve "networked" production among large numbers of small units - and further, to use the regional government in support of the overall effort. Though the experience of both is extraordinary, simple extrapolations may or may not be possible: Both models, it is also important to note, developed out of historical contexts that helped create intense cultural and political solidarity - contexts also of extraordinary repression by fascist regimes, Franco in Spain, Mussolini in Italy. Finally, although the Emilia Romagna cooperatives are effective in their use of state policy, both models are best understood as institutional "elements" that may contribute to a potential national solution. Neither claims to, or attempts to, develop a coherent overall "systemic" design for a nation.<br /></div>
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These various abstract considerations come down to earth when one realizes that there is far more going on, practically, on the ground related to the ownership forms than most people realize - a great deal that is not covered by the increasingly hobbled and financially constrained press. For a start, around 130 million Americans - 40 percent of the population - are members of one or another form of cooperative, a traditional collective ownership form that now includes large numbers of credit unions, agricultural co-ops dating back to the 1930s, electrical co-ops prevalent in many rural areas, insurance co-ops, food co-ops, retail co-ops (such as the outdoor recreational company REI and the hardware purchasing cooperative ACE), health-care co-ops, artist co-ops and many, many more.<br /></div>
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There are also many, many worker-owned companies structured in ways different from traditional co-ops - indeed, around 11,000 of them, involving 10.3 million people, in virtually every sector, some very large and sophisticated. Technically, these companies are structured as ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) - and in fact 3 million more individuals are involved in worker-owned companies of this kind than are members of unions in the private sector. (Though there have been a variety of problems with this form, there has also been evolution with greater worker control and also experiments with unionization that in the future might suggest important additional possibilities.) Finally and critically, the United Steelworkers have put forward <a href="http://community-wealth.org/content/rob-witherell%20" style="border: 0px; color: #9c162e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a new direction</a> in union-worker co-ops.<br /></div>
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There are also thousands of "social enterprises" that use democratized ownership to make money and use both the money and the enterprise itself to achieve a broader social purpose. By far the most common social enterprise is the traditional Community Development Corporation, or CDC. Nearly 5,000 have long been in operation in almost every US city of significant size. For the most part, CDCs have served as low-income housing developers and incubators for small businesses. Early on in the 50-year history of the movement, however, a different, larger vision was in play - one that is still present in some of the more advanced CDC efforts and one that suggests additional possibilities for the future.<br /></div>
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Still another form of democratized ownership involves growing numbers of "land trusts" - essentially neighborhood or municipal corporations that own housing and other property in ways that prevent gentrification and turn development profits into support of low- and moderate-income housing. One of the best known is the Champlain Housing Trust in Burlington, Vermont, which traces its modest beginnings to the early 1980s and now provides accommodation for more than 2,000 households. Hundreds of such collective ownership efforts now exist, and new land trusts are now being established on an expanding, ongoing basis in diverse contexts and cities all over the country.<br /></div>
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Since 2010, twenty states have also considered legislation to establish public banks like that of North Dakota, which has operated with strong public support for more than nine decades. Approximately 20 states have considered legislation to establish single-payer health-care plans. Nor should we forget that the United States government de facto nationalized General Motors and AIG, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, during the recent crisis. It started selling them back once the profits began to roll, but in future crises, different outcomes might be ultimately achieved if practical experiments at the local and state level begin to create experiences that might be generalized to national models when the time is right - especially if the current system continues to decay and deteriorate. (Many of the national models that became the core programs of the New Deal were incubated in the state and local "laboratories of democracy" in the decades prior to the time national political possibilities opened up).<br /></div>
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At this stage of development, there is every reason to experiment with many forms - a "community-sustaining" direction that I have suggested might be called a "Pluralist Commonwealth" to emphasize the plurality of common or democratized wealth-holding efforts.<br /></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Getting Serious<br /></strong></div>
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I obviously do not hope in this brief sketch to try to offer a fully developed alternative. My goal is much simpler: First, to suggest that the questions classically posed by the word "socialism" that is now coming back into public use need to be discussed and debated by a much broader group than has traditionally been concerned with these issues; and second, to suggest further that if one looks closely there is evidence that some of the potential real world elements of a solution may be developing in ways that might one day open the way to a very American and very populist variant (whether called "socialist" or not). It is time, accordingly, to discuss the deeper design issues carefully and thoughtfully and in ways that involve a much larger share of the very large numbers of people, beyond the traditional left, who the polls and dictionary inquiries suggest may be interested in these questions.<br /></div>
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Even as we learn more and more about the various forms and their positive and negative features and tendencies, hopefully we can engage in a far-reaching and thoughtful debate about how a new model might be created that is both systemically sophisticated and also appropriate to American culture and traditions - a model that nurtures democracy and a culture of inclusiveness and ecological sanity. Many serious and committed people on the left have been struggling with these issues and keeping the critical questions alive for decades. Even though the way forward, politically, is obviously daunting, difficult and uncertain, it is time to widen the dialogue in ways that include the millions of Americans who now seem increasingly open to the challenge.<br /></div>
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Nor should the pessimism of the moment undercut what needs to be done: Anyone looking at Latin America 30 years ago might easily have been judged foolish to think change could occur - and that debate concerning these kinds of questions was important. Yet even during and through the pain - and the torture and dictatorship - new beginnings somehow were made in many areas and by many people. Our own course may be difficult, but easy pessimism is an all-too-common escape mechanism to avoid responsibility. It is also comforting: If one buys the judgment that nothing can ever be done, that it is impossible, one has an excuse not to try and also not to try to reach out to others. The fact is the failings of the present system are themselves forcing more and more people to explore new ideas and develop new experiments and new political efforts.<br /></div>
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The important points to emphasize are three: [1] There is openness in the public, and especially among a much, much broader group than many think, to discussing these issues - including even the word "socialism;" [2] It is accordingly time to get very serious about some of the challenging substantive and theoretical issues involved; and [3] There are also many on-the-ground experiments, and projects and developments that suggest practical directions that are under way, but also that a new politics (whatever it is called) might begin to build upon them if it got serious.</div>
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<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/author/itemlist/user/46199" style="border: 0px; color: #9c162e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><br />GAR ALPEROVITZ</a></h2>
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Gar Alperovitz, Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland and co-founder of the <a href="http://democracycollaborative.org/" style="border: 0px; color: blue; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Democracy Collaborative</a>, is the author of the forthcoming <a href="http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/what_then_must_we_do/" style="border: 0px; color: blue; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">What Then Must We Do? Straight Talk About The Next American Revolution</a> (Chelsea Green, May Day 2013).<br /><br /><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></div>
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Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-80995623758722506132013-03-29T20:03:00.001-05:002013-03-29T20:03:19.346-05:00Yes; why not have a discussion?<br />
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Problems of Vanguardism</h1>
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by <span class="author vcard fn" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">PETER CAMEJO</span> on <abbr class="published" style="border-bottom-style: none; cursor: help; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;" title="2013-03-28">MARCH 28, 2013</abbr></div>
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<i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Originally published October 1, 1984, as “Problems of Vanguardism: In Defense of Leninism,” a North Star Network discussion article</i> — During the youth radicalization of the late 1960s an entire generation in the United States was transformed politically. Mass currents of opinion critical of imperialism, racism, sexism and other aspects of capitalism were generated, often expressed in powerful single-issue movements. Among the most committed, tens of thousands became interested in the world socialist movement.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/camejo.jpeg" style="color: #3496cf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Peter Camejo speaking at the June 1970 national anti-war conference in Cleveland which voted to establish the Peace Action Coalition. Photograph is taken from Peter’s Pathfinder pamphlet Liberalism, Ultraleftism or Mass Action, 1970." class="size-medium wp-image-4240" src="http://www.thenorthstar.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/camejo-300x225.jpeg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="400" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
Camejo speaking at the June 1970 national anti-war conference in Cleveland which voted to establish the Peace Action Coalition.</div>
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The youth of the 1960s and early 1970s sought models and found the Soviet Union wanting. They were far more attracted to the ultra-left rhetoric of Maoism or the “purity” of “Trotskyist” formations. This attraction was in part due to the natural ultra-left romanticism of a generational radicalization based largely on campuses. The ultra-leftism of the 1960s was not born of defeat and despair, which have characterized most ultra-left currents in the past. The energy of the 1960s and 1970s is, in fact, far from exhausted. The impact of this is reflected in every progressive mass struggle in the United States today.</div>
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But the road forward proved to be far more difficult than the simplistic imitation of other revolutionary experiences seemed to promise. The generation of the sixties failed to consolidate a new revolutionary vanguard or movement in the United States. This is the only honest conclusion that can be drawn. Maoism quickly proved to be quite different from its followers’ expectations. The Mao-Nixon accord in 1971 and China’s subsequent rightist policies broke the infatuation with Maoism. Maoist and other efforts to proselytize North American industrial workers took on an infantile ultra-leftism whose practice and rhetoric lacked connection to the America of the 1970s. These attempts led to failure in spite of some temporary and partial exceptions.</div>
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Gradually a dichotomy has developed between the sectarianism of formations claiming to be Leninist vanguards and mass struggles. The remnants of these vanguard-type formations have been caught in a methodology that guarantees their self-isolation. Others, repelled, have ended up questioning the very need for a revolutionary vanguard, Leninism, or even a socialist future for the United States.</div>
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Many chose to remain active solely in issue-oriented formations, surrounded by the pressures of living in a country with a powerful and solidly institutionalized imperialist ruling class. Many of those seeking refuge in single-issue work inevitably became subject to rightward pressures. The growth of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is one organizational expression of this shift.</div>
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The dichotomy between choosing dogmatic–sectarian formations or rightist–opportunist politics has widened. Undercutting this process has been the influence stemming from revolutionary victories in Central America and the consistent revolutionary policies and idealism of the Cubans and others like them.</div>
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A great deal of rethinking has been going on in the left in the United States in recent years. One of the most promising developments has been the growth of solidarity with Central America as well as the massive impact of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition electoral campaign. The rejection of sectarianism by new forces is often associated with prejudices and often combined with the feeling that while revolutions are possible in the Third World, there is no hope for revolutionary changes within the advanced industrial countries, at least not in the United States. Such a view can lead activists to look away from the broad masses of working people for political solutions. Instead, a logic of despair can influence one to give up one’s own people. This invariably leads one to look for allies within the ruling class and function under the illusion that maybe some wing of the ruling class remains historically progressive.</div>
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The sectarianism and ultra-leftism of many of the formations that comprise our left only help reinforce the rightist danger. In this document we wish to argue that what is wrong with the method of the sectarians has nothing to do with Leninism. We do so with the goal of winning the newer generation to the need to build a revolutionary movement in our own country, but with methods diametrically opposite to those promoted by the sectarians. In furthering this task a better understanding of the errors of the sectarians can only help create interest in a genuine revolutionary movement.</div>
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Vanguardism</h2>
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Organizations considering themselves “the vanguard” in the United States, as a whole, have an ultra-left and dogmatic interpretation of Leninism. In their view, Lenin’s concept of a proletarian vanguard party has been reduced to the idea that all that is needed is a “correct program” and a democratic-centralist organization. After all, isn’t that what Lenin did? He drafted a program and assembled a cadre around that program.</div>
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What is missing in such an over-simplified concept of Leninism, however, is the living class struggle.</div>
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Leninism</h2>
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The starting point of Lenin’s conception of organization was the class struggle itself. Lenin saw that, as struggles developed, there spontaneously appeared dedicated and committed leaders among those suffering exploitation and oppression. Out of these more politically advanced elements he sought to mold a genuine vanguard that could unify and lead in action the working class, along with other social strata suffering oppression.</div>
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Lenin opposed building a party of all workers. He saw that such a formation would have a rather confused political orientation. Instead, he argued for building a party based on the more advanced leaders and activists generated by the ongoing struggles.</div>
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By 1905, Lenin characterized the class struggle in Russia as the world’s most advanced revolutionary mass movement ever. He set as his task the consolidation of a revolutionary vanguard, unified around a class-struggle orientation. Lenin functioned within the framework of the mass movement unfolding in Europe at that time, the Second International and its affiliated socialist parties.</div>
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To Lenin, both the party’s program and the organisation of the revolutionary vanguard were directly tied to involvement in the mass movement. Lenin also emphasized that both programmatic and organizational norms evolve with circumstances in the class struggle.</div>
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Those who separate Lenin’s conception of a vanguard from its roots in mass work turn Leninism into sect building based on abstract ideology. No “vanguard” in the United States is currently leading any mass movement. In most cases, our “vanguards” don’t even participate in them.</div>
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Yet they like to insist that they have “the” program and a disciplined cadre that, taken together, qualify them for recognition as “the” Leninist vanguard or, at least, the “embryo of the vanguard”.</div>
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Intellectualizing</h2>
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Organizations, some having been around for 50 or 100 years, that claim to have “the” program are, by definition, wrong. For those seeking to create a vanguard formation in the United States, developing an effective program and strategy must involve, first, recognizing the existence of mass struggles and, second, directly participating in them. Those who deduce their program from intellectual study and assemble cadre in order to wait and be ready when the moment arrives make an idealist error. They reject the materialist starting point of Marxism.</div>
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Banner-raising and program-mongering are no substitute for leadership.</div>
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For sectarians, the ideas (program) come first, divorced from existing struggles. Their methods lead to the emergence of dogmatic sects whose loyalty is to their own ideology. In this manner, Marxism is reduced to an intellectual exercise involving debates and polemics to prove the “correctness” of one theory over and against another, instead of being a science to promote living struggles.</div>
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The first loyalty of revolutionaries must always be tied to the living struggles. Lenin insisted that genuine discipline was impossible without directly leading mass revolutionary struggles, and he predicted that those who pretend to develop revolutionary discipline while remaining isolated would end up phrase-mongering and clowning. Anyone acquainted with the U.S. left knows that we have sufficient quantities of both.</div>
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The misconception that having the “correct program” will ultimately assure victory, regardless of one’s direct participation in struggle, has led to a series of policies and methods that condemn political formations to a sectarian existence. Let us look briefly at a few examples.</div>
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Intervention</h2>
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A trademark of sectarians is their manner of “intervention”. Some members of a group will be assigned to intervene among formations attempting to reach people on one issue or another. The real goal of these interventions is the cannibalization of movements and organizations in order to gain one more adherent to the sect. If the sect suddenly decides that the issue or group is no longer conducive to sect-building, its members will disappear as suddenly as they appeared. Sects approach struggles in the real world as though they were visitors from another planet checking out an alien environment.</div>
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Polemics</h2>
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Small groups of fewer than 3,000 members, often with fewer than 1,000, will write great polemics attacking each other or some minority within their own group to defend their “program”. They regard this practice as “being Leninist”. After all, didn’t Lenin fight against all forms of obfuscation and attempts to revise or water down a Marxist program?</div>
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Yes, of course, Lenin polemicized. However, he focused his efforts against currents directly leading, or rather misleading, mass movements or currents whose views were affecting the genuine vanguards of those mass struggles. Lenin didn’t waste time on polemics with groups that had no relationship to the living events of the day.</div>
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Most polemics in the U.S. left today involve either a discussion of activities being carried out by forces on some other continent or about some historical event. For instance, a battle will rage in the Middle East and, as with all mass struggles, the forces involved and the issues posed will be quite complex. What then occurs among our home-grown sectarians is an orgy of commentary. Each group comments on the events in the real world with the goal of confirming their particular views. They patiently point out the errors of those actually struggling in the Middle East and kindly offer their moral solidarity. This is usually climaxed with a headline saying something like “U.S. OUT” or some similar phrase that terminates their obligation to the real struggle.</div>
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The opening fray of comments soon leads to documents and pamphlets or even entire books. These are aimed to expose the commentary of other groups inside the United States or, at times, minorities from within their own groups. Of course, neither these critics nor the condemned are in any way involved in the struggles they are debating. Such debates are considered a Leninist involvement in politics. In actuality, they are a form of abstention from participation in real living struggles.</div>
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Differences</h2>
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Another key difference between the methods of the U.S. sects and those of Lenin (or the Central American revolutionaries) centers on the question of which political points demarcate revolutionary and reformist currents.</div>
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In the United States, which is the center of world imperialism, points of demarcation between revolutionary and reformist currents will necessarily involve many factors, both of a national and an international character. The process through which a real ideological struggle unfolds, however, must be directly related to the living class struggle. Differences can only be resolved if we use a non-sectarian method of debate and discussion, one that bases points of demarcation on real struggles.</div>
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Undoubtedly, the leadership created by mass struggles will be a collective leadership, reflecting the complexities of the U.S. class struggle and the various exploited and oppressed layers. A genuine “correct program” — that is, one that is derived from reality — will develop through the conflict of ideas, permanently adjusted through experience. If an atmosphere tolerant of differences and debate does not exist among revolutionaries, they will find it difficult to respond to changing conditions or to correct errors. We must also have the patience and humility to recognize that people may change their views over time, as many of us have done.</div>
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We are talking here not about intellectual exercises called debates or faction fights but rather of the constructive clash of ideas within a revolutionary framework. Such debates are impossible under the present dogmatic–sectarian misconceptions of Leninism incorporated in such claims as: “We represent the continuity of the movement; therefore, we have the correct program.”</div>
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U.S. revolutionaries need norms that permit the kind of discussions Lenin’s party held. Those debates rarely led to splits or divisions. In fact, Lenin, the central leader of the revolutionary current, was on occasion voted down. This is something quite inconceivable for the central leadership of any of our many U.S. “vanguards”.</div>
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The class analysis of differences</h2>
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The intolerance of existing U.S. “vanguards” towards differences inside their own ranks flows directly from their idealist errors regarding the relationship between program and organization on the one hand and mass struggles on the other.</div>
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The belief that one has the “correct program” leads straight to the corollary that political differences must reflect the pressures of a different class. After all, a “correct program” can only reflect the interests of the proletariat and, since there is only one proletariat and one program, different views must inevitably be rooted in some other class.</div>
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Since the claims of sectarian to the title of “the vanguard” and “the Marxist-Leninist party” are synonymous with their having the “correct program” as well as “historical continuity with Marx and Lenin”, they cannot for long tolerate other groups or currents that hold different positions on major questions, or even different interpretations of history.</div>
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When groups that have little contact with mass struggles develop differences that cannot possibly be tested in practice, the differences quickly escalate into a challenge to the whole premise of the existing “vanguard” formation. Since they mechanically see questions as interrelated, even small differences become crucial in their eyes.</div>
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What usually follows is a “class analysis” of the views of one’s “opponents”, combined with a “class analysis” of the opponent as a person of a certain social grouping. In every case, it is “discovered” that the opponent represents an “alien class pressure”, coming from the petty bourgeoisie. The opponent is thus outside the framework of the working class movement, and can be treated accordingly.</div>
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What is the result? More often than not, two “vanguards” each calling the other “petty bourgeois”, emerge. As time passes and splits grow in number, we encounter an ever-increasing number of “vanguards”, each with its own particular explanation of history and events.</div>
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One party, one class</h2>
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One argument that is often heard in the polemics of sectarians is that only one party can truly represent the working class. In Russia, it was the Bolsheviks. All other Russian parties turned out to reflect alien class forces.</div>
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Thus, our U.S. “vanguards” conclude, only one organization can represent the U.S. working class.</div>
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Yet, today we see various organizations, coming from diverse backgrounds, working together in El Salvador within the FMLN — and all are genuine revolutionaries. This unity reflects the concrete process through which a vanguard developed in El Salvador. The experience in the Soviet Union is not the only form that history has provided for the development of a vanguard.</div>
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Genuine revolutionaries can have differences for the simple reason that revolutionaries can be wrong. In fact, all revolutionaries are wrong on one or another question at some time, and not merely with regard to secondary questions. Any honest historical study will show this to be the case. How could it be otherwise? We are all products of our societies, in spite of our dedication to social struggles.</div>
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Did Lenin reflect alien class pressures or stop being a proletarian because he opposed the soviets (mass united worker, peasant, and soldier councils) when they first appeared in 1905? Was Lenin no longer a revolutionary because he counterposed building a revolutionary party to building the soviets, or for later changing his mind and supporting soviets but insisting that the bourgeoisie be included in them?</div>
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Was Lenin no longer a revolutionary because he thought the revolution was in an upswing in early 1906 when it was in fact clearly declining? Or was Trotsky a hopeless petty bourgeois for disagreeing with Lenin on organizational questions for a whole period or for believing that the USSR would be crushed unless Europe went socialist? Was Che Guevara no longer a proletarian revolutionary because there were weaknesses in his attempt to project a road to victory in Latin America in his foquista orientation (emphasizing the creation of small, rural guerilla bands)?</div>
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Revolutionaries are people. Only with an anti-cult attitude can we form a genuine collective leadership and develop the modesty and humility necessary to listen, think, and act collectively. It is only when we demystify revolutionaries will it become possible to genuinely recognize their great contributions.</div>
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The our-day-will-come syndrome</h2>
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Sectarian formations teach their followers that their day will come. Since their “program” will triumph when conditions ripen, their task is to accumulate cadres and wait. They prepare mainly by raising their political level (translation: convincing themselves that their program is correct and their leadership profound). They are not upset that they are not in the leadership of any struggles, since it is not yet the time for revolutionaries. The objective conditions, you see, have yet to ripen. This concept of “our day will come” or cheering other revolutions without looking at the potential of our own working class and oppressed layers has religious overtones of looking for a promised land.</div>
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Such a concept is neither Leninist nor materialist. There is today in the United States an ongoing class struggle that takes a variety of forms. A genuine vanguard would lead that struggle at whatever level possible.</div>
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No better example could be given than the need to defend the Central American revolution. This is not a task that can be postponed until conditions are ripe. We cannot wait until we have a better, more proletarian anti-intervention movement. We have to fight on every level possible, and those who lead such struggles today are the genuine beginnings of a vanguard.</div>
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Program</h2>
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What really, after all, is a program? A program is not a written instruction manual on how to make a revolution in your country, nor is it the “best” historical interpretation of all past events. (One fast give-away of sectarians is their preoccupation with proving their politically correct genealogy.)</div>
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A program is, rather, the working out of the tasks before the working class and its allies to liberate themselves from the exploitation and oppression they suffer under capitalism. A program also includes a strategy to eliminate racism, sexism, poverty, unemployment and endless other human tragedies of a society that places profits above human needs.</div>
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A program is a general guide, an outline of a strategy for liberation. It is based on lessons from history, but it is not history itself. By definition, a program avoids making historical interpretations except on the broad outlines required by the living struggle. A program is the attempt to generalize the lessons from the history of the class struggle and to apply them to the present epoch. A program is both specific, by incorporating national considerations, and general, by including the international framework.</div>
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The program that is of any use evolves. It must emerge not only from generalizations from past struggles, but from the concrete manifestations of present struggles. A movement not completely immersed in mass struggles is incapable of developing an effective program.</div>
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A program for the United States</h2>
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A program for the Third American Revolution clearly evolves over time. A program written in 1984, as opposed to one written in 1954, would include a different spectrum of questions, though many fundamental considerations would remain the same. Issues that have evolved — or, where our understanding has evolved — include the oppression of women, the treatment of homosexuals, problems related to pollution and the environment, the development of new sectors of the working class, and the tasks facing oppressed nationalities. To these, we can add the mass awareness of the growing threat of nuclear war and the new immigration from Latin America, Asia, and other parts of the world.</div>
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The fact that the program evolves and that there are many aspects to this process in no way means that the struggle in the United States does not remain fundamentally between those who own capital and those who work for a living. Similarly, to specify the enormous weight of the struggles of oppressed nationalities and women, or to raise issues that cut across class lines such as the struggle against the threat of nuclear destruction, is not to reject the underlying class struggle, but rather to make it more balanced and concrete.</div>
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The example of Nicaragua</h2>
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In order to illustrate the difference between Lenin’s views and the views so prevalent among the US “vanguard” groups, it is useful to look at an actual revolutionary experience. Nicaragua is better known by the present generation of the U.S. left than previous revolutions (We could just as well take up other examples, including that of the Soviet Union, since the lessons to be drawn are quite similar, in spite of some important differences in form.)</div>
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In Nicaragua, the fundamental solution to all social problems was to win self-determination by driving U.S. imperialism out of the country. This took the form of a struggle against the Somoza dynasty.</div>
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The FSLN began with only a handful of individuals as the left wing of the largest, and most broad-based movement in Nicaraguan history, the struggle against the Somoza dictatorship. The FSLN founders offered a program based on proletarian methods of struggle (minus the rhetoric), that is, a definitive struggle against Somoza and Somocismo, and not one of a rearrangement of imperialist rule.</div>
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They sought to rid Nicaragua of Somoza through direct mobilization of the workers and peasants, together with whatever allies could be won among other social layers. They fought to build a broadly united mass movement based on specific demands. Through this process, they grouped the vanguard elements created by the anti-Somoza struggle.</div>
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They avoided interjecting divisive and unnecessary conditions for unity, carefully choosing the points of demarcation from other currents in the anti-Somoza stuggle. In stark contrast to the orientation of every U.S. formation calling itself a “vanguard”, the FSLN never sought complete agreement on interpretations of history, much less made such an agreement a requirement to be part of the developing vanguard in Nicaragua.</div>
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What exactly was the program of the FSLN? Their program was one of ending Somocismo and establishing a government truly representative of the working people of Nicaragua. Their strategy was the removal of Somocismo through direct action rather than Somoza’s removal through negotiations with imperialism, that policy being the strategy of the reformist wing of the anti-Somicistas. They sought to rely on the workers and the peasants, the two forces they felt would be willing to carry out a decisive and committed struggle to end Somoza’s rule, and to defend genuine self-determination.</div>
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Did the FSLN make errors? Of course. Only those who abstain from the complexity of the real living struggles make but one error — their abstention. Undoubtedly, the FSLN made many errors of both a right and left nature. Let us consider for a moment the sad consequence for Nicaragua if Carlos Fonseca and other founders of the FSLN had followed the methods of our U.S. “vanguards”.</div>
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Suppose the FSLN founders had intellectualized their “program”, requiring agreement on interpretations of every faction fight in the history of the workers’ movement? What if, instead of developing the lines of demarcation between the FSLN and other currents on Nicaraguan issues, they had proceeded to engage in endless debates over Maoism, the validity of critiques of Stalinism, etc? What if they had argued that every difference on how to participate in a struggle mirrored positions taken at this or that time by the Mensheviks, Bolsheviks or the Social Revolutionaries?</div>
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What would have happened in Nicaragua? One thing is certain: such an approach by the FSLN would have facilitated Somoza’s efforts to isolate it. The FSLN organized Nicaragua’s natural vanguard. Fortunately, the FSLN acted in a Leninist fashion, without self-righteous fanfare and pompous self-justifications.</div>
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The programmatic and ideological misconceptions of our U.S. “vanguards”, which separate them from the material reality of living struggles, regardless of verbal or written claims to the contrary, guarantee their isolation. If the FSLN had fallen into the U.S. methodology, they would never have secured the commitment and dedication of their people to a determined, exceedingly difficult struggle for liberation.</div>
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The concrete tasks of the FSLN, which developed as a process, were and obviously are, different from those facing a vanguard formation in the United States, or in South Africa, or Sweden — but the method needed is similar.</div>
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What is applicable in one situation may be somewhat different in another. Issues that are secondary today and should not be dividing lines can become decisive tomorrow. And issues that may seem and, in fact be, decisive today can become secondary tomorrow. Program and points of demarcation evolve. Those who fail to appreciate such essentials will never build revolutionary movements, only highly intellectualized sects.</div>
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While each epoch and country may have sharply different needs, the method of building a revolutionary vanguard directly out of the living struggles, and of developing a program and organization as a process, are criteria that every revolutionary victory has shown to be a necessity.</div>
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Central America: the acid test</h2>
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No example could be clearer than the developing revolutionary struggles in Central America. The peoples of this region have entered into a mass anti-imperialist struggle, opening up the possibility for a resolution of many years of oppression through the triumph of armed mass insurrectionary movements. The United States is the direct imperialist power involved. The future, not only of Central America but of our own movement, will be affected as a whole spectrum of international forces comes into play.</div>
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Those of us in the United States who consider ourselves sisters and brothers of all revolutionaries fighting for social justice must not fail to recognize both the duty to defend Central America and build opposition to U.S. aggression, and the opportunity to increase political consciousness in the United States. History is written by millions, and history is being written today in Central America, a history which is our own.</div>
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Where are our “vanguards”? Who has stepped forward to defend these living social revolutions? Who has put the struggle of the Central American peoples above all factional or sectarian considerations? Who has sought to develop and build a unified movement based on living reality, taking advantage of every possibility to mobilize US forces in defense of Central America, and to neutralise or divide forces in the enemy camp?</div>
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Where are our “vanguards”? One is busy raiding a committee here and a committee there in an attempt to “get control”, maybe to recruit two new members. Another is pontificating about alleged errors of those who are actually doing something, such as setting up literature tables to inform the average person about the facts, or collecting funds for medical aid.</div>
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Another sect is selling its paper at every movement activity, all the while declaring the solidarity movement meaningless. Two sects even called ballot initiatives advocating non-intervention in Central America “obstacles” to a supposedly “truly” revolutionary approach. And to help facilitate the confusionist and obscurantist work of the bourgeois media, one of the more extreme sects will be sure to bring red flags bearing hammers and sickles to each demonstration.</div>
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One group will refuse to participate in the solidarity movement while declaring its unending support for the FMLN, while another comes to meetings to criticize the FMLN’s alleged “imminent sell-out”. The criticisms of these “vanguards”, of course, are self-described as being the most important “aid” of all.</div>
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Of course, organizations that have fallen into sectarian methodologies can, at times, in spite of errors, take a correct position on one or another question, or engage in useful propaganda work, and even occasionally make a positive contribution in the class struggle. But like a stopped watch that is right twice a day, they are useless as a guide to either our next step or our long-range perspectives, despite their undeniable good intentions. In addition, we must acknowledge that many individuals and groups may evolve in a healthy direction. The history of movements such as those in Nicaragua and El Salvador indicate that even groups that for a long time made all kinds of errors have changed, adapted, evolved.</div>
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But in this overall context, is it any surprise that, in city after city, those forces that are working on a day-to day basis to concretely defend Central America see the “vanguards” more often as obstacles than allies? What we are witnessing through the experience of Central America at this time is the bankruptcy of the U.S. sectarians.</div>
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As opposed to the sectarians, a new, younger generation has stepped forward to place as its central concern advancing the real struggle against U.S. aggression in the region. These activists have generated mutual respect and communication with the generations of Central American revolutionaries leading their people to self-determination. Without long theses and documents, a new generation of U.S. solidarity activists is doing more effective work than the self-declared “Marxist-Leninist vanguards”. These younger forces, learning from the living struggle in Central America, are creating one part of a future framework from which a genuine U.S. revolutionary vanguard can expand.</div>
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<dt class="comment even thread-even depth-1" id="comment-44076" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0px; padding: 1.8em 1.1em 0px;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0-0" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carl Davidson</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44076" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 8:00 am</a></span></dt>
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[This is a brief comment i wrote five years back that seems relevant here]</div>
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On Natural Vanguards</div>
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A Comment on David Graeber’s “Twilight of Vanguardism”<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />January, 2007</div>
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By Carl Davidson<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I think those opposed to “vanguardism,” or even those in favor of it, often have their own definitions of the term that are too narrow.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />For instance, at any given time, I find it useful to try to figure out the proportions of advanced, middle and backward among the general population in regards to politics. The backward are those who like and defend the existing order of oppression, the middle don’t want to be bothered with politics all that much because it doesn’t make sense in their daily lives and they are focused on themselves and family, and the advanced are those who see the present order as unfair, unjust and/or oppressive and would like to do something to change it.</div>
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This “sectoring” is fluid; any given individual can move from one to another from time to time as conditions vary. But at any given time, the advanced are usually a minority, although they may be a relatively large minority.</div>
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Within the advanced, moreover, there are those who are presently active and those who are waiting to do something, those who are in organizations, mass or otherwise, and those who haven’t joined anything yet, and those who think just a few major reforms will do and those who think the whole system has to go.</div>
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This narrows things down a bit. If you look at the advanced who are active, in an organization and who think the whole order needs to be replaced, you have what I would call the revolutionary vanguard. Notice that I didn’t say they had to be in ONE organization, or have ONE program, or leader. At some point they might, although it’s unlikely and certainly doesn’t happen by declaration or fiat or self-assertion. In any case, this grouping is what I would call the “natural vanguard” that shrinks or swells with the ebb and flow of class struggle and social crisis.</div>
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Now there are many organizations in the “natural vanguard.” Some better, some worse. Some on an open road; some stuck in a cul-de-sac.</div>
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Does any one or any one cluster of them ever get to be “the vanguard party?”<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Only if certain conditions are met, including one very practical but often ignored factor: your group gets to be a LEADER if it has FOLLOWERS.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />This seems clear as day to me, but we still have dozens of groups running around claiming to be the leader, but they don’t have any followers or supporters to speak of. They have the mistaken notion that a ‘correct line’ or ‘scientific program’ is sufficient, even granting that there is such a thing. Myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that I much prefer to work in groups that deal in ‘fruitful working hypotheses’ rather than ‘correct lines.’</div>
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I would say that to be the vanguard party, or the vanguard anything, a group or alliance of groups has to earn that designation by, first, winning over the vast majority of the advanced sector to choose it as their own organization; and second, by then in turn winning over large numbers of the middle forces to respect and follow its course of action, at least a good part of the time. Becoming a vanguard in this sense is something that is done practically and over time. The best examples I can think of were Vietnam and China. It simply means that masses of people recognize your group’s leadership ability that they will want to defend and protect you against the enemy, and finally, will want to join your ranks and shape the group’s politics and future themselves.</div>
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All the other disputes about the “genuine” vanguard status being achieved by assembling varying sets of principles or ideological coda is more in tune with medieval theological or Talmudic disputation, rather than the kind of fresh thinking we need today.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 parent" id="comment-44089" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0px; padding: 1.8em 1.1em 0px;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-0" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44089" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 11:23 am</a></span></dt>
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There are a lot of generalities in this article.</div>
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In fact, it was the same “leaders” of the New Left who distorted and demonized the Communist Party USA which did a good job leading the mass movements from the 1920′s through the Reagan Administration beginning with the attacks on worker’s rights, advocacy of the New Deal reforms, the struggle to make the government responsible for full employment, the fight against McCarthyism, for civil rights, against the war in Vietnam.</div>
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It was because the CPUSA was so effective that the entire governmental apparatus joined the McCarthyite attacks which included so many fascist-like laws including that one law authored by Hubert H. Humphrey— the Communist Control Act— which served to prevent Communists from participating in many ways which led to the crippling of so many movements including the labor, peace and civil rights movements.</div>
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What I find so interesting is that all these New Left “leaders” who were absent from any struggles for decades, now made a comeback by supporting Barack Obama and a bunch of Wall Street Democrats who they proclaim to be “high road” capitalists when all they are is Wall Street imperialists dragging us into war after war paid for with austerity measures wrecking the social programs the Communist Party USA led the struggles for— thank a Communist for Social Security, the Minimum Wage, the right to organize.</div>
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I find it interesting there are these kinds of articles written around generalities but when it comes to specifics people would rather not engage in discussion.</div>
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Specifics like the many successes of the most successful working class based progressive people’s parties like the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party which brought together socialists, Communists and other liberals, progressives and leftists to elect two socialist governors and a Communist Congressman plus hundreds of other public officials from township boards to county commissions and school boards to a majority in the Minnesota State House and almost captured a majority in the Minnesota State Senate.</div>
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It is politically and intellectually dishonest to ignore successes simply one does not agree with someone or an organization or party.</div>
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Here is an earlier history of the CPUSA which readers of this article would do well to consider reading before jumping to conclusions:</div>
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<a href="http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3496cf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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Unfortunately, there is also this to read, too:</div>
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<a href="http://www.solidnet.org/usa-communist-party-usa/3139-14-imcwp-contribution-of-cpusa-en" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3496cf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.solidnet.org/usa-communist-party-usa/3139-14-imcwp-contribution-of-cpusa-en</a></div>
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A lot of people don’t seem to want to engage in dialog when it comes to specifics. Anyone who thinks we need a revolutionary working class based Marxist-Leninist political party to guide our class and our people through these turbulent and treacherous waters will find such a party in the ideas, goals and objectives of the CPUSA prior to a self-serving opportunist leadership hijacking the national party apparatus beginning just before 2000 which continues today as is evidenced from the article above.</div>
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Also not discussed in the article under discussion is that in a country as large as the United States there is likely to be many differences of opinion simply because many people have so many different life experiences so it is logical there will be parties organized around similar life experiences by people who have narrower outlooks who don’t understand that it takes all those with different life experiences to find a way to work together if we are going to successfully challenge Wall Street for political and economic power and whether or not we can all agree to work in a revolutionary party like the CPUSA, we are all going to have to find a way to work together in some kind of progressive working class based people’s party similar to what existed with the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party or like what Canadian workers have with their socialist New Democratic Party.</div>
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I would still like to know from these “leaders” of the New Left who have turned to working for an imperialist warmonger like Obama what they found so adverse in the Communist Party USA— after all, they hoodwinked a generation into thinking the New Left was what was needed by demonizing the “Old Left” and now they have become the sell-outs and betrayers they falsely purported the Communists to be.</div>
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Perhaps Sam Webb and the present “leaders” would like to post their comments here, too, along with an explanation of how supporting an imperialist warmonger like Obama fits in with building a united working class movement for real change?</div>
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I do find it interesting that Carl Davidson who spared no effort as a “leader” of the New Left in criticizing the CPUSA, now has nothing but praise for these national CPUSA “leaders” who shed nothing but tears of joy ever Obama’s election and re-election and who have run out of tears for the victims of U.S. imperialism now finds his allies.</div>
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<dt class="comment byuser comment-author-pham-binh even depth-2 parent" id="comment-44111" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.planetanarchy.net/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-4277048c864b14b4ca2c055486655642-0" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4277048c864b14b4ca2c055486655642?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://www.planetanarchy.net/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Pham Binh</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44111" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 2:49 pm</a></span></dt>
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There are quite a few generalities in your comment.</div>
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Peter Camejo in particular played an outstanding role in the Bay Area anti-Viet Nam war movement as a member of the Socialist Workers Party. Look up the battle of Telegraph Avenue. What role did CP USA play locally in the movement at that time? And where in this text did Camejo “demonize” CP USA?</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-3 parent" id="comment-44128" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-1" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44128" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 4:24 pm</a></span></dt>
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I never said Camejo “demonized” the CPUSA. My reference was to New Left “leaders” who did this… there are way too many to mention them all but among those who did this they include Tom Hayden, Carl Davidson… just look at the names on the “Progressives for Obama” website and you will see who many of them are.</div>
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I am not familiar with the specific battle of “Telegraph Avenue” that you mention.</div>
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I did not post here to attack anything Camejo wrote in this particular article other than it lacks specifics which makes something like this difficult to discuss.</div>
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As for “generalities” in my comment it seems to me there are many specifics.</div>
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<dt class="comment byuser comment-author-pham-binh even depth-4 parent" id="comment-44132" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.planetanarchy.net/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-4277048c864b14b4ca2c055486655642-1" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4277048c864b14b4ca2c055486655642?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://www.planetanarchy.net/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Pham Binh</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44132" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 4:44 pm</a></span></dt>
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Your comment was a blanket denunciation of “new left” leaders, of which Camejo was one. It was not unreasonable for me to assume that your comment was something of a response to what he wrote here. This piece actually does have specifics but they are dated because this was written some 30-odd years ago.</div>
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I suggest picking up a copy of Camejo’s autobiography, <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">North Star</i> if you are interested in the specifics of his role in the Bay Area anti-war movement. A Google search probably won’t yield anything with the kind of granular, inside detail the book provides.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-5" id="comment-44139" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-f0723e23460199efeabea06cf1fa7551-0" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/f0723e23460199efeabea06cf1fa7551?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44139" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 5:21 pm</a></span></dt>
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We should learn from the past. Without specifics it is kind of difficult to learn from the past.</div>
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My point was not to take issue with anything Camejo wrote, said or did. Just to point out there are no real specifics. It would have been helpful for him to been more specific; nothing he can do about this now but we are still living and I thought you were inviting discussion around the issue not the person.</div>
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The issue you have raised is an important one. Personally, I don’t like the term “vanguard;” it seems to me the issue is more one where the left needs to be prepared for its role as initiator and catalyst in helping to guide struggles around specific problems in a way that will lead to achieving reforms while challenging Wall Street for political and economic power as a step towards socialism.</div>
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Perhaps I wasn’t clear; but my reason for commenting on this article was that I liked it’s formulations but thought if more specifics were included it would be helpful to expanding a discussion.</div>
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I was making a “blanket” attack on New Left “leaders.” Obviously I disagree that a New Left was, or is, needed because I feel the “old left” did a pretty good job. I have no idea to what extent Camejo attacked the “old left.” I really didn’t view this particular article as an attack on the “old left.” Am I mistaken?</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-2 parent" id="comment-44118" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-b00f1bc5a2d52da352f61dfd8344bdef-0" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b00f1bc5a2d52da352f61dfd8344bdef?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;">David Berger</span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44118" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 3:30 pm</a></span></dt>
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ALAN MAKI: In fact, it was the same “leaders” of the New Left who distorted and demonized the Communist Party USA which did a good job leading the mass movements from the 1920′s through the Reagan Administration beginning with the attacks on worker’s rights, advocacy of the New Deal reforms, the struggle to make the government responsible for full employment, the fight against McCarthyism, for civil rights, against the war in Vietnam.</div>
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DAVID BERGER: “Welcome to Fantasy Politics.” In 1932, under the banner of the Popular Front, the CPUSA supported Franklin Roosevelt from President and, except for 1948, has more or less supported Democrats every since. It also supported the notorious “No Strike Pledge” during WWII. This is class collalboration in spades.</div>
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The CPUSA is a totally discredited group on the Left. The only reason anyone sniffs around this corpse is because they have fantasies about the Democrats. The CPUSA shed any revolutionary practice by the mid-1930s. Demonstrating the degenerate praxis of this group over the past nearly 80 years is about as difficult as shooting catfish in a barrel.</div>
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Just one point on Vietnam: the CPUSA played a very minor role in the anti-Vietnam movement because it espoused the slogan of “Negotiations Now” as opposed to calling for “Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal From Vietnam.” Again and again, Left groups like the SWP (and others) had to fight the CP in the anti-Vietnam movement.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-3" id="comment-44129" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0-1" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carl Davidson</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44129" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 4:33 pm</a></span></dt>
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Discredited to whom, comrade Berger? Get real. Fortunately or unfortunately, the CPUSA isn’t much more or less influential than the rest of us. Contrary to the point above, I’ve many disagreements with them, and find myself (and my group, CCDS) a bit to their left these days. I think they tail Obama and downplay many socialist tasks of our movement. But if you think they are isolated and discredited because of defending Obama, you need to get in touch with the masses of Black voters, and progressive-minded white workers, too, for that matter.</div>
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The CP had a right line on the antiwar movement, but it was involved in that struggle up to its ears. Save for a few Schactmanites, we all were. As for slogans, I sat in a classroom in Cuba for 10 days while a North Vietnamese general explained to me, in some detail, why they felt, very urgently, we should push the demand, ‘Set the Date’ on the White House regarding the start of the peace talks. He said it was fine to continue with ‘Out Now,’ but urged us to take the timeliness of this additional slogan very seriously. I did, and brought it back to the Guardian, and we pushed for it in all the wider coalitions. The only ones to refuse to take it up were the SWPers.</div>
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I worked with both the PCPJ and NPAC coalitions, sitting on the steering committees of both, and they both had their strengths and weaknesses. I’d say the biggest problem we had was the ultraleftism that destroyed SDS the year before 5 million students went on strike after the Kent and Jackson State killings. You characterizations here are far too simplistic and self-serving.</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-3 parent" id="comment-44130" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-2" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44130" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 4:37 pm</a></span></dt>
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First of all the CPUSA ran Foster for president in 1932.</div>
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The rest of your comments are just as “accurate” as the first. Such distortions and lies certainly do nothing towards bringing the left together.</div>
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I would agree with you that the SWP has wasted a lot of peoples’ time fighting the wrong battles when it should have seen Wall Street as our common enemy.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-4 parent" id="comment-44269" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-b00f1bc5a2d52da352f61dfd8344bdef-1" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b00f1bc5a2d52da352f61dfd8344bdef?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;">David Berger</span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44269" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 10:25 am</a></span></dt>
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Sorry, I meant 1936 when the CP endorsed Roosevelt.</div>
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As William Z, Foster puts it:</div>
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The position of the Communist Party in the 1936 elections, in line with its general attitude toward the New Deal, was one of objective, but not official support for Roosevelt. At its ninth convention (in New York, June 24-28, 1936), the Party took the stand that the central issue of the campaign was “democracy versus fascism,” and it pointed out that the major forces of reaction and fascism were ganged up behind Landon. It called for “the concentration of all forces of the working class and its allies in the fight against the Republican-Liberty League-Hearst combination and for the defeat of its plans in the elections of 1936.” The Party directed its main fire against Landon. As for Roosevelt, while the Party realized that he had made certain concessions to the toilers, it correctly asserted that he had made bigger “concessions to Hearst, to Wall Street, to the reactionaries.” 7 It declared that Roosevelt’s “middle course” was “not a barrier to reaction and fascism,” 8 and that the Party could not therefore give him a full endorsement. Consequently, the Party put up its own national ticket, Earl Browder and James W. Ford. It was on the ballot in 34 states. The type of campaign which the Party carried on, however, calling for the defeat of Landon at all costs, militated against the Party polling its own full potential vote in the elections—hence its ticket received only 80,181 votes.</div>
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<a href="http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/2013/01/chapter-twenty-three-roosevelt-and-wall.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3496cf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/2013/01/chapter-twenty-three-roosevelt-and-wall.html</a></div>
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Anyone who wants an alliance with the CPUSA is welcome to it. They’re my neighbors in Chelsea, in NYC, but I don’t plan to visit them any time soon. Frankly, I wouldn’t piss in the same pot with their leadership.</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-5" id="comment-44283" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-3" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44283" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 12:21 pm</a></span></dt>
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At least we share the same contempt for the present “leadership” of the CPUSA which has hi-jacked the assets of the CPUSA and is supporting Obama’s and the Democrat’s Wall Street imperialist agenda. Obviously these current “leaders” are even liberals let alone Communists or Marxists of any variety or variant. I previously posted (above) their statement to the international Communist gathering held recently in Lebanon.</div>
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I also appreciate you posting the words straight from Foster instead of your previous distorted comment.</div>
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I think most people on the left agreed with the position of the CPUSA in the 1936 elections.</div>
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I would point out that much of the left, including the CPUSA took the position that Roosevelt’s reforms did not go far enough— too little, too late— and plans were being made to take the Farmer-Labor Party national with the intent to run Minnesota’s socialist governor against Roosevelt but a lot of problems prevented this including Governor Floyd Olson’s untimely death.</div>
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I would also note that Norman Thomas and his Socialist Party refused to join the efforts of the “People’s Front” and threw their lot in with the America Firsters— a mistake some of the left is making again with Ron and Rand Paul; this erroneous thinking there can be some kind of left-right alliance.</div>
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Of course, Earl Browder went on to make equally serious mistakes after WWII and now we have this weird situation with the present CPUSA leadership.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-3" id="comment-44300" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://magpie68.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-273ef30752253e7b0f1a27f0aa39291f-0" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/273ef30752253e7b0f1a27f0aa39291f?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://magpie68.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Brian S.</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44300" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 1:07 pm</a></span></dt>
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@ David berger. Spot on: in the Canadian antiwar movement I worked in a bloc with the Quakers against the CP’s attempts to limit the movement to calling for negotiations rather than withdrawal.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Alan Maki needs to study more critical history of the CPUSA: its true that their militants at the local level did some fine grassroots organising at times, and they made an important contribution to the building of the industrial unions. But at the national level (and it couldn’t help but filter down to the rank and file) they alternated between ultraleftism and class collaboration. In three periods – the “third period” 1928-c.34, the years of the Hitler-Stalin pact, 1939-41; and the war years, 1942-5 – they played a sectarian and destructive role in the labour movement (both ultraleft and class-collaborationist at different points in time). If you draw up a balance sheet of this, it would look like a pretty negative one overall to me.</div>
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<dt class="comment even thread-even depth-1" id="comment-44094" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0px; padding: 1.8em 1.1em 0px;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.amleft.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-f03f7a895934270ad092c4d4425d2e83-0" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/f03f7a895934270ad092c4d4425d2e83?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://www.amleft.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Richard Estes</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44094" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 12:38 pm</a></span></dt>
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good to see you here Alan</div>
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I still appreciate your efforts to dispel the absurdities of the late Southern Dragon in regard to his characterization of Marx as someone who, after 1850, abandoned revolutionary politics, limiting himself “understanding how the capitalist system works”</div>
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lacking roots in the history at issue here, I will limit my response to a brief response: first, social life in the US has been transformed to such a degree since the heydey of the CPUSA that it is implausible to imagine an organization being effective today with its practices, and, second, Camejo was trying to engage this problem as this transformation was taking place in the 1980s</div>
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I say this as someone outside of the leftists for Obama circle</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 parent" id="comment-44121" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0px; padding: 1.8em 1.1em 0px;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-4" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44121" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 3:56 pm</a></span></dt>
<dd class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 parent" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 1.1em 0px 0px 1.1em;"><div class="format_text" id="comment-body-44121" style="font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.571em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 0px;">
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Richard, I appreciate the intent of Camejo’s remarks but it is very difficult to have a conversation and discussion without specifics being cited; although he did get into solidarity work with some specifics and I agree with what he wrote.</div>
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I didn’t post my remarks to say, “Hey, I’m right and everyone else is wrong.” I was hoping to generate some discussion around specific issues.</div>
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What do you mean by, “…social life in the US has been transformed to such a degree since the heydey of the CPUSA that it is implausible to imagine an organization being effective today with its practices…”</div>
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Of course “social life” is much different today than in the 1930′s but, if anything, the class struggle has intensified and Wall Street has strengthened its power and grip many fold over what existed in the 1930′s.</div>
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In fact, as the CPUSA began to grow in the 1970′s and early 1980′s the FBI instigated another wave of repression as the New Left left the scene after demonizing the CPUSA.</div>
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Now thirty years later we get the New Left “leaders” coming back having created outfits like “Progressives for Obama,” “Progressive Democrats of America” and a whole slew of foundation-funded outfits serving as Democratic Party front groups— I will ask the question straight out: Does anyone think any of these outfits supporting Obama are going to be vehicles capable of winning even the most minute reforms let alone lead any kind of movements challenging Wall Street for political and economic power?</div>
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The “change” you refer to that began taking place in the 1980′s was the buy-off of the 1960′s New Left “leaders” AND many activists as corporate America began to bring them into the fold— and under their control; under the control of the “philanthropists” by hiring them to staff their foundation-funded outfits as a way to keep them in line and under their thumbs. These super militant New Left “leaders” were in effect marginalized and “neutralized;” in effect, they sold out— just what they unfairly and unjustifiably accused Communists of doing.</div>
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What are the “practices” of the Communist Party which you don’t find plausible in today’s world? It looks to me like Communists who have held strong to their revolutionary working class Marxist-Leninist thinking are doing pretty well in leading the struggles in Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Finland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and a few dozen other countries.</div>
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And where Communist Party Clubs here in the United States have separated themselves from the national “leadership” which has taken up with Obama and betrayed the working class and anti-imperialist movements, we see a great deal of activity and involvement in many movements.</div>
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I would also point out that a lot of the problems which prevented maximum participation by Communists were created inside the Communist Party by FBI informants and agents whose job it was to disrupt the activities of the CPUSA. My own FBI file contains hundreds of such examples of this with the names of the informants and agents blacked out.</div>
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Certainly there has never been any organization in the United States targeted for such severe governmental repression as the CPUSA— after all, the FBI’s COINTELPRO program was created for just this purpose and then it was expanded to target numerous other liberal, progressive and left groups and entire movements.</div>
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You really need to provide some specifics to your assertion that the CPUSA engaged in practices which wouldn’t be plausible today— perhaps you are correct but without the specifics being cited we don’t know and have no way of knowing.</div>
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I would point this out while we are on this topic. A lot of leftists refer to the Communist Manifesto and encourage its study and dissemination among activists and working people. I think this is good; the more people get access to ideas coming “straight from the horse’s mouth” so to speak the better.</div>
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But, why do so many of those who promote the reading and study of the “Communist Manifesto” fail to point out that it is actually “The Manifesto of the Communist Party.”</div>
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Without a Communist Party working class movements likely will not go far nor have the persistence and stamina to see these struggles through to successful victories in the struggles for reforms, the struggle to bring down Wall Street and the struggle for socialism.</div>
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The CPUSA had a pretty good Program all through the middle to latter part of the 20th Century— most of which is still pretty much relevant today.</div>
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We need to discuss all of this as friends if we are intent on working together on solving the many problems confronting working people and it simply is not conducive to unity to toss out these kinds of things without being specific.</div>
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The CPUSA is now at its all time low in terms of organization and influence.</div>
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Now is the time for working class activists to decide:</div>
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Do we rebuild the CPUSA?</div>
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Or…</div>
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Do we build another revolutionary working class organization/party in its place?</div>
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Marxism, providing the best and most consistent critique of capitalism, after having been proclaimed irrelevant and dead so many times, continues to be seen by Wall Street as its number one enemy as Time Magazine recently ran this article which seems to have caught so many people by surprise:</div>
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<a href="http://business.time.com/2013/03/25/marxs-revenge-how-class-struggle-is-shaping-the-world/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3496cf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://business.time.com/2013/03/25/marxs-revenge-how-class-struggle-is-shaping-the-world/</a></div>
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The question remains: How do we make sure Wall Street’s very worst nightmare materializes if we don’t have a very strong revolutionary Marxist-Leninist working class organization/party?</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-2 parent" id="comment-44140" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.amleft.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-f03f7a895934270ad092c4d4425d2e83-1" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/f03f7a895934270ad092c4d4425d2e83?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://www.amleft.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Richard Estes</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44140" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 5:23 pm</a></span></dt>
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the problem is, there is no “Marxist-Leninist working class” in the US today, at least not one that perceives itself as such</div>
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things have changed a lot since the heydey of the CPUSA, and any left formation seeking to challenge capital is going to have to take those changes into account</div>
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the left should, as a starting point, begin with what workers actually do now, and how they relate to themselves, their communities, their work and the economy as a means of developing an effective working class organization, instead of starting with the concept of a Marxist-Leninist organization and trying to fit them into it</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-3" id="comment-44153" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-0b2a45f238062df3b3dc6c9f6fdc1b8b-0" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/0b2a45f238062df3b3dc6c9f6fdc1b8b?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;">PatrickSMcNally</span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44153" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 28, 2013 at 8:22 pm</a></span></dt>
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To be fair to ALM (who I generally disagree with), he did not refer to a “Marxist-Leninist working class.” He referred to a “Marxist-Leninist working class organization/party.” That means, an organization or party that is embedded in the working class and is guided theoretically by Marxism-Leninism. No one would ever argue that there ever has at any time existed such a thing as a “Marxist-Leninist working class.” If there were, then the very concept of a party would be made redundant.</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-3 parent" id="comment-44275" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-5" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44275" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 11:24 am</a></span></dt>
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There are four or five specific points the left, no matter what orientation and perspective, organizations have that we should be able to unite a very significant majority of the American people around if we all agreed we need to work together to become a catalyst for change instead of trying to compete with one another:</div>
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1. Peace— end the wars, the occupations, close the military bases and stop this insane military spending so we reap a real “peace dividend.”</div>
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2. Full employment; we need to push for legislation that would require the president and Congress to be responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment at real living wages based on all cost of living factors.</div>
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3. A National Public Health Care System which would create twelve-million new jobs providing the American people with free health care through regional, county, city and neighborhood health care centers and hospitals— no fee/no-premium, comprehensive (pre-natal through burial), all-inclusive (including general and specialized, eyes, ears, dental, mental), universal (everyone in, nobody out), publicly financed, publicly administered and publicly delivered.</div>
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4. A National Public Child Care System which would create some three-million new jobs providing free child care to all.</div>
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5. Action on climate change.</div>
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We would have to convince people that we would take a similar progressive approach towards solving all problems and we would encourage people to keep working to bring about reforms that are solutions to their pressing problems while agreeing to come together around this very basic five point program which would improve the lives for everyone in this country and peace would not only enable us to solve our problems but create the conditions for people all over the world to improve their lives.</div>
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A more comprehensive program for change we should consider working towards would look like this:</div>
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<a href="http://peaceandsocialjustice.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-progressive-program-for-real-change.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3496cf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://peaceandsocialjustice.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-progressive-program-for-real-change.html</a></div>
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I really don’t know why or how anyone could disagree with any of this; I would be interested in hearing the reasons for disagreement.</div>
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Anyone can go into the homes of working people and sit around the kitchen table chatting with people to find this is what people are looking for us to come together around.</div>
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As for these phony liberals, progressives and leftists still supporting Obama; all they are doing is strengthening the hand of the very Wall Street imperialists who we will have to challenge for power to win these basic reforms required to begin moving our country in a new— progressive— direction.</div>
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Ask yourselves, ask any working person this question:</div>
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How is Barack Obama’s Wall Street war economy working for you?</div>
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Most people will tell you Obama’s war economy is not working for them.</div>
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There isn’t one single left wing organization or party capable of bringing this kind of basic progressive program to the American people for consideration and action— together we can accomplish doing both.</div>
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Why continue squabbling over generalities when people have specific real problems requiring specific solutions with peace being the center of everything.</div>
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Obama’s wars are killing our jobs just like they are killing people and the Democrats will never talk about putting people to work solving the most pressing problems of the people because Wall Street can’t profit from such universal public programs.</div>
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This is the socialist way to solve the problems of working people; the best the Keynesians can offer is using public funds putting a few people to work hoping to stimulate the capitalist consumer economy in a way where wealth is transferred to a few Wall Street parasites. I do find it interesting the New Left supporters of Obama have become infatuated with the Keynesian economics of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus— both of which sucked liberals, progressives and leftists into thinking their reactionary Keynesian programs are progressive when nothing could be further from the truth but they get away with this because the left hasn’t placed a truly progressive program before the American people so a real national discussion and debate can take place.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-4 parent" id="comment-44289" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0-2" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carl Davidson</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44289" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 12:27 pm</a></span></dt>
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Maki is disingenuous about the ‘Back to Work Budget’ of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. I suggest he and others study it in some detail. If he wants to call it reactionary, what would he then call the budgets of the Senate Democrats or Ryan’s Tea Party?</div>
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus stressed job creation and Pentagon cuts. More important, it includes the financial transaction tax, an important structural reform.</div>
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It serves well as the economic platform for a popular front vs finance capital, which is what we need at the moment.</div>
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With his ultraleft attack on the Black Caucus and others, attacking real friends to make real enemies, I don’t think Maki’s proposals will even get beyond the realm of ‘good ideas.’</div>
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If you’re looking to find a politics that combines ultraleftism with Browder, something not very common, Maki’ s ideas are your starting point.</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-5" id="comment-44320" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-6" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44320" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 3:49 pm</a></span></dt>
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As you have acknowledged on numerous occasions, Davidson, you support Keynesian economics so I’m not surprised you are supporting the “too little, too late” budgets of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus both of which focus on subsidizing small business to create the jobs. Interesting you pooh-pooh the five points I mentioned while indulging in your typical CPUSA bashing though you just love the Webb grouping.</div>
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No one believes the CPC or CBC is going to even advance their pitiful “too little, too late” agendas— it’s all show.</div>
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But, I would encourage anyone who wants to join you in wasting time advancing reactionary Keynesian proposals to go ahead and do so— unlike you, most will learn from such experiences that it is just a waste of time.</div>
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Davidson, you have traversed quite the political spectrum— from supporting a confused Mao to the butcher Pol Pot to Wall Street’s imperialist warmonger Barack Obama to pragmatism of John Dewey and now an adherent of Keynesianism— from Mao’s failed thinking to holding up the tails of Dumb Donkeys asking for permission to pick up what the sparrows leave behind as you describe your politics being “to the left of Sam Webb.” Who is going to be following you? Next thing you will be telling us your support for Obama merits approval because Obama is to the left of Bush, McCain and Romney and works for the good fellows who have followed the “lefty” Bill Gates down the benevolent capitalist “high road” path.</div>
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And what about your friends in the Blue-Green Alliance and the KXL Pipeline like Leo “as long as its American made pipe” Gerard… real good allies you choose.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 parent" id="comment-44323" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0px; padding: 1.8em 1.1em 0px;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0-3" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carl Davidson</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44323" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 4:05 pm</a></span></dt>
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Maki, I am a Marxist, not a Keynesian. Unfortunately our Congress is not divided between Marxists and Keynesians. It would be nice if it were.</div>
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Instead, it’s divided between Austrian school Ayn Randers (Rand Paul and crew), neoliberals, neo-Keynesians. and a few straight-up Keynesians and social democrats in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.</div>
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus and its budget got about 80 votes out of 435. So yes, they are not going to see it passed anytime soon. It does, however, serve as a progressive pole to expose the others. But your budget has zero votes in Congress, and not likely to get more any time soon either. So I’d be careful, if I were you, about dismissing people as not having enough clout.</div>
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When you form a poplar front, it’s a multi-class alliance, and I would expect various trends to put out their views, including Marxists (like Rick Wolff and David Harvey) and Keynesians (like Krugman and Reich, who are out in the cold too these days). If you insist that the popular front can only have a Marxist economic program, it’s not likely to be much of a common front, is it?</div>
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As for your red-baiting jibes, I’ll just let them go as amusing. People can make what they want of them–and you as well.</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-2" id="comment-44328" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-7" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44328" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 5:27 pm</a></span></dt>
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Since the five points I have proposed can’t fair any worse with the present Congress, I don’t see any advantage in promoting Keynesian budgets as advanced by the CPC or CBC.</div>
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In fact, if these politicians are going to respond at all to public pressure it is more likely greater public pressure can be generated in support of the five points.</div>
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We are talking about creating the maximum public pressure through movement building required to win needed reforms, are we not?</div>
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Last I heard only about 100,000 letters were generated by over 300 organizations in support of the CPC budget… I hardly call that a “mass movement” with any kind of clout… especially when you Progressive Democrats of America, alone, boasts of being 25,000 “strong.”</div>
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You CPC budget, Davidson, can boast of having 80 votes in Congress… the CBC budget even fewer— worse yet, from a movement building perspective, neither of these budgets have mass support simply because they rely on the private sector creating these jobs; and they rely on small business, to boot. Even more laughable, Barack Obama, who you supported, will only advance a budget requiring cuts to human needs while creating 70,000 jobs with an increase in military spending unless you think these huge military buildups in the Middle East and the Pacific Region are paid for by someone other than the U.S. tax-payers.</div>
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Just what s there with the five points I brought forward you don’t think the majority of the American people will support; isn’t this the real issue when it comes to movement building?</div>
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And let us have your thinking about your espousing the need to continue supporting Democrats.</div>
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Furthermore, I never so much as insinuated these five points were a Marxist budget or program— they are in fact, a budget liberals, progressives and leftists could mobilize the American people behind as we build mass movements in the streets with a corresponding working class based people’s progressive party which would help us free ourselves from Wall Street’s two-party trap.</div>
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I don’t think you have learned from history very well, Davidson; because if you had learned anything at all, you would know that when movement building began around the New Deal reforms not even 50 members of Congress could be found supporting any of these reforms… and, look at Affirmative Action— Lyndon Johnson couldn’t find twenty votes for it in Congress yet a massive people’s movement— including rioting in the streets— forced Johnson to issue Federal Executive Order #11246.</div>
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And how many votes were there in the United States Senate in opposition to the Gulf of Tonkin resolution? Should the fact that there was next to no opposition to the Vietnam War have stopped us from opening up a movement against this dirty war?</div>
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Who the hell should be setting the priorities for our movements… a bunch of cowardly Wall Street bribed politicians or people who are fed up and have had enough of Wall Street’s wars, corruption and austerity measures?</div>
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You seem to be under the impression that we need the support from a bunch of worthless and cowardly politicians in order to build movements capable of winning real change when nothing could be further from the truth.</div>
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Even the article in Time Magazine, “Marx’s Revenge: How Class Struggle Is Shaping the World fostered the idea that whether or not there will be change hinges on the class struggle.</div>
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You obviously assess Krugman and Reich incorrectly, too, since you believe they are “out in the cold” when the one and only purpose either of them serve is to keep people like yourself hoodwinked into believing coalition partners can be found for progressive change under the Democrat’s big tent. As you know, it is damn near impossible to convince people to remain inside this tent once they get a whiff of the Donkey dung… especially after having had their noses rubbed in it.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="comment-44336" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0px; padding: 1.8em 1.1em 0px;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0-4" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carl Davidson</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44336" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 6:12 pm</a></span></dt>
<dd class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 1.1em 0px 0px 1.1em;"><div class="format_text" id="comment-body-44336" style="font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.571em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 0px;">
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Maki, even federally-funded jobs where people get out and build things or provide services are often delegated to local private contractors and small business startups. Bottom line, there is no secure way to grow jobs without growing businesses as well. Our task is to make sure funds are allocated fairly, wages are at union scale and the work is ecologically sound. If we can start worker-owned or publicly-owned firms, so much the better.</div>
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As for Krugman and Reich, no one at the top is taking their counsel these day. Krugman was on ‘Morning Joe’ a few weeks ago, and everyone practically had puppies denouncing him for the next two weeks. Thank goodness for Bill Moyers for putting on Rick Wolff.</div>
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<dt class="comment even thread-even depth-1 parent" id="comment-44337" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0px; padding: 1.8em 1.1em 0px;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0-5" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3a7589ba1ad610cf856fd0c23f80dfa0?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://ouleft.org/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carl Davidson</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44337" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 6:13 pm</a></span></dt>
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Maki, even federally-funded jobs where people get out and build things or provide services are often delegated to local private contractors and small business startups. Bottom line, there is no secure way to grow jobs without growing businesses as well. Our task is to make sure funds are allocated fairly, wages are at union scale and the work is ecologically sound. If we can start worker-owned or publicly-owned firms, so much the better.</div>
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As for Krugman and Reich, no one at the top is taking their counsel these days. Krugman was on ‘Morning Joe’ a few weeks ago, and everyone practically had puppies denouncing him for the next two weeks. Thank goodness for Bill Moyers for putting on Rick Wolff.</div>
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<dt class="comment odd alt depth-2 parent" id="comment-44356" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-8" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44356" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 8:54 pm</a></span></dt>
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Well, Davidson; as one of Barack Obama’s primary “Marxist” supporters, I have yet to hear you and your Obama loving “Progressives for Obama” try to mobilize people for the enforcement of Affirmative Action (EO #11246) as something like three-trillion dollars of public funds have been spent in the name of “economic stimulation.” Here, in the President you support and the Congressional Progressive Caucus which you support and your allies in the Congressional Black Caucus which you support— not one single one of you have insisted on the enforcement of Federal Executive Order #11246. Yet, here you are hypocritically talking about, “Our task is to make sure funds are allocated fairly, wages are at union scale and the work is ecologically sound.” I would invite you to come to Minnesota to see for yourself how “fairly” these funds have been “allocated” and to see that few of those who have been employed have been employed “at union scale;” you might want to check out the peat mining in the Big Bog for how “ecologically sound” these projects have been. And what about the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant which these funds helped to shut down and subsidize the sale of a tax-payer financed hydro dam to Brookfield— a foreign multi-national who is a major contributor to Obama and the Democrats.</div>
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Davidson; you make the claim: “Bottom line, there is no secure way to grow jobs without growing businesses as well.” Plain and outright Keynesian thinking since the best way to grow jobs that offer workers job security is through developing the public sector— there is nothing the public sector can’t do better than the private sector… ever notice the letters “W.P.A.” and “C.C.C.” etched in to the bridges, sewer systems, state and federal park buildings, roads and bridges?</div>
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And Robert Reich offered up the sage advice to those considering an alternative political party: right and left come together— a sure loser.</div>
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You were the poster boy for Pol Pot; your buddy Tom Hayden was the poster boy for the Israeli killing machine for over twenty years and now both of you are pushing for a new “New Left.”</div>
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No thanks… or should we say, “no tanks!”</div>
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<dt class="comment even depth-3" id="comment-44359" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1.1em 0px 2.2em;"><span class="avatar" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-44 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="44" id="grav-cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4-9" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cd4a73a0a0d53baec9eb17b7f24fbbc4?s=44&d=blank&r=PG" style="border: none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.833em; padding: 0px;" width="44" /></a></span> <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.688em 0px 0px;"><a class="url" href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #2361a1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alan L. Maki</a></span> <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.833em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.917em 0px 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=4238#comment-44359" rel="nofollow" style="color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to this comment">March 29, 2013 at 8:58 pm</a></span></dt>
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And, Davidson; you talk about “public ownership” yet you and your organizations refused to advocate for public ownership as the way to save the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant, the hydro dam part of the operation and two-thousand good-paying union jobs that took the better part of 80 years to get fully integrated to the point where there was full equality in the workplace (or as close as we can get to full equality under this rotten corrupt racist system).</div>
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Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-89725648575164761032013-03-26T21:25:00.002-05:002013-03-26T21:27:04.156-05:00Marx’s Revenge: How Class Struggle Is Shaping the World<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"...With the global economy in a protracted crisis, and workers around the world burdened by joblessness, debt and stagnant incomes, Marx’s biting critique of capitalism — that the system is inherently unjust and self-destructive — cannot be so easily dismissed. Marx theorized that the capitalist system would inevitably impoverish the masses as the world’s wealth became concentrated in the hands of a greedy few, causing economic crises and heightened conflict between the rich and working classes. “Accumulation of wealth at one pole is at the same time accumulation of misery, agony of toil, slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation, at the opposite pole,” Marx wrote."<br /><br /><br />Conclusion...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"That leaves open a scary possibility: that Marx not only diagnosed capitalism’s flaws but also the outcome of those flaws. If policymakers don’t discover new methods of ensuring fair economic opportunity, the workers of the world may just unite. Marx may yet have his revenge."</span><br />
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<h1 class="entry-title" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.67em 0px;">
Marx’s Revenge: How Class Struggle Is Shaping the World</h1>
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<span class="entry-byline" style="border-left-style: none; display: inline-block; height: 10px; line-height: 0.875em; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px;">By <a href="http://business.time.com/author/michaeljschuman/" rel="author" style="color: #1b5288; text-decoration: none;" title="Posts by Michael Schuman">Michael Schuman</a></span><span class="entry-date" style="border-left-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; display: inline-block; height: 10px; line-height: 0.875em; margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px;">March 25, 2013</span></div>
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Karl Marx was supposed to be dead and buried. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and China’s Great Leap Forward into capitalism, communism faded into the quaint backdrop of James Bond movies or the deviant mantra of Kim Jong Un. The class conflict that Marx believed determined the course of history seemed to melt away in a prosperous era of free trade and free enterprise. The far-reaching power of globalization, linking the most remote corners of the planet in lucrative bonds of finance, outsourcing and “borderless” manufacturing, offered everybody from Silicon Valley tech gurus to Chinese farm girls ample opportunities to get rich. Asia in the latter decades of the 20th century witnessed perhaps the most remarkable record of poverty alleviation in human history — all thanks to the very capitalist tools of trade, entrepreneurship and foreign investment. Capitalism appeared to be fulfilling its promise — to uplift everyone to new heights of wealth and welfare.</div>
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Or so we thought. With the global economy in a protracted crisis, and workers around the world burdened by joblessness, debt and stagnant incomes, Marx’s biting critique of capitalism — that the system is inherently unjust and self-destructive — cannot be so easily dismissed. Marx theorized that the capitalist system would inevitably impoverish the masses as the world’s wealth became concentrated in the hands of a greedy few, causing economic crises and heightened conflict between the rich and working classes. “Accumulation of wealth at one pole is at the same time accumulation of misery, agony of toil, slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation, at the opposite pole,” Marx wrote.</div>
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A growing dossier of evidence suggests that he may have been right. It is sadly all too easy to find statistics that show the rich are getting richer while the middle class and poor are not. A September <a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/lost-decade-poverty-income-trends-continue-2/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">study</a> from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) in Washington noted that the median annual earnings of a full-time, male worker in the U.S. in 2011, at $48,202, were smaller than in 1973. Between 1983 and 2010, 74% of the gains in wealth in the U.S. went to the richest 5%, while the bottom 60% suffered a decline, the EPI <a href="http://stateofworkingamerica.org/fact-sheets/inequality-facts/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">calculated</a>. No wonder some have given the 19th century German philosopher a second look. In China, the Marxist country that turned its back on Marx, Yu Rongjun was inspired by world events to pen a musical based on Marx’s classic <em>Das Kapital</em>. “You can find reality matches what is described in the book,” says the playwright.</div>
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That’s not to say Marx was entirely correct. His “dictatorship of the proletariat” didn’t quite work out as planned. But the consequence of this widening inequality is just what Marx had predicted: class struggle is back. Workers of the world are growing angrier and demanding their fair share of the global economy. From the floor of the U.S. Congress to the streets of Athens to the assembly lines of southern China, political and economic events are being shaped by escalating tensions between capital and labor to a degree unseen since the communist revolutions of the 20th century. How this struggle plays out will influence the direction of global economic policy, the future of the welfare state, political stability in China, and who governs from Washington to Rome. What would Marx say today? “Some variation of: ‘I told you so,’” says Richard Wolff, a Marxist economist at the New School in New York. “The income gap is producing a level of tension that I have not seen in my lifetime.”</div>
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Tensions between economic classes in the U.S. are clearly on the rise. Society has been perceived as split between the “99%” (the regular folk, struggling to get by) and the “1%” (the connected and privileged superrich getting richer every day). In a <a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/01/11/rising-share-of-americans-see-conflict-between-rich-and-poor/?src=prc-twitter" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pew Research Center poll</a> released last year, two-thirds of the respondents believed the U.S. suffered from “strong” or “very strong” conflict between rich and poor, a significant 19-percentage-point increase from 2009, ranking it as the No. 1 division in society.</div>
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The heightened conflict has dominated American politics. The partisan battle over how to fix the nation’s budget deficit has been, to a great degree, a class struggle. Whenever President Barack Obama talks of raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans to close the budget gap, conservatives scream he is launching a “class war” against the affluent. Yet the Republicans are engaged in some class struggle of their own. The GOP’s plan for fiscal health effectively hoists the burden of adjustment onto the middle and poorer economic classes through cuts to social services. Obama based a big part of his re-election campaign on characterizing the Republicans as insensitive to the working classes. GOP nominee Mitt Romney, the President charged, had only a “one-point plan” for the U.S. economy — “to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules.”</div>
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Amid the rhetoric, though, there are signs that this new American classism has shifted the debate over the nation’s economic policy. Trickle-down economics, which insists that the success of the 1% will benefit the 99%, has come under heavy scrutiny. David Madland, a director at the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based think tank, believes that the 2012 presidential campaign has brought about a renewed focus on rebuilding the middle class, and a search for a different economic agenda to achieve that goal. “The whole way of thinking about the economy is being turned on its head,” he says. “I sense a fundamental shift taking place.”</div>
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The ferocity of the new class struggle is even more pronounced in France. Last May, as the pain of the financial crisis and budget cuts made the rich-poor divide starker to many ordinary citizens, they voted in the Socialist Party’s François Hollande, who had once proclaimed: “I don’t like the rich.” He has proved true to his word. Key to his victory was a campaign pledge to extract more from the wealthy to maintain France’s welfare state. To avoid the drastic spending cuts other policymakers in Europe have instituted to close yawning budget deficits, Hollande planned to hike the income tax rate to as high as 75%. Though that idea got shot down by the country’s Constitutional Council, Hollande is scheming ways to introduce a similar measure. At the same time, Hollande has tilted government back toward the common man. He reversed an unpopular decision by his predecessor to increase France’s retirement age by lowering it back down to the original 60 for some workers. Many in France want Hollande to go even further. “Hollande’s tax proposal has to be the first step in the government acknowledging capitalism in its current form has become so unfair and dysfunctional it risks imploding without deep reform,” says Charlotte Boulanger, a development official for NGOs.</div>
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His tactics, however, are sparking a backlash from the capitalist class. Mao Zedong might have insisted that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun,” but in a world where <em>das kapital</em> is more and more mobile, the weapons of class struggle have changed. Rather than paying out to Hollande, some of France’s wealthy are moving out — taking badly needed jobs and investment with them. Jean-Émile Rosenblum, founder of online retailer Pixmania.com, is setting up both his life and new venture in the U.S., where he feels the climate is far more hospitable for businessmen. “Increased class conflict is a normal consequence of any economic crisis, but the political exploitation of that has been demagogic and discriminatory,” Rosenblum says. “Rather than relying on (entrepreneurs) to create the companies and jobs we need, France is hounding them away.”</div>
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The rich-poor divide is perhaps most volatile in China. Ironically, Obama and the newly installed President of Communist China, Xi Jinping, face the same challenge. Intensifying class struggle is not just a phenomenon of the slow-growth, debt-ridden industrialized world. Even in rapidly expanding emerging markets, tension between rich and poor is becoming a primary concern for policymakers. Contrary to what many disgruntled Americans and Europeans believe, China has not been a workers’ paradise. The “iron rice bowl” — the Mao-era practice of guaranteeing workers jobs for life — faded with Maoism, and during the reform era, workers have had few rights. Even though wage income in China’s cities is growing substantially, the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/18/us-china-economy-income-gap-idUSBRE90H06L20130118" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">rich-poor gap is extremely wide</a>. Another <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/03/13/what-chinese-are-worried-about/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pew study</a> revealed that nearly half of the Chinese surveyed consider the rich-poor divide a very big problem, while 8 out of 10 agreed with the proposition that the “rich just get richer while the poor get poorer” in China.</div>
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Resentment is reaching a boiling point in China’s factory towns. “People from the outside see our lives as very bountiful, but the real life in the factory is very different,” says factory worker Peng Ming in the southern industrial enclave of Shenzhen. Facing long hours, rising costs, indifferent managers and often late pay, workers are beginning to sound like true proletariat. “The way the rich get money is through exploiting the workers,” says Guan Guohau, another Shenzhen factory employee. “Communism is what we are looking forward to.” Unless the government takes greater action to improve their welfare, they say, the laborers will become more and more willing to take action themselves. “Workers will organize more,” Peng predicts. “All the workers should be united.”</div>
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That may already be happening. Tracking the level of labor unrest in China is difficult, but experts believe it has been on the rise. A new generation of factory workers — better informed than their parents, thanks to the Internet — has become more outspoken in its demands for better wages and working conditions. So far, the government’s response has been mixed. Policymakers have raised minimum wages to boost incomes, toughened up labor laws to give workers more protection, and in some cases, allowed them to strike. But the government still discourages independent worker activism, often with force. Such tactics have left China’s proletariat distrustful of their proletarian dictatorship. “The government thinks more about the companies than us,” says Guan. If Xi doesn’t reform the economy so the ordinary Chinese benefit more from the nation’s growth, he runs the risk of fueling social unrest.</div>
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Marx would have predicted just such an outcome. As the proletariat woke to their common class interests, they’d overthrow the unjust capitalist system and replace it with a new, socialist wonderland. Communists “openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions,” Marx wrote. “The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains.” There are signs that the world’s laborers are increasingly impatient with their feeble prospects. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of cities like Madrid and Athens, protesting stratospheric unemployment and the austerity measures that are making matters even worse.</div>
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So far, though, Marx’s revolution has yet to materialize. Workers may have common problems, but they aren’t banding together to resolve them. <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Union membership in the U.S.</a>, for example, has continued to decline through the economic crisis, while the Occupy Wall Street movement fizzled. Protesters, says Jacques Rancière, an expert in Marxism at the University of Paris, aren’t aiming to replace capitalism, as Marx had forecast, but merely to reform it. “We’re not seeing protesting classes call for an overthrow or destruction of socioeconomic systems in place,” he explains. “What class conflict is producing today are calls to fix systems so they become more viable and sustainable for the long run by redistributing the wealth created.”</div>
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Despite such calls, however, current economic policy continues to fuel class tensions. In China, senior officials have paid lip service to narrowing the income gap but in practice have dodged the reforms (fighting corruption, liberalizing the finance sector) that could make that happen. Debt-burdened governments in Europe have slashed welfare programs even as joblessness has risen and growth sagged. In most cases, the solution chosen to repair capitalism has been more capitalism. Policymakers in Rome, Madrid and Athens are being pressured by bondholders to dismantle protection for workers and further deregulate domestic markets. Owen Jones, the British author of <em>Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class</em>, calls this “a class war from above.”</div>
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There are few to stand in the way. The emergence of a global labor market has defanged unions throughout the developed world. The political left, dragged rightward since the free-market onslaught of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, has not devised a credible alternative course. “Virtually all progressive or leftist parties contributed at some point to the rise and reach of financial markets, and rolling back of welfare systems in order to prove they were capable of reform,” Rancière notes. “I’d say the prospects of Labor or Socialists parties or governments anywhere significantly reconfiguring — much less turning over — current economic systems to be pretty faint.”</div>
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That leaves open a scary possibility: that Marx not only diagnosed capitalism’s flaws but also the outcome of those flaws. If policymakers don’t discover new methods of ensuring fair economic opportunity, the workers of the world may just unite. Marx may yet have his revenge.</div>
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<em>— With reporting by Bruce Crumley / Paris; Chengcheng Jiang / Beijing; Shan-shan Wang / Shenzhen</em></div>
Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-81655605736544061812013-03-01T19:22:00.001-06:002013-03-01T19:22:22.933-06:00A Marxist proposal for real change...<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
Sidney Gluck, a retired professor of economics, is looking for support for a project. Here is the letter he sent out; below is my encouragement to him; and below that is a presentation he made to the progressive Lamont Humanist Society:</div>
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Dear colleagues,</div>
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You're aware of the campaign we started to promote the use of public capital in the social security trust funds for loans to create industry, which has been denied by finance capital for the last 30 years. This would be a logical way of using an existing form of capital which our government has seen fit to borrow to the extent of $2.7 trillion, paying interest at a percentage I've been finding it difficult to fully determine. There is absolutely no legal reason why the public form of capital should not be utilized in some protected form of loans to finance the creation of industry and create jobs. It is absolutely logical, and in a way, the only direction which is practical and has proven itself by the government loans, which have in fact made it possible for the government to not increase taxes over decades.</div>
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We have started a campaign to involve trade union and labor leaders in the movement for this support of creating industries that private capital has neglected. We sent you the information that went to Washington and to the President's office. We are now in the process of creating a mass movement that will voice this request and ultimately get us out of the economic mess that will not be solved by the private interests. My call at this point is for you to promote this idea, and I would appreciate your getting back to me so that we can expand this list of organizations that should be involved.</div>
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Our success will be a tribute to positive associations of our kind on the internet. I personally do hope you feel strongly about the need. I look forward to hearing from you. </div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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Sidney J. Gluck</div>
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Contact: Sidney J. Gluck <<a href="mailto:sjgluck@aol.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">sjgluck@aol.com</a>></div>
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Sidney has a FaceBook page, too. Just search his name and you will find him on FaceBook.</div>
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This was my input:</div>
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Fantastic idea, Sidney!</div>
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I would suggest that two initiatives be undertaken:</div>
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1. The establishment of a Federal Bank based on the model of the State Bank of North Dakota with United States Postal outlets serving as local branches like credit unions.</div>
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2. These funds could be used to create and finance a nationalized, publicly owned energy industry making clean, green energy available to working class families.</div>
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I would suggest the "petition" be in the form of a declaration stating what the American people want instead of this greedy Wall Street drive for ever greater corporate profits which has turned everything into rackets ripping the people off.</div>
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Make it part of a call for full employment, too; as using U.S. Postal outlets for banking, and the manufacturing, installation and maintenance of a clean, green energy grid would create millions of jobs protecting people from the parasitical Wall Street coupon clippers. </div>
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Alan L. Maki</div>
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Here is the talk Sidney Gluck delivered to the Lamont Society about the three forms of capital:</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_zlvlb1aYc" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=N_zlvlb1aYc </a></div>
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<b>Alan L. Maki</b></div>
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Director of Organizing,</div>
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Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council</div>
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58891 County Road 13</div>
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Warroad, Minnesota 56763</div>
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Phone:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="tel:218-386-2432" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+12183862432">218-386-2432</a></div>
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Cell:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="tel:651-587-5541" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+16515875541">651-587-5541</a></div>
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Primary E-mail:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">amaki000@centurytel.net</a></div>
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E-mail:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com</a></div>
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Blog: <a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://thepodunkblog.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></div>
Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-63523283964935100182013-02-28T13:05:00.001-06:002013-02-28T13:05:17.786-06:00Head of the Communist Party USA projects an analysis and mish-mash of Democratic Party nonesense and social democratic excuses without advancing any specific solutions.http://www.peoplesworld.org/is-full-employment-possible-under-capitalism/<br />
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Is full employment possible under capitalism?<br />by: Sam Webb <br />February 27 2013 <br /><br />tags: Jobs, workers rights, capitalism, CPUSA, history, economics<br /><br /><br /><b>Editor's note: The following are remarks given by Communist Party USA chair Sam Webb at a Feb. 25 University of Georgia debate sponsored by Phi Kappa Literary Society. The debate topic was "Is full employment possible under capitalism?" Webb debated Greg Morin from the Libertarian Party of Georgia. <br /><br />Billed as "The Debate That Never Happened," UGA's Phi Kappa Literary Society decided to recreate an attempted 1963 debate between CPUSA's Arnold Johnson and UGA economist David Wright. That attempt had been squelched by a unanimous vote of the Faculty Committee on Student Affairs. The society was accused of attempting to "incite riot." In the spirit of free speech, the society hosted this debate during its 50th anniversary.</b><br /><br />Thank you, and thanks to Phi Kappa Literary Society for the invitation to participate in this debate on this beautiful campus and in this historic chapel. Thanks also to Speak Progress.<br /><br />The debate question - "Is full employment possible under capitalism" - is by no means an academic one.<br /><br />By last count, approximately 12 million Americans were officially unemployed. Of those, 4.7 million have been jobless for 27 weeks or longer.<br /><br />If we include in our calculations discouraged workers who have stopped looking, and part-time workers who would prefer full-time work, the number is much higher - roughly 20 million people.<br /><br />If you are African American, Latino, Native American Indian, and/or young, you are going to be overrepresented in those figures.<br /><br />Here in Georgia the unemployment rate stands at 8.6 per cent. Without fundamental changes in public policies, it is hard to see how this awful situation will change.<br /><br />Which prompts the question: Is persistent and high joblessness - not to mention stagnant and falling living standards - U.S. capitalism's "new normal?"<br /><br />If it were, it would contrast with the world that I grew up in. That era, stretching from the end of World War II to the early 1970s, is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age" of capitalism.<br /><br />This phrase doesn't capture the full complexities of that period, but it does capture some of its most salient features, namely, that it was an era of sustained growth, diminishing inequality, and low unemployment - the likes of which we hadn't seen before or since.<br /><br />My father, for example, who was a lineman in the backwoods of Maine, never experienced a layoff, even a short one, in a work life that began during the Depression and ended in the late 1960s.<br /><br />At the time, economists thought that the cyclical ups and downs of the economy had been tamed and that full or near-full employment was the normal condition of capitalism, not only here but also in Western Europe and Japan.<br /><br />But looking back a half-century later, one has to think that this period might well be the exception rather than the rule of capitalist development.<br /><br />Now it's true that during the Clinton and Bush years rates of unemployment were relatively low and the recessions were relatively mild, but I would add four caveats.<br /><br />First of all, the expansion of employment during this period took place mainly in low-wage, non-union and service sector jobs. The growth of Walmart into the nation's largest employer is emblematic of this phenomenon.<br /><br />The second caveat is that under the weight of chronic overproduction in global commodity markets, a new phase of the technological revolution, and the relocation of production to low wage economies, tens of millions of jobs, especially in manufacturing, were permanently lost. Many of these jobs provided livable wages and modest health and retirement benefits to "middle class families."<br /><br />Another caveat is the Clinton-Bush years were marked by growing income inequality and downward social mobility. The gap between the top income layers of our society - the one per cent - and the vast majority of wage and salary workers grew enormously to an historic high. <br /><br />A final, and especially damning, caveat is economic growth and employment levels rested on enormous stock, housing, and financial bubbles, massive deregulation of markets, and the production of unending amounts of business and consumer debt.<br /><br />While providing a lift to an otherwise sluggish economy, this financial frenzy engineered on Wall Street and in Washington and driven by corporate capital's drive for maximum profits wasn't sustainable, and eventually came to an end in an economic crisis, the likes of which we haven't seen since the Great Depression.<br /><br />To sum up, the Clinton-Bush years are not cracked up to what conventional wisdom would like us to believe.<br /><br />Since 2008, some pickup in economic activity has occurred, but overall employment gains and economic growth have been fitful and meager.<br /><br />Moreover, it's hard to see where the economic dynamism and jobs are going to come from without action by the federal government, and the restructuring of the economy on a scale that only a few in Washington are ready to embrace.<br /><br />After all, debt and bubble-driven growth that greased the wheels of the economy during the Clinton and Bush years is not an option.<br /><br />Nor should any help be expected from our global partners. Europe is stuck in an economic quagmire and its austerity policies are only making it worse. China isn't positioned to carry the rest of the world on its shoulders. In fact, the Chinese economy's growth has also slowed, and it is feeling the contradictions that come from its deep integration into the capitalist global economy.<br /><br />Furthermore, the longer-term processes that I mentioned earlier - overproduction in global commodity markets, job-displacing technologies, and global supply lines that fan out to distant lands - will only become more pronounced in the years ahead.<br /><br />Economic crises are supposed to be how capitalism clears away the debris that impedes a revival of production, profits, employment and growth, but that scenario doesn't appear to be the case today.<br /><br />So I'm guessing you know how I'm going to answer the question of this debate: is full employment possible under capitalism in today's conditions?<br /><br />My answer, in case there is any doubt, is NO!<br /><br />Transnational corporate capitalism, in its endless quest to accumulate capital and wealth, has morphed from a generator of jobs and rising income to a generator of unemployment, inequality, and insecurity.<br /><br />I would quickly add that there are ways to ameliorate the jobs crisis. But only if the American people bring the power of their numbers and unity to bear on government at all levels, much like Americans did in the 1930s.<br /><br />In his first four years, President Obama enacted policies that prevented the floor from falling out of the economy - an economy, by the way, that was stalled primarily due to insufficient demand for goods and services.<br /><br />In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama proposed a higher minimum wage, stronger educational opportunities, rebuilding the deteriorating infrastructure, immigration reform, and investment in green technologies and jobs.<br /><br />He also resisted calls for sweeping austerity measures from his Republican counterparts, since if enacted, they would reduce aggregate demand and in turn exacerbate the economic and jobs crises.<br /><br />All of which are welcome.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the president's package of proposals addresses only the edges of the deep and long-term jobs crisis that faces our country.<br /><br />Indeed, he missed an opportunity to project a bold, transformative "new jobs" agenda. For the sake of our fragile planet and ourselves, such an agenda would transform our economy from one dominated by Wall Street, Lockheed Martin, Peabody Coal, Exxon and Walmart to a Main Street economy rooted in a green, demilitarized production, clean and renewable energy, livable wages and union protections, publicly-owned banks, public controls over the investment policies of the Fortune 500, affirmative action and equality, the modernization of mass transit, aid for small and medium-sized businesses, renewal of both urban and rural communities, democratic forms of worker ownership, and a progressive tax structure.<br /><br />This reorientation of our economy would create millions of jobs, raise living standards, promote fairness and equality, and give us a fighting chance of mitigating the worst effects of climate change.<br /><br />Of course, if I had my druthers, I would prefer socialism - democratic, working people driven, and people not profit centered.<br /><br />But that debate is for another time.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Discussion---</b></span><br /><br />Sam Webb put forward the myth that capitalism in the United States from the end of World War II until the 1970's had something approaching full employment and a decent standard of living for most working people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Webb gives the example of his own family which wasn't anything like the "norm" for most working class families who worked for poverty, and near poverty wages, with millions unemployed.<br /><br />At best, many working class families were able "to get by" from pay-day to pay-day. Webb didn't have to live this way so he doesn't understand--- nor, does he care to understand because the facts would be in conflict with the reality his new-found Democratic Party and foundation-funded outfits don't want to acknowledge.<br /><br />In fact, Sam Webb ignores the fact that it was the Communist Party USA which pushed to the front of political discourse the need for the president and the United States Congress to be responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment and it was this demand which became the "Full Employment Act of 1945;" defeated by the most vicious anti-working class, anti-union and anti-Communist campaign directed by Wall Street. <br /><br />See: <br /><a href="http://fullemploymentnow.blogspot.com/2013/01/full-employment-is-issue-when-it-comes.html">http://fullemploymentnow.blogspot.com/2013/01/full-employment-is-issue-when-it-comes.html</a><br /><br />Why did Webb leave the need for this kind of legislation out of this debate?<br /><br />Probably for the same reason he didn't bring forward the specifics of a program which would provide full employment by putting people to work solving the many problems the working class is experiencing<br /><br />Webb correctly stated that capitalism can't solve the problem of unemployment; but, what he failed to declare is that working class struggle, irrespective of capitalism, can achieve full employment while positioning the working class in a position to eliminate capitalism.<br /><br />But, Webb doesn't believe in the working class struggle for peace, social and economic justice; Webb adheres to the fallacy the well-meaning Democrats will provide the leadership in bringing about reforms.<br /><br />If Webb seriously believed struggles of working people are the prerequisite to winning real reforms he would allocate the vast resources of the CPUSA towards these ends. Any organization that has two-million dollars to remodel its offices and hire staff to fill these offices certainly has at least a few million dollars more to invest in the kind of initiatives required to advance and initiate working class struggles around specific solutions to the problems working people are experiencing which Webb has alluded to. <br /><br />Webb claims, and rightly so, the unemployment is a serious problem and, again, rightly so, that unemployment is a consequence of capitalism; what would it take for the CPUSA to establish help launch an organization to push for passage of a modern-day version of the "Full Employment Act of 1945?" <br /><br />Look; lots of problems, most all of our problems in fact, are a consequence of capitalism but militant, united, determined and persistent working class struggles can overcome these consequences of capitalism; unemployment is no different. Webb; with his non-struggle ideology which has nothing to do with Marxism, in spite of his claim that, again correct, that working class struggles have won very significant reforms. But, it was the Communist Party USA's Communist Clubs and organizations which initiated these struggles--- not Democrats.<br /><br />Why didn't Webb explain what kind of things we could have instead of unemployment if the priorities of this country were peace instead of militarism and wars? Why didn't Webb explain how Obama's imperialist wars are killing jobs the same way they kill people?<br /><br />Webb is afraid to blame Obama for anything and this is why he can't articulate the specifics of what is required to end unemployment because Webb would have to acknowledge that instead of Obamacare which he supports, what we need is National Public Health Care; what we need instead of Obama's phony pre-school scam is a National Public Health Care System--- combined, both of these programs would put every single unemployed person to work providing desperately need social programs and for substantially less than what Obama's dirty imperialist wars are costing us.<br /><br />Webb doesn't advance the need for WPA, CCC and C.E.T.A.<br /><br />Webb is content to "win" a debate by explaining why capitalism can't solve the unemployment problem without explaining that people's struggles can end unemployment.<br /><br />If Webb had his "druthers" he would rather have socialism--- well, neither Obama nor Wall Street will ever provide working people with socialism, either. <br /><br />There is a reason every time working people encounter any problem the solution to those problems are found in class struggle.<br /><br />It's too bad those attending this debate in Georgia didn't have the opportunity to hear the views of a real Communist.<br /><br />Obama never "missed" the opportunities for real reforms as Webb suggests; Obama never had any intent to explore the opportunity for real reforms--- and there-in lies the problem and the difference between one who is content holding up the Dumb Donkeys' tails begging to pick up what the sparrows leave behind and working class struggles around specific goals and objectives like full employment.<br /><br />And how could the topic of socialism be considered a topic for debate for another time if capitalism can't solve the problem of unemployment? Don't people have the right to know how and what socialism can do differently to create a full employment economy without opposition? <br /><br />Here is a program that can solve the problem of unemployment that capitalism has created:<br /><br />A program for real change...<br /><br /><br /><br />* Peace--- end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and shutdown the 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil.<br /><br /><br /><br />* A National Public Health Care System - ten million new jobs.<br /><br /><br /><br />* A National Public Child Care System - three to five million new jobs.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Works Progress Administration - three million new jobs.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Civilian Conservation Corps - two million new jobs.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Tax the hell out of the rich and cut the military budget by ending the wars to pay for it all which will create full employment.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Enforce Affirmative Action; end discrimination.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Raise the minimum wage to a real living wage<br /><br /><br /><br />* What tax-payers subsidize in the way of businesses, tax-payers should own and reap the profits from.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Defend democracy by defending workers' rights including the right to collective bargaining for improving the lives and livelihoods of working people.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Roll-back and freeze the price of food, electricity, gas and heating fuels; not wages, benefits or pensions.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Defend and expand Social Security.<br /><br /><br /><br />* Wall Street is our enemy<br /><br /><br /><br />How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?<br /><br /><br /><br />Climate change is like war, poverty and unemployment... without peace we aren't going to solve this problem either.<br /><br /><br /><br />Let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood for a real change.<br /><br />Alan L. Maki<br />
Co-chair,<br />Lake-of-the-Woods Communist Club<br /><br />Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-1257208165769087842013-01-22T13:00:00.003-06:002013-01-22T13:10:37.330-06:00You can now read William Z. Foster's excellent book, History of the Communist Party of the United States<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><a href="http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/">http://williamzfoster.blogspot.com/</a></b></h2>
Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-47713324364512804672012-12-11T23:15:00.002-06:002012-12-11T23:27:07.485-06:00Poppycock<div id="ja-pathway">
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">The Lake-of-the-Woods Communist Club, the Duluth-Superior Club of the CPUSA, the Iron Range Club of the CPUSA, the Hardwood Creek Trail Club of the CPUSA, the Upper Peninsula Club of the CPUSA, the Escanaba Club of the CPUSA, the Republic Club of the CPUSA, the Westside Club of the CPUSA and the Barron Club of the CPUSA denounce this statement as a betrayal of the working class revolutionary and anti-imperialist movements. <br /><br />Barack Obama is <span style="font-size: large;">Wall Street's president saddling the American people with unending wars abroad paid for with austerity measures here at home.<br /><br />This statement on its face reflects a perversion of rev<span style="font-size: large;">olutionary class <span style="font-size: large;">consciousness and a complete distortion of Marxism-Leninism.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="breadcrumbs pathway"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Erwin Marquit and the National leadership of the Communist Party USA have refused to participate in the struggles of working people for peace, social and economic justice and they have sabotaged all efforts trying to rebuild the CPUSA.<br /><br />All poppyc<span style="font-size: large;">ock and lies.<br /><br /><b>Shame on this International Meeting of Communist<span style="font-size: large;"> and Worker's Parties</span> for accepting this "statement" without question or verification of facts.</b></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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14 IMCWP, Contribution of CPUSA [En.] </h2>
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Communist Party, USA. (CPUSA) </span>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">http://www.cpusa.org , mailto:
<a href="mailto:international@cpusa.org">international@cpusa.org</a></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Contribution of the Communist Party USA</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">14<sup>th</sup> International Meeting of CWP</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Presented by Erwin Marquit,</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Organizational Secretary Minnesota/Dakotas District, CPUSA; member of International Department CPUSA.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">We
express our gratitude to the Lebanese Communist Party for hosting this
important meeting under the present difficult conditions.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">The
Communist Party USA not only welcomes the reelection of President
Barack Obama, but actively engaged in the electoral campaign for his
reelection and for the election of many Democratic Party congressional
candidates. We regarded the 2012 election as the most important in the
United States since 1932, an election held in the midst of the Great
Depression.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">The
election of President Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 led to the
legalization of the right of workers to organize labor unions and to
bargain collectively with employers. It led to the establishment of a
compulsory employer-worker funded pension system for retired workers. It
also introduced measures that enabled unemployed families to survive
the Great Depression, among which were employment in the public sector
for the unemployed, work camps for youth, and food provisions for the
poverty stricken. Except for the youth camps, which ended with the onset
of World War II, all of these are measures that the 2012 Republican
Party agenda would have eliminated or greatly weakened. We believed that
if the Republican candidate for President were elected and if both
houses of the Congress fell under the control of the far right, racist
sector (calling itself the “Tea Party”) that now dominates the
Republican Party, the nation’s return to pre-1932 conditions would be a
real danger.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Because
of this danger, we viewed our participation in mainstream electoral
activity as obligatory, even though both major parties in the United
States are dominated by capital, with no effective competition from a
mass-scale social-democratic party, We are aware that some on the Left
in the United States thought that the correct approach to the elections
was either to boycott them, or as a protest, to run or support
small-scale left-wing candidacies with no possible chance of winning. We
Communists rejected this strategy because too much was at stake.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Why did the Communist Party not run a candidate in the 2012 presidential elections?</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">In
the 1930s, the CPUSA played an outstanding role in the establishment of
industrial unionism and the winning of sweeping social welfare
measures. In the course of those struggles the Communist Party grew
rapidly, achieving a membership of close to 100,000. At that time, we
always pointed out clearly that the lasting solution to the crises
produced by the capitalist system was the replacement of the capitalist
system itself. In our election pamphlets for the 2012 elections, we
continued to emphasize the long-term goal of a socialist transformation
of the economy.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">With
the beginning of the Cold War in 1946, the U.S. government introduced a
wide range of repressive measures against the Communist Party, which
included the imprisonment of its leaders and those that replaced them,
and the blacklisting of its members to deny them employment. Eight camps
for internment of Communists in case of a national emergency were
constructed; Communist-led labor unions were denied
collective-bargaining rights; eleven unions that refused to purge
Communists from their leadership ranks were expelled from the CIO labor
federation, and all but two of these were subsequently destroyed. Under
these oppressive measures, the size of the Party was vastly reduced. The
internal crises within the socialist countries and the subsequent
collapse of socialist systems in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
took a further toll. Anti-Communist sentiment among sectors of the U.S.
population was stimulated by the demonizing of Communist-led countries
for half a century. The U.S. government and media continually portrayed
the socialist countries of Europe and Asia as the gravest enemy of the
United States with nuclear missiles pointed toward the United States</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">As
a result, in 1984, Gus Hall, the Communist candidate for president in
1984—the last Communist candidate in a presidential election—received
only 0.03% of the vote. In small measure, this was partly due to the
fact that the United States had, and still has, the most undemocratic
electoral system among all bourgeois democracies, with no proportional
representation except in a handful of local city elections. In our
electoral system, when there are more than two candidates, the candidate
with largest number of votes wins without the possibility, in most
cases, of a supplementary vote for the two leading candidates. Most
voters regard a vote for a minority party as a wasted vote, since it
cannot elect any candidates except under unusual local conditions.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">In
the past four years, the Republican Party has succeeded in many states
in amending state constitutions to reduce the potential vote for the
Democratic Party by placing obstacles in the path of low-income people
and the elderly to vote by requiring documentation they often do not
possess. Such restrictions are aimed particularly at reducing votes of
African Americans and Latinos and poverty-stricken segments of the
population. The Republican Party is notorious for its use of illegal
means to restrict selectively votes in areas likely to support its
candidates. In such areas in Florida, for example, voters had to wait
five hours to cast their ballots because the Republicans in office
deliberately underfunded voting facilities.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">The
events since the last decades of the twentieth century made clear the
urgency of a different electoral strategy. The decrease in industrial
employment in the basic industries and the loss of jobs in other
industries as a result of computerization produced a precipitous decline
in mass-employment industrial enterprises, and led to a decline in
labor-union membership, abetted by an increasing assault by big capital
on the right of workers to seek union recognition for collective
bargaining. The possible attractiveness of a socialist alternative
provided by the full employment, universal health care, free higher
education, and other social welfare measures in the socialist countries
had previously restrained the capitalists from an all-out assault on
labor unions. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the European
socialist countries removed that restraint.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">As
a result, labor-union membership in the private sector in the United
States, which had already begun to decline from its peak of 39% in 1958,
declined precipitously to under 7% today. Until last year, the federal,
state, and local governments did not show the same aggressiveness
against labor unions, so public sector labor-union membership has held
steady at about 36% since the 1980s. Two years ago, the far-right
elements that now dominate the Republican Party began a campaign to
deprive public-sector workers of the right to collective bargaining. The
virtual destruction of the labor movement in the US, which the
Republicans clearly intend, would be a terrible defeat for the Left and
the entire working class.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">This
assault on trade unions is happening just as the major unions in the
United States have been breaking with their anti-Communist past and have
been moving into positions of authentic solidarity with workers’
struggles in other countries. An example is the support U.S. unions are
giving workers in Colombia and Mexico.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">A
key strategy for reversing the decline in labor-union membership is the
enactment of a federal law proposed by the labor unions that Obama and
the Democrats in Congress were unable to enact over the opposition of
the Republicans. This law would require employers to recognize and
bargain collectively with a labor union when a majority of their
employees have signed statements requesting such recognition, repairing
the defect in the present Fair Employment Practices Act that allows
employers to delay and block recognition by a combination of legal and
illegal maneuvers for which there is no effective redress.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">The
far rightward shift in the Republican Party was narrowing the breathing
space for resistance to corporate power by the working class and allied
elements of other classes. An important consideration in the 2012
elections was that a Republican victory in the presidential and
congressional elections could lead an absolute majority of far-right
justices in the current ideologically divided Supreme Court by
presidential lifetime appointment of far-right justices to fill an
anticipated two or more vacancies due to retirement or death. This
raised the threat that the Supreme Court would produce rulings that
further restrict the rights of labor unions to organize and bargain
collectively; reverse the gains in women’s rights by ruling against
legislation that granted women the right to equal pay for equal work,
contraception, and abortion; rule against laws outlawing racial
segregation, discrimination against women, and laws that protect African
Americans and Latinos from discrimination in employment and housing,
and that give gays and lesbians equal rights in employment and marriage.
A Supreme Court dominated by right-wing justices could even abolish the
federal Environmental Protection Agency. The far-right Republican Party
agenda includes all these issues. Even with the present Supreme Court,
we have been witnessing the erosion of democratic rights. Apart from the
drive by the far-right to restrict voting rights, the Supreme Court has
upheld the right of corporations to devote unlimited funds to elect
candidates that will serve their interests, declaring that corporations
are “persons” under law and therefore have the right of freedom of
speech!</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">The
most import success of the Obama Administration since its election in
2008 was the introduction of a major expansion of the people’s access to
financing of their health care. As a result of this legislation, 25
million people now have access to health care who previously did not
have it. The repeal of this health care law was one of the main points
in the programs of the Republican Party presidential and Congressional
candidates in the 2012 election. Even without a repeal, there is still
the danger that it will be ruled unconstitutional by the present Supreme
Court even though the lower courts have upheld it. Whatever the present
Supreme Court might not rule, a Supreme Court loaded with right-wing
justices appointed by a Republican president would still be able to do
so.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Obama
has opposed Republican attempts to introduce austerity programs similar
to those in the European Union. The Republicans have opposed his
efforts to use government funds as economic stimuli to reduce
unemployment, as well as his attempts to remove the special provisions
of the income tax code that have allowed the rich to be taxed at a lower
percentage of income than the average working person, and to eliminate
of tax benefits that the corporations get when exporting of jobs abroad.
The Occupy movement, with its slogan, “We are the 99 %,” that swept
through the country in 2011, sharply drew attention to the power of the
top 1%” of the population and stimulated support for Obama’s efforts to
require higher taxes for the wealthy. The Republicans have blocked all
proposals to reduce global warming, environment destruction, industrial
pollution, and other actions arising from corporate greed that that
threaten to destroy the biophysical basis of human existence.
Republicans even want to privatize the FEMA, the federal agency for
disaster mitigation.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Another
important issue is that of justice for immigrant workers and their
families. There are between 10 and 11 million irregular immigrants in
the United States, mostly from Mexico and other Latin American
countries. Our Party supports the regularization of their status, with
full rights in the workplace and in the community, and access to U.S.
citizenship. The Obama administration has moved too slowly on this issue
(and the CPUSA has been sharply critical of this), but it is now taking
some modest but real steps. The Republicans, on the other hand, have
whipped up a racist frenzy against immigrants that has led to vigilante
action and in some cases the murder of immigrant workers. Romney had
promised to make life so hard for undocumented immigrants that they
would all “self” deport.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Faced
with a choice between the victory of either the Democratic Party or
Republican Party, the Communist Party viewed a victory of the far-right
Republican Party as an extreme disaster. In this situation, we saw the
necessity of a policy of center-left alliances in order not to separate
ourselves from the people’s struggles for dealing with the far right
onslaught, The basis of such an alliance now includes the labor
movement, organizations of African Americans and Latinos, the women’s
movement, gay and lesbian civil rights groups, and organizations of the
elderly and retirees. On some issues, these groups are joined by a few
far-sighted elements of capital.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">What
do we mean by “far-sighted” elements of capital? As in all capitalist
countries, big capital is not a monolith of common interest. Not only
are elements of capital in competition with one another, but differences
in their investment policies give rise to conflicting political
interests. Corporations with investments in the oil, coal, and natural
gas industries tend to have the most right-wing orientations.
Corporations with heavy investments in China are somewhat wary of China
bashing by the Republicans and even by Obama. Some corporations derive
their superprofits by operations that do severe environmental damage and
contribute heavily to global warming, while others depend on a
relatively healthy environment for their maximum profits. That is why
some elements of big capital support the Republican Party, while others
support the Democratic Party because they can see a limited common
interest some issues with the working-class base of support for the
Democratic Party. Our present strategy is build alliances both inside
and outside the Democratic Party to curtail the dominance of big capital
over the lives of our people.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">We
are well aware that mass political activity on issues of social justice
domestically and anti-imperialist solidarity internationally will not
spring from within the Democratic Party. The Communist Party must
continue to work with other components of this alliance to generate mass
activity independently of the two parties to pressure the president and
the Congress to act on its demands.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">In
our electoral policy, we seek to cooperate and strengthen our
relationship with the more progressive elements in Democratic Party,
such as the Progressive Caucus in the U.S. Congress, a group of
seventy-six members of the Congress co-chaired by Raúl Grijalva, a
Latino from Arizona, and Keith Ellison, an African American Muslim from
Minnesota. We also will strengthen our relationship to the Congressional
Black Caucus (formed by African Americans in the Congress), which has
been the point of origin of innovative policies including an end to the
U.S. economic blockade of Cuba, and with the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus. In its domestic policy, for example, the Progressive Caucus has
put forth a program for using the public sector to deal with
unemployment. It has opposed the use of the so called “war on terror” to
incarcerate U.S. citizens indefinitely without criminal charges. In its
foreign policy, the Progressive Caucus and the Black Caucus are
outspoken in their opposition to U.S. imperialist policies abroad. The
Progressive Caucus, now that Obama has been reelected, will be playing
an important role in contributing to the mobilization of mass activity
on critical issues to bring pressure on the Congress and administration
to act on them.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">In
this year’s elections, the labor unions made vigorous efforts to
involve their members and their retirees in phoning and door-to-door
visits to campaign for Obama and the Democratic Party candidates for the
Congress and state legislatures. In my state, our Party members
preferentially participated in the election campaign through these
labor-union channels.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">In
my state, Minnesota, and the states of Maine, Maryland, and Washington,
voters were asked to approve or accept ballot initiatives (that is,
plebiscites or referenda) to permit or ban same-sex marriage. Because
the Republican Party relies not only on financial support from major
sections of big capital, but needs the votes of its right-wing Christian
evangelical mass base, it has made its support of the ban on same sex
marriage a major campaign issue. Our Party, as does the labor movement,
and also Obama and the Democratic Party, considers the right of same-sex
couples to marry as a civil-rights issue. By campaigning to bring out
people to vote against such a ban, they were also bringing out people
who would most likely vote for against the bigoted far-right candidates
of the Republic Party. In three states, the voters approved the right to
same-sex marriage. In the fourth state, Minnesota, the attempt to
insert a ban of such marriage in the state constitution was rejected. In
selectively cooperating with the progressive elements of the Democratic
Party, we generally openly maintain our identity as Communists and seek
to build our party through its visible activities.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">In
our foreign policy, U.S. Communists consistently oppose all U.S.
imperialist activities abroad. We participate in the Cuban solidarity
movement and demand the end of the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba
and the freeing of the Cuban Five. We opposed the NATO intervention in
Libya and oppose U.S. intervention in Syria. We support immediate
withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan and oppose the use of drones
for assassination and bombing. We call for the end of sanctions against
Iran. We oppose the intrusion of the United States militarily and
politically in the affairs of Southeast Asia. We oppose the
China-bashing policies of the U.S. government. We welcome the election
of several progressive, anti-imperialist governments in Latin America
and oppose U.S. attempts to undermine them. This leftward shift in Latin
American, opening a path to possible socialist development, is of
tremendous importance in the worldwide anti-imperialist struggle.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">We
call for the replacement of U.S. support of the apartheid regime in
Israel by support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders
with the right of return of Palestinians to their native cities and
villages. The day before the elections, the <i>New York Times, </i>in
discussing the prospects of a Palestinian/Israel agreement, wrote:
“Whatever chance exists of a new American peace initiative after the
election is likely to vanish if Mitt Romney wins; at private
fund-raising event, he said that the Arab-Israeli conflict was ‘going to
remain an unsolved problem’ and seemed unconcerned about it.”</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">With
the elections now over, there is a prospect that growing support in the
United States for a just Middle East solution can induce President
Obama once again to put pressure on the Israeli government to end the
settlement expansion and resume negotiations leading to such a solution.
An indication of such growing support is the letter on 19 October 2012
signed by fifteen leaders of the principal U.S. Christian churches
calling upon the Congress to reconsider giving aid to Israel because of
human rights violations. Reverend Gradye Parsons, the top official of
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) said, “We asked Congress to treat
Israel like it would any other country, to make sure our military aid is
going to a country espousing the values we would as Americans—that it
is not being used to continually violate the human rights of other
people.” The letter said that Israel had continued expanding settlements
in the West Bank and East Jerusalem despite American calls to stop
claiming territory that under international law and United States policy
should belong to a future Palestinian state. This is a sharp contrast
to the evangelical Christian churches, which have been part of the core
of the far right support of the Republican candidates for president and
the Congress. A Jewish-American organization called “J Street,” first
organized six years ago as a “pro-Israel pro-peace” organization, has
been gaining growing support among Jewish Americans for its advocacy of
an end to the settlement expansion and a two- state solution based on
the 1967 borders. In the 2012 elections, it contributed 1.8 million
dollars to support the election of 72 candidates for the U.S. Congress,
of which 71 were elected,</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">The
Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, had direct links to
some of the most reactionary elements in U.S. politics and with right
wing extremist groups in other countries who brought us not only the
Iraq and the war in Afghanistan, but also the contra wars in Nicaragua,
El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. He sought support from the extreme
right wing Cuban exile mafia in South Florida. The election of Romney
would have greatly increased the probability of direct U.S. military
intervention in Latin America in the coming period. The Republicans in
the Congress prevented Obama from shutting down the detention camp at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the U.S. naval base in Cuban territory that has
been occupied illegally since 1903.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">A
key element of the Communist Party’s strategy of alliances is to imbue
the struggles of these alliances with enhancement of the democratic
rights, and to promote the increasing use of the public sector to extend
the acceptance of a socialist consciousness. Obviously the Communist
Party needs far more growth than it has been able to achieve. We are,
however, effectively using our participation in people’s struggles and
the Internet to recruit new members. We have an online daily news
publication, <i>People’s World, <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/">www.peoplesworld.org</a>, </i>a monthly online theoretical journal <i>Political Affairs, <a href="http://www.politicalaffairs.net/">www.politicalaffairs.net</a>, </i>as
well as national and district Websites. As a result of our online
activities, we have been forming Party clubs in states in which we
previously had very few or even no members. This influx of new members
led us to have a national Party school earlier this year to acquaint new
members with the Marxist-Leninist orientation of the Party.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">The
reelection of Obama places before us the high-priority task of
reversing the decline in labor-union membership by securing the
enactment of the law requiring the recognition of labor unions when
supported by the majority of workers of an enterprise and securing
passage of other legislation that benefits the working people. The fact
that the composition of the new Congress did not change ideologically
enough to facilitate passage of this law still presents us with a
difficult struggle. The fact that Republican Party still controls the
lower house of the Congress and has enough votes in the upper house to
block legislative changes of a highly progressive nature presents an
obstacle that we will have to combat until it can be changed in the 2014
elections. We still have the task of strengthening the center-left
alliance and enriching its anti-imperialist character.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">While
the victory of Obama is a welcome aid for us in our domestic struggles,
we still face the challenge of mobilizing mass pressure on his
administration to reverse the imperialist character of U.S. foreign
policy. The CPUSA will pursue this formidable task vigorously in
alliance with domestic progressive forces and with our comrades in the
Communist and Workers’ Parties and their allies throughout the world.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;"> </span></span></b><br />
<br /></div>
<span class="modifydate">
Last Updated on Thursday, 06 December 2012 14:38 </span>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-4419926875345780402012-04-04T09:51:00.002-05:002012-04-04T09:51:48.307-05:00The capitalist multi-national corporation Foxconn and socialist China<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Because there is little to no understanding here in the United States about the nature of capitalism in its most savage, barbaric and cannibalistic stage of imperialism it has been difficult to understand why workers are being so severely exploited and abused at Foxconn in socialist China.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">One writer among many, a retired United Electrical Union (UE) staff person, John Case, who is also an unrepentant Obama supporter and self-avowed member of the Communist Party USA’s Economic’s Commission wrote the following muddle-headed, confusing article in the revisionist-led anti-Marxist CPUSA’s on-line newspaper, People’s Weekly World.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">John Case somehow managed to write a lengthy article without so much as mentioning that Foxconn is a multi-national corporation which has become a major player in China’s Wall Street dominated economy where a sell-out, revisionist Communist Party leadership wants to integrate China into the Wall Street dominated world imperialist system while deceitfully covering up their dirty deeds with claims of strengthening socialism— calling this “socialism with Chinese characteristics.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The wanton multi-national capitalist exploitation and abuse of working people has nothing to do with building socialism; it never has and never will.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here is the article written by John Case making excuses for the despicable living and working conditions one would hope Case never would have accepted and tolerated for workers he was supposed to be representing in this country: <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/foxconn-and-socialism-in-china/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0f6691; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.peoplesworld.org/foxconn-and-socialism-in-china/</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Obviously, John Case never read nor studied V.I. Lenin’s, “Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism,” < <a href="http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0f6691; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>> which provides a basic understanding of what imperialism imperialism is all about.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">No doubt these Chinese leaders have been tutored well on deceiving working people by the same hacks who have trained Obama so well in using left-sounding rhetoric he learned from his “mentor,” Frank Marshall Davis, to cover up his thoroughly rotten and reactionary Wall Street agenda of waging wars abroad paid for with austerity measures here at home to enforce Wall Street’s imperialist agenda in quest of maximum profits resulting from the rape of Mother Nature and the exploitation of labor.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">We should not have to turn to the Huff Post and Reuters < <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/30/foxconn-working-conditions-2012-hours_n_1390541.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0f6691; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/30/foxconn-working-conditions-2012-hours_n_1390541.html</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>> to find out what is going on with problems of working people in China— Communist newspapers like the People’s Weekly World should have been among the first to expose what is going on with exploitation and abuse of working people while exposing the treachery and betrayal of Communist “leaders” who have sold their souls— and the working class— to Wall Street.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This kind of exploitation and abuse of working people that this capitalist multi-national corporation Foxconn is engaged in— not only in China but all over the world— certainly has nothing to do with the building and uneven economic development of socialism in China as John Case suggests in no uncertain terms.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I find it very interesting John Case and the Obama-loving leadership of the Communist Party which has lost over twenty-thousand members under the “leadership” of Sam Webb is willing to overlook the injustices in China the same way they willfully sit in silence in refusing to condemn or organize against injustices right here in our own country.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Like the Chinese “leaders,” these CPUSA leaders like John Case have given up on the working class winning the class struggle here in our own country and in China. Thus they tell us socialism is for a far distant future.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When all is said and done, what is the class struggle all about from a working class perspective? Is the class struggle not a struggle on the part of working people and the working class a struggle for social and economic justice?</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Recently I took a photograph of an owl— he would turn his head away thinking that I was no longer there because he couldn’t see me.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Well, CPUSA “leaders” like John Case and his fellow Obama-loving buddy Sam Webb have turned their heads in indifference to these injustices in China while these worthless, imperialist serving Chinese leaders have lied about these social and economic injustices they have been a party to enabling to go on in China.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Foxconn is not a company which has to employ workers at poverty wages working long hours no human being should be forced to endure. Foxconn is an extremely profitable multi-national corporation. Contrary to what many would like us to believe, Foxconn is not a Chinese enterprise. Foxconn is a multi-national corporation part of the imperialist scheme of things striving for MAXIMUM PROFITS resulting from the brutal exploitation of labor— the abuse of working people.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This brutal and savage abusive exploitation of working people is not an accident, oversight nor is it in any way a requirement for building socialism in China anymore than such brutal exploitation is necessary for an outfit, a huge sweatshop, like Lillian Vernon in Virginia Beach, Virginia employing 5,000 workers— mostly people of color— to be forced to work 10 and 12 and even 16 hours a day six and seven days a week for months on end. Perhaps if John Case had to work in one of these sweatshops living these kinds of injustices described he would have a better understanding of the nature of imperialism. Why doesn’t John Case go live and work in Foxconn’s China “compound.” Case could write from his own first-hand experiences; this is what a Communist writer would do. Of course no real socialist government would be opposed to a Communist writer doing this.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">While working at Lillian Vernon, upon being told by the plant manager as he strutted down the long line of Meistergram machines where workers were forced to stand because if the stools he took away were returned someone might “sew off a finger if they got so comfortable they would fall asleep;” he declared to the elderly black woman at the machine in front of me that working 12 hours a day six days a week would be mandatory for the next three weeks, she responded with what we all wanted to say but didn’t, “Why don’t you people just bring back the chains.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Lillian Vernon is an extremely wealthy woman; she and her business partners did not have to operate this plant as a sweatshop enforcing these sub-human labor conditions— Lillian Vernon and her business partners chose to operate this plant in this way in order to make maximum profits just like Foxconn does in China.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Lillian Vernon has been a big-time supporter of the Democratic Party and these worthless creeps like Barack Obama.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Lillian Vernon purchased product from the sweatshops in China , India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The AFL-CIO was willing to over-look these injustices workers were subjected to at Lillian Vernon because she was a big-time contributor to the Democratic Party.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I spoke in person with both Andy Stern and John Sweeney together about the possibility of organizing Lillian Vernon’s sweatshop— they didn’t even want to hear about these injustices working people were forced to endure not far from their fancy offices let alone provide the organizing resources. Miss Lillian might be offended and withhold her contributions derived from unpaid labor forced to work long hours no human being should have to endure.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It is not coincidental that these labor-fakers are joined with sell-out “Communist” apologists for imperialism like Sam Webb and John Case as they meet in “unity” behind supporting these politicians like Barack Obama who serve Wall Street’s interests so well.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">After all, if they were to attack these inhuman working conditions in China, they would have to do something about the injustices right here in our own country. Wouldn’t that be a novel idea for labor leaders and Communists who used to be well known for organizing unions to stand up to injustices right under their own noses.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">But one cannot expect those like John Case who would use a Communist publication to make excuses for a bunch of perverted, Wall Street serving “Communist” leaders in China to vigorously speak out against injustices in China because then these revisionists would have to acknowledge Obama’s role in Wall Street’s imperialist agenda for workers of the world… from Virginia Beach to China.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">These labor “leaders” like Sweeney, Stern and now Trumka use the perversions of deceitful Communists in China serving Wall Street’s interests to attack socialism while their new found friends like “Communists” Sam Webb and John Case give socialism a bad name by claiming these injustices are a requirement for building socialism which they don’t support anymore anyways.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">All of this attempt to evade the injustices— created by capitalist multi-nationals given free reign to plunder and exploit in China under the guise of being necessary to building socialism by so-called “Communists” as their new-found partners, the sell-out union “leaders” use these injustices as an excuse to smear socialism, spins massive confusion among working people about the only alternative to this rotten capitalist system: socialism.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">If we are going to turn our own country around we will need a strong and vibrant Communist Party; we will need a militant and united labor movement led by the “reds;” we will need a strong, militant, united anti-imperialist organization integrated with the struggles of working people all over the globe; we will need to free ourselves from this two-party trap by creating a new labor-based people’s party. The basis of unity must be the struggles against the social and economic injustices created by capitalism with a clear understanding about the nature of capitalism in its highest imperialist stage.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">If these over-paid, muddle-headed apologists for imperialism had to work in a sweatshop they might be able to more accurately write about injustices— here and in China.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Make no mistake— the source of the injustices for the people working in the sweatshops of Foxconn can be found in capitalism and the corrupt relations with the sell-out leaders of China; not with socialism.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here is the Foxconn website: < <a href="http://www.foxconn.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0f6691; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.foxconn.com/</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>> This a capitalist multi-national corporation whose exploitation and abuse of workers should be restrained and prohibited and not enabled by a real socialist government.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here is a link to The Manifesto of the Communist Party— The Communist Manifesto: < <a href="http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0f6691; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>> Read it; study it. See if it isn’t as relevant as the day it was written. Understanding it helps if you have worked in a sweatshop but anyone who has an open mind believing that social and economic injustices must end shouldn’t have too difficult of a time understanding the message.</div>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-39047276950483258552012-02-25T16:50:00.000-06:002012-02-25T16:50:12.012-06:00Why we need to re-organize the Communist Party here in the United States with a Marxist-Leninist leadership and membership[Note: This is a guest blog written by an unemployed Ford worker who feels his efforts to gain employment might be hindered should he provide his name. I thought he was entitled to express his views anonymously under these circumstances. Alan L. Maki]<br />
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The present liquidationist "leadership" of the Communist Party USA intended to "phase out" the organization and establish in its place a social democratic type organization as a support group for the Democrats. Most of this has been accomplished although the remaining 184 members of the organization, mostly high-paid staff, have been reluctant to abandon the Party's name fearing working class revolutionaries will re-establish the Party as a class conscious revolutionary anti-imperialist Marxist-Leninist working class organization.<br />
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This article tells us all we need to know about what is wrong with the CPUSA today (see full article at the very bottom):<br />
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<a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/locked-out-workers-and-supporters-converge-on-minnesota-town/">http://www.peoplesworld.org/locked-out-workers-and-supporters-converge-on-minnesota-town/</a><br />
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Mark Froemke who is on the National Committee of the CPUSA is a "leader" of this union and a Vice-president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO and big-shot in the Democratic Party.<br />
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Being a Communist, one would think Mark Froemke would understand how to handle a situation when the employer announces months in advance that it would be locking out workers should they not agree to managements "final offer."<br />
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Instead of bringing forward the idea of occupying the plants, Froemke and this bunch of union "leaders" threatened and intimidated rank-and-file workers who began discussing the need to occupy American Crystal Sugar's plants instead of leaving the plants as ordered and instructed by management.<br />
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Mark Froemke, along with the rest of what remains as a "leadership" in the CPUSA, has spent their time trying to get workers engaged in supporting Barack Obama and the rest of these Dumb Donkeys instead of preparing the working class for these battles.<br />
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Even at this late date as can be seen in the article below, there is no suggestion as to what needs to be done when employers use the lockout as the weapon of choice in busting unions.<br />
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<img alt="" 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" /><br />
Mark Froemke sporting his Obama cap.<br />
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When employers notify workers they will be locked out and replaced by scabs any union leader worth his/her salt would respond by asking workers if they want to occupy the plants. This is the class struggle approach.<br />
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Instead, Froemke and his fellow union leaders ordered workers to leave the plants as instructed by management. What did Froemke and these union leaders expect; that Barack Obama and Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton would join them in holding up signs as the scabs pass them by going to work?<br />
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No attempt has even been made by the labor movement to organize massive protests which would be required to stop the scabs.<br />
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Labor "leaders" come and make nice tough sounding speeches about the "united strength of organized labor" but do nothing of any consequence to stop the scabs. All talk; no action.<br />
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American Crystal Sugar workers have now lost more than they can ever hope to win in the next thirty years--- if they can even save their jobs after management secures replacement workers they will train who will have no union that management will have to contend with.<br />
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Why does this article not explain the terms and conditions under which Leo Gerard and the USW "leadership" will force workers back to work at Cooper Tire?<br />
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If the "pattern" continues for American Crystal Workers they will go back to work looking down at their feet accepting a contract providing them with substantially less than management's initial "final offer." All because these union "leaders" like Mark Froemke convinced workers to put their trust in worthless Democratic Party politicians instead of teaching working people that their strength comes from militant, united action which in this case required occupying and taking over the American Crystal Sugar's plants, and now requires stopping the scabs.<br />
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After failing to take the appropriate action the first time around by occupying the plants, one would expect union leaders to at least recognize after seven months this is a struggle which can't be resolved (there is nothing any longer to win) without stopping the scabs.<br />
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I find it interesting that Mark Froemke and his gang have no problem physically attacking progressives at Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party conventions where they are used to prevent progressive alternatives from reaching the convention floors; but, when it comes to stopping these dirty scabs Froemke and his ilk cower before the company security and state and local police guarding the safe passage of these scabs depriving workers of their jobs and livelihoods. <br />
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Everything that is wrong in the CPUSA and in the U.S. labor movement can be seen in these 1,300 American Crystal Sugar workers being locked-out of their jobs left without any incomes or livelihoods.<br />
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This "Journey for Justice" should have begun long before the contract expired with workers and union leaders knowing they were facing a lockout with scabs being brought in.<br />
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Mark Froemke still wears his Obama cap even though Obama has ignored the plight these 1,300 workers living in the Red River Valley find themselves in.<br />
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The rank-and-file will have to develop a new union leadership quickly lest they wind up without a union contract and without jobs.<br />
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Another thing complicating this situation is that for years Mark Froemke has been doing the dirty work for the well-heeled Summit Hill Club in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party by attacking those seeking real reforms and standing aloof of auto workers trying to save their jobs as the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant closed. Fromeke and this joke called the <b>Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union</b> (BCTGM) which passes itself off as a union has never demonstrated let alone shown any sympathy or support for other working people and their struggles for justice. Had they, workers would have turned out to stop these scabs many months ago.<br />
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The working class needs a strong Communist Party now more than ever so these mis-leaders of organized laborcan't continue to sell out the working class.<br />
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We didn't learn that our union leaders in the UAW had sold us out until it was too late. We believed all their tough sounding talk about how they would never allow our plant, the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant to close. The CPUSA and the Democrats sold us out. So did the Trotskyists like they usually do. American Crystal Sugar workers still have their union. If they don't take a stand and stop the scabs they will be no better off than us Ford workers.<br />
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<h1 class="pageTitle span-12">Locked-out workers and supporters converge on Minnesota town</h1><div class="metaData"> <img alt="assets/Uploads/_resampled/CroppedImage6060-johnwojcikatwork2.jpg" src="http://www.peoplesworld.org/assets/Uploads/_resampled/CroppedImage6060-johnwojcikatwork2.jpg" /> <div class="author">by: <a class="s-serif" href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/john-wojcik">John Wojcik</a> </div><span class="date">February 24 2012</span> <div class="tags">tags: <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/labor/tag/Minnesota" rel="tag" title="View all posts tagged 'Minnesota'">Minnesota</a>, <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/labor/tag/worker+rights" rel="tag" title="View all posts tagged 'worker rights'">worker rights</a>, <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/labor/tag/lockouts" rel="tag" title="View all posts tagged 'lockouts'">lockouts</a></div></div><div id="article"> <div class="boxedPhoto"><img alt="Sugar" src="http://www.peoplesworld.org/assets/Uploads/Sugar.jpg" /></div><div class="articleContent">CHASKA, Minn. - Locked out workers and their supporters from all over the Midwest were on the move yesterday.<br />
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The workers locked out from American Crystal Sugar's plant in Mason City, Iowa, traveled north to join the <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/six-days-six-states-locked-out-workers-launch-1-000-mile-journey/" target="_blank">Journey for Justice</a> entourage as it pulled into this Twin Cities suburb.<br />
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The rally they held here and a picket line brought together in one big crowd locked-out workers form five Crystal Sugar plants - Mason City, and four Minnesota plants: Chaska, Moorhead, Hillsboro and Drayton - as well as locked-out workers from Cooper Tire in Findlay, Ohio.<br />
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Later in the day the Steelworkers announced a tentative agreement had been reached with Cooper Tire to end that lockout. The agreement will be outlined for 1,000 members Saturday and they will vote on it in Findlay on Monday.<br />
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Michael Moore, press director for the Journey for Justice, told the People's World today that the Cooper Tire workers would continue on the 1,000-mile Journey for Justice in solidarity with the locked-out American Crystal Sugar workers.<br />
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He said that while the locked-out Cooper Tire workers "haven't yet broken out the bottles of champagne, they are guardedly optimistic." Cooper Tire workers had rejected the last contract offer in November. Terms of the new agreement won't be disclosed by the union until members have had their chance to see those terms.<br />
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Before rallying and throwing up a picket line here the eight Journey for Justice riders entered CoBank, the primary lender for Crystal Sugar.<br />
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They delivered a letter telling the institution's officers that CoBank is incurring increased risk by doing business with Crystal Sugar during the lockout. The letter explained that it is costing the company more money to transport scabs in and out of the facility, in addition to having to feed and house them. The scabs, the letter points out, are also less productive than Crystal Sugar's union workers.<br />
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Workers note that the proof is in American Crystal's profits which, according to the letter, fell 39 percent in the first quarter after the lockout began August 1.<br />
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A representative of the bank accepted the letter, promising to get it to the bank's executives.<br />
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The eight locked-out workers gave CoBank 24 hours to respond to the letter or be faced with a demonstration outside its corporate headquarters later today.<br />
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Robert Greer, one of the eight making the 1,000-mile Journey for Justice through six states, was locked out from Cooper Tire after working for the company as an electrician for 22 years. Greer, the Rapid Response Political Action Coordinator for Steelworkers Local 207L, which represents Cooper workers, says companies have what they consider good reasons for paying the high costs of lockouts.<br />
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"You have <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/in-their-war-against-workers-corporations-increasingly-choose-lockouts/" target="_blank">lockouts going on all over</a> for the same reason you have right-to-work-for-less laws being pushed in the states. They want to take advantage of the economic climate and use it to cut pay and benefits and to destroy unions," Greer said.<br />
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Greer said it is important that all workers, union and non-union, see the importance of stopping lockouts and other corporate attacks on collective bargaining rights.<br />
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"We've lost 58,000 manufacturing plants during this recession," Greer said. "The attacks on unions have created a situation that in a town like mine jobs now start at $8 or $10 an hour. This hurts everyone, including the people not in unions. You can't raise a family on the kind of money they are paying. Everyone needs to see this as their fight."<br />
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<em>Photo: Workers from five American Crystal Sugar facilities across the Midwest converge on the plant in Chaska, Minn. Photo courtesy of Bakery Workers union. </em></div></div>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-36109649898058932172012-02-10T09:12:00.002-06:002012-02-10T09:12:15.948-06:00Muddle-headed middle class "Liberalism" or Marxism?<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Robert Reich, like Paul Krugman and the rest of these over-paid pundits posing as liberals, continues to evade two major issues:</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
<strong>1. The cost of these wars.</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
<strong>2. Racism and the failure to enforce Affirmative Action.</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
I find it interesting how Robert Reich doesn't apply the same analysis to Obama as he does towards Romney as Reich is building towards supporting Obama because the Republicans are so bad when in fact Obama and Romney both have the exact same Wall Street agenda couched in different terminology but result in the same thing: wars abroad financed through austerity measures here at home.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
No president has ever attacked the living standards as viciously and perniciously as Barack Obama has done yet Reich has the unmitigated gall and audacity--- not to mention total and complete dishonesty--- to pretend Obama is somehow better than Romney:</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
<a _mce_href="http://robertreich.org/post/17162027435" href="http://robertreich.org/post/17162027435">http://robertreich.org/post/17162027435</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
Shame on the left for not providing the American people with a clear and understandable working class Marxist analysis instead of all of this muddle-headed middle class apology for Barack Obama we are now getting from the well-heeled pundits like Robert Reich and Paul Krugman who build their fantasies supporting Obama around some kernels of truth that end up so distorted all we get is confusion.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Mitt Romney says he is not concerned about the poor while Obama pretends that he is concerned about the poor but really isn't concerned about the poor to the degree he takes the needed steps towards eliminating poverty--- which can be done with the massive redistribution of wealth to fund real living wage jobs and universal social programs like a National Public Health Care System (12-million new jobs if we just begin with primary health care) and a National Public Child Care System (at least three-million new jobs) combined with bringing back C.E.T.A., WPA and CCC we can put everyone in this country back to work if we end these dirty wars and cash in the peace dividends while taxing the hell out of the rich to pay for the rest of the bill.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
Robert Reich writes and speaks from an upper-middle class perspective and then he has the nerve to talk about "us" when he has nothing in common with working people who he keeps inserting into his "middle class."</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
I like reading Robert Reich's "analysis" because he does provide some important facts as kernels of truth; but, one needs to carefully read between the lines and sort fact from fiction.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
Working people need to establish their own Marxist think-tanks and action centers in the communities where they live and where they work because this kind of muddled nonsense will never get us beyond Wall Street's control.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
Pick up a cheap used copy on-line of "Dynamics of Social Change: A Reader in Marxist Social Science, from the Writings of Marx, Engels and Lenin" by David Goldway, Harry Martel, Howard Selsam. Here are some selections from this book:</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a _mce_href="http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=6859916" href="http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=6859916">http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=6859916</a></div>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-20848099082089444252012-01-08T18:50:00.001-06:002012-01-08T19:16:30.710-06:00In Darwins shadow, a socialist pioneer of evolutionA free e-book by Alfred Wallace, "The Wonderful Century Reader: <br />
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<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=2KUzAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA369&lpg=PA369&dq=Alfred+Wallace+and+The+Plunder+of+the+Earth&source=bl&ots=MJ0KVDTnw4&sig=WyD3HqamttfuxH7cDfYA54TwoC8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ID0KT4L-BtCRgQeXl42NAg&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false">http://books.google.com/books?id=2KUzAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA369&lpg=PA369&dq=Alfred+Wallace+and+The+Plunder+of+the+Earth&source=bl&ots=MJ0KVDTnw4&sig=WyD3HqamttfuxH7cDfYA54TwoC8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ID0KT4L-BtCRgQeXl42NAg&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false</a><br />
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The man was writhing in the grips of Malaria. A torrent of tropical rain beat on the roof of his Indonesian hut. In the calm interludes between the sweats and chills, he wrote about ideas — big ones. It was 1856, and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace was writing about how species evolve. <br />
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Little known today, Wallace went on to become the co-discoverer, with Charles Darwin, of the theory of natural selection, the engine behind evolution. And he became a socialist. <br />
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Who was this overshadowed scientific pioneer? <br />
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Wallace left school early to work as a surveyor. He loved to read, and England’s public libraries, not pubs, were his university. He was fascinated when he heard a presentation by socialist Robert Owen in a workingmen’s Hall of Science. While working in Wales, he found himself in the midst of the insurrectionary Rebecca Riots of 1842-43. These experiences left their political mark. <br />
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In 1848, Wallace’s interest in natural history led him to Manaus, deep in Brazil’s Amazon River Basin. While he contemplated the origins of species, he needed to earn a living, and it was dangerous. He collected insects, birds and other specimens along the Amazon and Black Rivers and sold them to interested parties. One of his customers was Charles Darwin. <br />
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After four years in the Amazon contemplating the variety among animals of the same species, he decided to return to England. He made his way to the port city of Pará with parrots, other birds and detailed notes of his experiences and observations. Disaster struck when his ship, the Helen, caught fire. A combustible balsam cargo had ignited. While he escaped in a lifeboat, his precious specimens and notes were lost. <br />
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Undaunted, Wallace journeyed to the tiny island of Ternate, among the Spice Islands of Indonesia in 1854. More collecting and observing wildlife led to his 1858 paper, “On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type.” He mailed it to someone he felt would be most interested — Charles Darwin. <br />
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Darwin was astonished that this young collector had independently thought through, as he had, how species evolve. Darwin had kept his thoughts on this mostly to himself, knowing the explosiveness in Victorian England of a materialist explanation of species’ origins. Now there was a chance he could be “scooped.” Some friends of Darwin’s, botanist Joseph Hooker and geologist Charles Lyell, moved to protect their friend. <br />
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Both Darwin’s and Wallace’s papers were read on July 1, 1858, at the Linnean Society in London. They were among six other papers read that night. Not many took notice. It was a yawner. Meanwhile, Wallace was still collecting insects in New Guinea to make a living. Darwin, due to family fortune and some timely investments, was not burdened as Wallace was by the need to earn money. So he set to work. His famous “Origin of Species” (1859) was the result. <br />
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Charles Darwin is correctly referred to as the father of modern biology. He collected mounds of evidence for evolution and its associated theories. He experimented on worms and barnacles. He wrote prolifically. But he also tipped his hat to Wallace in “The Origin of Species.” He quoted from an 1855 paper of Wallace’s: “Every species has come into existence coincident both in space and time with a pre-existing closely allied species.” Darwin wrote that Wallace and he agreed that this was “descent with modification” in action. <br />
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Wallace was respectful of Darwin and his work. In 1882, he was a pallbearer at Darwin’s funeral. But he also differed from the famous biologist in some important ways. While both saw the importance of the environment, it was Wallace who developed this more in his later writing. And he did it from a working-class perspective. Note this sentence from his 1909 paper “The Plunder of the Earth”: “The struggle for wealth, and its deplorable results … have been accompanied by a reckless destruction of the storied-up products of nature, which is even more deplorable because more irretrievable.” <br />
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Wallace was the first president of the Land Nationalization Society of England. His advanced political ideas helped him avoid the pitfalls that trapped other 19th century evolutionists. Edward Bellamy’s utopian “Looking Backward” convinced Wallace of the socialist alternative. He opposed social Darwinism and eugenics. He understood that class-driven economics and politics, not biology, had much to do with the corruption and injustices of society. <br />
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While we give Darwin his due, is it Alfred Russel Wallace’s socialist views that keep his 21 books out of print? The political left, and especially those in the environmental movement, should read more of this far-seeing worker naturalist.Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-59867753635232990732011-09-07T21:30:00.000-05:002011-09-07T21:30:08.815-05:00Taking apart the Wall Street web to create a beautiful tapestry<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">I kind of like the comparison of the tapestry and the threads to our society that I read in a posting here on FaceBook but there is a lot left out.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">It isn't so much that "we didn't see how the threads are connected;" most of the problem is that we didn't see that the threads now are put together to create a web rather than a tapestry.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">There has been so much governmental repression against a way needed to examine what was, and is, going on in this country and around the world that people have feared articulating the problem/s. </div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Marxism has been the best and most effective critic of capitalism. This is the only country in the world where socialism has been successfully "purged" from the body politic, and as a consequence there is no socialist alternative political party critiquing the consequences of first capitalism, and then state monopoly capitalism in its imperialist stage.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Following on this government repression as mass opposition is arising to Obama's Wall Street policies and agenda resulting in the emergence of a left that has being resuscitated because of the vicious attack on the standard of living of the working class required to pay for imperialist wars; now, again, the FBI, the New York Times, the New Republic along with all the MainStreamMedia and Public Radio and Television is once again on the attack against "the left."</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">The attack on the left was first initiated by Obama, his campaign staff and his Administration, then picked up by the Tea Baggers and now we get this massive effort under the guise of "what the left doesn't understand about Obama." Like in the late 1930's, into the 1940's and then throughout the 1950's, this attack is broad and sweeping in scope branding everyone including liberals and progressives together with the Marxists as "leftists."</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">It was interesting to see how Naomi Klein's "soft" socialist analysis was welcomed enthusiastically in Canada and all over the world but here in the United States her "soft" socialist critique of capitalism was downplayed with most liberals, progressives and the left refusing to use the opening she created to open up a full-scale attack on capitalism.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">We saw how the phony liberals, progressives and the left who used their "credibility" to create and provide Obama a false image of being something he was not--- liberal, progressive and left--- latched on to Naomi Klein in order to marginalize her in this country within a small circle rather than use her popularity to bring socialist ideas out into the public square.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Marxism not only provides the "magnifying glass" to closely examine the tiny threads of the tapestry or what holds the system together and how it works; but it enables people to articulate alternatives to the reactionary Wall Street agenda--- which has created not so much a beautiful rug, but a strong web trapping us all--- to free ourselves from this trap.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">The "new" attack on "the left" (liberals, progressives and the left) is taking on the creation of this straw-man of what the left is and what the left believes in order to knock down this straw-man without having to debate--- or acknowledge--- the real left.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">It goes like this: The left doesn't understand Obama. The left says Obama should have focused on the economy and instead he focused on solving the health care problems and then the left tries to toss these wars into the mix even though the wars have nothing to do with health care or the economy--- this left just has a moral objection to wars and tries to work the wars into everything else. This attack then goes on to say, "Yes, alright; the left has a point that Obama should have been more vigorous in pushing more taxes on the wealthy but the left doesn't understand that the presidency is just one branch of government and Obama has all these Republicans he has to work with because, after all, the Republicans represent an important segment of society, too."</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">What is ignored in this straw-man argument now making its rounds through the MainStreamMedia is that the real left said what we needed to do is create a National Public Health Care Program which would have create over ten-million new jobs providing the American people with free primary health care through a vast network of over 30,000 neighborhood health care centers--- in other words, health care would be publicly funded, publicly administered and publicly delivered just like public education or the United States Postal Service--- which, perhaps not coincidentally, has over 30,000 local post offices across the country now under attack by the very forces that refused to use the creation of a public health care system to create jobs and solve the problems of unemployment all at the same time; all financed by ending these dirty imperialist wars and taxing the rich... the only thing we need is our own socialist working class people's party made up of those of us under attack--- liberals, progressives and the left--- to explain all of this to the American people and advocate such a progressive alternative agenda to Obama's reactionary Wall Street's agenda of wars paid through austerity measures intended to decimate the standard of living of the U.S. working class.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">In the past liberals, progressives and the left retreated when under attack--- this time we need to mount an attack of our own.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Together, we can take the fine threads that have been spun to create this "web" that now serves as a trap for the parasitical Wall Street coupon clippers to suck the life-blood from the working class, and turn these fine threads into a beautiful tapestry.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Some people object to my using Marxist terms like "imperialism" to describe these dirty wars. But, Mark Twain who was well on his way to developing a Marxist analysis declared--- "Before the Spanish American War I was not an anti-imperialist but after seeing what we have done to the Philippines and Puerto Rico after the war I am now an anti-imperialist." (the quote is not exact but it conveys accurately what Mark Twain thought and said)</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Well, before the Spanish American War the United States was not a full-fledged imperialist Nation even though the campaign of genocide in the way the land and wealth of this country was stolen from Native Americans and how slavery was imposed reflected the embryonic stage of imperialism--- the highest and most barbaric and cannibalistic stage of capitalism.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Today Mark Twain is on a new "Forever Stamp;" the government would like Twain to be remembered as a teller of tales not a person of great political and economic understanding and vision.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/298837_10150371219751337_703206336_9585532_1671872820_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="caption"></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Just like these same people would like us to remember Albert Einstein for his work with the atom and not his involvement in the struggles against racism and war and his socialist politics and vision.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Just like the people in power would like us to remember Abe Lincoln as the president who saved the union and not as the liberal who was strongly influenced by Marxist thought when it comes to the struggle between labor and capital.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/320505_10150371217106337_703206336_9585516_1788238221_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="caption"></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">It sounds to me like there are a lot of people who are really fed up; this might be a good time for people to read a little essay by Albert Einstein, "Why Socialism?," in which Einstein explained why he was a socialist:</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">http://socialismtheoryandpractice.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-socialism.html </div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/296019_10150371218316337_703206336_9585521_1844252358_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="caption"></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Another good read is a new book by socialist Howard Pawley who had been the Premier of Manitoba, Canada--- elected on the socialist New Democratic Party ticket. His book is, "Keep True, A Life In Politics."</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Here is an interesting recent interview of Pawley:</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">http://www.channels.com/episodes/show/14571014/Howard-Pawley-Pawley-on-Politics?page=38</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Pawley and his NDP government started to tear apart the "web" using the threads to begin weaving together a beautiful tapestry for the people of Manitoba.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/307175_10150371217821337_703206336_9585518_1829663547_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="caption"></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">Of course, the history books have totally eliminated any mention of the socialist governments here in Minnesota led by Floyd Olson--- if you want to learn about Floyd Olson and the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party you have to go dig through the archives of the Minnesota Historical Society:</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/309894_10150371222016337_703206336_9585545_803864497_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></div>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-56968690025858365672011-08-10T20:35:00.000-05:002011-08-10T20:35:21.694-05:00A most interesting perspective<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dear Colleagues,<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I would like to share an interesting project with you. I had gotten a letter from the China Daily, which ran the story on me back in January, to comment on a few questions they plan to deal with as a result of the S&P decision to demote the credit line of Washington. In answering the questions, some of which they may use, it occurred to me to share the ideas with you. Attached is a copy of their note to me and my response. As usual, your comments are always welcome. I have been working on a thesis generally titled “The 21st Century As An Epochal World Change In Economic Structure”.<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sincerely,<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sidney Gluck<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-----Original Message-----</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">From: Kelly Chung Dawson</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">To: Sidney J. Gluck <sjgluck></sjgluck></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sent: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 7:50 am</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Subject: China Daily request for comment on how stock market crisis might affect China</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mr. Gluck</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">China Daily is preparing a story on how the current stock market crisis might affect the Chinese economy, and I was hoping you might be willing to comment. If you are, below are some questions (feel free to answer as many/few as you have the time for). </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thanks! </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Questions:</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Is the slump of the world's stock markets following the S&P's downgrade a true reflection of where the world's economy is going?</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. How will the US debt crisis affect the Chinese economy? Will China's exports slow down due to weaker global demand? If the world's economy turns worse, will China's imports from the rest of the world be affected?</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. What should China do if the world's economy goes to another recession? Another stimulus package?</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. Do you have any predictions for what will happen with the RMB? Will it appreciate faster to help tame China's inflation or slower to help the ailing exports sector in case of a world recession?</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Best,</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Kelly Chung Dawson</em></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Reporter</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">China Daily USA</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-----Original Message-----</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">From: Sidney J. Gluck <sjgluck></sjgluck></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">To: <span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Kelly Dawson at </span>C<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">hina Daily</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sent: Wed, Aug 10, 2011 1:37 pm</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Subject: Re: China Daily request for comment on how stock market crisis might affect China</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Dear Ms. Dawson,</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">I appreciate your request for comments. Here goes from the top of my head and my heart.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">As an overall introduction, I believe the 21st century is an epoch of world change that is in some ways similar to the change from feudalism to capitalism. Capitalism has done a great job in building industry based upon wage labor and the free movement of former landlocked peasants. China is going through some of that process now with the development of an industrialized society and will no doubt be the first nation to develop a high tech industrialized society with the use of both private capital and government social capital while also developing socio-economic supports for its population which in some ways resemble the welfare state that sustained capitalism but is basically a part of a socialist program which seeks to develop harmony among the collective economic levels. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">My answers to your questions follow:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Question 1</strong>:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Standard & Poor must be commended for being the first important institution in the capitalist system to take an objective view of the conditions among the varied countries. For truth, the dominance of US finance capital is a bulwark to the system on a worldwide scale. We have witnessed a shift in the past twenty years that had begun with the Reagan administration to the investment pattern, especially in the USA, from building new industry and high tech, which would continue job creation or pick up shifts in particular industries that would utilize the existing labor force. Fact is that the industrial structure of the USA in particular has decreased with the export of capital to cheap labor countries where US companies invested in China are now looking to move to countries like India and other former colonial countries for cheap labor. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">As a result, when our country was driven into an economic crisis in 2008 China bearing the shock brought its country to a relative equilibrium but then has been affected by inflation generated by higher costs of imports. Wall Street recovered from the economic crisis but left behind what is now 14 million unemployed and no prospects of industrial growth to re-absorb them in productive and life supporting activities. Beyond that, inflation has been magnified, affecting China’s imports and creating serious price increases which it is now dealing with by increasing minimum wage laws, increasing the amount of workers non-taxable base in their income and hence their tax to the government and consideration is now being given to increasing one of the relatively low levels of taxation among the wealthy group growing in China whether personal or corporate and insisting upon corporate negotiation with a growing labor movement.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">S&P’s alarm was inevitable because the distorted personal accumulation in all western countries and the USA has generated government debts for lack of taxation of high incomes and failure of governments to become involved in industrial development with one exception, Germany does not find itself in the same straits. Having first created a welfare state in the 19th century, they are maintaining it because of the multiplicity of political parties representing various economic sectors and the decision to trade and exchange with China that is a bridge supporting its own continuation. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">We hear now suggestions of solutions that German banks pull Western European countries out of their financial tangles and failure of growth. Germany’s welfare state will not include these countries and will continue on its own independent economic direction. I do believe also that they will learn much from China because the two economic poles of the 21st century are a reality, especially with the development of BRICS, which is now planning a 2012 massive conference of developing countries and industrial development, job creation, and the end of colonial exploitation. So thanks to Standard & Poor’s for opening the eyes of the world a signal that change is necessary.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Question 2</strong>:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The world economy is changing. This century is making new history by creating economic relations around the world that aid in the industrialization of countries that have been exploited for hundreds of years by foreign powers. This is the major change that is taking place with China as an example of the possibilities. Once the privatization impulse in the growing economies among former colonial countries will be diminished in combinations of private and social support of economic development. This will be the new epochal impetus. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">There will be an effect on China with exports to countries whose economic growth has been stalled. However, on the contrary, there will be an increase in exports to developing countries that are, in the last analysis, the world’s majority. Furthermore, the planned economy in China has the capability of capital formations both for industrial development and growing social necessities. There may be some problem with foreign investment; but then again, I suspect that finance capital from the West will invest in the development of China because they need it for their own survival. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The great danger is not economic failure because countries will be developing along with China, which now has a substantial base. The great danger is the possibility of war generated by the Pentagon. What is not fully known by the public is that President Obama’s position on dealing with international relations with China is based upon dealing with objective differences by using diplomacy rather than the military. (Note to the Editor: I say this because I had some hand in shaping his ideas. A copy of a letter received from the President in June of this year attests to his diplomatic approach in relations with China and enunciates his position, which differs from the Pentagon, State Department, and the military budget. This is for your information and may be used in a helpful manner. You will note from the copy of the attached letter received from the President only last June. You may use any of this any way you like, but you should know it.) </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">In sum, the world’s economy that had been dominated by private capital will probably turn worse; but the world as a whole will be on the upturn/ and create the possibility for economic stability as changes take place in the flow of private capital. China’s position as the second highest producer in the world, though it must produce three times as much to reach their per capita production which it will accomplish with its own as well as foreign capital and stimulate intensive growth as the effect of colonialism ends.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Question 3</strong>:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The question must be answered from two distinct competing conditions. The dominant one, at this time, is the failure of private capital investments and industrial growth. On the other hand, industrialization, on a wider scale than ever, is now emerging. BRICS is in the process of developing economic relationships among nations devoid of military structuring and expense. This newly developing organization represents the growing majority of the world’s peoples and countries even encompassing a controlled participation by foreign capital within its confines. But then again, in a changing world, that too can be augmented, nation by nation, adding overall national planning to their development as a change from planning by individual corporations based purely on their profitability rather than national growth. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Ultimately, we may be witnessing the worst and the last as planned economies are adopted by the developing former colonial countries, some of which are already on that track. Another stimulus package that might evolve will be strictly within the existing Western countries that will have to find ways in taxing private accumulations and inducing private and government investment to re-establish industrial development and job creation for their people. It might even be some form of redistribution of wealth in the form of legitimate and affordable taxes or eliminating concessions on tax rates that have been a gift to the wealthy and which, in many ways, has led to their present crisis.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Question 4</strong>:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">As for your last question, the effect on the RMB is sadly a tough one. No doubt the action of S&P might affect the value of the RMB but not necessarily. Nonetheless, the truth it revealed on the direction of not only the US economy but that of the European capitalist nations could affect the RMB. However, the developing part of the world will accelerate despite the crises in capitalist countries, and private capital will still be investing in the growth economies, as we know from the experience with China. Furthermore, I do anticipate that accumulated private capital will still invest in China and in other large developing countries and some among the smaller countries. China’s holdings of US bonds may suffer in the process, but the RMB is not immediately affected by the movement of foreign capital and depends a good deal upon the planned banking system in China. While it is true that the currencies of many countries will be affected, I do not consider the RMB to be in the same category as the dollar, the pound, the franc, etc. in the West. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Why? The RMB’s control is in the hands of the government in China. This is not true of the Western countries. What China must carefully consider is the indebtedness of internal regional government and economic enterprises and its relation to the central planning functions and decisions. In other words, there are more possibilities for the RMB to protect itself than we are witnessing in other parts of the world. The specifics in many ways will depend on the rapidity with which industrialization grows in the developing part of the world and the role that China will no doubt be able to play in stimulating positive economic and social growth and avoiding negative expenditures for the military. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">As for the export sector, it might be the necessity to reduce the profitability and accumulation by the government and private capital, domestic and foreign.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The one strength that China has, nonexistent in the West, is its national economic planning as well as the reduction private capital influence though it must be sensitive to maintaining conditions that attract investments needed for further growth. However, economic growth in China is a central part of the national plan and the federalization of the political scene together with development of democratic forms are inevitable and will also be helpful. With such experiences and possibilities, the RMB is not in danger as major Western currencies. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">After all, China has inherited more contradictions of its own than the rest of the world living through eco-social relations of feudalism and wage labor and the combination of private and social capital in a high tech wage labor system. It is the most complex society and economy that has ever existed. But its economic and social structure embodies a philosophical approach based upon creating the well-being of a productive population which will become the first nation to succeed in building a high tech industrialized society despite the multiple contradictions and improve the conditions of all of its people. That is the new society that will show its strength in the 21stcentury.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">I have answered all the questions from my distinctive point of view which is based on belief that China, with all its problems, is developing a Harmonious Society and ultimately will flower into socialism when the human nature of all its people on all economic levels achieve collectivity in their desire to have China succeed and create conditions for an ultimate growth into communism where the level of production and consumption are enough to take care of all of their people and fulfill Marx’s prediction “from each according to their ability, to each according to their need”; an ultimate return to the human relations in the beginning of tribal communal society before the development of classes.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Sincerely,</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Sidney Gluck</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-15333956761720447722011-06-29T08:22:00.000-05:002011-06-29T08:22:23.492-05:00Winnipeg’s North End<span class="badge"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/c/culture/">Culture</a></span> <h2 class="article">Winnipeg’s North End</h2><div class="subhead">Yesterday and Today</div><div class="byline"><span class="articleAuthor">Jim Silver</span> | January 7th 2010 | <span class="commentCount">5</span></div><div id="images"> <div class="image" id="image-1" style="display: block;"> <img alt="" src="http://canadiandimension.com/images/slir/w500-h400/images/articles/Silver_pic_1.jpg" /> <div class="caption">Winnipeg’s Historic North End. Photo Courtesy of The Winnipeg Tribune / University of Manitoba Archives. </div></div><div id="imageNav">Images: <a class="current" href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#image-1">1</a><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#image-2">2</a><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#image-3">3</a></div></div>Winnipeg’s historic North End was a contradictory place. Poverty was widespread and deep; out of its midst grew a rich and vibrant culture. Today’s North End is similar in many respects — deep poverty and racism, and an emergent culture of resistance, for example — yet different in important ways.<br />
<h3>Poverty in Winnipeg’s Historic North End</h3>After 1896 Eastern European immigrants arrived in large numbers in Winnipeg, settling in the North End to work in the vast rail yards and associated industries. Housing was inadequate and terribly overcrowded. The 1908/09 <em>Annual Report</em> of All-Peoples’ Mission, then headed by J. S. Woodsworth, said of a part of its North End neighbourhood: “in 41 houses there were 120 ‘families,’ consisting of 837 people living in 286 rooms,” more than 20 people per house. Overcrowding, plus half the North End houses not being connected to the water supply, produced disease: in 1904 and 1905 Winnipeg had more deaths from typhoid than any North American city. A 1913 study by Woodsworth found that a “normal standard of living” required wages of $1,200 per year; many in the North End were earning less than half that.<br />
<br />
Most people were working; they just didn’t get paid enough. Others worked seasonal jobs on farms or railway construction and endured cold, hungry winters in Winnipeg.<br />
<br />
Winnipeg was deeply segregated, a city divided, the North End cut off from the rest of the city by the vast CPR yards and distinguished by its “foreign” character. A 1912 publication described the North End as “practically a district apart from the city,” adding that “those who located north of the tracks were not of a desirable character.” The largely Eastern European working class residents of the North End were called “dumb hunkies,” “bohunks,” Polacks; anti-semitism was rampant.<br />
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In <em>Under the Ribs of Death</em>, John Marlyn’s novel set in early twentieth Winnipeg, Sandor Hunyadi, a young Hungarian immigrant, lives in the North End, described as “a mean and dirty clutter … a howling chaos … a heap seething with unwashed children, sick men in grey underwear, vast sweating women in vaster petticoats.” When the young Sandor visits Crescentwood, the south end home of those of Anglo-Saxon descent who controlled the political and economic resources of the city, he was shocked to see that “the boulevards ran wide and spacious to the very doors of the houses. And these houses were like palaces, great and stately, surrounded by their own private parks and gardens. On every side there was something to wonder at.”<br />
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Much was extremely positive about the North End. Selkirk Ave was a thriving commercial street with a dazzling variety of shops and stores whose owners typically spoke several Eastern European languages. A rich and varied cultural life characterized the North End: newspapers published in many European languages; literary associations, drama societies, and sports clubs; a wide range of alternative schools; and according to one author, “a music teacher in every block in the North End to give the Jewish, Ukrainian, and Polish kids massive degrees of musical instruction weekly.” There was a thriving co-op sector, mutual aid societies, a labour temple, and radical politics of a bewildering variety of kinds.<br />
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Most of this was invisible to those outside the North End, but as Roz Usiskin has put it, from this vibrant culture North End residents “derived a dignity denied them by the dominant society.”<br />
<h3>Post-War Change in the North End</h3>In the post-Second World Large numbers of North End residents who could afford to do so moved to the larger, newer houses and greener spaces of the suburbs. Businesses andcultural organizations followed; economic and cultural life in the North End atrophied. Housing prices dropped; many became rental properties, some owned by slum landlords.<br />
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By the late 1960s-1970s manufacturing began to leave, and the character of the labour market shifted, with full-time unionized industrial jobs gradually being replaced by part-time, non-union, low-wage service sector jobs.<br />
<br />
Just as these broad social forces — suburbanizationand de-industrialization — were unfolding, Aboriginal people began migrating to western Canadian cities, and especially Winnipeg, starting in the 1960s and growing by the decade. In 1951 there were 210 Aboriginal people resident in Winnipeg; in 1961 there were 1,082. By 2006 there were 68,380, the largest urban Aboriginal population in Canada. Many Aboriginal people located in the North End, attracted by cheap rental housing. When they arrived they were, generally speaking, ill-prepared for modern urban life, the result of a century of marginalization, colonization, and the damage inflicted by the residential schools. They arrived just as the good jobs were leaving, to the suburbs or out of Winnipeg entirely. And upon their arrival they faced a wall of racism.<br />
<br />
Aboriginal people have replaced Eastern European immigrants as the poor and frequently reviled residents of the North End. They face the same racism and exclusion today that the newly-arrived Eastern European workers and their families did early in the twentieth century. They experience similarly inadequate and over-crowded housing conditions — the result of the severe shortage of low-income rental housing all across Canada that is accentuated in Winnipeg’s now sprawling inner city.<br />
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They have suffered racist abuse for decades. In a 1962 Winnipeg <em>Tribune</em> story, Jarvis Ave., just north of the CPR yards and previously the heart of the pre-Second World War Jewish North End, was described as “the worst street in the entire city.” Houses had long been little more than shacks; many of the small lots had two or more dwellings squeezed onto them. The Tribune story began: “The police, with ponderous legal irony, call it Jarvis Boulevard. Others, with more bitterness, have called it Tomahawk Row.” Aboriginal newcomers had located there, in search of low-cost housing. Their socio-economic circumstances were the root cause of problems in the area.<br />
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But, like their Eastern European working class predecessors who had occupied the same neighbourhoods before them, they were blamed for their poverty. A half-century earlier, in 1912, Winnipeg’s Associated Charities Bureau had written, referring to the Eastern European working class immigrants squeezed into inadequate North End housing and underpaid as they were, that “the large majority of applications for relief are caused by thriftlessness, mismanagement, unemployment due to incompetence, immorality, desertion of the family and domestic quarrels.” Such simplistic and stereotypical claims echo across today’s North End.<br />
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These things about Winnipeg’s North End have not changed. It is home to deep and widespread poverty; those who are poor are reviled and blamed for their own fate; and the North End remains spatially and socially segregated from the rest of the city. Many in Winnipeg do not venture into today’s North End; most are largely ignorant of life in the North End; it has ever been thus.<br />
<h3>It’s Still the Same, but Different</h3>Whereas the poverty of the early twentieth century North End was a working class phenomenon, today, because of dramatic shifts in the global economy, a much higher proportion of those in poverty are the jobless poor, largely outside of and in many cases with little or no experience of the paid labour force. This is disproportionately the case for Aboriginal youth, and is a source of many problems. Massive, publicly funded job creation is needed.<br />
<br />
The North End poor of the early twentieth century typically lived in and benefited from intact, two-parent families, and ethnic cultures that were a source of strength and pride. Today, a much higher proportion of those who are poor live in families and communities that are less strong and resilient than was the case in the past, and in many cases their cultures have been seriously damaged. In the case of Aboriginal people, this is the result of the historic and contemporary process of colonization, by which the Canadian state set out deliberately to destroy Aboriginal families and cultures.<br />
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The route out of poverty taken by many of the descendants of the Eastern European working class is less readily available to the disproportionate numbers of today’s North End poor who are Aboriginal. Eastern Europeans were able to, and wanted to, assimilate into the dominant culture. Aboriginal people are less able to assimilate, less able to escape racism than their White predecessors in the North End, and less willing to do so.<br />
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The poverty of today’s North End has changed dramatically because of the intensified crime that plagues the inner city. Street gangs, the illegal drug trade, and damage done to families and cultures, and the almost complete disconnection of large numbers of young people from the labour market, have created a serious problem of crime and violence that is qualitatively different, and worse, than what existed in the North End during earlier periods of the twentieth century.<br />
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Finally, the poverty of today’s North End is experienced by many as a sense of hopelessness, of deep and dark despair. Inadequate housing, deep poverty, the prevailing crime and violence, the absence of jobs that pay a wage sufficient to support a family, have created a “spiritual” malaise among many that is particularly debilitating.<br />
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In many respects, today’s North End is unchanged from that of the early part of the twentieth century: deep poverty; widespread racism directed at the poor; their spatial segregation in a devalued part of the city. In other respects, it is different, perhaps even worse: the disconnection from a changed labour market; the erosion, in many cases, of families and cultures; the widespread crime and violence; the deep sense of despair and hopelessness amongst many.<br />
<h3>Rebuilding from Within</h3>These poverty-related problems notwithstanding, there is a dramatic process of rebuilding from within that is currently underway in Winnipeg’s North End and broader inner city. Like the vibrant culture of the early twentieth century North End, it is largely invisible to those who do not live there. It takes the form of a wide range of community-based organizations that have emerged from the ground up, and that use a community development approach to heal and empower those who are poor and have been damaged by poverty, racism, and colonization. Aboriginal people and Aboriginal women in particular are among the leaders in this work. The best of their efforts is aimed at rebuilding awareness and appreciation of their rich cultural heritage. Women’s centres of a wide variety of kinds, family resource centres, alternative educational institutions and neighbourhood development organizations are all part of an increasingly strong infrastructure of community-based organizations. Their work is creative and innovative; they hire local people thereby creating employment opportunities; they work in a way informed by their workers’ and leaders’ own experience of poverty and racism.<br />
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This rebuilding process is slow and difficult. For every step forward, another is taken back. It would be faster and less difficult with more public sector support. The civic and federal governments are largely absent from this process. The provincial NDP government has been supportive in many important ways. They have not done and still do not do enough to nurture and support this indigenous rebuilding process, but they have been quite supportive in some very important ways, and would be likely to be more so if they thought that there was public support for a stronger anti-poverty strategy.<br />
<h3>The North End and the Left</h3>The anti-poverty strategy that has emerged out of Winnipeg’s North End and broader inner city over the past quarter-century has not taken a form familiar to most leftist readers of Canadian Dimension. It has been and is being built by the poor themselves, and has taken a form that they have defined, and that has grown out of their realities. The labour movement is largely absent from this struggle; the far Left, to the extent that it exists at all in Winnipeg any longer, is absent from this struggle.<br />
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It is striking, however, that growing numbers of progressive young people are becoming interested in and active in this struggle. Although what follows is impressionistic, it may be that many young people recently energized by the anti-globalization movement have now turned their attention to local, community-based anti-poverty struggles in the North End and broader inner city.<br />
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If young, urban Aboriginal people were also to become politicized as part of this struggle, and were to begin to mobilize around demands related to antipoverty efforts, the pace of change would surely accelerate. There are few signs yet of that happening, and in fact an Aboriginal middle class is emerging, anxious to distance themselves from the poverty and related problems of the North End.<br />
Yet there is deep anger in Winnipeg’s North End, the product of poverty, racism, and segregation. Much of that anger is inner-directed, in such forms as addictions and domestic abuse, but also in the form of increasingly severe street-level conflict and violence confined largely to the North End and directed largely at other North End residents, and frequently at police.<br />
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Most Winnipegers, spatially and socially segregated from the North End and its residents and steeped in stereotypes previously used to describe Eastern Europeans, are removed, in every respect, from these issues. If they could be mobilized in support of genuine, publicly-driven anti-poverty efforts, and/or if North End youth, and especially Aboriginal youth, were themselves to become politicized and direct their anger outwards, real gains could be made in the North End. Until that happens, and despite the exceptional community development efforts in the North End, change will be unbearably slow, and will come too late for many.<br />
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</div><h3 class="comments">5 comments</h3><ul class="comments"><li id="c_3828"> <div id="comment_box_3828"> I live in the South End of Nanaimo, which is considered the skuzziest neighborhood in the city. Yes, you do see some poor young girls in the sex trade walking down Victoria Road, and that is because men in fancy cars from the North End come looking to exploit their drug addictions which were induced by some other exploitative men. On what is considered THE worst block in this city, a couple of blocks from downtown, my friend just bought an 80 year old house, a Craftsman, which has unsurpassable charm. Three stained glass windows, original fir floors in good condition, coved ceilings, french doors with etched leaded glass panels, a sun room with windows on 3 sides, which leads to a sundeck with a sweeping view of the estuary and Gabriola Island, and spectacular sunrises which are reflected on the water. There is a walk-in closet off the master bedroom. There is a little inner courtyard outside, and a peach tree and 2 Kiwi fruit trees, and a fish pond in the yard. Next door to her live 4 men who are a brass quartet, and they have a big old boat in their backyard. My point in all this is that it is possible to find beauty and charm where you least expect it, and it doesn’t have to be about big money at all. In fact there can be something ugly about big money neighborhoods - the pretentiousness of them, and the lack of originality, spontaneity, history, and variety. <br />
</div><div class="cMeta"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#c3828">#1</a>. Posted by <a href="http://old%20city%20counselling%20services/">Madeline Bruce, RPN</a> in Nanaimo, B. C. on January 8th 2010 at 4:35pm </div><div class="cMeta"><br />
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<li id="c_3898"> <div id="comment_box_3898"> So , it would seem to me to solve the problem of poor people living in the North End, would be to double the rents to get rid of the poor . <br />
</div><div class="cMeta"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#c3898">#2</a>. Posted by rosencrentz in winnipeg on January 28th 2010 at 6:58pm </div><div class="cMeta"><br />
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<li id="c_3899"> <div id="comment_box_3899"> No, that doesn’t sound nice at all. Speaking for South Nanaimo, the poorer section of Nanaimo, the price of houses and rentals is lower than the rest of Nanaimo. Gradually the old houses are being re-vamped, which makes for a very charming ambiance. As for unemployed people, many impoverished people are employed - just not getting enough hours, or enough wages. As for the chronically underpriviledged, some kind of entreprenurial initiative is needed to help them. Perhaps the teaching of new skills by retired people, which they could then market themselves, would get them on the road to a renewed self-confidence and hope for the future. <br />
</div><div class="cMeta"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#c3899">#3</a>. Posted by <a href="http://old%20city%20counselling%20services/">Madeline Bruce, RPN</a> in Nanaimo, B. C. on January 28th 2010 at 7:32pm </div><div class="cMeta"><br />
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<li id="c_3920"> <div id="comment_box_3920"> I enjoyed reading this article and found it very thoughtful. I grew up in the North End in the 1950s and 60s, spending all my time hanging around at the Sals and Sportsman’s. I am old enough to remember the unpaved back lanes that flooded every spring. Two formative events in the North End not mentioned in the article were the 1919 Strike and, less often noted, the tearing out of the street care tracks along Main Street. In the 1980s when I was Deputy Minister of Community Services in the Pawley government we ‘blew up’ the Winnipeg Children’s Aid Society and established five decentralized ‘Child and Family Service Agencies’ across the city, including one in the North End - with its HQ in the old Bank of Montreal building on Main and Bannerman (I think that was the cross street). Over 3000 people turned out for the election of the first Board. I think the agency could have made areal difference in the North End, as it included strong representation from within the Aboriginal community and took on a significant preventive mandate, but the Filmon government took over and got rid of all the agencies after a little more than a year, so we will never know what might have been. We did however fund the community effort to set up Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre which remains to this day. So perhaps it was not all for naught. <br />
</div><div class="cMeta"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#c3920">#4</a>. Posted by Michael Mendelson in Toronto on February 8th 2010 at 6:17pm </div><div class="cMeta"><br />
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<li id="c_3936"> <div id="comment_box_3936"> Michael Mendelson speaks of the New Democratic Party Manitoba government led by Howard Pawley and just a few of its important initiatives of which there were many—- probably the most honest government in the history of the North American continent. He then goes on to mention how the thoroughly reactionary government of Gary Filmon destroyed several of the Pawley government’s programs of which there were so many destroyed by the Filmon government which leads me to wonder why no one has yet written a comparison of these two governments.<br />
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It seems to me now would be the time to write such a comparison.<br />
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I was living in Manitoba for about ten years at the time the Filmon government was coming into power. Filmon privatized the Manitoba Telephone Service and Manitobans are still suffering the consequences.<br />
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But, Filmon also did, what I consider to be one of the most callous and anti-human things imaginable in putting an end to the dental program in the elementary schools. <br />
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If every government in the world was just one iota as honest and caring about the needs of working people as was the Pawley NDP government, people could be living pretty decent lives.<br />
There is a story that needs to be told here—- a tale of two governments; one for the people, the Pawley NDP government—- the other, the Filmon Government of Progressive Conservatives for the greedy wealthy few and the corporations.<br />
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(Now there—- Progressive Conservative—- is a real oxymoron if ever there was one.)<br />
A webb site or blog would be the perfect place to tell this story of a tale of two governments. Working people across North America need to know and understand this story which is the history of the clash and struggle between classes.<br />
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This is an especially important story to tell at a time when working people are beginning to think there is no hope for change while taking such beatings and are being battered by Bay Street and Wall Street.<br />
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Working people across North America need to experience the all-inclusive government like that of Howard Pawley’s government which welcomed a full and complete expression of just about every political view from liberal to socialist to communist represented in the various people’s movements… proving people working together accomplish great things.<br />
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When people tell me about “hope” and “change” here in the United States, I always tell them: You don’t know what “hope” and “change” is all about unless you understand the people’s movements that brought governments like that of Howard Pawley, Tommy Douglas, Floyd Olson and Elmer Benson to power.<br />
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Unlike the Tommy Douglas story or the history of the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, the story of the Howard Pawley NDP government is still fresh enough to become an important factor in the struggles of today. Tell the story.<br />
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</div><div class="cMeta"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2674/#c3936">#5</a>. Posted by <a href="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/">Alan L. Maki</a> in Warroad, Minnesota, USA on February 25th 2010 at 9:44am </div><div class="cMeta"><br />
</div><div class="cMeta"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Note: Howard Pawley has now written an excellent book, "Keep True, a life in politics." I would encourage everyone read and study this book. </span></div></li>
</ul>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-58672930689219744872011-06-29T07:53:00.000-05:002011-06-29T07:53:25.745-05:00North Winnipeg’s Seal of Identity<span class="badge"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/c/culture/">Culture</a>, <a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/c/socialism/">Socialism</a></span> <h2 class="article">North Winnipeg’s Seal of Identity</h2><div class="byline"><span class="articleAuthor">Leo Panitch</span> | January 7th 2009 | <span class="commentCount">1</span></div><div class="byline"><br />
</div><strong>A Glowing Dream: A Memoir</strong><br />
<br />
by Roland Penner<br />
<br />
J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing, 2007<br />
“The place of childhood provides the seal of identity.” This epigram opens the first chapter of Roland Penner’s memoir, <em>Growing Up ‘Red’ in Winnipeg’s North End.</em> It holds true even for those of us who grew up only “pink” — i.e. whose parents were CCFers rather than Communists, and who as a result never set foot in the Ukrainian Labour Temple at Pritchard and McGregor. Just how much Winnipeg’s working-class political culture sealed our identities was brought home to me last year when I sent my brother an article that touched on the strike at the Hurtig Fur Company in the early 1930s — during the course of which my father, while on the picket line, had his head split open by a scab. My brother, who was born in 1934, responded: “You know, when I was a little boy I used to get confused about whether the really bad guy’s name was Hurtig or Hitler.”<br />
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To be sure, the industrial side of Winnipeg’s history of class conflict makes very little appearance in this memoir — apart from a few sentences that recall Roland standing as a teenager “on the bald prairie with the temperature at about wind chill -50°F, handing out union leaflets” as part of an organizing drive at a plant on the outskirts of Transcona. This is hardly surprising, since the Penner family was preeminent for its involvement on the political side of the labour movement — so much so that on one memorable May Day, after some five thousand paraded along Portage Avenue and Main Street to end up at Market Square in front of the old City Hall, the three speakers who addressed them were Penner’s politically passionate and fiery mother, Rose; his eleven-year-old “child orator” brother, Norman; and, of course, his venerable father, Jacob, the famous Communist alderman for Ward Three. (Jacob Penner was “almost always dressed in a conservatively cut three-piece wool suit, a shirt with a stiff celluloid collar, a firmly knotted woolen tie, a carefully blocked and immaculately clean fedora, and sometimes, over his shoes, spats.”)<br />
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The story told here of the Penner family is a fascinating one, from its origins among downwardly mobile Mennonite ancestors who once owned an estate on the west bank of the Dniepr River to Jacob’s “form of marriage without clergy” to a Jewish orphan from Odessa, Rose Shapak. One of the most revealing aspects of north Winnipeg’s ethnic culture is uncovered here, as Jacob the Red, before his election as alderman in 1934 at the age of 54, moves from job to job for some two decades, including as a candy salesman with the help of Rose’s connection to the well-off Galpern family. Just as class conflict tore the Jewish community apart in a strike like the one at Hurtig’s, so did family ties often transcend the sharpest of differences in the class politics of Winnipeg’s North End.<br />
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The family anecdotes in this book are so profuse that many of the best are found in the footnotes. One of Rose’s nephews goes to the U.S.S.R. in 1933 and gets swept away five years later in Stalin’s murder machine. One of Jake’s brothers-in-law returns home after a visit to Germany in 1936, and becomes a supporter of the Winnipeg Nazi Party. Shortly after Jake is sent off to an internment camp as a Communist in 1940, sixteen-year-old Roland and his twin sister Ruthie are home alone listening to “Saturday Afternoon at the Met” (while Rose is in Ottawa heading up a delegation of wives petitioning for improvements in the camp’s conditions), and the RCMP come barging in waving a search warrant. As one Mountie moves to turn off the radio, Ruthie screams at him: “In this house no one turns off the opera!”<br />
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Indeed, so plentiful are Penner’s family anecdotes that one terrific example, which he told when Norman was honoured at a banquet at the University of Manitoba some two decades ago, is left out of this book. As I recall it (and have often retold it), when Norman marched into the principal’s office of his grade school to complain that the phys-ed instructor was picking on him because he was a Communist, the principal sternly and accusingly said (so everyone in the outer office could hear): “You’re a Communist?!” And then, after closing the door, he whispered, “So am I.”<br />
<br />
Penner’s admiration for his parents’ Communist politics is palpable, and he explicitly contrasts this with the way other “red diaper babies” like Jim Laxer and Stan Gray have written disparagingly of their parents’ politics. Quoting Laxer to the effect that truth was “a very slippery commodity” in his home, Roland proudly writes: “That was not our experience…. We asked many questions and Dad and our mother told us what they sincerely believed to be true.” His father remains his “primary inspiration” — a man who “fought for the rights of others at great cost to himself” — and this is why his parents commitment to the “Glowing Dream” forms the title of his memoir. Yet, one might have wished that Roland had offered a more sober reflection on his father’s generation of Canadian Communists, not only with regard to what they knew or didn’t know about Stalin’s crimes in the U.S.S.R. or to the limitations of “democratic centralist” life inside the party, but also to the reformist strategy it pursued in the public arena.<br />
<br />
Thus, we learn that Jacob Penner left the Socialist Party of Canada in 1911 because he felt it was too oriented toward raising class consciousness through Marxist education alone. He devoted himself to a life of “unceasing struggle for [the] daily needs and pressing problems” of working people in the belief that this practical activity would raise their consciousness as “the essential feature in the development of a socialist revolution.” Yet, when he died in 1965, aged 85 (having only retired as alderman three years earlier), the Winnipeg Free Press made a point of saying that he was a “political curiosity” who drew much of his support from people “who cared nothing for politics but who admired his efficiency and ability and who believed that he worked for the underdog.” Penner quotes this approvingly, without raising the question of how far this achievement nevertheless stood from the development of the class consciousness needed for supporting socialist revolution, which had been Jake’s original purpose. Would more attention to creative Marxist education have produced a better result? This memoir doesn’t go there, perhaps because Roland, from the time of his own engagement in student politics at the University of Manitoba in the late 1940s, adopted a stance “quite in keeping with my father’s approach to political activity on an issue-by-issue basis.” This approach did not mean that he often lost his bearings on the Left of the political spectrum — far from it. But as the main part of the memoir turns to cover Roland’s own adult political life, this “issue-by-issue” approach is visible all along the way: from his slow drift away from the CP (rather than exiting in flames as his brother did in 1957); to his joining Joe Zuken’s law firm; to his foundational role in the establishment of legal aid in Manitoba; to his almost happenstance decision to join the NDP; to what he calls his “life in government” as attorney general of Manitoba.<br />
<br />
The limits of this approach came to a head with his role in the Meech Lake Accord, which he still sees as “a reasonable compromise” on the grounds that, while he agrees with those critics who said that “the separatists would always ask for more,” if the Accord had passed it would have ensured that “their call to break up the country [would have] fallen on less fertile ground.” This is pretty conventional stuff. He reserves his real ire, moreover, for the left critics of the Accord, especially those “many women … influenced by flamboyant statements … by Judy Rebick and the National Action Committee,” who saw the deal as concocted by “men in suits” with the aim of using Quebec’s recognition as a distinct society to override the Charter’s equality provisions (“This is, in my view, nonsense.”) and undermine federal social programs (the likelihood of which he sees as “essentially nil”).<br />
<br />
Penner’s decision to side with the pragmatic men in suits against the socialist feminists during the Meech Lake controversy in 1987 was presaged by the controversy over the stand he took in 1983 over the newly opened Morgentaler abortion clinic in Winnipeg. In justifying why as attorney general he could not “authorize a blanket stay of proceedings” with respect to criminal charges against Morgentaler, Penner clearly sees himself as properly following the advice Justice Samuel Freedman gave him when he invited Penner to lunch after his appointment: the Attorney General “must not be political.” But if Penner now admits that his Morgentaler moment “still comes back to haunt me from time to time,” this may be because he knows very well (as he puts it in the memoir in relation to his discussion of the task force on legal aid in the 1970s) that “the legal system itself is so much the product of the establishment it serves that it cannot be turned into the front line for law reform and even more obviously for social transformation.” It most certainly can’t if attorneys general act as if their roles are non-political.<br />
<br />
It is impossible to do full justice to Penner’s memoir without going even further over the word limit CD’s editors have allotted me. Suffice to say that this review touches upon only a few aspects of the rich and varied life recounted in this book. I especially enjoyed making the connection between Penner’s many entrepreneurial activities during his Communist boyhood in the 1930s with his “life as an impressario,” when he ran the Co-op Bookstore in the late 1950s and was responsible for bringing Pete Seeger and Odetta, among many others, to sing before Winnipeg audiences.<br />
<br />
For me, at least, this enjoyable read was enhanced by being able to catch Penner out on such errors as telling us that Lenin “famously said that communism equals socialism plus electric power” (he actually said “soviets and electric power”). Or the misnumbering of the Chapter Two endnotes, so that the citation for the homage Penner pays to the great Fritz Hansen, the American running back who led the Blue Bombers to their first Grey Cup in 1935, amusingly offers sources to the On to Ottawa Trek of that year. The only unfortunate result of this misnumbering is that we never learn who actually coined that wise phrase: “The place of childhood provides the seal of identity.”<br />
<br />
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</div><h3 class="comments">1 comments</h3><ul class="comments"><li id="c_1995"> <div id="comment_box_1995"> Leo Panitch’s review of “A Glowing Dream: A Memoir” itself is food for thought, dialogue, discussion and debate as much as is Roland Penner’s excellent book, which I would strongly recommend to every worker to read and study.<br />
<br />
Panitch finds problems with Jacob Penner’s approach towards politics and assumes that Marxist education was not simultaneously taking place with the excellent work Jacob Penner did in serving working people on the Winnipeg City Council.<br />
<br />
Having personally known many of those in Jacob Penner’s Communist Party circle, I know that this contention simply is not accurate.<br />
<br />
And I believe that where Panitch is inaccurate here is the very crux of what is missing in working class struggles in Canada and the United States today, which is holding back the struggle of the working class for real power: social, political and economic; the struggle for socialism—the only alternative to this failed capitalist system.<br />
<br />
What Panitch fails to understand is the way the Communist Party works in a collective way… while Panitch’s contention that Jacob Penner paid too little attention to Marxist education of the working class—a very dubious contention at best seeing as how Jacob Penner was the longest serving Communist elected public official in Canada, and perhaps the world—it is hard to believe that Panitch’s assessment is accurate that there was a lack of socialist/Marxist education taking place. How a Communist repeatedly gets elected and re-elected when there is a powerful corrupt web of capitalism spun all around him creating such a hostile environment would then have to be explained… an explanation Leo Panitch never broaches… not everything he hasn’t broached can be explained away as not being provided more space by Canadian Dimension since Panitch has had ample opportunity to do this elsewhere; and he has not.<br />
<br />
Panitch forgets, or intentionally omits, the role of the Communist Party Club. Jacob Penner always “had his back covered” by a very powerful Communist movement consisting of very important Communist Party clubs in Manitoba which were more than a little responsible for his repeated re-election campaigns because of the “collective” way these Communist Party clubs operate as the “think-tanks” and “action centers” of the working class and people’s movements constantly stressing that all the various movements for democracy, peace, social and economic justice and for socialism need to work together in unity.<br />
<br />
I have noticed that failure to understand the all-important role of Communist parties by Panitch in many of his other writings, too; which boils down to not understanding the very important and significant role these Communist Party Clubs play in winning the day to day struggles working people are constantly embroiled in as a matter to survive the obstacles and problems created by a capitalist social, economic and political system.<br />
<br />
Like in this current book review, Panitch even writes about the Communist Manifest but fails to understand that Marx and Engels in writing this brief pamphlet did so with the intent of encouraging workers to build Communist Parties to advance their demands for reforms AND winning social, economic and political power.<br />
<br />
There is all kinds of ample evidence that Jacob Penner and his comrades and friends understood very well “What needs to be done?” And they did what needed to be done—on all fronts, from education to activism.<br />
<br />
The real questions Leo Panitch might want to ponder is why Jacob Penner and the Communist Party in Winnipeg did so well while in most other places in North America the working class movement did not fare as well?<br />
<br />
A big part of the answer to this question lies in attacks on the Communist Party by the government (which Jacob Penner and the Winnipeg Communists and their friends and allies so successfully fought back) and the attacks on the Communist Party from the right and ultra-left in the working class movement (again, attacks which Jacob Penner and the Winnipeg communists struggled against so successfully).<br />
<br />
And Joe Zuken’s campaigns successfully built on all of this.<br />
<br />
How and why this powerful Communist movement in Winnipeg lost momentum and suffered losses should be the topic of a forum with the proceedings published in another book… it would be very interesting to see if Leo Panitch’s ideas as to his “critique” (or not so thinly veiled attack on the role and objectives of Communist Parties) hold any water when placed side-by-side with the Communist perspective in all of this.<br />
<br />
I really think we need to be asking what has held back the working class movements from achieving what Jacob Penner and his comrades and friends achieved not finding excuses to write them off because in these troubled times, there is not only a Canadian dimension to what these working class Communist Party activists achieved, there is something for all working class activists from throughout North America and the rest of the world to learn from… I find it rather ironic that many people who adhere and cling to Leo Panitch’s perspective regarding the Soviet Union and other socialist countries who found their own way to power and to hold on to that power which they so despise, now like to take cheap pot shots at the very man and the Communist Party he was a member of which climbed towards working class power so successfully in the electoral arena.<br />
<br />
Which, also, begs the question: If Canada and the U.S.A. were the bastions of democracy capitalist politicians claim them to be; why then has the policy towards allowing Communists to freely participate in the political lives of these two countries been so restricted—and, I think I am being very charitable in using the term “restricted” when political suppression and repression are more appropriate.<br />
<br />
If Leo Panitch would like to participate in an organized dialogue on this question concerning the legacy of the role of the Communist Party clubs I would be happy to participate, too.<br />
<br />
Jacob Penner and Winnipeg Communists are not the only example of the success of Communist Party Clubs and how they combined electoral work with other facets of class struggle work—merely the best; an example which many working class activists today have a right to know about… just as working class activists today have a right to know about how Communists like Lyle Dotzert led the struggle to organize Ford in Windsor and his comrades like Phil Raymond, Nadia Barkan, Bob Travis, Bud Simons and Wyndham Mortimer across the river—south of the border—led the struggles to organize the Big Three and then elected the legendary working class activist and leader Coleman Young to public office… in order to know and understand this aspect of the working class struggle and history might make the difference as to whether the working class wins or loses the looming class conflict ahead.<br />
<br />
The working class made numerous advances with Communist Parties in the lead… an historic fact that no amount of twisting and misinformation can erase—obscure, yes—but not erase because history as what it is.<br />
<br />
Communists have made plenty of mistakes just like anyone else; but, the so-called errors attributed to us here simply are not correct.<br />
<br />
There is this “movement” on the part of a section of the North American left which seeks to want to put everything from 20th Century Communism and socialism behind us as if it was all misguided and bad when nothing could be further from the truth.<br />
<br />
Roland Penner’s excellent book provides us with aspects of working class history some people would rather just forget… just like they would like to forget Jacob Penner, Lyle Dotzert, Phil Raymond, Nadia Barkan (in Nadia’s case, the “historians” even give her the wrong name!)... but, forgetting primary aspects of history is not the same as these struggles and their leaders—with the Communist Parties at the forefront—being forgotten… or intentionally maligned as Leo Panitch does, and continues doing.<br />
<br />
Recently Howard Zinn engaged in similar distortion on Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” when he stated:<br />
<br />
“No, I was really gratified when Obama called for “Let’s tax the rich more, and let’s tax the poor and middle class less.” And they said, “That’s socialism.” And I thought, “Whoa! I’m happy to hear that. Finally, socialism is getting a good name.” You know, socialism has been given bad names, you know, Stalin and all those socialists, so-called socialists. They weren’t really socialist, but, you know, they called themselves socialist. But they weren’t really, you see. And so, socialism got a bad name. It used to have a really good name. Here in the United States, the beginning of the twentieth century, before there was a Soviet Union to spoil it, you see, socialism had a good name. Millions of people in the United States read socialist newspapers. They elected socialist members of Congress and socialist members of state legislatures. You know, there were like fourteen socialist chapters in Oklahoma. Really. I mean, you know, socialism—who stood for socialism? Eugene Debs, Helen Keller, Emma Goldman, Clarence Darrow, Jack London, Upton Sinclair. Yeah, socialism had a good name. It needs to be restored.”<br />
<br />
Well Zinn—the great historian—apparently never heard of Jacob Penner, Willian Z. Foster, Paul Robeson Lyle Dotzert, Wyndham Mortimer, Phil Raymond or Nadia Barkan.<br />
<br />
And Sam Webb, the revisionist “leader” of the CPUSA goes even further than Panitch or Zinn in saying he wants nothing at all to do with 20th Century socialism.<br />
<br />
I find it very strange that all these attacks of a similar nature come at a time when the working class needs stronger Communist Parties than ever before… and slanting history to suit one’s own biased perspectives will not aid in building a winning working class fight-back as this rotten capitalist system collapses by the day from the time the bell rings on Wall Street until another plant is shut down, both throwing workers out into the streets as if they are merely disposable items like baby diapers.<br />
<br />
Alan L. Maki<br />
Secretary/Treasurer<br />
Minnesota/Dakotas District, CPUSA <br />
</div><div class="cMeta"><a href="http://canadiandimension.com/articles/1716/#c1995">#1</a>. Posted by Alan L. Maki on January 13th 2009 at 10:30pm </div></li>
</ul>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-75412024023668627902011-05-23T08:54:00.000-05:002011-05-23T08:54:56.050-05:00Workers of the World, Please See Our Web Site<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/nyregion/leftist-parties-in-new-york-have-new-appeal.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&pagewanted=all" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/nyregion/leftist-parties-in-new-york-have-new-appeal.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&pagewanted=all</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Workers of the World, Please See Our Web Site</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>From: New York Times</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>By JOSEPH BERGER</strong><br />
<strong>Published: May 22, 2011 </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
You can still be a card-carrying Communist in New York, but these days committed Communists usually register online.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_left"><div class="photo_img"><img class="img" src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229531_10150264143741337_703206336_8576238_4130906_a.jpg" /></div></div><strong>Yana Paskova for The New York Times</strong><br />
Jared Abbott, left, Andrew Porter and Frank Llewellyn, all Democratic Socialists, after a rally on living wages.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_left"><div class="photo_img"><img class="img" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/226485_10150264144861337_703206336_8576243_7278834_a.jpg" /></div></div><br />
<strong>Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times</strong><br />
Billy Wharton, a co-chairman of the Socialist Party, in his office on Lafayette Street.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_left"><div class="photo_img"><img class="img" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/249718_10150264145356337_703206336_8576245_7676270_a.jpg" /></div></div><strong>Librado Romero/The New York Times</strong><strong> </strong>Sam Webb, left, the national chairman of the Communist Party, and Libero Della Piana, communications director.<br />
<br />
“We actually have a card, but we don’t make a big deal of it,” said Sam Webb, the national chairman of the Communist Party U.S.A.<br />
<br />
The Socialist Party U.S.A. does distribute red cards to members willing to “subscribe to the principles” of the party, but another leftist group, the Democratic Socialists of America, prefers online registration, with members using a virtual shopping cart to pay yearly dues of about $60 by credit card — Marx be damned.<br />
<br />
In some ways, the Left remains locked in place. Its three major national parties are still confined to cramped Manhattan offices that are plastered with gaudy posters and honeycombed with pamphlets for distribution and envelopes for stuffing.<br />
<br />
But in other ways the landscape has changed significantly. All three parties are finding the Internet to be a fruitful recruiting tool and believe their message has been given a fresh, beguiling appeal by the failures of capitalist symbols like Lehman Brothers and by debacles like the billions of dollars in securities tied to subprime mortgages.<br />
<br />
“The economic crisis of 2008 gave us new life,” said Billy Wharton, a co-chairman of the Socialist Party, who grew enamored of socialism while battling tuition increases as a student at the College of Staten Island. “We have ideas for resolving the economic crisis, and people began to listen to them.”<br />
<br />
Rather than trumpeting membership numbers, the parties, embracing the norms of the digital era, prefer to discuss the number of hits on their Web sites and Facebook pages. And philosophically, they take a kind of I-told-you-so schadenfreude in statistics that indicate a growing gap between the rich and the poor, with top chief executives now making 275 times as much as the average proletarian.<br />
<br />
Still, it is hard to imagine that the parties have inherited a revolutionary tradition once so popular that in the 1932 presidential election, Norman Thomas, the Socialist candidate, garnered 884,000 votes and William Z. Foster, the Communist candidate, had over 100,000. But then again, after the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of socialist republics in Eastern Europe, some people may be surprised to learn that these parties are still around.<br />
<br />
All three have greatly shrunk from their heydays. The Socialist Party has about 1,000 members nationally. The Communists claim 2,000. The Democratic Socialists, which for many years included luminaries like Michael Harrington and Irving Howe, have about 6,000.<br />
<br />
“It’s not easy to make political progress outside the two-party structure because people don’t want to waste their votes,” said Frank Llewellyn, 62, the national director of the Democratic Socialists, who became a socialist as a result of the civil rights and antiwar movements.<br />
<br />
Rather than battling for power through elections, all three parties try to sway the national conversation through coalitions with labor unions and other mainstream organizations. Both socialist groups turned out at City Hall this month to protest budget cuts, at a rally that was largely organized by the unions.<br />
<br />
But on matters of principle, the leftist parties diverge. All three oppose President Obama’s health care program, seeing it as a giveaway to insurance companies and preferring either a single-payer government plan or a socialized system like that of Britain, where doctors work for the government.<br />
<br />
The Socialists sometimes do have candidates who run in states where the rules for getting on the ballot are not too onerous; Greg Pason, the national secretary, ran for governor of New Jersey in 2009. But the Democratic Socialists see that effort as futile and prefer endorsements; they supported David N. Dinkins and Ruth W. Messinger in their mayoral bids in New York City.<br />
<br />
The parties’ enduring character is obvious in visits to their offices. The Socialist Party is housed in a tumbledown building on Lafayette Street known informally as the “Peace Pentagon” or the A. J. Muste building, not because the name approximates its mildewed atmosphere but because Mr. Muste was a benefactor of the peace groups that the building houses. The Democratic Socialists even have a foothold on Wall Street, with cluttered offices in a building on Maiden Lane. It is not because Wall Street has suddenly adopted a philosophy of “to each according to his own needs.”<br />
<br />
“It’s cheap,” Mr. Llewellyn explained. “This is an area of the city where you get the best deals.”<br />
<br />
The Communists even own the means of production — they lease out their eight-story building on West 23rd Street to other left-wing organizations. The party has the most decorous space, having redesigned its office with glass walls and tall windows.<br />
<br />
“We’re not up to some nefarious business we have to hide from the American government,” said Libero Della Piana, 38, the party’s communications director.<br />
<br />
Physical space matters less these days than virtual space. All three groups have lively Web sites that flaunt their philosophies and histories. Mr. Della Piana, the child of an Italian anarchist, boasts that the Communists’ news site has 25,000 unique visitors a week; before it stopped publishing in the late 1960s, its newspaper, The Daily Worker, was read by just 5,000 subscribers. In 2010, he said, 700 prospective members applied through the Web site.<br />
<br />
Recent disclosures of capitalist excesses have given the parties a second wind after the collapse of the Soviet Union suggested the bankruptcy of collectivist philosophy. Mr. Llewellyn said that since 2007 his party’s membership had increased by 50 percent, to 6,000.<br />
<br />
“People see the consequences of unregulated markets, greed, a lack of checks on the power of the private flow of capital to drive the economy and undermine jobs,” Mr. Llewellyn said.<br />
<br />
Mr. Webb, who joined the Communists in the 1970s, likes to emphasize the party’s rich history, including the fight against McCarthyism and the volunteers who helped the Spanish Republicans battle the Fascists, rather than more unpleasant episodes like the case of the American Communist Julius Rosenberg, who spied for the Soviet Union.<br />
<br />
Mr. Della Piana says the Soviet Union’s dissolution freed the party to be more ideological because “no one could ever say again we were puppets.”<br />
<br />
“We have a whole generation of young people attracted to the idea of communism without the baggage of the cold war,” he said.<br />
<br />
After declining to 250 members in 1980, the Socialist Party’s membership has quadrupled, Mr. Wharton said. He was even asked to appear on a Fox affiliate when conservatives raised suspicions that Mr. Obama was a socialist.<br />
<br />
“They thought I’d go on and on and actually support the policies of President Obama,” said Mr. Wharton, 42, a General Educational Development, or G.E.D., teacher in Brooklyn. “The question was ‘Is he a socialist?’ and my answer was ‘I’m not sure he’s even a liberal.’ I called him a hedge-fund Democrat.”<br />
<br />
None of the parties view their existence as futile — immersing themselves in everyday local battles, they believe, will spread their influence.<br />
<br />
“Socialism won’t come to this country until tens of millions decide capitalism doesn’t work for them,” Mr. Webb said. “If you’re a revolutionary, if you’re a socialist, you have to have patience.”<br />
<br />
<strong>A version of this article appeared in print on May 23, 2011, on page A18 of the New York edition with the headline: Workers of the World, Please See Our Web Site.</strong>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-43885054993399942452011-01-31T21:14:00.000-06:002011-01-31T21:14:38.716-06:00Letter published in Labor World<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Letter to the Editor” submitted for publication in Labor World</h3><div><br />
</div><div class="post-header" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dear Labor World Editor, Larry Sillanpa;<br />
I am submitting this “Letter to the Editor” for publication in <b>Labor World</b>; I hope you will consider its publication along with the title I have given it; I am also attaching a photo you might want to include.<br />
Alan L. Maki<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>How is the WAR ECONOMY working for YOU?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
With Labor Day just around the corner, I would like to share a left-wing working class perspective with readers of Labor World in the interest of dialog, discussion and debate.<br />
<br />
I attended the Stewart Acuff “book signing” at the Duluth Labor Temple. This letter is largely based on the notes I made listening to Brother Acuff’s presentation, listening to questions and his responses and reading his excellent book: <b>Getting America Back to Work </b>which set me to thinking that it will only be through solving the problems working people are experiencing that most new jobs will be created.<br />
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The United States is the wealthiest country in the world.<br />
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This wealth created by working people is being squandered on fighting two wars, financing the Israeli killing machine and funding over 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil protecting Wall Street's greedy interests--- instead, what we need is a public health care system of 800 primary care facilities serving as bases of support for over 30,000 neighborhood public health care centers spread out across the United States providing free health care for all Americans which would create around ten-million new, good-paying jobs with affirmative action enforced.<br />
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We wouldn't trust a private-for-profit free enterprise system to teach our children to read and write so why would we continue to rely on this failed private-for-profit health care system? Public education provides quality education for our children and a public health care system will provide us with a world-class health care system.<br />
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As for anyone concerned about the high cost of health care; VA, the Indian Health Service and the National Public Health Service have all proven we get the best health care at the best price through public health care.<br />
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Elected public officials should be able to comprehend the benefits from peace and a public health care system. Look at unemployment; our country and our state need jobs, not war.<b></b><br />
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By ending these dirty wars and implementing Mark Dayton’s call to “Tax the Rich” we can get America back to work.<br />
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In order to turn this country around, we are going to have to rebuild the historic coalition of liberals, progressives and the left; the only coalition which has ever won real progress for working people. To accomplish this we need to consider Brother Acuff’s suggestion (Getting America Back to Work- Page 83) that each and every worker needs to become “a warrior for peace and social justice.”<br />
<br />
<b>How is the WAR ECONOMY working for YOU? Does it make you sick?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Let’s talk about the politics and economics of livelihood for real change on this Labor Day.<br />
<br />
<a href="" name="_MailAutoSig">Alan L. Maki</a><br />
58891 County Road 13<br />
Warroad, Minnesota 56763<br />
Phone: 218-386-2432<br />
Cell Phone: 651-587-5541<br />
E-mail: <a href="mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">amaki000@centurytel.net</a></div>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-26650555708067579452010-12-17T23:06:00.000-06:002010-12-17T23:06:10.029-06:00This is from an interesting interview Playboy magazine did with Saul Alinsky...Alinsky had his own take on things a lot of people wouldn't agree with; others do. He obviously had a big influence in the left movement.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.progress.org/2003/alinsky2.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">http://www.progress.org/20</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="cursor: pointer;">03/alinsky2.htm</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">[It's a long ten part interview but really very interesting.]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">PLAYBOY: What was your own relationship with the Communist Party?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">ALINSKY: I knew plenty of Communists in those days, and I worked with them on a number of projects. Back in the Thirties, the Communists did a hell of a lot of good work; they were in the vanguard of the labor movement and they played an important role in aiding blacks and Okies and Southern sharecroppers. Anybody who tells you he was active in progressive causes in those days and never worked with the Reds is a goddamn liar. Their platform stood for all the right things, and unlike many liberals, they were willing to put their bodies on the line. Without the Communists, for example, I doubt the C.I.O. could have won all the battles it did. I was also sympathetic to Russia in those days, not because I admired Stalin or the Soviet system but because it seemed to be the only country willing to stand up to Hitler. I was in charge of a big part of fund raising for the International Brigade and in that capacity I worked in close alliance with the Communist Party.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">When the Nazi-Soviet Pact came, though, and I refused to toe the party line and urged support for England and for American intervention in the war, the party turned on me tooth and nail. Chicago Reds plastered the Back of the Yards with big posters featuring a caricature of me with a snarling, slavering fanged mouth and wild eyes, labeled, "This is the face of a warmonger." But there were too many Poles, Czechs, Lithuanians and Latvians in the area for that tactic to go over very well. Actually, the greatest weakness of the party was its slavish parroting of the Moscow line. It could have been much more effective if it had adopted a relatively independent stance, like the western European parties do today. But all in all, and despite my own fights with them, I think the Communists of the Thirties deserve a lot of credit for the struggles they led or participated in. Today the party is just a shadow of the past, but in the Depiession it was a positive force for social change. A lot of its leaders and organizers were jerks, of course, but objectively the party in those days was on the right side and did considerable good.</span>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-15226979906272567302010-12-16T23:04:00.000-06:002010-12-16T23:04:40.444-06:00Good article for discussion: Cuba bows to pressure to reform its economy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Cuba bows to pressure to reform its economy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">By Marc Frank in Havana</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Financial Times</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">December 13 2010<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e6fc6374-06d9-11e0-8c29-00144feabdc0.html#axzz187qw6wgg" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span>http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span>e6fc6374-06d9-11e0-8c29-00</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><span>144feabdc0.html#axzz187qw6</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>wgg</a><br />
<br />
Rising debt charges are forcing Cuba to reshape its Soviet-<br />
style economy, with leading creditor China among those<br />
cheering on the changes.<br />
<br />
A Cuban Communist party congress, scheduled for April, will<br />
discuss and likely ratify policies that are already starting<br />
to be implemented. These include cutting 20 per cent of state<br />
workers, cutting social benefits, eliminating state<br />
subsidies, improving Cuba's trade balance and liberalising<br />
rules for small business and foreign investment.<br />
<br />
ChartCuba, which is the subject of a strict US embargo and is<br />
excluded from most international lending organisations,<br />
depends on China as a creditor of last resort. Its proposed<br />
reforms are remarkably similar to those typically required<br />
under International Monetary Fund bail-outs - although<br />
privatisation of state assets is not on the agenda.<br />
<br />
In a recent closed-door meeting of 500 senior officials<br />
chaired by Raúl Castro, president, Cuba's economy minister,<br />
Marino Murillo, reportedly stated that mounting debt and the<br />
need for fresh credit had left the government no choice but<br />
to put its economic house in order.<br />
<br />
A video of the November meeting, called to discuss plans for<br />
next year's congress, is making the rounds of Havana's elite.<br />
Cuba faces rising principal and service charges over the next<br />
five years and simply does not have the money to meet them,<br />
Mr Murillo, reportedly said on the video.<br />
<br />
Cuba last reported its foreign debt at $17.8bn in 2007. Most<br />
analysts agree it now exceeds $21bn, or close to 50 per cent<br />
of gross domestic product and 30 per cent more than annual<br />
foreign exchange revenues. Many creditors have tired of<br />
Cuba's debt reschedulings. China is a relatively new member<br />
of Cuba's creditor club, having provided billions in loans<br />
over recent years. But it is now Havana's biggest creditor<br />
and second largest trading partner, after Venezuela.<br />
<br />
According to a number of people familiar with the video, Mr<br />
Murillo specifically talks about the need to repay China on<br />
time. Plans to develop oil refineries, ports, railways, the<br />
nickel industry and power generation will require billions in<br />
fresh credit.<br />
<br />
Mr Castro's point man for economic reform reportedly argues<br />
in the video that state-run companies should be freed from<br />
government administration and defends plans to shift hundreds<br />
of thousands of workers to 'non-state' jobs such as small<br />
businesses, farms and co-operatives.<br />
<br />
'Mixed-capital companies, co-operatives, farmers with the<br />
right to use idle land, rented property landlords, self-<br />
employed workers and other forms that contribute to raise the<br />
efficiency of social labour must be recognised and<br />
encouraged,' adds a 32-page discussion document prepared for<br />
the congress, which will set out Cuba's social and economic<br />
policies through 2015.<br />
<br />
Cuba is counting on China and Venezuela to provide fresh<br />
development credit. Some of its debts to Beijing will be<br />
backed by Venezuelan oil as collateral. A diplomatic cable,<br />
released by WikiLeaks last week, describes a US diplomat's<br />
breakfast meeting with the commercial attachés from Cuba's<br />
biggest trade partners. 'Even China admitted to having<br />
problems with getting paid on time,' the cable reported.<br />
'[Officials from] France and Canada responded with ‘welcome<br />
to the club'.'<br />
<br />
According to Asian diplomats in Havana, Chinese and even<br />
Vietnamese officials have repeatedly 'suggested' Cuba<br />
modernise and offered their assistance. Discussion documents<br />
for next year's congress, the Murillo video and government<br />
statements all indicate that Havana may finally be heeding<br />
their advice.<br />
<br />
Fidel Castro, former president, recently praised China's<br />
'rectifications' and told university students: 'China is<br />
worth studying.'<br />
<br />
'Cuba is prepared to take advantage of China's experience in<br />
developing reform and opening up,' Ricardo Alarcón, a long-<br />
time politburo member, added while visiting China last month.<br />
Such words will surely be welcomed in Beijing as it ponders<br />
further loosening its purse strings.<br />
<br />
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010</span></span>Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533985078790175752.post-31682371817701888782010-11-20T15:48:00.000-06:002010-11-20T15:48:29.136-06:00Elect Frank Komarniski... Vote Communist! On Monday, November 29, 2010Campaign message no. 2<br />
Communist Party campaign in Winnipeg North<br />
<br />
Dear Friends, Sisters and Brothers,<br />
<br />
We need help to deliver the campaign leaflet to thousands of doors in Winnipeg North! If you can spare a few hours in the next week, give us a call at <b>586-7824 or reply by email.<br />
</b>The leaflet is attached to this email (pdf format); the text is below.<br />
<br />
We are proud to nominate Frank and are campaigning to elect a worker to Parliament.<br />
<br />
Darrell Rankin<br />
Manitoba office, Communist Party of Canada<br />
<br />
* * * * *<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Put People<br />
before profit!<br />
</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday, November 29,</span><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Elect <b>Frank Komarniski<br />
Vote Communist!<br />
</b></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Main issues in Winnipeg North: </span>Friendly to families. Unfriendly to crime.<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">1. Create good-paying jobs</span></b>End the waste and fear of unemployment. We need jobs for <i>everyone</i> able to work, creating more resources for new universal social programs. <u>How:</u> A 32-hour work week with no loss in pay, lower the pension age to 60, more paid vacations, massive public works spending on housing and child-care centres and to curb carbon emissions.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>2. Guarantee fair access to education</b></span>Education should be free and accessible. Increase federal funding for universities and colleges and build highly-subsidized housing for out-of-town students. Ban federal equalization payments to Manitoba or any other province if they increase tuition fees. End the Harper governments racist under-funding of post-secondary education for Aboriginal students.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>3. End the war in Afghanistan</b></span>Get Canada out of this unjust war launched without the legal authority of the United Nations. The people of Afghanistan must decide their own future, like all nations. Support the troops by bringing them home. Tax the excess profits of the arms industry.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Frank Komarniski</b></span>Frank was born in Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba and grew up in Thompson. He moved to Winnipeg in 1982 and has worked 17 years for the City of Winnipeg as an outside worker. He is a member of CUPE 500. A father of four children, Frank joined the Communist Party in 2006.<br />
<b>The Communist Party is proud to nominate Frank.<br />
Lets put a worker in Parliament!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Today...</span></b><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">l</span><b> </b>Call us to <span style="color: red;"><i>help our campaign</i>!</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">l</span><b> </b>Ask us about <span style="color: red;"><i>joining</i>!</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">l</span><b> </b>Send us a <span style="color: red;"><i>cheque</i></span> to build the Communist Party! Or smaller monthly cheques. We need funds!<br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">l</span><b> </b>Ask us for the CPs full platform.<br />
<i>A <span style="color: red;">Peoples Alternative for Canada</span></i> includes justice for Aboriginal peoples, job creation, equality for women, taxing the wealthy and corporations, access to education, fighting racism, expanding social programs, saving the environment, opposing free trade, a foreign policy of peace, defending the family farm, and fair elections, among others.<br />
<br />
Reach us at 586-7824 or cpc-mb@mts.net<br />
387 Selkirk Ave., Winnipeg MB R2W 2M3<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>From Frank Komarniski, <br />
Communist Party candidate <br />
for Winnipeg North:</b></span>The Communist Party is campaigning for good-paying jobs and access to education. We are demanding Canada get out of the terrible war in Afghanistan, right now.<br />
<br />
I think Manitoba can stop being a low-wage, racist backwater. The North End of Winnipeg can stop being a backwater of this backwater. The Communist Party has real solutions for the real problems, not the same old policies that got us here in the first place.<br />
<br />
Communists have always fought for a better society in Canada. But today, much of what we helped win is in danger because of the growing economic crisis, government cuts, privatization of health care and water, and the growing harm of climate change.<br />
<br />
Young people are denied their future by the loss of nearly 10,000 manufacturing jobs in Manitoba in the last two years.<br />
<br />
Young people are denied an education by tuition hikes in Manitoba and by the Harper governments racist under-funding of post-secondary education for Aboriginal students.<br />
<br />
I dont want young people to inherit a planet destroyed by climate change. Backed by the Harper government, the giant energy corporations are recklessly promoting uncontrolled energy consumption for the selfish goal of increasing their bloated profits.<br />
<br />
The Communist Party is demanding that the government nationalize the energy companies, that they become public property. We are demanding caps on carbon emissions.<br />
<br />
The other major parties have no solution. The Manitoba government supports a system that failed in Europe (cap and trade). It will be a failure like the Kyoto treaty.<br />
<br />
Canada is a wealthy country. Yet millions of nearly-retired Canadians owe the banks billions of dollars; their homes are almost entirely mortgaged. People who have worked all their life will retire to food banks and total poverty. The Communist Party will nationalize the banks and cancel the debts because housing is a right. We will increase public pensions above the poverty line.<br />
<br />
Turning to the war in Afghanistan, which imposes death and destruction on the people of that country. We have no business being there. How is it that we are building schools, roads and water systems there, when we dont have the same for Aboriginal peoples in Canada? George Bush should be tried as a war criminal, and so should the Canadian politicians that put our troops in Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
Liberal and Conservative governments have used the war against terror to trample on civil rights in Canada. Last summer more than 1,000 mainly young people were arrested for peacefully demonstrating at the G8 summit in Toronto. This must stop.<br />
<br />
The people of Afghanistan have every right to resist the occupation of their country, just as the Aboriginal peoples of Canada have every right to fight politically and however they can for full national self-determination, a right all nations have in international law.<br />
<br />
The Communists have a dream, where all nations in Canada are equal and develop in a voluntary partnership. Canada must stop being a prison house of nations where only the corporate elite in Canadas English speaking nation have control<br />
<br />
The low wages caused by racism and national inequality create a super-profit gravy train for these elite, a huge problem in Manitoba.<br />
<br />
We live in a society where people live in constant fear of losing their job, where families are on the edge of losing their homes, where children are afraid every month when there is no food, where young people cant start a family, and where all these fears are doubled for Aboriginal people, people of colour and women and youth and people with disabilities.<br />
<br />
There is too much fear in the North End of Winnipeg. The Communist Party has a plan to end these fears, and for everyone to have a good-paying job and an education. <br />
<br />
No single political party can change society. No party can claim credit for establishing medicare or unemployment insurance. Accomplishments like medicare were made by thousands and millions of working people, in trade unions and in their faith organizations, in student groups and womens organizations.<br />
<br />
We need to build up those historic struggles once again, to turn society around.<br />
<br />
We can create good-paying jobs, we can create a society that takes care of children and educates our youth. We can end poverty and social inequality. We can get Canada out of Afghanistan and we can solve the problem of inequality among the nations in Canada.<br />
<br />
Read the Communist Partys policies and see why they are the only realisitic solution to the injustice of our present society. They are the most advanced ideas in this election, but we need them today. Their time has come.<br />
<br />
A vote for the Communist Party is a vote for real change. It is a vote for the future, a vote against war, a vote to put people before profit, a vote for jobs and education. It is a vote to end fear and to create a far better society.Alan Makihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567949617963833763noreply@blogger.com