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The Globe & MalevolencePlus, I have some news for you about Jack Cashill and his upcoming book, Deconstructing Obama...
The 2010 elections are at the center of the struggle for working class relief from economic crisis, poverty, inequality and environmental devastation. Why? Because this election will either solidify the progressive breakthrough of 2008, or send the country reeling backward. Barack Obama's election as president was a victory won by an amazing broad alliance of which we were a part. Our contribution focused on building unity, challenging racism and expanding voter participation.She then quotes party chairman Sam Webb and goes on to stress the pivotal nature of the 2010 mid - term elections.
This was an extraordinary expression of political independence from the extreme right wing. As Sam's report reminds us, five years ago our major battle was entirely on the defensive under George W. Bush. The question of how we expand and build on this political independence has been a big part of the pre-convention discussion.Fishman then goes on to trumpet the successes of the labor movement in countering the "Tea Party" movement, the Republicans and "moderate" Democrats.
The 2010 mid-term elections represent the next step of our continuing project to decisively defeat the extreme right-wing and expand democratic rights, including ridding the federal government of entrenched corporate interests. All 435 House seats and a third of senate seats are up for election. A shift of 45 seats in the House and six in the senate would give Republicans the majority. Top battleground states for the Senate are California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. We are up against a rabid right-wing that refuses to accept the election of the first Black president.
Republicans in Congress thought they could bring down the presidency by blocking health care reform. The Tea Party was birthed by media extremists and racist elements to break up the unity of 2008. They were able to change the debate and peel off some Democratic votes, but they were not able to stop the legislation. Newt Gingrich is attempting to frame the 2010 elections with a new Contract on America to whip up hysteria that government spending for social needs is against the interests of working people.
This election is about the ability of families and youth to make it through this economic crisis. In the first place it is about the federal government investing in job creation targeted to the highest poverty areas with training for displaced workers and young people. It is about relief for cities and towns, education and youth programs, housing and health care. Working people are angry and searching for solutions. Voters' anger can be turned into collective action for a pro-worker agenda or it can become manipulated by right-wing populism. So far there are examples of both taking place.
Our focus is on building up the strength of the labor movement, racially oppressed, women, youth along with LGBT, environment and peace allies as part of the broad electoral alliance This goes beyond any one election to the need for organizing a lasting movement and building working class leadership in our country that can reorder priorities and change foreign policy.
The election of President Obama opened a door. The challenge to us and the labor and people's organizations is to walk through that door in the millions with mass struggle for jobs and relief. The anger of workers was turned into unity against the financial institutions in big mass actions during May Day week. Joint labor - immigrant rights marches and civil disobedience protests against the Arizona law represent the kind of unity that can increase workers' strength in the elections and improve the balance in Congress.Fishman then urges the party to register and turn - out voters in the November elections.
In Western Pennsylvania, Republicans poured $10 million into capturing the seat that was held by Rep John Murtha, but they did not succeed. Workers responded to the message of their unions. They rejected slanders against Democrat Mark Critz and attacks on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama.
A strong challenge to conservative Democrat Arkansas Sen Blanche Lincoln has forced her into a runoff election after she voted against health care reform. This campaign shows it is possible to enlarge the number of Democrats in the Congressional Progressive, Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific caucuses and change the dynamics against the ultra-right within Congress.
Yet the Tea Party is making in-roads within the Republican primaries, spreading their poison with big money at their disposal. Richard Trumka's leadership of the AFL-CIO is providing clarity and maintaining unity by showing how racism hurts all workers and by exposing corporate greed.
Showing that the money is there for jobs and community needs by taxing the rich and corporations, cutting the military budget, and ending the wars is a further contribution to unity. Helping develop labor's infrastructure to educate members and bring out the vote is at the center of political independence.
This is a training ground for union leaders to run and win election to public office. It is the foundation for a future labor and people's political party. The Hill reported on a survey (5/12/10) showing 80% of people see problems with the two party system. A progressive labor and people's electoral structure like Working America, or Working Families Party must be clear and present or the only visible alternative will be the right-wing. The Communist Party must also be plainly visible on the issues, utilizing our websites, e-mail, social networking, the downloadable print edition and other materials. Each will strengthen the other. A Pew survey last week showed that half of young people think socialism is better than capitalism.
Turnout will be key in the 2010 elections. This includes registering new voters and reaching out to voters in every area. On the weekend of June 5, Organizing for America will hold kickoff canvasses across the country to visit the 15 million first time voters who took part in the 2008 elections. Elections are won and lost in precincts, wards, election districts. Every need at the local level depends on the results of the 2010 election.Fishman gives two recent examples of what can be achieved by communists working through the Democratic Party , with union and "community group" support. Communist Party members Rick Nagin and Rudy Lozano, Jr. both almost won elections in Cleveland Ohio and Chicago Illinois in recent months, running as Democrats.
We should take a look and see in what congressional districts with key races we can bring our publications, establish a new club, or build up an existing one and participate with labor and other community groups. In a close election a few votes can make the difference. A lasting organization can make an even bigger difference. This approach can also open the door to more Communists running for public office on whatever ticket as part of grass roots coalitions.
Rick Nagin's campaign in Cleveland last summer and the Chicago campaign at the beginning of this year were an early start to the 2010 elections. These campaigns were also walking through the door opened by the Obama election victory, projecting a people before profits approach to local issues.
We should revisit the initiative from our last convention and create a network of Communist and left elected officials to share problems, experiences and play a role in bringing the grass roots to the fore. Let's leave here at full speed for the 24 weeks between now and Election Day November 2, 2010.While Fishman's party is only a few thousand strong, it has significant influence in the labor unions, the Democratic Party at all levels, churches and organizations such as ACORN and United for Peace and Justice and dozens of other many thousand strong organizations.
Indian born, New York raised, Harvard educated, Deepak Bhargava may have seldom crossed paths with Barack Obama-but he is a key player in 44th president's movement to transform America.
Booth runs the Midwest Academy out of Chicago-churning out hundreds of "community" and union organizers.This conference will kick off DSA’s Low Wage Justice Project, which is designed to bring the human consequences of the low wage economy to the attention of the American people.DSA member Frances Fox Piven is the co-author of the famous Cloward-Piven Strategy developed in the 1960s-widely used by ACORN, DSA and US "community organizers" ever since.
So I do want to say that I enter this new period with a tremendous amount of optimism. Before nine-eleven we saw larger numbers mobilized in the streets on a whole range of issues, immigration, living wages than we'd seen in a long, long time. There is no question that nine-eleven has taken the wind to some degree out of those sails, but I think both the demographic, the organizational, the economic realities underneath that momentum at the local level are still present, and it's up to our imagination and our will to rekindle it over the next couple of years. But I think we can make great strides on this anniversary of Michael Harrington's The Other America in doing something serious about it...Deepak Bhargava's radical ties extend in several directions.
Individuals and organizations with similarly progressive goals often dilute their power by working alone or even working at cross-purposes. As Americans who are politically left of center move forward, questions of infrastructure, communication, and collaboration are particularly important.Participants included:
As of July 17, 2007 Deepak Bhargava, Center for Community Change was affiliated with United for Peace and Justice-the US peace movement umbrella group.Since the 2004 election, the progressive movement has built a powerful infrastructure of think tanks, media outlets and advocacy organizations. Frustrated by the conservative ascendancy and the dominance of conservative ideas, individuals and institutions have put forward new paradigms for government and promoted a bold vision for the future.Miles Rapoport is another former SDSer, DSA associate, ACORN defender and ardent Obama supporter. Interestingly Rapoport became president of New York "think tank" Demos in 2000-while Obama was still a founding Trustee of the organization.
But now a progressive holds the highest office in the land. As the movement struggles to define its role in the Obama era, important questions remain unanswered: What is the role of such organizations in Washington and how can they best create political space for Obama to act? On what issues should the movement compromise and on which take strong stands? How can progressives build consensus to make their efforts more effective?
The panel will feature progressive leaders Deepak Bhargava, Miles Rapoport and Mike Lux; the speakers will draw on two new books, ‘Thinking Big: Progressive Ideas for a New Era,’ and The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be, as they discuss what progressives can do to create momentum for greater boldness at a time when opportunities and challenges abound.
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RSS feed, articles a/o commentsEcclesiastes 3:9-15
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor -- it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past.
Psalm 120:2
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people"
Larry Grathwohl spoke of his work as a federal investigator assigned to penetrate Bill Ayers' and Bernardine Dohrn's Weathermen -- the bombings and the deaths -- and a new possibility for prosecution. Also discussed: the entire Marxist network in America, right up to Barack Obama.
To listen at the btr site, click here
James Simpson of the "Manufactured Crisis" articles and Sam Sewell, who had experience with Alinsky-style Marxist operations, plus other Marxist bombers (literally) also joined us.
