If I had written it it would have been a bit different too. I still
haven't gotten over that complete about face that now supports Israel.
There is another thing that irritates me too. It's what they say about
middle class radicals. For whatever reason they are substituting middle
class for petty bourgeois. I have already said why I don't like that
phrase middle class and it has nothing to do with Marxist theory. But
what they mean is not really even petty bourgeois in terms of a function
of class position. They are referring to the waffling positions of the
petty bourgeoisie when they bend according to which way the wind is
blowing. Calling them middle class rather obscures that meaning. You may
recall that some time back I posted Socialist Action's platform here too
and there is a lot they don't address either. I think that a lot of the
problem in that regard is that small parties have limited resources and
so they have to make decisions about which issues they will and can
agitate around. So when it comes to writing a platform they continue to
concentrate on those issues that they are involved with in the trenches,
so to speak. Nevertheless, I think that both the SWP and Socialist
Action platforms are considerably better than those of the bourgeois -
not petty bourgeois - parties.
___
Carl Sagan
“Every aspect of Nature reveals a deep mystery and touches our sense of wonder
and awe. Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to
nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human beings will
prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront
the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the
Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will
penetrate its deepest mysteries.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
On 8/19/2020 1:35 PM, Miriam Vieni wrote:
It's a bit old fashioned and stilted. The part about Israel is pure insanity.
Why aren't they demanding that the tech companies be broken up and that the big
banks be broken up and nationalized? Why aren't they talking about a new policy
toward people who want to enter our country? Where is the recognition of global
warming and the changes in our system required to protect us? Where is the
section on the US military basis scattered all over the world? What about a
broader change in our criminal justice system, something much broader and more
meaningful than what they have? What about transnational corporations? What
about our national security state and civil liberties? And I don't remember
seeing anything about making education equal throughout the country, regardless
of communities' economic status or free college. They didn't mention ending
factory farms. They just talked about nationalizing the farms.
Political parties are truly disappointing. The bits of the Democratic
convention that I've heard on Democracy Now sound like a well organized
entertainment meant to brainwash a naive populace into voting for two
figureheads who will then be in place to do the bidding of the people who truly
run things.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Roger Loran Bailey (Redacted sender "rogerbailey81" for DMARC)
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2020 11:01 AM
To: blind-democracy <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-democracy] Socialist Workers Party 2020 campaign platform
Socialist Workers Party 2020 campaign platform
https://themilitant.com/2020/08/15/socialist-workers-party-2020-campaign-platform/
August 24, 2020
JOIN THE SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY 2020 CAMPAIGN!
WORKERS NEED A UNION IN EVERY WORKPLACE. We need to fight growing employer
attacks on our jobs, wages and working conditions. Build solidarity with
workers’ struggles to organize and defend themselves.
Use union power on our own behalf, and for all those suffering blows by the
bosses and their government. One union for all drivers — taxi, Uber, Lyft and
other app-based and car service drivers!
WORKERS NEED THEIR OWN PARTY, A LABOR PARTY. For a class break from the parties
of the bosses, the Democrats and Republicans. A labor party can organize
workers in their millions to fight in our own interest and in the interests of
all those exploited and oppressed by capital. It can chart a course to take
political power out of the hands of the capitalist rulers and build a workers
and farmers government.
WORKERS CONTROL OF PRODUCTION. Workers need to fight to wrest control of
production out of the hands of the bosses. Employers care about profits, not
the dangerous conditions we’re forced to work under. This is the only road to
take control of and enforce safety and health on the job.
Demand the bosses open their books for inspection by workers and consumers.
Workers control of production is a school for learning to run the economy
ourselves, in the interests of all producers, a crucial step alongside building
a labor party to fight to take political power.
MILLIONS NEED JOBS TODAY! Fight for a federal government-financed public works
program to put millions to work at union-scale wages building hospitals,
schools, child care centers, mass transportation, quality affordable housing
and much more that workers need. Set the minimum wage to allow workers to have
a home and support a family.
AMNESTY FOR ALL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS in the US, a life-and-death question
for the unions to unite workers and cut across divisions the bosses use to
drive down wages. For access to driver’s licenses for all.
See directory to contact nearest party campaign office.
OPPOSE WASHINGTON’S WARS. US hands off Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. US troops out
of Afghanistan, Korea, the Middle East. End US colonial rule in Puerto Rico.
FOR RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL & OF A CONTIGUOUS PALESTINIAN STATE. For the right of
Jews to return to Israel as a refuge in the face of capitalist crisis, Jew-hatred
and murderous violence.
CUBA’S REVOLUTION — AN EXAMPLE. The Cuban Revolution in 1959 showed it is
possible for workers and farmers to transform themselves in struggle, to take
political power and uproot capitalist exploitation. End the US rulers’ economic
war against Cuba; US out of Guantánamo.
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL. Fight for universal, government-guaranteed cradle-to-grave
health care, and retirement income for all.
FIGHT POLICE BRUTALITY! Demand that cops who kill and brutalize people be
prosecuted. Fight racist discrimination and the entire capitalist injustice
system, with its frame-ups, “plea bargains,” onerous bail and outrageous prison
sentences, all of which disproportionately hit workers who are Black. For the
right to vote for ex-prisoners and all workers behind bars.
WOMEN’S RIGHT TO ABORTION. Defend women’s right to unrestricted access to
family planning services, including the right to safe, secure abortions.
DEFEND POLITICAL RIGHTS. Defend the right to vote, to free speech and assembly
and to bear arms, under attack from Democrats and Republicans alike. Defend
freedom of worship. Stop FBI and other government spying, harassment and
disruption. No to middle-class radical “cancel culture”
and their thuggery against people they deem “politically incorrect.”
DEFEND RIGHTS OF PRISONERS. End solitary confinement. End suppression of the
Militant, books and other newspapers by prison authorities. Abolish the death
penalty, an anti-working-class weapon in the hands of the rulers.
FARMERS — WORKERS ALLIES ON THE LAND. To put a halt to farm foreclosures,
bankruptcies and skyrocketing rural debt, we demand nationalization of the
land. This puts the soil at the service of the farmers who till it, as opposed
to monopolization by the banks and landlords. We demand the government
guarantee farmers their costs of production, including their living expenses.
Front Page Articles
Fight for a union on every job site, and a labor party Fight for workers
control of production and safety Port explosion fuels protests against gov’t in
Lebanon Bath shipyard strikers discuss tentative deal, strike still on Nebraska
meatpackers, union speak out in battle for job safety After prison ban in
Pennsylvania is revoked, Florida prison bars ‘Militant’
Feature Articles
Montreal port workers strike over unsafe schedules Also In This Issue Protests
boost interest in books on working-class politics, history SWP ‘stimulus’
appeal at $143,600, more to come
Protesters: Prosecute cops who killed Breonna Taylor!
Philadelphia: Political fight breaks out over Jew-hatred London bans China’s
Huawei, looks for trade bloc with US As crisis deepens, workers fight boss
attacks on jobs, conditions Sugar workers in Iran on strike since June over
unpaid wages Belarus protests erupt over presidential election results
Socialist Workers Party 2020 campaign platform Books of the Month ‘American
workers: Stop your rulers throttling our revolution’
25, 50 and 75 years ago
© Copyright 2020 The Militant - 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor - New York,
NY 10018 - themilitant@xxxxxxx Cookies This site uses cookies to improve your
experience. Learn more.
Okay, thanks
--
___
Carl Sagan
“Every aspect of Nature reveals a deep mystery and touches our sense of wonder
and awe. Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to
nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human beings will
prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront
the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the
Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will
penetrate its deepest mysteries.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos