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Vol. 80/No. 29 August 8, 2016
‘Workers are so open to discuss politics’ of SWP
BY MAGGIE TROWE
The Socialist Workers Party is carrying out a far-reaching effort to
introduce thousands of workers to the party, campaigning for communism
door to door across the country. Many workers who have been following
the pro-capitalist, nationalist Republican and Democratic Party
conventions welcome the SWP’s internationalist perspective and its
confidence that the working class can organize to take power and join
the worldwide struggle for socialism.
An important tool is the new book Are They Rich Because They’re Smart?
Class, Privilege and Learning Under Capitalism by SWP National
Secretary Jack Barnes. The introduction and three chapters — “Are They
Rich Because They’re Smart? The Rationalization of Class Privilege,”
“Growing Class Stratification and the ‘Enlightened Meritocracy’” and
“Capitalism, the Working Class, and the Transformation of Learning” —
strike a chord with many workers.
Following its Active Workers Conference in June, the SWP organized
campaigning across Vermont and Utah, meeting many workers interested in
learning about the party and its program, strengthening its proletarian
character and winning contacts and supporters. More than 400 people
bought copies of the new book in those two states.
The same openings exist across the country. The party in New York is
fielding teams to cities and towns in New Jersey, where it campaigned
this spring, and to a range of neighborhoods across the metropolitan area.
“Four of us went to the Electchester apartments in South Flushing,
Queens, last weekend,” Naomi Craine reported. This is a housing complex
run by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, and many
of the residents are members.
“We met several workers we will want to follow up with,” Craine said. “A
young woman who is just finishing up her electrician apprenticeship
liked the title of the book and the graphs in it that illustrate why the
capitalists can’t solve their economic crisis.”
In Lincoln, Nebraska, retired railroader Joe Swanson and plastics
fabrication worker Chris Steffen began campaigning door to door after
the conference, something new for Steffen. “I was a little surprised how
workers are so open to discussions about real political issues that
affect their lives daily,” he said. “The big-business commentators say
workers are passive to politics. Not true!
“A man who came here as a teenage refugee from Iraq invited us in for
refreshments,” Steffen said. “As we discussed the way forward for the
working class, he told us about his job in a meatpacking plant, the
increased line speed and how difficult it is to get by on his wages.”
“He told us he is leaning toward Donald Trump in the election,” Swanson
added, “but is bothered by the Republican candidate’s anti-Muslim
vitriol. He bought the new book after we discussed how the capitalists
rule by dividing the working class, and how a revolutionary movement to
take power must forge unity among millions of workers.”
Related articles:
‘Socialist Workers Party is revolutionary party we need’
Working class is capable of reorganizing society
Socialist Workers Party files for Louisiana ballot
Join the Socialist Workers Party campaigning
Capitalism can’t be reformed
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