I just wanted to shoot you all a few updates- for one, Genosse Jeremy "Jez" Corbyn, MP is continuing to dominate in the polls and the debates for leadership of the British Labour Party. At this point I'll go so far as to say that hope is on the way! Watched the last debate from Sky News last night, and Jez was terrific- he laid out calm, witty philosophical arguments for withdrawal from participation in American wars and for renationalization of key infrastructure. He remained cool and mild mannered throughout the evening until the end when Yvette Cooper decided to tear up over the "false hope" provided by his plan of infrastructure and housing investments and his rapacious cruelty to the people to try to increase the quantity of affordable housing which baffles all economists- except, you see, for the forty-one who have endorsed Corbyn's plans, including several Nobel Laureate economists, and he came out swinging at that time, forcefully but respectfully citing examples from Germany to Japan where his moderate socialist ideals have succeeded in recent years under similar conditions, and the room went wild. Fully 85% of viewers thought he won the debate!
There is some bad news- Lawrence Lessig, quixotic pirate activist and professor, disappointed that Elizabeth Warren has not run for president, has declared his own candidacy to act as a spoiler for Bernie, even promising to resign his term of office early, with no coherent plan of how to implement any agenda, let alone a campaign fiannce reform plan good enough to justify opposing Genosse Bernie. Lessig has betrayed us all, and many of the causes he's claimed to hold dear over the years by this attack on the single best chance for a political revolution our country has seen in forty-three years. I have little hesitation in calling his candidacy a tragic mistake at best, and call on his supporters to unite under the banner of the man who has broken through our systems barriers again and again to speak the message of the people's interests, Senator Bernie Sanders.
Both history and the present- with Genosse Corbyn's campaign- show us the unvarnished truth: With a strong, united, popular front of all leftists our tasks become much easier- it will take a collaboration between everyone who rejects the status quo of manipulation and domination by the capitalist elite in favor of the people's democracy. Again and again, the failure to unite has proven deadly to movements for social justice: the refusal of the SPD to work with the KPD in the 30s and with die Linke now paved the way for fascist domination and mass murder in the 1930s and 40s, and for Germany's vindictive assault on the Greek people today.
We must all awaken as comrades and struggle together in a united effort to have any hope of beating the corporations. Lessig's declaration makes our job that much harder, but we will not be turned from our mission, nor our human rights.
Finally, here's today's message from Genosse Bernie Sanders!
" The middle class is at a tipping point, and it won't last another generation if we don't boldly change course now.
The surest path to the middle class for American workers is with
unions. The security and strength of a union job means that workers can
have good pay, health care, and a voice at work.
Today our country celebrates Labor Day in honor of the working people
who fought for our rights to regular hours, fair pay, and a decent
living. For decades, the labor movement propped up the middle class in
America by ensuring a level playing field for workers.
There are many reasons for the growing inequality in our economy, but
perhaps the most significant reason for the disappearing middle class is
that the rights of workers to join together and collectively bargain
for better wages, benefits, and working conditions have been severely
undermined.
That is why this fall I will introduce a bill in Congress whose
sole purpose is to restore and encourage workers' rights to bargain for
better wages, benefits, and working conditions. It's called the Workplace Democracy Act, and if it is made law, it will help rebuild the middle class.
Workers need unions because there are people working for minimum wage,
barely able to afford to put food on the table — if even that. There are
people whose jobs are dangerous, or even life-threatening, who can't
speak up for workplace safety for fear of being fired. And there are
countless people working without sick days or even health insurance.
Unions change that equation. When workers have unions, they are no
longer afraid to speak up. They have a clear path to getting health
care, sick days, basic safety precautions, and better pay. They don't
have to live in fear of their employers, and they can work to provide
for their families.
That is unfortunately far from the reality that exists today. Under the
current law, it is incredibly easy for corporations to prevent workers
from joining unions. One in five workers who try to form a union today
will be fired for doing so. And half of all employers threaten to close
or relocate their businesses if workers elect to form a union.
But there's effectively no deterrence for when companies do break the
law. The penalties are far too weak, and there is no incentive to stop
corporations from dragging their feet when workers want to negotiate
contracts.
The Workplace Democracy Act changes that equation. Our bill would:
- Ensure companies can’t prevent workers from getting a first contract.
- Make it easier for workers to form unions through a majority sign up process.
- Strengthen the enforcement when corporations break the law.
This is a commonsense idea that will help our economy and rebuild the middle class. Can you say you support it?
Thank you for your support.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders"
Senator Sanders has expanded his New Hampshire lead over the corporate hacks to 11 points, by the last reputable polls anyway. We need more though, we need to hit the corporate candidates hard and repeatedly to have any hope of success- please come to the Adams School cafeteria at 1311 Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, Thursday September 10th at 6:00pm to learn what you can do to help our movement win Iowa!
Solidarität, Genossinnen und Genossen.
Elise
No comments:
Post a Comment