The Need for United Independent Political Action By The Left, Progresssive
Movement Forces, Minority Communities, And Working People In General

A Statement by the Debs Tendency, Socialist Party USA

The American Left is in a time of opportunity and at the same time in a
crisis of leadership. Recent events have changed the political landscape
dramatically from what it was a year ago. The Iraq War, which is more
obviously a war of profit and exploitation each day, has lost the support of
the majority of Americans. Hurricane Katrina has ripped apart a city and an
entire region, and the utterly botched response to it has laid bare the race
and class divisions in American society and the increasingly crass
corporatism rife in the government. Energy prices are ripping through
record highs and threatening the existence of suburbia itself, as the rich
get richer and the working class is slowly herded into the low-paying
service industry. The Republican Party, long arrogant with power, is
beleaguered by scandals among its top layers.

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Popularity: 60%

The Need for Independent Political Action by the Left, Progressive Movement Forces, and Working People in General
A Statement of the Debs Tendency of the Socialist Party USA

The American left is in a time of opportunity and at the same time in a crisis of leadership. Recent events have changed the political landscape dramatically from what it was a year ago. The Iraq War, which is more obviously a war of profit and exploitation each day, has lost the support of the majority of Americans. Hurricane Katrina has ripped apart a city and an entire region, and the utterly botched response to it has laid bare the race and class divisions in American society, and the increasingly crass corporatism rife in the government. Energy prices are ripping through record highs and threatening the existence of suburbia itself, as the rich get richer and the working class is slowly herded into the low-paying service industry. The Republican Party, long arrogant with power, is beleaguered by scandals among its top layers.

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Popularity: 74%

Tom Good posted this article regarding democracy within UFPJ that’s been making the rounds through radical and progressive communities lately.

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UFPJ Diary: The Case For Participatory Democracy

By Thomas Good

Say, would you let me cry on your shoulder
I’ve heard that you’d try anything twice…
But then you open your eyes
And you see someone that you physically despise
But my heart is open
My heart is open to you
- Stephen Morrissey

This is an opinion piece, not a position paper of either the Direct Action Tendency, the Industrial Workers of the World, the War Resisters League or September Action. All of the positions advanced are my own, as are the errors. Of course, the final product has profited from some donated labor: many thanks to Brendan Story, David Meieran and Jim Macdonald for their valuable input and valiant efforts to trap my many errors.
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Popularity: 47%

Someone needs to explain the word phrase “superpower” to me. During a recent research project, I uncovered some startling facts compiled by our own government statisticians at the State Department and CIA – The World Factbook. Numerous different university studies throughout the U. S. also validated these facts: 1. The U. S. ranks 36th in the world in infant mortality, 2. The U. S. ranks 38th in life expectancy (number 1 & 2 are a direct reflection on our health care systems), 3. The U. S. ranks 62nd in literacy, 4. The U. S. is 13th in percentage of population living below the poverty line, 5. The U. S., as of this writing, ranks 69th in unemployment, 6. The U. S. is number 1 in external debt, (FirstGov.gov, 2005), (Geography IQ, 2005) 7. In July 2003, John Roach, writing for The National Geographic News, reported that Western Europe has more millionaires and controls more accumulated wealth than the United States, (Roach, 2003) 8. The U. S. is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee healthcare and education to its citizens (Wehrle, 2001), and 9. In terms of military might and terrorism, do you remember Korea, Viet Nam, the Middle East, Eric Rudolph, Timothy McVay, and Pat Robertson? By the way, the people listed here are not radical Muslims, but would be Christians, and there is a lot more of them out there. On top of every thing else, the Associated Press reports that as of 2004 thirty-seven million Americans are living in poverty. (Associated Press, 2005) That is 12.5 percent of the total population of the United States. (more…)

Popularity: 94%

An announcement from the good folks at Anarchist Resistance :

September 24th: We Carry A New World In Our Hearts
A call for a Revolutionary Anti-Authoritarian Bloc Against the War and Capitalism

While the US military rains death in Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever else the “War on Terror” deems necessary, the IMF and World Bank wage an equally deadly war against the people of the world. As these arms of the capitalist machine work abroad to secure land, resources, oil, and cheap labor for the wealth of a privileged few, a War wages right here on our own streets and in our own cities — exposing the American Dream as nothing more than a rotten corpse of bigotry, debt, and corporate and state brutality. Capitalism, and the government which supports it, will use any weapon — bomb and bullet, debt and Structural Adjustment Policy, or poverty and prison — to achieve its end: the exploitation and domination of everything and everyone for profit.

On September 24th, UFPJ and ANSWER will march to demand an end to the war in Iraq, and the Little Eichmanns of the IMF and World Bank will meet en mass to discuss the further subjugation of the “Global South.” We refuse to sit idly by as the world is destroyed around us or demand that the systems of domination and oppression reform themselves. We are not just resisting the war and the capitalist state behind it — we are fighting for all our lives! We carry a new world in our hearts with every act of militant resistance to the war machine, the IMF and World Bank, capitalism, and state power.

On September 24th, Anarchist Action, an autonomous network of groups and individuals, has called for a Revolutionary Anti-Capitalist Convergence Against the War in San Francisco. Over the summer, Anarchist Action has held several successful (sub)urban insurrections, militant street parties, and marches in and around the Bay Area. We are inspired by our comrades from the West coast, and as they converge on the streets in San Francisco, we too will take to the streets of Washington DC!

We are calling for a Revolutionary Anti-Authoritarian Bloc Against the War and Capitalism. Meet on September 24th and bring flags, sturdy banners, clothes to blend in at the march, and other defensive items you might need to oppose the war and the system behind it!

The time and place for the 24th will be announced on September 17th. Please check anarchistresistance.org for all updates.

Popularity: 46%