The austerity programs being forced by bankers and the IMF on European governments had their counterpart in the U.S. in the Congressional “Supercommittee,” the bipartisan effort at meeting demands by the ruling class to cut the country’s deficits by slashing the social safety net for workers. Since the Supercommittee failed to reach consensus on a … Continue reading Supercommittee fails, cuts coming anyway
Month: November 2011
Storm blackout stirs public outrage
HARTFORD, Conn.—On Nov. 17 Jeffrey Butler, the President of Connecticut’s largest electrical utility company, Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P), resigned amid public outrage following the largest blackout in the state’s history. The blackout was caused by a late-October snowstorm that stretched from West Virginia to Maine and broke October snowfall records throughout the region, cutting … Continue reading Storm blackout stirs public outrage
Film Review of “Into the Abyss”
What strikes us first is Michael Perry’s baby face: big brown eyes and an Alfalfa (from “Our Gang”) haircut. He has a disarming smile that reveals big teeth that the rest of him hadn’t yet grown into. On death row for eight years, he was 28 at the time the film was made. He neither … Continue reading Film Review of “Into the Abyss”
Northern Lights
The future of the Occupy movementby Barry Weisleder, the federal secretary of Socialist Action (Canada), and Canada editor of Socialist Action newspaper. TORONTO—On Nov. 23 police enforced an Ontario Superior Court order to Occupy Toronto to vacate St. James Park, a few blocks from Canada’s corporate financial hub. Occupy camps around the world are also … Continue reading Northern Lights
Greece: New government and the accelerated march to capitalist barbarism
ATHENS—The farce and the arguments of the "political elite" of Greece, along with the "power play"—mainly of the two large system-supporting parties, PASOK (Socialist Movement) and the right-wing New Democracy (ND)—to support a government coalition with the participation of the far-right LAOS, finally led to the formation of an "interim government" in November. Elections are … Continue reading Greece: New government and the accelerated march to capitalist barbarism
Democrats divert Wisconsin workers into recall campaign
MADISON—On Nov. 19, over 25,000 people rallied at the Wisconsin State Capitol to kick off the electoral drive to recall Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefish. Petitioners began collecting signatures on Nov. 15 for a special election in the spring of 2012. To hold the election, 540,000 valid signatures of “electors” (those not … Continue reading Democrats divert Wisconsin workers into recall campaign
UAW members approve concession-filled contracts
In late October, members of the United Auto Workers at the Big Three voted to approve concession-filled contracts under heavy pressure from the Administrative Caucus that rules the UAW. All three contracts maintain the devastating two-tier status of new and recent hires, and contain no wage increases for “traditional” tier autoworkers, no cost-of-living increases, and … Continue reading UAW members approve concession-filled contracts
‘Natural gas’ fracking halted in Delaware River watershed
On Nov. 18, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) suddenly delayed a planned Nov. 21 vote on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Delaware River watershed. The commission includes representatives from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The regulation package before the DRBC would allow over 300 new wells in … Continue reading ‘Natural gas’ fracking halted in Delaware River watershed
Wall St. criminals attack OWS; workers, students fight back!
NEW YORK—On Nov. 15, Wall Street’s front man, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, launched an early-morning blitzkrieg-style police raid on Zuccotti Park, the site of the two-month old Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement. New York’s “thugs in blue” evicted and arrested some 250 non-violent protestors at 1 a.m. and seized their possessions. The growing OWS “people’s library” … Continue reading Wall St. criminals attack OWS; workers, students fight back!
Occupy Oakland shuts down port and calls for blockade
OAKLAND, Calif.—The Occupy Oakland movement reached a new height on Nov. 2 when a “General Strike” drew more than 10,000 working people, students, and trade unionists—the 99%—to downtown. The mobilization grew to upwards of 20,000 as a diverse sea of people marched to the port of Oakland, where the ILWU workers honored their picket line, … Continue reading Occupy Oakland shuts down port and calls for blockade
NATO & G8 to meet in Chicago — Support the right to protest!
On Nov. 17, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city of Chicago once again refused to guarantee permits for legal, peaceful protests at the overlapping NATO and G8 summits occurring from May 15 to May 22, 2012. Pat Hunt, a central leader of the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda, explained to the media that … Continue reading NATO & G8 to meet in Chicago — Support the right to protest!
European Debt Crisis Latest Threat to Global System
The foremost symptom in the last month of the deepening global economic crisis has been the sovereign debt panic in Europe, a panic steadily increasing the odds of an explosion of the European Union and the death of the euro. The spillover would engulf the world, sinking to new depths a stagnant U.S. economy, as … Continue reading European Debt Crisis Latest Threat to Global System
Occupations point the way for mass labor fightback
Socialist Action welcomes the Occupy movement as a hopeful sign that the working-class fightback against the economic crisis, which is decades overdue, may finally be taking off. We salute the bravery and persistence of the Occupations in the face of police repression, media lies, and politician slanders and attempts at cooptation.As with similar mass encampments … Continue reading Occupations point the way for mass labor fightback
Occupy movement goals: Socialist revolution or capitalist reforms?
At last count 900 U.S. cities have joined the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement. Five hundred other cities and towns on every continent have joined the mushrooming mobilizations in solidarity. With each repressive blow, the movement comes back stronger—more inclusive, more confident, and more clearly focused. “The Americans are fighting back at last,” cried one … Continue reading Occupy movement goals: Socialist revolution or capitalist reforms?
Supreme Court rejects Mumia death penalty
The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 11 rejected the fourth effort in 30 years by Philadelphia prosecutors to execute innocent death-row political prisoner, award-winning journalist, and murder frame-up victim Mumia Abu-Jamal.In refusing to hear an appeal by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, the High Court essentially affirmed that the sentencing instructions given to the jury … Continue reading Supreme Court rejects Mumia death penalty
A fury of activity at Occupy Wall Street
NEW YORK—Billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to shut down Zuccotti Park early on Oct. 14 but found that the movement’s anti-corporate message had struck too deep a nerve with New Yorkers. Under pretext of cleaning the park, located a few short blocks from Wall Street, the mayor planned to have cops remove protesters and destroy … Continue reading A fury of activity at Occupy Wall Street
Occupy the Hood
The “Occupy the Hood” movement in New York City has spread to the oppressed communities of Brooklyn and the Bronx, although, as yet, there are no actual occupations. One Boston Occupy the Hood activist, Ife Johan Uhuru, put it this way, “I see Occupy Wall Street as putting forth demands, and a lot of times … Continue reading Occupy the Hood
Blacks, Latinos hit by recession
The reasons for mass support for OWS are not hard to understand. According to a recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau, the median or average income in 2010 was down 6.4% from pre-recession levels and even lower than the average worker’s buying power back in 1978. Poverty rose to 15.1% in 2010.Those who have … Continue reading Blacks, Latinos hit by recession
After Iraq departure, U.S. sends new forces to Africa, Middle East
On Oct. 30, The New York Times announced that in anticipation of the departure of U.S. combat troops from Iraq, the Pentagon is preparing to deploy more than the equivalent number of troops to Kuwait and to dramatically boost the U.S. naval presence in the Gulf region. According to The Times, new basing and military … Continue reading After Iraq departure, U.S. sends new forces to Africa, Middle East
Building the NATO /G8 protests
The Oct. 15 demonstrations and forums called by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) to mark the 10th anniversary of the occupation of Afghanistan wonderfully coincided with an internationally called Global Day of Action against austerity and were able, in many cities, to link up with the Occupy Movement. In New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, … Continue reading Building the NATO /G8 protests
Climate change and the need for eco-socialism
We are living in a period of intense ecological crisis. Climate change caused by human activity is at the forefront of this crisis, which extends throughout the natural environment and threatens the very future of humanity as a species. Global warming caused by industrial production has pushed us to a tipping point beyond which lie … Continue reading Climate change and the need for eco-socialism
Are the police on our side?
At a recent Occupy Los Angeles demonstration, activist Ron Gochez, speaking about police brutality, made the statement that “police are not part of the 99%.” His remarks were met with jeers from some of the crowd, who tried to shout him down. Later he said, “Although they (cops) might make the money of the 99%, they represent … Continue reading Are the police on our side?
Systematic use of rape against Black women
On Oct. 30, Women’s ENews ran an excerpt from author Jaclyn Friedman, who explains that in this society, racialized women are expected to be always sexually available. The image of the virgin is always an ethereal white girl. Black girls are stereotyped as “wild and animalistic.” The system of slavery, which allowed white men to … Continue reading Systematic use of rape against Black women
SlutWalks blame system that fosters anti-women violence
On Oct. 1 nearly 3000 women marched and rallied at Union Square in New York City to protest rape culture, violence against women, and sexual shaming. It was a well-built, well-organized, and militant demonstration, inspired by the SlutWalks that have occurred in scores of cities around the country and the globe.The marchers were youthful, multinational, … Continue reading SlutWalks blame system that fosters anti-women violence
Alabama passes harsh law restricting immigrant rights
Following in the footsteps of states like Arizona, Georgia, Utah, and Indiana, Alabama has become the fifth state to pass harsh anti-immigrant laws within the last year. HB 56, also known as the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, was passed into law on June 9. However, Alabama is the first state where some … Continue reading Alabama passes harsh law restricting immigrant rights