VO L.111 NO. 9 DECEMBER 2001 50 CENTS IN THIS ISSUE National ID Proposal GE Continues to Resist Hudson River Cleanup Threatens Our Liberty Page 2 s President Bush prepared to sign the Patriot Act of 2001 into law in October, The People noted that provisions of the newly enacted law “expand previous federal encroachments on Union Boss Backs War A civil rights and liberties and further grease the skids toward a police state in the United With Pledge of Support States.” Given the post-Sept. 11 social environment in which Congress found it feasible to pass the Page 3 draconian act, Bush found it easy to hail its provisions as merely “new tools” to fight terrorism. Momentum now appears to be and updates wouldn’t be free). would be used by such a system. Li b - building for another “tool” that would On Sept. 27, a Bush administration erals like Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D- Edi t o r i a l— be very useful to a police state—a spokesman rejected the notion, claim- Calif.) and Harvard professor Al a n Hunger in America national identity (NID) card system. ing “We are not even considering the Dershowitz have also lent their sup- Page 4 Since Sept. 11 the public waters have idea.” But an Oct. 7 article in The New port to a NID system. been continuously plumbed for polit- York Tim e s noted that “at least one By the time this issue of The People ical support for a system of identifi- company that makes scanners has went to press, hearings on the subject Bin Laden Family ca tion similar to the worker ID or “in - reportedly said several federal agen- were being convened in the House, Cuts Its U.S. Financial Tie s ternal passport” systems that once bol- cies had been in touch about using the and a New York State antiterrorism st e r e d apartheid in South Africa, fas- devices in connection with ID cards.” committee had reportedly already call- Page 8 cism in Germany and bureaucratic By mid-October, Oracle’s Ellison ed for the creation of such a system. state despotism in the former Sovi e t said in an interview with the Me r c u r y No matter what the reason for a Union and its satellite nations. Ne w s that he had already “met with NID system—as a hedge against ter- Capitalists and their propaganda U.S. Attorney General John As h c r o f t rorism, crime, drugs, illegal immigra- SLP FINANCIAL CRISIS mills have had a field day with the and officials at the CIA and FBI in tion or merely against inefficiency in idea—in the name of antiterrorism. Washington, D.C....to discuss the distribution of government services, For ‘ Peace on Earth’ The week after the attack, the Pew idea.” On Nov. 8, according to a Re u t - all of which have been used as ratio- Research Center released poll results er s news report, the Bush administra- nales for various identification card “T o plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these that it claimed showed “seven of 10 ti o n ’ s special advisor on cyber-s e c u r i t y , schemes, workers should lend them things they misname empire; and when they Americans favored a requirement that Richard Clarke, conceded “that the no support. Whether the cards are for make a desert, they call it peace.”—Tac i t u s citizens carry a national identity ca r d administration doesn’t yet have a for- particular purposes—such as board- at all times to show a police officer mal position on the concept.” ing airplanes—or for universal identi- We are approaching that time of the year upon request.” A week later, a Ne w Others have jumped on the national fication, they cannot serve workers’ called the season of peace and good will. York Tim e s /CBS News poll reported ID card bandwagon—including, of in t e r e s t s . But the Christmas season changes nothing 56 percent supported the notion an d course, the CEOs of other companies Proponents claim that everyone will under the barbarous capitalist system. The a CNN/Tim e poll reported a similar that stand to gain financially if such a gain personal safety and security, spirit of peace and good will hailed in song figure. system is established in the United albeit with “a little less privacy.” But and story remains a fata morgana—a mirage That week also found Oracle soft- States. As a SiliconVal l e y .com article such schemes actually work to de c r e a s e that only conceals the source of violence ware chieftain Larry Ellison, as a Sa n headlined “Support Grows for Ellison’s individual security while doing noth- and destruction. We know this is true, des- Jose Mercury News report put it, National ID Card Proposal” put it, one ing to curb the activities of terrorists pite appearances and claims to the contrary. “calling for the United States to cre- estimate says “the U.S. government and criminals. Any NID card system It was certainly true during the violent and ate a national identification card sys- could end up spending more than $3 conceivable would do far more for cor- tumultuous 20th century, when “peace” was tem—and offering to donate the soft- billion on computer chips, hardware, porate bottom lines and the possibili- nothing but a brief hiatus between wars. ware to make it possible” (although software and services that go into cre- ties for police-state repression in the And it already seems that the 21st century he later admitted that maintenance ating so-called ‘smart’ ID cards” that (Continued on page 3) will bring more of the same. Nonetheless, preachers will chant about the peace that surpasses all understanding NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS PROTEST (which “peace” certainly does under rapa- cious capitalism) and hold out the promise of rewards “in the hereafter.” From Heroes to Landfill Politicians will mouth pretty phrases By John-Paul Catusco workers who died on Sept. 11 would ute to their brave comrades has dried about the “peace” they are shaping, while Many Americans were shocked on be reduced to a token crew of 75: 25 up. “Yesterday my husband and his they go on creating and using deadly instru- No v . 2 by the images of New York City from the FDNY, 25 from the NYPD friends were heroes, today they’re land- ments of mass destruction. firefighters staging a massive and vio- and 25 from the Port Au t h o r i t y . These fill,” said Theresa Regan, the widow of The hired “opinion makers” of the capital- lent protest at “ground zero” in lower workers would not be taking a direct a missing firefighter. ist media will spin their yarns about the Manhattan. Most Americans were un - part in recovery efforts but would be The firefighters and their normally beauties of this monstrous war- and poverty- aware of the events of the previous day, waiting in holding pens for cranes to conservative union know this is the breeding system, while capitalism’s deadly which prompted the militant protest. dig up the bodies of their comrades. case. They know that Giuliani’s deci- fruits are being served up with increased A summary of those events follows: The cranes have been operating at sion to scale back the recovery opera- fury and frequency. On Nov. 1, Mayor Rudolph W. full speed and have sent the torsos of tion is not about safety concerns, as Reformers will wring their hands in des- Giuliani announced that more than several firefighters in dump trucks to the mayor and Fire Commissioner pair and blame their failures on the alleged $230 million worth of gold and silver the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Is- Thomas Van Essen have stated. It is “stupidity” and “blindness” of “the people,” bars that had been stored in a huge la n d . The speedup has disgusted the about money. the supposed object of their solicitude and bomb-proof vault owned by the Bank FDNY rank and file and other work- When firefighters went to the WTC affection. In truth, however, it is they who of Nova Scotia had been unearthed by ers everywhere. The speedup is part of site on Nov. 2, they were banned from have contributed to the evil by helping to recovery crews at the ruins of the Gi u l i a n i ’ s plan to have the site cleaned entering what to them is hallowed strengthen the cause that make the people World Trade Towers. Markets every- up before he leaves office to add anoth- ground. One of them punched a police what they are. As John Milton said: “Th e y where celebrated the news. er credit to his already inflated legacy. of f i c e r , but union officials were quick to who have put out the people’s eyes, reproach The bodies of five New York City On Nov. 2, the recording secretary for point out that most of the 18 firefight- them of their blindness.” firefighters were also recovered from the Uniformed Firefighters As s o c i a t i o n ers arrested (including five union offi- Shall we, then, despair of attaining peace, the rubble on Nov. 1 by their hard- (which represents New York City’s fire- cials) did nothing more than chant pl e n t y , and the liberty that can only fl o u r i s h working comrades at ground zero— fighters) said that when Giuliani said “U.S.A.” and cross a police barricade. and be secured in a society of tranquillity but it was the story of the gold that that he would leave no brick unturned When “America’s heroes” then march- and abundance? Shall we resign ourselves made the headlines. in the search for the bodies of missing ed down to City Hall to protest Giu- to a fate that threatens to be more disas- After announcing that all of the gold firefighters what he really meant was li a n i ’ s cutbacks they were met by police trous to humankind than any that has con- and silver had been recovered, Giu- that he would leave “no brick of gold in riot gear. fronted it in the past? Shall we permit the liani also announced that the recovery un t u r n e d . ” The protests attracted public atten- madness of capitalism to drag society, and crews looking for the still-missing bod- With the gold and silver out it would tion and decided city officials to alter such poor civilization as we have attained, ies of many of the 343 firefighters and seem the need to pay city workers over- their policy by increasing the FDNY below the level of a barbarism long since dozens of police and Port Au t h o r i t y time so they can recover and pay trib- (Continued on page 6) left behind us? The answer of the Socialist (Continued on page 7) Visit our Web site at www. s l p . o rg 2 THE PEOPLE DECEMBER 2001 GE Continues to Resist party news Hudson River Cleanup Plan Houston SLP Group At Antiwar Rally By B.G. now, rather than during the next three he ongoing battle to force General years of analysis, would be a violation of On Sunday, Nov. 18, an antiwar protest Electric (GE) to clean up the tox- customary procedure. The environmen- was held in Houston. Comrade Dionisio T ins it dumped in the Hudson River talists believe GE is behind the plan to Villarreal and I participated in the march over the years has entered a new phase. insert performance procedures now rath- and the rally that followed. Many groups For more than 35 years, GE plants er than later to scuttle the operation. were represented and about 200 people discharged millions of pounds of poly- Eileen McGinnis, chief of staff to were present. Even as we gathered for chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as waste Christie Whitman, said, however, that it the march, several members of a reac- into the upper Hudson. That was before was Whitman who conceived the plan to tionary group known as the “Freepers” the chemicals were banned in 1977. insert performance standards now to (which I believe is short for “Free Repub- In 1983, the Hudson was declared a ensure that the operation would be done licans”) showed up and began heckling Superfund site. GE has steadfastly re- correctly and would “have some account- us. One of these so-called Freepers fol- sisted both state and national directives ability.” (The New York Times, Oct. 3) lowed the march with a huge banner to dredge the river to remove the poisons Whitman, who considers the project of depicting the head of Osama bin Laden still settled there, saying that the river is major national significance, was also impaled on the torch of the Statue of cleaning itself. (The People, July 2001) considering having the whole dredging Liberty. At some points along the march GE knows that a loss on this issue could plan overseen by EPA headquarters in route small knots of people waved force it to clean up any other polluted Washington rather than by the regional American flags and shouted insults at sites in the country for which it is office in New York. our group, but they were not many. There responsible. The environmentalists who met with was a heavy police presence at all times. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the EPA feel, however, that the New The march itself covered approximately administrator Christie Whitman, how- York EPA office is far more up to date two miles and ended at Sharpstown ever, announced that on Aug. 1 the agen- B.B. for the People on the issue and would follow it much Green Park, where the rally was held. I cy would go ahead with the plan to out of these apparently secret meet- more closely in the future than the spoke on behalf of the SLP, and my state- order GE to dredge the upper Hudson to ings,” he said. He also noted that if the Washington office. ment was received with applause and remove the remaining PCBs, and that EPA is setting standards and goals for The Washington EPA office wants to congratulatory handshakes afterwards. the nearly half-billion-dollar cleanup be GE to meet “without full and detailed insert in its performance standards the Comrade Villarreal and I also distributed done at GE’s expense. consultation with the state, that would problem of resuspension—how much the 80 copies of The People. Overall it was a The Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the violate agreements we have and violate dredging operation will stir up the chem- very beneficial experience and the SLP World Trade Center in New York City the Superfund law.” icals in the river’s sediment. This, by the was welcomed in a very positive manner. deprived the regional EPA of its New According to New York State officials, way, is a topic that GE has constantly Fraternally yours, York office and disrupted its work. Since the EPA in Washington has directed its brought up to kill the project. For Ned Carl Miller Sept. 11, GE has met several times Region 2 in New York State to rework Sullivan of Scenic Hudson, who was pre- behind closed doors with EPA officials the dredging plan to meet new perfor- sent at the Washington meeting, the re- in Washington, D.C. These meetings mance standards. This directive has suspension issue is reminiscent of an Do You Belong? aroused fears that GE is trying to influ- caused a rebellion in the regional office, earlier GE propaganda assault. “This is ence the terms of the EPA directive, which feels that this new decision from setting up the project for failure” be- Do you know what the SLP stands for? Do making the dredging order so difficult, above will “booby trap” the original cause judgments can be made about “pro- you understand the class struggle and why the SLP calls for an end of capitalism and of its sys- if not nearly impossible, of compliance decision on cleaning up the Hudson. duction rate” only “when you have a spe- tem of wage labor? Do you understand why the that the whole project will be undercut. Rep. Hinchey feels that the Region 2 cific design.” SLP does not advocate reforms of capitalism, GE denies there are grounds for these office is trying to implement the project GE angrily denied that it is trying to and why it calls upon workers to organize suspicions. The company claimed that in a responsible way, but that the EPA kill the project. It added a statement Socialist Industrial Unions? its meetings with the EPA were merely in Washington “is trying to do something telling how much it loves New York and If you have been reading The People for a year “perfunctory.” Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a else.” Peter Lehner of the state’s attor- how the company has been trying to or more, if you have read the literature recom- Democrat from the lower Hudson Valley ney general’s office agrees, noting that help New York City recover from the mended for beginning Socialists, and if you region, thought otherwise. “They’re try- the changing of elements in an agree- Sept. 11 disaster by donating both mon- agree with the SLP’s call for the political and eco- ing to fly under the radar and take ment “takes years of factual analysis” ey and equipment to aid in the rescue nomic unity of the working class, you may qual- advantage of the trade center situation, and cannot validly be done on the basis effort. Although the latter statement of ify for membership in the SLP. And if you quali- while people are distracted, to accom- of a few hasty meetings with a defen- disaster aid is true, it is beside the point. fy to be a member you probably should be a member. plish some nefarious objectives,” he said. dant, such as GE. It has nothing to do with dredging the For information on what membership entails, (The New York Times, Oct. 1) Environmentalist groups, after meet- Hudson and involves much less expen- and how to apply for it, write to: SLP, P.O. Box Peter Lehner, chief of the environ- ing with EPA officials in Washington, diture than the dredging project. 218, Mountain View, CA 94042-0218. Ask for the mental protection bureau in the New agreed with the assessments of Hinchey This ongoing struggle is instructive of SLP Membership Packet. York State attorney general’s office, is and Lehner. To insert specific perform- how a capitalist organization, such as also suspicious. “The state is being kept ance standards in the EPA directive GE, operates to protect its own interests. Abolition of Poverty By Daniel De Leon

An examination of capitalism and its Union Abandons Meatpackers philosophical “justifications” as presented By Carl C. Miller Jr. The reason behind Local 577’s inaction that was promised? by a Jesuit priest. Contrasts socialism’s materialist conception of history with class The SLP has always held that the cur- was made clear on Sept. 17. That’s when “Local union officials are nowhere to society’s “idealism.” rent trade unions are dedicated to inter- management announced that workers be found,” Labor Notes reported. “No 72 pp.—$1.25 postpaid ests that run counter to those of the would get “No more money, you’re in the representative of Local 577 has come to workers they claim to represent. The middle of a contract.” In short, the pro- visit or support the workers since they NEW YORK LABOR NEWS P.O. Box 218 present unions are nothing more than tection promised by the labor fakers were escorted out of the plant. This is Mtn. View, CA 94042-0218 bulwarks of capitalism. They have prov- would not be forthcoming as long as the not surprising considering that Pres- ed this repeatedly by their action, and sacred contract was in effect. (Continued on page 3) sometimes by their inaction. For exam- Management, realizing that the work- ple: Trade unions make many false claims ers’ self-initiated actions could bring to win the support and allegiance of trouble, called in the county sheriff’s workers. One of their best sales pitches department. The company knew it could is the promise of protection from the count on the “law” for protection, and ever-increasing encroachments of the the “law” came through. Many of those capitalists. When this claim was put to “responsible” for the “trouble” were the test at the IBP-Tyson plant in Ama- escorted out of the plant. rillo, Tex., workers found out just how On Sept. 18, over 700 of the 3,500 work- empty the promise of protection can be. ers employed at the plant walked out, cit- According to an article in the Novem- ing concern over safety, understaffing, ber issue of Labor Notes, the struggles of bad treatment from supervisors and a workers at IBP-Tyson began around lack of representation from their union. he People P.O. Box 218, Mountain View, CA 94042-0218 Labor Day when a group of workers took Sadly, the other 2,800 workers, no doubt t the initiative and approached manage- fearful of jeopardizing their jobs, stayed ❑ $2 for a 6-month subscription; ❑ $5 for a 1-year sub ment to negotiate more money and an on the job in homage to the sacred con- ❑ $11 for a 1-year sub by first-class mail improvement in the harsh working con- tract, thereby scabbing on their fellow NAME PHONE ditions at the plant. The company replied workers. that they would do nothing without the Since the wildcat strike began, over ADDRESS APT. union “representing” the workers. But 500 workers have been fired and the CITY STATE ZIP the union, International Brotherhood of company has vowed to keep strike lead- Make check/money order payable to The People. Allow 4–6 weeks for delivery. Teamsters Local 577, refused to get ers out of the plant forever. Where was involved. the union? Where was the protection DECEMBER 2001 THE PEOPLE 3

SWEENEY’S ‘BLANK CHECK’ TO BUSH laid off. Many of those threatened airli n e workers are duespayers who have been, or soon may be, thrown out of work. Many who find themselves out of work Union Boss Backs War will also find themselves empty handed. Apparently certain “emergency clauses” woven into their unions’ precious con- With Pledge of Support tracts enable the airlines to dump un- wanted employees without severance or By John-Paul Catusco benefits. ay what you want about the AF L - This strategy, whereby the AF L - C I O CIO and its leadership; they can seeks to ingratiate itself with the Bush S always be trusted to be consistent administration and Congress, has al- on at least one point. They have never ready fallen apart. A Bu s h - e n d o r s e d failed to promise the full and nearly Republican filibuster on Oct. 11 man- unconditional support of their organiza- aged to prevent Congress from even tion, its membership and all its influ- considering a modest relief package for ence to the wartime activities of the U.S. 130,000 airline workers who had or government, regardless of how those soon will lose their jobs. activities have affected the workers they President Bush has told America to claim to represent. get back to business. From his early For instance, a year before the United actions, proposed legislation and tax States entered World War I, the AF L , breaks, it is obvious that he means under the leadership of Samuel Go m p - business as usual; or, to be more pre- ers, gave the Wilson administration what cise, the business of exploitation. The became known as a “blank check” by rich will recover their lost plunder and signing on to the Council of National De - room to doubt that the “appropriate...re- a “caucus” within the Democratic Party. perhaps end up on top while the U.S. fense. During World War II, the AF Ls i g n - sponse” included anything the Bush Sweeney and other AFL-CIO officials working class continues to slide toward ed on again under the leadership of administration might decide is neces- hope their unconditional support of the new economic depths. Go m p e r s ’s u c c e s s o r , William Green, and sary to achieve victory in this new war ad m i n i s t r a t i o n ’ s war policies will get Gr e e n ’ s up-and-coming protégé, George at home or abroad. them and their members a slightly bi g - With all of this there is no conceivable Me a n y . This sort of AFL-CIO statement is noth- ger piece of the pie and some much need- reason why 13 million rank-and-file The current AFL-CIO president, John in g new—except that this is supposed to ed economic relief at home. workers in the AFL-CIO should bow Sw e e n e y , recently offered the Bush be a new AFL-CIO, which, since Sweeney In line with this strategy, the AF L - their heads and comply in their own administration similar support for the came to power in 1995, has tried to create CIO recently took out two full-page ads exploitation. Tens of thousands of union current U.S. “war against terrorism.” a new image for itself as progressive and in Th e New York Tim e s and Th e Was h - workers are already fighting back against According to his own account, Sweeney finally willing to accept minorities and in g t o n Po s t . Both ads emphasized Sween- the positions taken by Sweeney and other telephoned President Bush to say that, women in roles higher than duespayers. ey ’ s previous statements of support for union leaders. We urge them to become “W e [the AFL-CIO] stand fully behind Sweeney even allows himself to be con- the Bush administration. They also aimed familiar with the principles of Socialist the president and the leadership of our sidered a “Socialist” of sorts. He is a mem- to convince the White House and Congress Industrial Unionism and to put them nation in this time of national cri- ber of Democratic Socialists of America, a to give economic relief, not just to the into practice for the future of all si s . . . . W e will fully support the appropri- group that descended from the old owners of the airlines, but also to the hu m a n k i n d . ate American response.” Sweeney left no reformist Socialist Party and functions as more than 100,000 workers they have All power to the rank and file!

Such systems allow governments and their police agencies to more easily as- . . . National ID Proposal se m b l e dossiers on everyone. Such data can be used to keep track of noncon- (Continued from page 1) contends, the notion of card data with- “The discriminatory treatment that formists, political dissidents, militant service of capitalist-class control of soci- out “false positives and negatives is fal- non-cardholders would surely undergo,” workers and anyone else some reac- ety than for individual security. lacious. Also, such systems will still be it contends, “makes this an obvious slip- tionary state functionary considers a The “Inside Risks” column in the cracked, and the criminals and terror- pery slope—the cards would likely be- threat to the state or capitalist rule. It December 2001 issue of Co m m u n i c a t i o n s ists we’re most concerned about will come effectively mandatory for everyone can be an effective tool for domestic of the Association for Computing Machin- find ways to exploit them, using the in short order, and subject to the same spying, harassment, repression and the er y corroborates that view. “It’s instruc- false sense of security that the cards abuses as other more conventional IDs. regimentation of workers in general. tive to consider the problems of passports provide to their own advantage—mak- The road to an Orwellian police state of History demonstrates that these possi- and drivers’ licenses,” says the column. ing us actually le s s secure as a result!” universal tracking, but actually re d u c e d bilities are not far-fetched. When Social “These supposedly unique IDs are often “Another set of risks arise,” says the se c u r i t y , could well be paved with hun- Security was set up, its supporters gave forged. Rings of phony ID creators CA C M article, “with respect to the poten- dreds of millions of such NID cards.” solemn assurances that Social Security abound, for purposes including both tials for abuse of the supporting databas- Such observations rest on empirical numbers would be kept secret and would crime and terrorism. Every attempt at es and communication complexes that data. A spokesperson for Privacy Inter- be used only for Social Security purposes. hardening ID cards against forgery has would be necessary to support NIDs.... national, a London watchdog group, Tod a y , however, those numbers are a vir- been compromised....” The opportunities for overzealous sur- said in an article in The New Yor k tually universal identifier. One can hard- Some proponents contend that new veillance and serious privacy abuses are Tim e s that ID systems already exist in ly get a job, open a bank account, apply “smart” NID cards would provide infal- almost limitless, as are opportunities for “about 100 countries.” PI’s spokesper- for credit, rent an apartment, and so on lible biometric matches—to face, finger- masquerading, identity theft and dra- son says “the card is just the visible part without presenting a Social Security print or retinal data, for example. But conian social engineering....” of a vast information spectrum...[that] nu m b e r . low-tech human bribery can always pro- CA C M also dispenses with any notion is worthless without some sort of inte- The political state targeted political vide a workaround. Moreover, CA C M that voluntary cards could be different. grated computer system behind it.” activists in the notorious COINTEL- PRO and other operations; it has spied on protesters and assembled extensive dossiers. A uniform, supposedly coun- Founded April 5, 1891 . . . Meatpackers terfeit-proof ID card would simply (Continued from page 2) forced back to work even though his make it easier to conduct such actions, The People (ISSN-0199-350X), continuing ident Rusty Stepp lives more like IBP- wound had not healed. and for capitalists who illegally garner the Weekly People, is published monthly by Tys o n ’ s CEO than like the workers. Other workers related incidents wh e r e such data to blacklist “troublemakers.” the Socialist Labor Party of America, 661 Stepp makes more than $104,000 a fingers had been chopped off by hydraulic The full repressive potential of such a Kings Row, San Jose, CA 95112-2724. ye a r , five times as much as his mem- scissors because, to save money, IBP system may not be apparent. But the Periodicals postage paid at San Jose, CA 95101-7024. Postmaster: Send all addres s be r s . ” refused to install the equipment accord- reactionary tenor of the ruling class is changes to The Pe o p l e , P.O. Box 218, Mountain The workers’grievances are highlight- ing to manufacturer’s instructions. unmistakable. A national identification Vie w , CA 94042-0218. Co m m u n i c a t i o n s : ed in the Labor Notes article. Wor k e r s The workers at the IBP-Tyson plant system would be one more step toward Business and editorial matters should be complained about the pace of the work continue to strike without any help the police state that a desperate capi- ad d r essed to The People, P.O. Box 218, from Local 577. They continue to stand talist class could one day resort to in an Mountain Vie w , CA 94042-02 1 8 . Phone: and their treatment at the hands of (408) 280-7266. Fax: (408) 280-6964. supervisors. According to the article, up in defiance of those who would rob effort to save its system. —K . B . Pr oduction Staff: Donna Bills, Ken Boettcher, to 410 cows are slaughtered per hour them of their dignity and rights as Ro b e r t Bills, acting ed i t o r . and the pace of the work never slows, wo r k e r s . Access The People online at ht t p : / / w w w. s l p . o rg . even if there is a serious injury. The working class must reject the NATIONALISM: Send e-mail to: [email protected]. “The chain runs so fast and you can’t false unionism promoted by the Tea m - Working-Class Nemesis Rates: (domestic and foreign): Single copy, keep up,” a worker said. “The supervi- sters and AFL-CIO and those of their ilk. 50 cents. Subscriptions: $5 for one year; $8 sors treat us like animals, we get in- They must heed the call of the Socialist Discusses the origins, development and dan- for two years; $10 for three years. By first- gers of nationalism, and what the working jured, the chain runs fast, we are short Labor Party and organize not only to pro- class must do to resist and counter nationalist class mail, add $6 per year. Bundle orders: 5- [of] people and the union has not helped tect themselves from the encroachments 100 copies, $8 per 100; 101-500 copies, $7 rhe t o r i c . us. We had no choice.” of capital but to rid themselves of the per 100; 501-1,000 copies, $6 per 100; 1,001 or 16 pages — $1 postpaid mo r e copies, $5 per 100. Fo r eign subscrip- Another worker on the picket line very system that enslaves them. The tions: Payment by international money orde r said he had been shot in the stomach Socialist Industrial Union program of NEW YORK LABOR NEWS P.O. Box 218 in U.S. dollars. with a “bolt gun” used to stun cows the SLP offers the means to accomplish Mtn. View, CA 94042-0218 before they are skinned, and then was this worthy task. 4 THE PEOPLE DECEMBER 2001 Debs’ Tribute to Daniel De Leo n VO L . 111 NO. 9 DECEMBER 2001 Daniel De Leon was born 149 years ago the Socialist Labor Party, marks the on a tiny colonial island off the coast of passing of a striking figure and an Venezuela, Dec. 14, 1852. He died young extraordinary character from the stage by modern standards, while still in his of revolutionary activity. For a full Hunger in America 61st year. Nonetheless, few men of com - quarter of a century, De Leon has been It is a damning indictment of capital- fewer and fewer of their products can be parable potential and ability who lived a leader of socialism in the United ism as a social and economic system that sold at a profit. longer accomplished as much and left States, head and front of the Socialist hunger still exists in the world’s richest In short, it is the capitalist system behind as great a legacy for the better - Labor Party, making a name for hi m - nation. The United States is a co u n t r y itself, with its private ownership of the ment of humankind than did De Leon. self that is known throughout the world. with enough industrial and agricultural means of social wealth production and Parental hopes and ambitions aside, Gifted with a mind of unusual depth capacity to feed, clothe and house not competition among private capitalists no one knows in advance what a man or and brilliancy and educated in the lead- only all of its own people, but much of the whose sole motive for production is prof- woman will achieve in life. De Leon’s in g colleges both here and abroad, he rest of the world—were it not for the it, that forces upon society the insane accomplishments, impressive by any was fitted, as perhaps no other Am e r - insanity of an economy based on produc- paradoxes of hunger amid plenty and standard, were succinctly summed up ican Socialist, for great work in the tion for the private profit of a few. massive human needs amid the produc- by Arnold Petersen in his introduction to educational propaganda of the socialist A grim picture of millions of wo r k i n g - tive capacity to alleviate them. Socialist Landmarks, an SLP pu b l i c a - mo v e m e n t . class families already living in hunge r — Workers do not have to live with these tion that contains four of De Leon’s Daniel De Leon was a true disciple of as layoffs continue and the economy paradoxes or with the grim reality they major addresses. Marx and Engels and one of their worsens—was painted in the an n u a l impose on the nation. They do not have “De Leon played a stellar role in the ablest and most brilliant interpreters. Hunger in America report released la s t to put up with hunger, with poverty or socialist movement,” Petersen wrote. “To His editorials in The Peoplecovered the month by Second Harvest, the nation’s with joblessness. They do not have to live the immortal Karl Marx belongs the dis - whole range of economics, sociology, largest system of food banks. with a class of capitalist parasites living covery of the role of the class struggle in politics, history and philosophy, and his According to a survey of its network of off their labor, forcing them to work in hi s t o r y , the materialist conception of his - versatile genius appears at its best in charitable hunger-relief agencies and often unsafe conditions and to produce to r y , and the formulation of the theory of these columns. interviews with more than 32,000 emer- often unsafe and sometimes unneces- value, surplus value and its scientific He was an uncompromising champi- gency food recipients, Second Harvest’s sary products. They have but to organize application. But it was the American, on of economic and political organiza- system presently serves “an estimated politically and industrially to remake Daniel De Leon, who discovered the tion, believing that only through their 23.3 million people” annually. Seventy- society with human needs and wants as actual structure of socialist society and economic and political solidarity could one percent of this number are classified the motive for production. laid down the basic tactics for achieving the workers emancipate themselves as “food insecure.” Thirty-seven percent Such a society is only possible if capi- proletarian victory in a highly industri - from wage slavery. He fought the craft experience hunger at some time during talist minority ownership of the nation’ s alized society.” the year. Thirty-nine percent of those industries and services is ab o l i s h e d , and De Leon was vilified while he lived, served are children under the age of 18. replaced with co l l e c t i v e ow n ership and particularly by the labor fakers and Daniel De Leon was a Eleven percent are elderly. Nearly 40 de m o c r a t i c operation of the economy by phony socialists whose disservices to the percent of surveyed households have at the producers themselves with the goal of true disciple of Marx and working class he unflinchingly exposed. least one member employed, but they satisfying human needs and wants. Those enemies are to De Leon’s credit. Engels and one of their do n ’ t earn enough to keep the wolves of In such a so c i a l i s t so c i e t y , production Un f o r t u n a t e l y , their libels and slanders food insecurity and hunger away from would be for social use. The economy, ablest and most brilliant have been taken up by many historians their doors. and the industrial government that would of the labor and socialist movements in interpreters. His editorials An even worse picture may be as- administer it democratically from the bot- su m e d if we extrapolate the number of tom up, would be organized for the ex- this country and have gained an unde - in The Peoplecovered the hungry reported in February by the press purpose of determining what soci- served acceptance as objective truth. whole range of economics, Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutri- ety needs and wants to be produced and The tribute to De Leon that follows ti o n Policy at Tufts University. Ac c o r d - how best to produce it. The allocation of presents a different view. It is all the so c i o l o g y , politics, history ing to that report, about one in 10 Am - resources, including hu m a n ones, would more remarkable because it was written and philosophy, and his ericans—more 30 million people—lived be democratically planned by a society by a person with whom De Leon was in food insecure households be f o r e th e with full control of its productive forces. often at odds and whom historians have versatile genius appears present recession began to hit hardest. With no small class monopolizing the tried to portray as a “respectable refor- at its best in these These millions are not hungry or at means of life, with no extraction of profit mer” and consistent opponent of De Leon risk of being hungry because food is and exploitation of wage labor, with no —Eugene V. Debs. co l u m n s . unavailable. Food is available. They just profit motive perverting every social or Unlike De Leon, Debs was never a ca n ’ t afford to buy it. The mighty pro- technological advance to private gain, consistent Marxist, and while he some - ductive forces of this nation can produce society would finally be free to make full times criticized the reformist stands of unions in and out of season, exposing whatever every worker needs, whenever use of all its resources, and above all its his own Socialist Party, he “was never without mercy their weakness and im- they need it. human ones. able to move decisively to the revolution - po t e n c y , and he stood with equal insis- In fact, the government still pays bil- The material possibilities for workers ary stance of the SLP,” as The People pu t tence for revolutionary industrial orga- lions to agricapitalists every year to keep to remake society have existed for nearly it in 1976. nization. He was bold and pointed in his land out of production, or to produce no a century. As Daniel De Leon, Am e r i c a ’ s Nonetheless, Debs was a working-class criticism, persistent in arguing his con- more than certain agreed-upon limits, in foremost Marxist, wrote in 1911: militant, a consistent supporter of labor victions, and tireless in fighting for an attempt to bolster the prices of agricul- “Tod a y , the excuse, the apology for the struggles and a principled opponent of what he believed to be right. tural products and thereby bolster agri- involuntary poverty of a single member of the labor fakers. He endorsed the original The speeches and writings of De Leon capitalist profits. society exists no more. Material condi- Industrial Workers of the World, which evince keen insight and rare powers of In the face of increasing human needs, tions have changed so radically that, so De Leon played a major role in establish - analysis, clear thinking and lucid ex- what has the capitalist class done? far from insufficiency, there is today the ing. Although Debs drifted away from pression. He had, in a remarkable de- Industrial production has been cut con- material possibility of abundance for the IWW even before it was captured and gree, the faculty of making the most siderably by the capitalist class that all. The mechanisms and the methods of split by the anarchists in 1908, he con - involved and abstruse propositions clear owns and controls the nation’s industries production are such today that the tinued to endorse the theory of revolu - and understandable to his readers. As and services. Even at the height of the leisure, the freedom from arduous toil for tionary industrial unionism, or what the an editorial writer of clarity, brilliancy so-called “longest economic boom in po s t - the necessaries of life, the emancipation SL P calls Socialist Industrial Unionism. and force he had no equal on the Am e r - war history,” in October of last year, only from the clutches of the fear of want, all De b s ’ tribute to De Leon’s greatness ican socialist press and no superior any- 82 percent of industrial capacity wa s of these prerequisites to mental and spir- first appeared in the Weekly People of where. His versatility, range of mind being utilized, according to Federal Re - itual expansion, one-time enjoyable but July 11, 1914. and felicity of treatment were, indeed, serve statistics released last month. By by some, are today possible to all. unsurpassed, and his death leaves a this October, according to the Federal Today—all statistical researches com- On the Death of Daniel De Leon vacancy that never can be filled. Reserve, the capitalist class had cut back bine to demonstrate—man can have an By Eugene V. Debs There is not a doubt that Daniel De production so far that less than 75 per- abundance at his disposal with no more [The below article was sent to us by Leon, with all his wealth of intellectual cent of the country’s productive capacity exercise of physical energies than is req- Eugene V. Debs with this explanation: endowment and his classical education was being utilized. ui s i t e for health. Under capitalism the decision to cut “Under such material conditions...so- “The enclosed tribute to Daniel De and high culture, could and would have back production and toss more millions cialism boldly seizes the archangel’s Leon was written for the National Rip- ranked high in any profession he might of workers into the ranks of the jobless trumpet, boldly places it to its lips, and Sa w and should have appeared in the have chosen. But when the light of social- and hungry rests entirely with the cap- boldly sounds the call for human redemp- issue just off the press, but unfortunate- ism came into his life it determined his italist class. tion—the call for revolution—the call for ly I was not present when the paper was destiny and he plunged into the propa- That tiny minority makes its deci- the abolition of poverty.” made up and now I find to my great ganda with a vigor and zeal which never sions based solely on whether the prod- As the present economic recession regret that it was inadvertently left out. abated until his vital powers were ucts wo r k e r s alone produce can be sold worsens, the scope of hunger in Am e r - I shall see to it that it goes into the next exhausted and death put an end to his at a profit to add to the wealth of that ica can only widen—until the working issue without fail; but as that will not activities. When the prodigious amount of mi n o r i t y . If they can, production is con- people who bear the grim brunt of appear for another month it will seem work he did is taken into account, such as tinued or expanded. If they cannot, pro- hunger organize at long last for a social- rather tardy and so I am sending it to translating the classics of socialism and duction is cut and a recession ensues, ist reconstruction of society that will you asking that you kindly give it space other standard works, addressing propa- with the economy spiraling down as enable them to take real control of their in an early issue of the Weekly People.” ] ganda meetings, holding debates and more and more workers are laid off and own lives. —K . B . The death of Daniel De Leon, editor making speaking tours, in addition to his of the New York Pe o p l e and leader of (Continued on page 6) DECEMBER 2001 THE PEOPLE 5

CALIFORNIA— For example: Genevieve was extreme- ly proud of the time and effort she put into the SLP booth at the Minnesota Gunderson Eulogized at State Fair. The booth was an annual event for many years, and I know that she devoted many of her vacations from work entirely to those fairs. One report Oakland Memorial Meeting in the Weekly Peoplestates that she put The following is the text of a eulogy reason I cannot pinpoint the moment of in 12 to 16 hours a day on that activity delivered at the Genevieve Gunderson our first meeting probably has some- alone, and she did it year after year. But Memorial Meeting in Alameda, Calif., thing to do with that first impression and she did much more. on Saturday, Nov. 10, on behalf of the what it says about her, as much as it does She serviced newsstands in which the SL P by National Secretary Robert Bills. with it having been so long ago. The rea- Weekly Peoplewas displayed. She gath- son I can speak with confidence about ered signatures to qualify SLP ca n d i - adies and Gentlemen, Comrades what that impression was is that it was dates for the ballot, not only in Minneso- and Friends: written down and printed in the Wee k l y ta, but in Illinois where she traveled to L Pe o p l e . She had been given the assign- help when the need arose. She distrib- Everyone here today is here because ment of standing on a Manhattan street uted SLP leaflets by the thousands, and they were touched in some way, at some under a sign inviting passersby to stop I can only imagine how many thousands time, by Genevieve Gunderson. For and “Meet the Candidate,” while other that must have been. She not only did some of us the memories are entirely party members spread out to distribute these things herself, she did what she personal. For others they are largely SL P leaflets, sell copies of the Wee k l y could to encourage others to emulate her connected to the organization and the Pe o p l e and SLPpamphlets, and, of course, example. She opened her home to other purpose to which Genevieve dedicated to urge people to stop and talk with SL P members who came from other most of her adult life. For some it is not Genevieve. And I was given the as s i g n - states to collect signatures in Minnesota easy to separate those two aspects of ment of reporting on that experience. to qualify SLP candidates for the ballot Ge n e v i e v e ’ s life. I am one of those. My What I wrote was that “Genevieve in her own state. relationship with Genevieve, even my Gunderson brought her vice presidential She was the organizer of Section fa m i l y ’ s relationship with her, was mixed campaign into New York City with the Minneapolis for many years, from 1953 in that way. It is difficult to sort out these same display of quiet energy and deter- to 1959, from 1962 until 1967, and again two things, not only because Ge n e v i e v e mination that have characterized her from 1970 to 1975. was so completely devoted to the Social- entire national tour.” She was a member of the SLP’s ist Labor Party and our shared view of “Quiet energy and determination” not Minnesota State Committee. She was the world and of humanity, but also be- only characterized her conduct through- Sam Bortnick for The People instrumental in making the practical ca u s e it was the cornerstone on which out the 1972 campaign. In many ways it SL P . The phrase I came across was writ- arrangements for holding state conven- our personal relationship was built. In characterized her entire life. ten about someone else—about a party tions, and she served as recording secre- the end they cannot be separated. They Genevieve was not a person to make a organizer who had just spent a week in tary at more than a few of those conven- are inseparable because, in truth, they fuss. She certainly never desired to be Minnesota. It was in a report written by tions. She contacted newspapers and tele- are the same. fussed over, and never did anything that Genevieve herself. What she wrote about vision and radio stations to arrange for Nonetheless, I am not here to talk was calculated to draw attention to her- that SLP or g a n i z e r ’s week of activities news conferences and interviews with about the SLP, what it stands for or self. But those who knew her will affirm in the state was that he had—and I state and national candidates of the party. what it hopes to achieve. Suffice to say that she was a woman of remarkable quote—“performed a feat of human Genevieve had a fondness for radio that these things were as important to energy and determination. endurance (and of socialist endeavor) call-in programs that may date back to Genevieve as they are to me, as they Nothing that happened over the next that few people would have been able to those state conventions. There were sev- have been to thousands of other SLP 29 years that I knew Genevieve would su r v i v e . ” eral Minnesota state conventions where men and women, among them members cause me to think that my first impres- If that was true of the man upon whom radio stations set up their equipment of her own family. Indeed, her commit- sion was incorrect. On the contrary, it Genevieve had bestowed such lavish and broadcast SLP talks right from the ment to the SLP grew out of her own ex- was as accurate in September 2001 as it praise it was a thousand times more true convention hall. A feature of some of perience, and I must assume out of her was in September 1972. of Genevieve herself, particularly during those broadcasts was that listeners could relations with her family—particularly Another phrase that found its way the last nine or 10 years of her life. call in and ask questions for answer on her sister, Edna, and her brother, Theo. into the Weekly People, but several years Genevieve Gunderson was unques- the air. Genevieve was certainly involved But I am not qualified to speak about earlier than my report on her campaign tionably devoted to the SLP with all her in making the arrangements for those those experiences or that background. visit to New York, underscores the first, heart and soul. It would take the better broadcasts, as she was in making other Only Genevieve herself could speak at least in my own mind. I did not write part of an afternoon to tell you all the arrangements for the state conventions. with authority about those things. it, and it wasn’t written about Gen- services she performed for the SLP. The But Gen was not always the one in When I began to assemble my thoughts evieve. I came across it when I went to list is long and it spans a period almost the background who made things hap- for this afternoon, I experienced a mo- the back issues to assemble some facts as long as her membership, which pen. Occasionally she was thrust into ment of mild panic when I tried, unsuc- about her activities as a member of the began in 1945. the front lines. In 1969, for example, ce s s f u l l y , to remember the first time I she was the party’s candidate for mayor met Genevieve. I could not find that mem- of Minneapolis, and as already me n - ory among the many I have sorted tioned, she was elected to represent through. It was 1972, of that I am cer- NE C Members Salute Minnesota at the SLP’s 28th National tain, but whether it was at the SLP’s Convention in 1972. National Convention in Detroit that Genevieve Gunderson It was there, at Detroit, that she ac- cepted the party’s nomination for vice April, or during one of her visits to New Genevieve Gunderson, vice presidential is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to York City later that year, I cannot say. If candidate of the Socialist Labor Party in let me know. president of the United States. I don’t it was at Detroit it could have been no 1972 and for 26 years a member of the know if you can imagine what a grueling more than an introduction and a hand- pa r t y ’ s national headquarters staff, died on From NEC member Chris Camacho: ordeal that can be. It means weeks of Please accept my most heartfelt condo- shake. There were many such introduc- Sept. 25. The national secretary of the SLP constant travel, of living out of suitcases, lences on the death of Comrade Genevieve tions, handshakes and expressions of reported her death to the members of the of being shuttled to places and engage- pa r t y ’ s National Executive Committee on Gunderson. The party and our class have ments about which you have no warning good luck for Genevieve on that occasion. lost a true heroine of the class struggle. For that was the occasion on which she Sept. 26. In response to his letter, the nation- to do things for which you often have no al secretary received the following tributes was suddenly thrust into the limelight— From NEC member Bruce Cozzini: time to prepare. It means being prepared and expressions of sadness and regret from to speak in public at a moment’s notice, at least the SLP limelight—in a way I the members of the NEC: I am greatly saddened at the death of am sure she never imagined and cer- Comrade Gunderson. Comrade Prince called to have microphones thrust into your tainly never sought. From NEC member Stephen Raper: me this morning with the news. It is hard for face and to be sat down in front of tele- She was in Detroit as the convention I will miss Comrade Gunderson. I met her me to put into words all she has meant to vision cameras. It means being chal- delegate elected by the SLP members in at the annual convention, and she was a real the SLP and to me personally, from my lenged and sometimes verbally abused Minnesota. By the time the convention comrade. I enjoyed speaking to her and she youth in the Midwest until the present. The by hostile and cynical reporters and really helped to make the convention a pleas- news came as little surprise after seeing her was over she had been nominated to be radio and television personalities. It an t experience. The stories she told me, he r at the discussion meeting on the 15th. Her the SLP’s vice presidential candidate in means having to think on your feet, not pleasant wit and her charming demeanor physical condition had deteriorated to the only to contend with attacks designed to that year’s national election campaign. made her the type of person you never forget. point where she could barely complete a sen- catch you off your guard, to embarrass Knowing Gen as well as I came to know And I will never forget her; she will reside in tence without stopping for breath, yet her her in later years, I imagine that her my memories as the example of a truly de d - spirit and enthusiasm for the emancipation you and to cause you to think simply of mind was filled with thoughts about the icated Socialist, and I hope all members of the of the working class was as strong as ever. defending yourself, but to keep your com- responsibility she had agreed to accept. SL P will take the example she set to heart. She is irreplaceable in both her work and posure, to deflect and counteract antago- I am certain that is where her thoughts Working for the interests of the working class her spirit. nism, arrogance and ignorance that dis- were, and not on the grueling two-month to the very end, Comrade Gunderson was I want to thank you and Donna for your torts your message before you have a campaign that was in front of her, or truly one of the best role models any young caring and attention to her in working with chance to deliver it yourself. Genevieve how that would tax her energies and Socialist such as myself could ever have. and looking out for her during her physical met and overcame those challenges in decline. It is a special acknowledgment that test her strength. And I will tell you why ways that made every SLP man and From NEC member Carl Miller Jr.: she gave her all to this organization. I believe I am right about that. woman proud that she had been chosen I am very sorry to hear about Comrade Genevieve earned not only our respect and to represent them in that campaign. An d Although my memory of precisely Gunderson. I am deeply saddened by her thanks, but our love. We all shall miss her. she did it repeatedly from the day after when, where and under what circum- passing. She was a wonderful lady and I stances Genevieve and I first met is regret not having the chance to get to know From NEC member Diane Secor: Labor Day, when the campaign began, obscure in my mind, my earliest impres- her better. Her determination and dedica- I received your e-mail with the news of until it ended on Nov. 5. Her success as sion of her has not been lost. Indeed, the tion to the SLP will be sorely missed. If there (Continued on page 6) (Continued on page 6) 6 THE PEOPLE DECEMBER 2001

Plant $140; Anonymous $101. Carl C. Miller Jr., Nathan Goldberg, activities $100 each Steve Littleton (one-third “In memory of Genevieve Gunderson”; tax rebate), Section Cook County, Ill., Chris Camacho $96; $50 each Donald Activities notices must be OR E G O N Funds received by the Friday pre- Po r t l a n d Richard Aiken, Mildred & Richard J. Do n a k e r , Karl H. Heck; Lois Kubit ceding the third Wed n e s d a y Discussion Meetings— (Sept. 8–Nov. 16) Woodward, Joseph Massimino, Jo- $30; Section Wayne County, Mich. of the month. Section Portland holds discus- Genevieve Gunderson Memorial Fund seph J. Frank, Jill Campbell (one- $25; $20 each George E. Gray, Section sion meetings every second (Thanksgiving Fund) third tax rebate), Harvey K. Fuller, Sa n Francisco Bay Area: Wil l i a m CA L I F O R N I A Saturday of the month. Meetings Genevieve Gunderson Memorial Frederick Vogelgesang, Edith Maut- Ke l l e y , Richard Aiken, “In memory of San Jose are usually held at the Central Meeting ($2,540): $500 each Section ne r , Earl L. Shimp, Clayton Hewitt, John W. Aiken”; Richard Cassin $10. Discussion Meeting— Li b r a r y , but the exact time varies. San Francisco Bay Area, Daniel D. Barbara Graymont; John-Paul Ca- Total: $1,671.00 Section San Francisco Bay Ar e a For more information please call Deneff, Louis Lipcon; Bruce Cozzini tusco $75; Anonymous $68. will hold a discussion meeting on Press Security Fund Sid at 503-226-2881 or visit our $200; $100 each Harriet Dolphin, Bill $50 each Tony Marsella, Margaret Sa t u r d a y , Dec. 1, 1–3:30 p.m., at Web site at http://slp.pdx.home. Jack Radov $400; Joseph Bregni Ke l l e y , Gretchen Storer, Dale Birum; & Frank Roemhild, Alan Tay l o r , John the Empire Branch Library, 491 E. mindspring.com. The general $300; Michael Preston $100; Wil l i a m $50 each Bills family, Michael Rooney, & Mary Brlas, Harley G. Selkregg, Empire St., San Jose. Moderator: public is invited. Barry $75; Phillip Colligan $20; $10 Brette McCabe, Lois Reynolds; $40 James J. Schiller, Fred Didomenico, Bruce Cozzini. each Donald L.H. Scott, Lila Holm- each Steve Littleton, Manuel Luevano; Dimitre Eloff, Robert Hofem; Henry TE X A S dahl, Irving Hulteen; Ed Light $5; $25 each Ken Boettcher, Mary & Coretz $42; Sid Fink $40; Robert Rink Ho u s t o n K.M. Davis $1. Frank Prince, Paul L. Wolf, Jennie $30; George E. Gray $26; $25 each Discussion Meetings— Total: $931.00 Seekford; $20 each Denise Jacobsen, Jennie Seekford, John S. Gale, Blake The SLP group in Houston OH I O holds discussion meetings the Jill Campbell; F. Paul Kelly $10; $5 Bearden, Rudolph P. Sulenta, Al b e r t Leaflet Fund North Royalton last Saturday of the month at the each Diane Secor, Edmund Light. Evenich, R. Brunson, Carl Ar c h a m - Michael Preston $100; John Gale Social & Discussion— Houston Public Library, Franklin Minneapolis SLP Group Memorial beau, John-Paul Catusco; $20 each $8; Joseph Frank $5. Section Cleveland will hold a Branch, 6440 W. Bellfort, south- Meeting for Genevieve Gunderson Thomas A. Harvey, Joseph T. Longo, Total: $113 . 0 0 social and open discussion on west Houston. The time of the ($ 4 2 5 ) : $100 each Irene Schelin, Karl Joseph Viditch, John Hagerty, Aa r o n Su n d a y , Dec. 30, at 9626 Yor k 2001 National Convention meetings varies. Those interest- Heck; $50 each Donald Donaker, Ross Robertson, Harry Gibson, Dagfinn Rd., North Royalton. Begins at ed please call 713-721-9296, e- Banquet Fund & Norma Schelin; Lila Holmdahl $35; Sjoen, Joseph W. Wood, R. Collins, 1:30 p.m. Refreshments se r v - mail [email protected] or Bill Cozzini $200.00 (Tot a l ) Rudy & Aune Gustafson $25; $20 each Monroe Prussack; David Mohle $19.23; ed. For more information please visit the group’s Web site at Harvey Rodich, Jane Christian, Al p h o n s e Thomas McEvoy $15; Keith Woo d Nathan Karp Memorial Fund call 440-237-7933. ht t p : / / h o u s t o n s l p . t r i p o d . c o m . Eiden; John & Pearl Flipovich $5. $14; $10 each Frank Rudolph, Joseph Deborah Menkart $50.00 (Tot a l ) $1,000 each Marty Radov, John Wood, Sarah Rotman, Milton Poulos, O’Neill, Irene Schelin; Joan M. Davis Harry Maran, Frank Bell, Frank Socialist Labor Party $800; Glenn Schelin $600; $500 each Rudolph, Kenneth E. McCartney; Financial Summary Anonymous, Section Cleveland, Michael David Melamed $8; Phillip White $5; (Oct. 1–31, 2001) Preston; $300 each Section Philadel- Anonymous $2. Expenses ...... $10,925.32 phia, Karl Heck (tax rebate), Ar c h i e Total: $14,580.23 Income ...... 12,017.48 Sim, An o n y mous; $250 each Richard A. Surplus for Oct...... 1,092.16 Wei m e r , Lois Reynolds, George S. SL P Sustainer Fund (Jan. 1–Oct. 31, 2001) Taylor; $200 each Roy K. Nelson, Angeline Kleist $500; $200 each Al Ex p e n s e s ...... 1 2 2 , 5 4 0 . 1 1 Joseph Bregni, Chris Dobreff, Jim Mitch, Bernard Bortnick; Robert P. Income ...... 67,904.35 McHugh; Robert P. Burns $150; Jim Burns $150; $100 each Chris Dobreff, Deficit as of Oct. 31 ...... $54,635.76 The People’s Xmas . . . From Heroes to Landfill Box (Continued from page 1) with the recovery operation and say workers to the cold metal teeth of Yes! I want to help support The People. Enclosed please find detachment at the WTC site from that the effort to recover the bodies the cranes to save time and money. my contribution of $ to the Xmas Bo x . of those who lost their lives has been The words of Theresa Regan sh o u l d 25 to 50, which was small consola- Na m e tion to the rank and file and the turned into a “scoop and dump” serve as a warning for all those wh o bereaved families of those whose op e r a t i o n . would give their lives in service to a Address Ap t . bodies are still buried under the This is capitalism pure and sim- state that cares more for money and City State Zip rubble. The city also dropped the ple. It is a case of money over hu- business than it does for the people [ ] Please send a receipt.(Contributions are not tax deductible.)P l e a s e charges against 17 of the 18 fire- man beings. The city rushed to get to whom it pays so much lip-service do not mail cash. Make check/money order payable to The People. Send to: The People, P.O. Box 218, Mountain V ie w , CA 94 0 4 2 - 0 2 1 8 fi g h t e r s arrested during and after the gold and silver, but now it is will- in the capitalist press. Those words the Nov. 2 protest. Firefighters and ing to turn over the recovery of the are: One day you’re a hero and the bodies of New York City’s bravest next day you’re landfill. their union still remain dissatisfied . . . Gu n d e r s o n (Continued from page 5) addition, she was a member of . . . Tribute to Daniel De Leon the party’s vice presidential the SLP’s National Ex e c u t i v e candidate is a testament to th a t (Continued from page 4) working class, and that with a sin- name bright and his fame secure, Committee from 1981 to 1983, editorial work on the Da i l y an d gleness of purpose as exalted as it through the coming ages. inner strength that was so and again from 1989 to 1991. Weekly People, it is not strange that was inspiring, he consecrated him- With deep regret and with sin- much a part of her makeup. Outside the office, Gene- he broke down prematurely and self to their emancipation. He had cere appreciation of his masterly Genevieve Gunderson was a vieve did many of the same that, sad to tell, he literally worked his faults, as all men have, but these services and his loyal devotion to woman of substance. things in our Bay Area section himself to death. will fade away in the light of his the cause, we note the passing of Genevieve returned to Min- that she had done in Min- Whatever fault may be found monumental services to the cause. our valiant comrade from the field neapolis and her job as a dis- neapolis. She was the section’s with De Leon, his personality, his He fought the good fight to the end of conflict to the realm of rest, and patcher for the Minneapolis financial secretary, its news- methods or his tactics, it cannot be without flinching, and left the to his stricken widow and family fire department after the cam- stand committee, its mailing gainsaid that his zeal, his energy, his world a heritage of light and hope we tender our heartfelt sympathy paign; but, as it turned out, for committee, and she was al- very heart and soul were all with the and inspiration that will keep his in their great bereavement. only a few years. In 1975, she ways the treasurer at our local was called upon a second time social and fundraising affairs. to assist with a national cam- Apart from being the caretak- paign of the SLP, not as a can- er of the party’s finances on the didate, but to act as the trea- national and local levels of or- . . . Salute to Gunderson surer for the upcoming cam- ganization, she was always a (Continued from page 5) Comrade Gunderson had all of the the national office staff. paign of 1976. She never re- consistent and generous con- Comrade Genevieve Gunderson’s pas- qualities that I admire in a person. turned to Minnesota to live tributor to party funds. sing away. I knew when I saw Gen- She had a lovely and generous spirit, From NEC member Ken Boettcher: again. She stayed on as a per- To my family and me, how- vieve a few weeks ago at Jennie’s that with a great sense of humor. Her To me she was and remains a lion- manent member of the party’s ev e r , Genevieve was some- her condition had taken a turn for the years of selfless hard work and coura- hearted defender of socialism, despite national headquarters staff, thing more than a dedicated worse. But somehow even when we geous dedication to the principles of her diminutive stature and ill health. and she remained here with us and hardworking member of think that we are prepared to face the the Socialist Labor Party were a deep I will miss her, as will many. for the rest of her life. the SL P . She became a close loss of a beloved comrade, we are inspiration to all of us. I really am never really prepared for the shock grateful to have known her. From NEC member Bernard Bortnick: Here in California, Gene- personal friend, and in many and grief of the loss. My condolence to her family and I was saddened to hear of Comrade vieve was as active and dedi- ways it was as if she became a Gu n d e r s o n ’ s death. She was a re- cated to the SLP as she had member of our family. She markable woman, and a remarkable been in Minnesota. As the was affectionate with chil- • What Caused the Depres s i o n ? Socialist who set a standard for com- pa r t y ’ s bookkeeper, she kept a dren, and the children who mitment and dedication. close watch on the party’s knew her—my children, cer- • The Depres s i o n ’ s I don’t know her full story while she funds. She was treasurer for tainly—had a great affection for In f l a t i o n a r y Legacy was a member of the SLP, but I do the party’s National Conven- he r . Genevieve and my fami- •C a p i t a l i s m ’ s Next Crash: know that seldom if ever was there a tion and National Executive ly celebrated birthdays and The Socialist Legacy party task that had to be done where Committee Session ba n q u e t s . holidays together for many she was not in the front ranks of vol- In 1983, the membership elect- years. Thanksgiving dinners, un t e e r s . 48 pp. – $2.25 (Postpaid) Her many years of selfless work for ed her the party’s financial sec- Christmas mornings and fam- the organization should be made re t a r y , a post that she filled with ily birthdays were not co m - NEW YORK LABOR NEWS known in an appropriate tribute, and the same diligence and care plete without Genevieve being P.O. Box 218 I am sure this is what you were refer- through two terms of office that a part of the festivities. An d Mtn. View, CA 94042-0218 ring to in stating you will have more she gave to every SLPre s p o n s i - letting one of her birthdays to say about her later. bi l i t y she ever undertook. In (Continued on page 7) DECEMBER 2001 THE PEOPLE 7 di re c t o r y letters to the People MI D D L E T O W N , Sacramento, CA 95822- USA 86 6 3 . NAT I O N A L CO N N . HE A D Q U A RT E R S SL P , 506 Hunting Hill tively expensive and unwise st r a t e - crushed not only terrorism, but also Ave., Middletown, CT SAN FRANCISCO Ma r x on Islam NATIONAL OFFICE, BA Y AREA Your commentary to the two- gi c a l l y . Transporting the fuelth r o u g h the growing ambitions of both SL P , PO Box 218, Mtn. 06457. Call (860) 347- SLP, P.O. Box 70034, Vie w , CA 94042-0218; 40 0 3 . page spread of Marx and Engels Afghanistan to the growing and Russia and China....” Sunnyvale, CA 94086- (408) 280-7266; fax ever more profitable south As i a n Th e Gu a r d i a n goes on to state 0034. E-mail: slpsfba@ [October issue] was very good and I (408) 280-6964; e- m a i l : MI N N E A P O L I S netscape.net. found Engels’ analysis of the in c e s - markets is the most viable proposi- that it has “argued [in its pages] s o c i a l i s t s @ s l p . o rg ; Karl Heck, 5414 Williams Ave., White Bear Lake, sant tribal conflict among the Ar a b s tion from the U.S. point of view. about whether terrorism is likely to Web site: www.slp.org. SEABROOK, N.H. MN 55110-2367. Calll very enlightening. It is very much a Th e Gu a r d i a n continues, “...In be deterred or encouraged by the ALBANY, N.Y. (651) 429-7279. E-mail: R i c h a rd H. Cassin, P.O. Box 2538, Sea- revolt of the peasantry against th e 1995 the United States oil company invasion of Afghanistan, or whether SL P , P.O. Box 105, [email protected]. brook, NH 03874. Call Sloansville, NY 12160- city bourgeois throughout Central Unocal started negotiating to build the plight of the starving will be (603) 770-4695. 01 0 5 . MI L WAU K E E Asia and Pakistan. I also think that oil and gas pipelines from Tur k - relieved or exacerbated by attempts SL P , 1563 W. Rogers St., Ahmed Rashid’s analogy to the menistan, through Afghanistan and to destroy the Taliban. But neither ATHENS, TENN. Milwaukee, WI 53204- ST . PETERSBURG, FL A . E-mail: iluvhumanity@ 3721. Call (414) 672-2185. “lumpen proletariat” has a grain of into Pakistani ports on the Ar a b i a n of these considerations describes the Call (727) 321-0999. ya h o o . c o m . E-mail: milwaukeeslp @ truth in it considering the destruc- Sea. The company’s scheme required full scope and purpose of this war.” we b t v. n e t . S. W . VIRGINIA tion of Afghan communities over a single administration in Af g h a n - Once again innocent civilians CHICAGO istan, which would guarantee safe will be bombed and subjected to S L P, P.O. Box 642, NEW LONDON, Thad Harris, P.O. Box the past 20 years. Skokie, IL 60076-0642. CONN. 1068, St. Paul, VA B. B . passage for its goods. Soon after the starvation and other hardships. S L P, 3 Jodry St., 24283-0997. Call (540) Dallas, Tex . Taliban took Kabul in September Once again young men and women 328-5531. Fax (540) CLEVELAND Quaker Hill, CT 06 3 7 5 . 1996, the [London] Tel e g r a p h re - of the armed forces of the United Ro b e r t Burns, 9626 Yor k Call (203) 447-9897. 32 8 - 4 0 5 9 . [For a review of Ahmed Rashid’s Rd., N. Royalton, OH Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and ported that ‘oil industry insiders States and its allies will lose their 44133. Call (440) 237- NEW YORK CITY AU S T R A L I A Fundamentalism in Central As i a , say the dream of securing a pipeline lives, or be horribly mutilated. Al l 7933. E-mail: j . o n e i l @ Call (516) 829-5325. E- Brian Blanchard, 58 across Afghanistan is the main rea- this ostensibly to defeat terrorism, worldnet.att.net. mail: [email protected]. F o rest Rd., Tre v a l l y n , see our June issue.] Web: http://hometown.aol. Launceston, Tas m a n i a son why Pakistan, a close political but in fact to ensure raw materials, CORPUS CHRISTI, c o m / h u n t e r s l p / i n d e x . 7250, Australia. Call or Afghanistan and Oil ally of Am e r i c a ’ s, has been so sup- markets and continued profits for TE X . ht m l . fax 0363-341952. The premise of Diane Secor’s portive of the Taliban, and why the capitalist class, while at the Call (512) 991-0287. timely article in the November OCEANSIDE, CALIF. CA N A D A America has quietly acquiesced in same time very likely creating fer- DALLAS Call (760) 721-8124. NA TIONAL issue of The Peoplethat the Af g h a n its conquest of Af g h a n i s t a n ’ . . . . ” tile conditions for the growth of Call Bernie at (972) 458- HE A D Q U A RT E R S war is in reality another war over Th e Gu a r d i a n reports that a future terrorist movements. 22 5 3 . PALMDALE, CALIF. SL P , 1550 Laperri e r e oil, receives interesting and telling U.S. diplomat told the author Jim Plant E-mail: [email protected] DENVER Ave., Ottawa, Ont., K1Z confirmation in the British daily Ahmed Rashid in 1997 that “the Sawbridgeworth, England 7T 2 . Call Doug Irving at Call (303) 426-5108. PH I L A D E L P H I A (613) 728-5877 (hdqtrs.); newspaper The Guardian in its Taliban will probably develop like SL P , P.O. Box 28732, DULUTH (613) 226-6682 (home); issue of Oct. 23. The Guardian ar t i - the Saudis did. There will be Behind the War in Ph iladelphia, PA 19151. or (613) 725-1949 (fax). cle aptly commences by quoting the For information, call Rudy Call (215) 234-4724. E- Aramco [the former U.S. oil consor- Gustafson at (218) 728- Af g h a n i s t a n ma i l : [email protected] words of President Woo d r o w tium in Saudi Arabia] pipelines, an 31 1 0 . VAN C O U V E R I think Diane Secor’s article on the SL P , Suite 141, 6200 Wilson just a year after the end of em i r , no parliament and lots of PI T T S B U R G H real reasons for the war in EASTERN MASS. McKay Ave., Box 824, the First World War: “Is there any Sharia law. We can live with that.” Call (412) 751-2613. Afghanistan, which appeared in Call (781) 444-3576. Bu rn a b y , BC, V5H 4M9. man, is there any woman, let me Ho w e v e r , as noted by Diane your November issue, captures the PONTIAC, MICH. say any child here, that does not HO U S T O N PU E R TO RICO Secor in her Pe o p l e article, it even- dynamics of U.S. foreign policy in the Call (810) 731-6756. know that the seed of war in the Call (713) 721-9296. SLP Group of Puerto tually became clear that the region. Like the Gulf War of 10 years Web site: http://hous- PO R TLAND, ORE. Rico, Calle 415, NA-28, modern world is industrial and Taliban was an unreliable partner tonslp.tripod.com. E- 4ta Ext., Country Club, ago, this is a war in pursuit of oil— S L P, P.O. Box 4951, commercial rivalry?” and even an obstacle to U.S. plans, m a i l : h o u s t o n S L P @ Ca r olina PR 00982. Call and like the Gulf War and its afteref- P o rtland, OR 97208. The article, by George Monbiot, and this became particularly evi- lycos.com. (787) 757-5951. fects, which are primarily blamed for Call (503) 226-2881. notes, “Afghanistan has some oil dent after the bombing of U.S. Web: http://slp.pdx. the recent terrorist attacks, the cur- HUNTER COLLEGE, and gas of its own, but not enough NY C h o m e . m i n d s p r i n g . c o m UK R A I N E embassies in Africa, apparently rent hostility could trigger deadlier E-mail: slp.pdx Se r giy Skubenko, 42, to qualify as a major strategic con- Hu n t e r S L P @ a o l . c o m carried out by Islamic militants attacks down the road. @mindspring.com. 10/1 Pryvokzalna Str., cern. Its northern neighbors, by based in Afghanistan and protected 04116 Kiev, Ukraine Stephen B. Isabirye LONG ISLAND, N.Y. contrast, contain reserves which by the Tal i b a n . L o n g I s l a n d S L P @ y a - SACRAMENTO, CA SS. E-mail: escort Flagstaff, Ar i z . hoo.com. SL P , P.O. Box 221663, 71 @ h o t m a i l . c o m . could be critical to future global The Guardian observes that su p p l y . In 1998, Dick Cheney, now American foreign policy is governed U.S. vice president but then a chief by the doctrine of “full-spectrum ‘P a t r i o t i s m ’ executive of a major oil services dominance,” meaning that the Whenever “the last refuge of a . . . Gu n d e r s o n co m p a n y , remarked: ‘I cannot think United States should control mili- scoundrel shines” the brightest, as of a time when we have had a ta r y , economic and political develop- it has since Sept. 11, the voice of (Continued from page 6) against ailments that have region emerge as suddenly to ments worldwide. Naturally, Russia The People is needed the most. To slip by unnoticed by my fam- overwhelmed, demoralized become as strategically significant and China have taken steps to add to that, we have the economy ily was unthinkable. and defeated many. I know as the Caspian.’ But the oil and gas counter such U.S. worldwide domi- slipping (or skidding) steadily If Genevieve was all busi- it was difficult for her; but I there is worthless until it is moved. nance. In June, Russia and China downward. Enclosed is my ness where business was con- also know that she would not The only route which makes both pulled four central Asian republics Thanksgiving contribution to help cerned, she also knew how to allow herself to be over- political and economic sense is into a “Shanghai cooperative organi- our voice stay alive. have a good time and how to whelmed by any of them. She through Af g h a n i s t a n . ” zation,” its purpose in the words of B. B . bring a smile and a bit of loved life, she fought hard to The article observes that piping Chinese leader Jiang Zemin being to St. Augustine, Fla. ha p piness into other people’s cling to it, and in doing that all the Caspian basin’s fossil fuel “foster world multipolarization,” lives. She was subtle and she “performed a feat of through Russia or Azerbaijan would meaning resisting U.S. full-spec- Doing His Part sweet and blessed with a good human endurance that few greatly enhance Russia’s political trum dominance. Th e Gu a r d i a n My bank account and savings sense of humor. She knew the people” could match. and economic control over the ce n t r a l comments that: “If the U.S. succeeds say no, but to make a contribution difference between work and That same “quiet energy Asian republics, hardly an attracive in overthrowing the Taliban and is the least I can do to honor Gen- play; she understood the and determination” that proposition for U.S. capitalism. replacing them with a stable and evieve Gunderson’s years of toil and value and the necessity of impressed me 29 years ago Piping it through Iran would also grateful pro-Western government, determination to the cause of work- both, and she knew that there impressed me until the end. not be to the liking of the United and if the United States then binds ing people the world over. were occasions when the two I am very sad to lose my old States, and sending it the long way the economies of Central Asia to that R. H . could overlap. friend, my comrade, my co- through China would be prohibi- of its ally Pakistan, it will have Carlsbad, Calif. Genevieve was also well worker and someone who read and well informed. Ape r - came as close to being a mem- powers of class rule be arrayed you would do for yourself and sonal library can tell you a ber of my family and a grand- against us, we mean to redeem yours—send a Christmas gift that great deal about its owner. parent to my children as any- . . . ‘P e a c e ’ that pledge! will help us to carry on the work Ge n e v i e v e ’ s library was no one could be who was not (Continued from page 1) But—and there is a but—we that will eventually lead to a new different. It was not large by those things by blood. She Labor Party is a ringing: no ! cannot do so unaided, or by mere world in which the “spirit” of peace some standards, and it in- was a sweet and gentle woman We know that the evils of the individual adherence to principle. and good will will be an everyday cluded things you would whose disarming smile did modern world are the byproduct of We need the support of those who feature of our lives and those of all expect. There were works of not conceal so much as it the antisocial system we live under. share our views and our solidly the generations yet to come. Karl Marx and Frederick complemented a noble heart, The antisocial evil of capitalism can founded hopes. In particular, we Help us carry on the fight for a Engels in her bookcase. There a keen intellect, extraordi- be conquered, but it cannot be over- must restore the SLP’s financial new society where wars and pover- were plenty of SLP pa m - nary competence at almost come by pious wishes, by idle strength to carry on the struggle. To ty will be but faint memories of an phlets, and there were books any task she undertook or dreams, or by wistfully yearning for do that, however, it is essential that evil age—for the new day envi- about men, women and move- goal she set for herself, and peace, for material security or for we raise at least $125,000 before sioned by the poet, when ments that have affected the an undying faith in the good- the restoration of our rapidly disin- the end of August 2002. If that goal “W ar in men’s eyes shall be country and the world we live ness of the human species. tegrating environment. cannot be achieved it is a virtual A monster in iniquity in. But there was more. There Indeed, that is why she was a The working class, through its certainty that the SLP will have to In the good time coming. was Shakespeare, Dostoyev- Socialist, a life-long member genius and unlimited resourceful- close its headquarters, dismiss its Nations shall not quarrel then, sk y , Tol s t o y , the poetry of of the SLP, and someone who ness, has created the conditions staff and discontinue The People. To prove which is the stronger; Sh e l l e y , the essays of Thomas was loved and cherished by needed to secure all these things. Your contribution to Th e Nor slaughter men for glory’s De Quincey and the adven- everyone who could claim the We of the Socialist Labor Party are Pe o p l e ’s Christmas Box will great- sa k e ; — ture stories of Jack London. honor of having known her pledged to carry on the struggle to ly aid us in reaching that $125,000 Wait a little longer.” During the last years of and of having called her com- achieve that goal to a successful goal—and perhaps in going over it! Please use the Xmas Box cou- her life, Genevieve battled ra d e and friend. conclusion, and though all the Do then, for The People, what pon on page 6. DECEMBER 2001 255075100 Bin Laden Family Cuts years ago

Its U.S. Financial Ties The Real Champions of De m o c r a c y the Sept. 11 attack that it might prof- ters in Jeddah and have developed a By B.G. (Weekly People, Dec. 22, 1951) it from the increase in U.S. military cozy and profitable relationship with “The plain fact,” said Stewart Alsop in International capitalism suffered a spending during the present war. the family. Other prominent Am e r i c a n his New York Herald Tri b u n e co l u m n , minor embarrassment after Sept. 11 One of the greatest embarrass- businessmen have also made trips to No v . 12, “is that this is an essentially when the Saudi Binladen Group, a ments to the family has been its Jeddah to make contacts with this revolutionary situation.” construction and investment compa- scapegrace son and brother, Osama important capitalist firm. Mr . Alsop was speaking of the situa- ny , felt compelled to cut its financial bin Laden, one of 53 siblings, whom When criticism of the bin Ladens tion in Egypt. “The structure of society ties to the Carlyle Group. the family disowned in the 1990s and arose after Sept. 11 because of their here—the ruthless exploitation of the The Carlyle Group, as recently claims never to have had contact with capitalist relations with an Am e r i c a n many by the very few who own all the described by The New York Tim e s , is since. The bin Laden family has also firm, the Carlyle Group willingly help- land and therefore all the wealth—sim- “a private investment firm known fo r publicly condemned the Sept. 11 ed the family to sever its ties with ply cannot stand up indefinitely. For all its connections to influential Was h - attack on the World Trade Center. Carlyle by buying out the Binladen sorts of technological and political rea- ington political figures.” (Oct. 26) Its The family’s main company, the Gr o u p ’ s investment stake with its sons, some sort of basic and probably chairman is Frank C. Carlucci, fo r - Saudi Binladen Group, is a huge con- American partner. One hand washes violent change is inevitable here.” mer deputy director of the Central struction company headquartered in the other. Traditionally America is the friend Intelligence Agency and former se c r e - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It also has Surely the Carlyle Group will not and champion of the oppressed who are tary of defense. Former President vast global investment interests. suffer financially from this depar- seeking freedom from feudal oppres- Ge o r g e H. W . Bush and former Sec- The Binladen Group first estab- ture because their ties to the Saudi sors. The American milieu has taught re t a r y of State James A. Baker are lished its connection with the Carlyle Binladen Group are still strong and contempt for pashas, beys and mon- also prominent members of the group. Group in 1994 with an investment in can be revived whenever the political archs. And the American people have Carlyle invests in buyouts of mi l i - a Carlyle buyout fund. Since then, situation is more auspicious. Al s o , everywhere encouraged the struggles of tary and aerospace companies, among Frank Carlucci, former President Bush the Carlyle Group will find the cur- de m o c r a c y . other things. For this reason, the bin and James Baker have all, in recent rent war very profitable for their Autres temps, autres moeurs. Other Laden family faced criticism after years, visited the family’s headquar- investment program. times, other manners. This is the age of “Realpolitik” and the American people must learn to give up their silly ideals. Thus, Mr. Alsop says “we ought to stop Political Parsimony Threatens talking nonsense about democracy” in countries “like this, where the great majority of the population lives rather California’s Mentally Disabled below the level of their animals.” What is needed in Egypt, the columnist ar- By Mary Prince fer those patients into the so-called com- Parent Councils for the Retarded, said: gues, is “a reasonably enlightened dic- One feature of a caring society is the munity-care system. The bill passed the “To thrust our children into the commu- tatorship,” the model for which is way it treats its mentally disabled. The assembly in June by a vote of 47 to 24. nity would kill them.” In other words, Tur k e y ’ s Kemal At a t u r k . society we live in cannot be called caring. Since then, however, it has been stalled parents would not be able to care for Mr . Alsop says “it comes hard for any It is proposed to close down some, if in a committee of the state senate. their mentally disabled children in a American to find himself advocating not all, of California’s treatment centers “Though it is not the only motiva- community-based scenario in the man- authoritarian rule anywhere.” We dis- and transfer 3,000 patients into a “com- tion,” according to the San Jose Mer- ner they have been able to in the past. agree. On the contrary, for the Am e r i c a n munity-care system,” which critics cury News, “one aim of the legislation is And this from Santi Rogers, former ruling class, a class that has embraced believe would not be able to adequately to save money—using the $600 million executive director at Agnews Develop- such dictators as Spain’s Franco and serve those patients. The existing facili- the centers get to provide more care in mental Center and now executive direc- Po r t u g a l ’ s Salazar, advocating authori- ties are not the answer, of course, par- the community, where costs are lower.” tor at San Andreas Regional Center in tarian rule comes rather easy—when it ticularly since many are dilapidated (July 23) San Jose: “The majority of people in the protects and promotes their imperialist and considered structurally unsafe; but The other motivation ostensibly is to community say we should look at other in t e r e s t s ! shunting patients to less adequate facil- do away with the state’s “dual system” alternatives. Options are what this bill It is only the workers, who instinc- ities just to save money is not the of providing care for the mentally dis- talks about.” tively associate their own well-being answer either. abled. But the state deliberately divided As some wit once said, “Money talks!” with democracy, who recoil from Abill introduced in the state assembly its system years ago by moving some If there was money to find for disabled schemes to enthrone despotism, “en- last February by Berkeley Democrat patients out of facilities it decided were patients to receive treatment at ade- lightened” or otherwise. Dion Aroner would phase out at least too costly to maintain. Even then, how- quately funded hospitals, someone three of the five remaining centers for ev e r , it was done under the guise of giv- would be sure to find that that money the developmentally disabled and trans- ing patients a choice or, as the San Jose could be better spent somewhere else. newspaper put it: “It was also the result Needless to say, these patients cannot of a heightened awareness of the right speak up for themselves. They are at A society that really of the disabled to choose where they the mercy of those people who wield want to live. Over the past decade, more influence in society. cared about its many have opted to move to a commu- This is the way capitalism treats its nity setting.” more vulnerable members of society. mentally disabled The option was not for the humani- Everything that does not turn a profit tarian reasons that the Mercury News’ and anything that might eat into profits would build modern, wording would have its readers believe. is expendable under capitalism, and well-equipped and Indeed, the same article went on to note bureaucrats are not to be outdistanced some of the problems that have arisen in safeguarding the profit interests of well-staffed centers because of the lack of funding, services the ruling class. and monitoring of the “community-care If this is capitalism’s response to the for their rehabilita- system,” which is neither communal nor outworn, outmoded system of caring for particularly caring. its helpless then it clearly is an entirely ti o n , allot the Astudy by researchers at the University unfeeling and uncaring response. Aso c i - resources needed of California-Riverside cited by the ety that really cared about its mentally Mercury Newsfound that patients had a disabled would build modern, well- 32 pp. – $1 for their proper much greater risk of dying prematurely in equipped and well-staffed centers for (postpaid) community-care homes than in the cen- their rehabilitation, allot the resources operation and ters where they are now. The article went needed for their proper operation and on to boast that, in 1993, “the Me r c u r y provide caregivers with an income com- A selection of De Leon editorials provide caregivers Ne w s uncovered the deaths of nine chil- mensurate with their humanitarian dealing with various aspects of dren within a month at a care center in service to society. with an income San Bernardino that was the state’s first Only socialism can provide the neces- wa r , its capitalist cause, and how co m m e n s u r a t e attempt at providing community care for sary conditions to effect these changes. the working class can bring retarded and medically fragile children. Only by working class control and trans- pe a c e . with their Four years later, the Orange County formation of the productive forces into Re g i s t e r identified at least six mentally Socialist Industrial Unions can workers NEW YORK LABOR NEWS humanitarian disabled persons who had died since 1991 call for the abolition of capitalism and as a result of preventable incidents.” ultimately the solving of the social ques- P.O. Box 218 service to society. Sunny Maden, president of the tion. Until then, the fate of the mentally Mtn. View, CA 94042-0218 California Association of State Hospital disabled hangs in the balance.