DSOC Convention: New Goals Set, EDITED BY MICHAEL HARRINGTON

3 Anti-Carter Mood March 1979 Vol. VII No. By David Hoffman SIGNIFICANT TURN TOWARDS INSIDE building a stronger Demo­ cratic Socialist Organizing Committee- with nearly twice Special Report: Budget, p. 5 the present membership in Whih: everyone decries the bare bones budget, 1980 and a renewed effort to few talk about a fully fleshed program to meet form a broad coalition of the human needs. Cushing Dolbeare shows where democratic left in .America- the money's going now, where it needs to go, came last month at the DSOC Fourth and how to get it there. National Convention. Elected to top DSOC leadership po­ sitions were the president of the Bronx Down, But Not Out, p. 9 International .Association of Machinists The South Bronx may never rise again, but (I.AM) and a leader in the .American it won't be for lack of trying. Maxine Phillips Hispanic community. talks to DSOC activists who put a confused Major organizational initiatives were scene in perspective. also adopted. These included beginning to explore merger possibilities with the 800-member New .American Movement Ailing Health Plans, p. 11 (NAM) ; local recruitment and a direct Does national health insurance suffer from mail drive to reach 5000 members by terminal inertia? Tim Smart looks at legisla­ '' .. the 'New Founda­ 1980; a major DEMOCRATIC .AGENDA tive proposals and makes a diagnosis. tions' of / immy Carter conference next fall around the theme of "A Program in Search of a Democratic are being constructed solely on empty rhetoric What's Left to Read, p. 13 Candidate"; and both before and after Sex and the Chinese communists. Lenin and that conference a nationally coordinated and phoney promises.'' the Italian communists. Latin .America and multi-city speaking tour by DSOC and the Socialist International. DSOC and Cold other democratic left leaders. Ronald Dellums War history. Ron Radosh samples some con­ Also discussed by the convention was a troversial analyses. possible presidential race in a few Demo­ cratic primaries by Harrington if the ele­ ments for at least a "minimally serious" A Socialist Plurality? p. 14 issues campaign could be assembled and Would a unified Europe be a socialist one? if no other stronger candidate such as Bogdan Denitch draws hopeful conclusions Kennedy has entered the race by summer. from a poll on the upcoming European Par­ In Harrington's words, "it remains an liament elections. open question and I leave the way open if no one else comes forward. I want us slogan learned in my youth, that 'I would to keep our eyes and ears open." not lead you into the Promised Land, for Winpisinger Is Vice-Chair In the final words of her closing ad­ if I could lead you into it, then others Newly elected vice-drnrs are Atlanta dress, Deborah Meier spoke not only to could lead you out.' theologian Michael Rivas, who chairs the the 150 delegates and 100 observers, she "We will meet again in two years as DSOC Hispanic Commission, and IAM spoke also to DSOC members and sup­ more nearly a movement than an organiz­ Preo;ident William Winpisinger, who porters everywhere. ing committee. That's not quite the Prom­ said-from the AFL-CIO meeting in ised Land, but it will have to do "Socialists must be political teachers," Florida that same weekend-"Sure, it's for now.'' she declared. "Not teachers in the sense unusual for the president of a major na­ of the traditional classroom, but rather For over three days in mid-February, tional union to accept a leadership role as guides, partners and fellow-explorers. DSOC raised the banner of democratic within a socialist organization. But these socialism-aided by an energetic local "It is what lies behind the Debsian arc not ordinary times. DSOC is working chapter-in one of the capital cities of for an economic system that puts human the oil-and-gas Sunbelt, Houston, Texas, needs above corporate profits, and I'm where the convention heard-the words of with them all the way." California Democratic Congressman Ron Following a convention decision to ex­ Dellums, "This is now a new historical pand the number of at-large seats on the I JITTERS moment, and we must emerge. national board and to elect eight men and To the Editor: "The American welfare state is indeed eight women to those seats, a serious at a point of bankruptcy, and the 'New I read with great interest Robert Le­ political campaign to win those seats took kachman 's discussion (January 1979) of Foundations' of Jimmy Carter are being place. Harrington termed this develop­ the Administration's anti-inflation poli­ constructed solely on empty rhetoric and ment ..a sign of the growing political phoney promises," thundered Dellums, cies. Everybody on lhe Left is disgusted strength of DSOC.'' The at-large mem­ the first avowed socialist to sit in the U.S. with the decision on the part of the Ad­ bers of the new board will form its execu­ ministration to use the poor and disad­ Congress since 1926 and a leading voice tive committee, which also includes vantaged as price stabilizers. for black Americans as well as a member DSOC's national officers. of DSOC. What I find terribly frustrating is the Elected to at-large seats were: (men) "As people who have courage and :tbsence of discussion in the leftist litera­ Greg Akili (San Diego), Harry Boyte integrity, we must now pick up our own (Minneapolis), Jim Chapin, Jack Clark ture regarding specific policies. I would banner and go to the American people love to see someone clearly list a set of and Frank Lugoviiia (New York City), with new alternatives," said Dellums, "to specific policies to deal with inflation Roger Robinson (Detroit), Jim Wallace recapture the economic wealth of the (Washington, D.C.), and George Wood that would not place an excessive burden nation as a whole." on the poor. (Champaign-Urbana); (women) Jeanne Throughout the Motel-Modern tacki­ Kettelson and Mary Roodkowsky (Bos­ Donald V. Fandetti ness of the Holiday Inn-whose roadside Baltimore, MD ton), Nancy Kleniewski (Philadelphia), sign prominently announced "Welcome Nancy Lieber (Sacramento-Davis), Mar­ Democratic Socialists"-delegates and ob­ jorie Phyfe (New York City), Trudy ••• servers actively joined both in plenary Robideau (San Diego), Nancy Shier To the Editor: sessions and informal caucuses to thrash (Chicago) and Cynthia Ward (Stony Just a note to tell you how much I like out crucial issues governing the direction Brook, Long Island) . the new format and new name of DEMO· of DSOC during the next two years. Five of the new board members­ CRATIC LEFT. It has a professional look, The national officers and at-large na­ Boyte, Robinson, Kettelson, Kleniewski is very snappy and ought to go far. tional board seats were decided. Michael and Robideau-joined in pre-balloting Frank Wallick HarringtQn remains national chair. Re­ sessions with at least one quarter of the Washington, D.C. named vice-chairs are Deborah Meier, convention delegates, all seeking to pro­ a New York City educator and activist, mote stronger emphasis within DSOC on Lette1·s lo the edito,. must be signed. Wt> UAW International Representative Carl explicitly "socialist" work. All their reserve the right Jo edit for clarity and Shier of Chicago, and Ruth Jordan of meetings were completely oix:n and no brevity. Please limit letters to leu than Washington, D.C., a leader in the Coali­ specific "left slate" emerged from what 350 words. tion of Labor Union Women. was first dubbed the "left-socialist cau-

Michael Harrington DEMOCRATIC LEFT is published ten times a year Editor (monthly except July and August) by the Dem­ ocratic Socialist Organizing Committee, 853 Maxine Phillips Broadway, Room 617, New York, N.Y. 10003. Managing Editor Telephone: (212) 260-3270. Subscription rates: Sustaining $10 per year; Regular $5 per year; Jack Clark Limited income $2.50. Signed articles express Acting National the opinions of the authors. ISSN 0164-3207. Director Second Class Permit Paid at New York, N.Y.

2 DEMOCRATIC LEFT March 1979 local chapters is pledged. The resolution encourages explicitly socialist critiques to -·- be issued publicly by DSOC and through internal education, including the circula­ tion of a regular discussion bulletin of socialist ideas. The document also authorizes the hir­ ing of full-time national staff to coordi­ nate DSOC's youth section organizing and directs the board to create a Feminist Commission-on the model of the His­ panic Commission-at its next meeting. Finally, in a dialectical show of the resolution's extended reach, delegates approved sections committing DSOC to continue its coalition work within the Democratic Party while also appointing a committee to explore merger with NAM, whose national political secretary Richard Healey attended the convention as a special guest. Alex Spinrad (Wash­ ington, D.C.) criticized the prospect of National Chair Michael Harrington addresses delegates. a NAM merger, saying, "It's no secret that NAM considers itself to our left both in style and rhetoric," but the dele­ cus" and later- in order not to appear Resolution Charts Directions gates voted 91 to 10 to support steps factional or sectarian- renamed the "left. towards possible merger. socialist group." On the convention's final day, an or­ Throughout the convention, many Referring to an earlier conversation ganizational perspectives resolution, map­ other notes were struck-sadness, elo­ with Harrington, sociologist Bogdan ping the direction of DSOC until the quence and practicality. Denitch noted that "Michael doesn't next convention, was put before the Sadness, with the fond farewells ex­ think we need caucuses, but he told me delegates. Contained within this resolu­ tended to DSOC staffers Jack Clark and this is the nicest caucus he's ever had to tion were strands of what had begun as Marjorie Phyfe. Clark was appointed deal with. If we were an unfriendly three separate resolutions. They were: acting national director by a post­ caucus," joked Denitch, "we would first, the " left-socialist" proposal; second, convention meeting of the new national have demanded the dissolution of all one focusing on stronger DSOC activities board, but-with Phyfe-will leave the committees, denounced the central office, at the local level, backed by a large num­ staff shortly. Both will serve on the new called for its removal to Chicago and ber of delegates including Ben Ross board's executive committee. the payment to bureaucrats of workers' (Boston) and Carl Shier (Chicago) as Eloquence, with a major convention wages." To this last point someone well as chapters such as Philadelphia and address by Ruben Berrios Martinez, rejoined, "They should be so lucky." the San Francisco Bay Area, the latter President of the Puerto Rican Indepen­ Said Ruth Spitz (New York City) : concerned about what it called the "over­ dence Party, who declared that "Puerto "It's time DSOC had more than one centralization" of DSOC; and third, a Rico is the acid test in America for anti­ central tendency. It's time we were strong proposal drafted by National Secretary imperialism." enough to show that we're not fearful Jack Clark and Deborah Meier. of admitting we don't represent consen­ After the three resolutions were sus on every point. But in no way does merged- in what appeared to be, on bal­ this reduce our singlemindedness in being ance, a truly dialectical process of absorp­ in this organization." tion and synthesis-the document was In a statement of "left orientation" thoroughly debated before being amend­ within DSOC, the group declared its ed and then adopted by the convention. intention to help create "a broad multi­ Speaking for the resolutions commit­ tendency socialist movement" which in­ tee, Ron Bloom (Boston) declared, ''This cludes the DSOC coalition activities document is just a beginning. It cannot through DEMOCRATIC AGENDA work say everything about DSOC, because within the Democratic Party. DSOC is what we all do when we do our ' We propose to move from an almost work. This is simply a place to hang our exclusive emphasis on coalition politics, hats when we do that work." emphasizing as it does work with no­ In its preamble, the merged resolution tables, to a greater involvement of our notes that "our real strength lies m the Dinner speaker Joyce Miller, presi­ membership in working as a distinct so­ grass roots. " Early debate within the na­ dent of the Coalition of Labor Union cialist current within such a coalition." tional board on the issue of subsidizing Women.

March 1979 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 3 Practicality, when the political action for us all. It relieves our sense of isola­ director of the IAM, William Holayter, tion. It will help us grow. It establishes told delegates that the Machinists hoped us as a serious movement." to establish a national model on Long Ben Levy wasn't kidding. Already in Island for joint discussions between the works in the wake of the convention unionists and DSOC activists. "I want to is a possible regional DSOC meeting in be part of setting up a coalition between Austin, Texas in April and talk of a the Machinists' Union and our friends regional newsletter. in the socialist movement. I want to put From "organizing committee to more it together with you. The mechanics of nearly a movement," to paraphrase it are simple. Give me a call. My number Deborah Meier. After Houston, it seems is 202-857-5295." even more possible. • All these notes-and many others, too -were sounded again by Houston lawyer David Hoffman is a member of the and activist Ben Levy, chair of the local Washington, D.C. local and is a legis­ DSOC chapter of about 45 members. lative staff member in the U.S. House of "This convention has been exhilarating Representati11es. Independence Leader Future DSOCer waits while adults caucus. Issues Call for Unity Photos by Gretchen Donart • • • By Ricardo Otheguy task of bringing socialism and democracy a patria grande de la humanidad to the United States. It is, he said, a task was the phrase used by Ruben as central to the survival of Latin Amer­ Berrios to describe the goals of ica and the world as it is to the future of world democratic socialism North America. during a rousing address to Berrios headed the PIP delegation to DSOC convention attendees the Fourth National DSOC Convention. and local activists in the Once again expressing its solidarity with Church of the Guadalupe in the struggle for Puerto Rican indepen­ Houston. The president of the Partido dence and the PIP, DSOC passed a reso­ Independentista Puertorriquefio (PIP) lution calling for the unconditional re­ keynoted the Sunday night Rally of Latin lease-on humanitarian grounds-of the Unity organized by the Houston and four Puerto Rican nationalists imprisoned Austin DSOC locals and the Hispanic in the U.S. for more than 25 years. Commission of DSOC. The rally, where a blend of mariachi Others speakers from Chicano, Cuban, music, speakers and guests from the sur­ black and Puerto Rican communities rounding neighborhood illustrated the stressed the need for organized labor to theme of unity, ended with Berrios' call concern itself with Hispanics and em­ for support for nationalist n,ovements. phasized the need for unity. Sharing the Although nationalism may be suspect podium with Berrios were: UAW organ­ in other countries or circumstances, he izer Pancho Medrano; Juan M. Rodri­ Ruben Berrios said, in Puerto Rico and in other emerg­ guez, president of the National Union of ing nations, it is a force for progressivism Cuban Americans ; Joe Marks, chair of dominated by multinational corporations and a step towards world unity-la patria the Houston UAW; and Frank Lugovifia and the internal colonial domination of grande de la humanidad. • of N ew York City working people and minorities in the U.S. by those same companies. Just as he Ricardo Othegu) is a member of the urges Puerto Ricans to build national Hispanic Comminion of DSOC. For Colonial Mentality a Danger pride to counteract their colonial men­ more information about Jhe Commission, Berrios' enthusiastically received tality, he counseled democratic socialists turite to ·,'rfichael Germinal Rwas, Chair, speech drew a parallel between the status to shake off feelings of powerlessness and Hispanic Commiuion. P.O. Box 1805, of Puerto Rico as a United States colony marginality in order to accomplish the Decatur, Ga. 30031.

4 DEMOCRATIC LEFT March 1979 ASPECIAL Rf ''No·Fat'' Budget Challenges Activists By Cushing N. Dolbeare is the level of budget authority or outlays Because the current service levels, except required to maintain the same program for defense, are not adjusted for inflation, HE FEDERAL BUDGET, FOR level without policy changes). Fourth, the actual changes are somewhat differ­ 1980 or any other year, is there is a real cut in domestic spending ent. The $8 billion which the Office of an economic document shaped of $6 billion in budget authority and $13 Management and Budget estimates as the by political forces. President b1ll1on in outlays, after adjusting for in­ impact of allowing for inflation in cur­ Carter's 1980 proposals are a flation. Within the nondefense sector, rent services levels is distributed propor­ declaration of support for a some efforts are made to preserve at pres­ tionately over the nondefense sector. priYate sector economy and a ent levels, or even expand, a number of Housing, primarily housing for lower government that tries, but not programs which the administration feels income families, accounts for more than too hard, to blunt the impact of this are effectively helping disadvantaged one-third of the total cut in budget auth­ economy on those who are excluded from people. ority. an adequate share of its fruits. The budget proposes $531.6 billion in No picture of the budget is complete The President himself described the outlays and receipts of $502.6 billion. without looking at the tax expenditure budget as "lean and austere," incorporat­ Total budget authority, including com­ side. Tax expenditures are the cost to ing a policy of restraint intended to over­ mitments to spend m future years, is federal government of the tax prefer­ come accelerating inflation. Strenuous $615 5 billion. The table shows the ences, deductions, and credits in the Jn. efforts were made to keep the deficit major differences between the adminis­ ternal Revenue Code. Tax expenditures below $30 billion-a symbolic figure of tration proposals and "current services." in 1978 totaled $133.9 billion. They are political rather than economic signifi­ cance. Perhaps as important as the 1980 figures are the President's renewed dec­ larations of intent to reduce federal spending as a proportion of gross na­ tional product and, if possible, to find room for tax reductions in the future. There are four major features of the budget. First, taxes are to be held level, with no substantial increases or decreases, except for the "real wage insurance" pro­ posal, estimated to cost $2.5 billion. Sec­ ond, the deficit shows as $29 bi1lion, although few economists share the ad­ ministration's optimistic economic fore­ cast. The general consensus is that a downturn will result in a substantially increased deficit, both because of a short­ fall in federal revenue and because of increases in federal spending, including possible economic stimulus measures. Third, there is a real increase in defense spending of $3.3 billion above the "cur­ rent services" level ("current services"

March 1979 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 5 estimated at $149.9 billion for 1979 and Comparison of 1980 "'Current Serv1ce5" Budget .Authority with .Administration $165.5 billion for 1980. Thus, the in­ Budget .Authority Proposals. (Note: nondefense current service figures adjusted for crease between 1979 and 1980 is $15.6 inflation by distributing the $8 billion not included proportionately). By major billion, or 10.4 percent, far greater than function and selected program. Source· Special Analysis A, Tab1e A-13, Special the increase in any other component of Analyses, Budget of the United States Government 1980, Government Printing the budget. Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, $3.25. In millions of dollars. Before examjning the political impli­ 1980 1980 cations of the budget, I quote directly the Function or program CtJ"tlll Service Reque1t Difference major points of an analysis prepared by NATIONAL DEFENSE 134,860 138,243 +3,383 .Americans for Democratic .Actjon: Department of Defense-Military 132,093 135,041 +2,948 The deficit is rooted more in eco­ Procurement 31,926 35,402 +3,476 nomic slowdown than in a large Research and development 12,931 13,536 +605 growth in federal outlays. Each 1 per­ Atomic energy defense activities 2,615 3,022 +407 cent increase in employment adds approxmately $20 billion to the fed­ INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 12,052 13,655 +1,603 eral coffers. Federal costs are cut by Foreign economic and financial assistance 6,741 8,348 +1,607 about $5 billion (i.e., through reduc­ Military assistance 668 560 -108 tions in unemployment benefits, Conduct of foreign affairs 1,340 1,352 +12 medicaid, food stamps and other ex­ Information and exchange activities 524 521 -3 penditures related to unemploy­ GENERAL SOENCE, SPACE, TECHNOLOGY 5,637 5,651 +14 ment). In addition, federal revenues General science and basic research 1,395 1,485 +90 rise approximately $15 billion, lead­ Space flight 2,375 2,332 -43 ing to a net gain of about $~0 billion. Space science, applications, technology 1,428 1,401 -27 Using this measure, a $30 billion de­ Supporting space activities ficit would be eliminated by reduc­ 443 435 -8 ing unemployment by 1112 percent ENERGY 19,626 19,482 -144 (from 6 percent to 4112 percent). Energy supply 18,216 17,999 -17 With sizable underutilization of Energy conservation 578 555 -23 human and physical resources ( 6 Emergency energy preparedness 8 8 0 percent unemployment and approxi­ Energy information, policy, regulation 909 1,003 +94 mately 15 percent of plant capacity), NATURAL RESOURCES ANO ENVIRONMENT 12,998 12,878 -120 there is substantial room for expan­ Water resources 3,586 4,113 +527 sion of demand without threatening Conservation and land management 2,174 1,877 -297 sharp price inflation. Recreational resources 1,872 1,752 -120 Maintaining current services lev­ Pollution control and abatement 5,399 5,105 - 294 els of federal outlays has minimal im­ AGRJCU L TURB 4,981 4,868 -113 pact on inflation. Were outlays in fis­ Farm income stabilization cal 1980 at current services levels, 3,634 3,559 -75 the inflationary effect would be a Agricultural research and service 1,350 1,311 -39 mere 3/10 of 1 percent. COMMERCE ANO HOUSING CREDIT 7,152 8,315 +1,163 Federal spending when viewed in Mortgage credit and thrift insurance 3,262 4,405 +1,143 perspective has little effect on infla­ Mortgage purchase (GNMA) 514 6 -508 tion. In a $2.5 trillion economy, with­ Mortgage credit (FHA) 283 247 -36 holding $10-14 billion from the econ­ Housing for elderly and handicapped 813 800 - 13 omy through reduced federal spend­ Rural housing programs (Agriculture Dept.) 1,651 1,651 0 ing has an insignificant impact on National Credit Union Administration 0 1,700 +l,700 prices. Postal Service 1,727 1,698 -29 There is little historical evidence TRANSPORTATION 19,851 19,101 that a federal budget deficit or sur­ -750 Ground transportation plus has any effect on price stability. 13,910 13,205 -705 In both 1950 and 1951 prices rose Highways 9,205 8,956 -294 rapidly ( 5.8 percent and 5.9 percent Mass transit 2,440 2,473 +33 respectively) despite a small deficit Railroads 2,188 1,695 -493 in 1950 ($5.1 billion) and a surplus Regulation 76 81 +5 in 1951 ($6.1 billion). Air transportation 3,780 3,760 -20 The size of the federal budget vis­ Water transportation 2,119 2,096 - 23 a-vis GNP has little effect on prices. COMMUNITY ANO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 7,747 11,259 +3,512 The fiscal 1980 estimated federal Community development 4,858 4,834 -24 share of GNP is 21.7 percent and Area and Regional development 2,503 6,049 +3,546 prices are expected to rise, by the National development bank 0 administration's own conservative 3,500 +3,500 estimate, 6.3 percent- In contrast, in Disaster Relief and insurance 405 394 -11 1962 federal expenditures were 19.5 EDUCATION, TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT AND percent of the GNP while prices rose SoCIAL SERVICES 32,107 30,903 -1,204 1.2 percent; in 1959, with the federal Elementary, secondary and vocational 7,586 7,730 +144 share 19.5 percent, prices rose 1.5 Elementary and secondary education 3,580 3,953 +373

6 DEMOCRATIC LEFT March 1979 1980 1980 percent; and in 1958 prices increased F11nction or progrttm C11rrent Service Req11est Difference 1.8 percent (federal share of GNP Indian education 349 339 -10 was 18.7 percent). Impact aid 830 528 -302 Education for the handicapped 993 1,028 +35 Military Gets Most Funds Occupational, vocation, and adult 795 772 -23 Child development 687 751 +64 The Women's International League Higher education 5,549 5,200 -349 for Peace and Freedom has pointed out Research and general education aids 1,436 1,405 -31 that the proportions frequently cited, Training and employment 11,998 10,623 -1,375 showing a major increase in the propor­ Temporary employment assistance 2,990 2,190 -800 tion of the budget going for "human re­ Employment and training assistance 7,508 6,964 -544 sources" as compared to military, is mis­ Other labor services 547 543 -4 leading. A substantial portion of these Social services 5,004 5,4l4 +410 human resources funds consists of social Grants to states (Title XX) 2,676 3,066 +390 security and other retirement trust funds. Services for disabled, elderly, others 1,640 1,658 +18 If trust funds are subtracted from total Community service programs 552 505 -47 funds, current military authority accounts Domestic volunteer programs 121 170 +49 for 31.5 percent of the budget, and hu­ HEALTH 58,522 57,627 -895 man resources drops to 32. l percent. Health care services 53,276 52,660 -616 However, if one adds past military­ Medicare 36,410 35,811 -599 related expenses, including veterans' pen­ Medicaid 12,922 12,696 -226 sions and two-thirds of the interest on Other health services 3,944 4,153 +209 the national debt, 46 percent of every tax Health research 3,404 3,440 +36 dollar goes to the military, while only 28 Health care education and training 877 579 -298 goes to human resources. Conswner and occupational health and safety 977 962 -15 Conservative as the budget document INCOME SECURITY 222 187 214,460 -7,727 is, reactions to it indicate that Carter may Gener~l retirement and disability insurance 123:690 121,816 -1,874 still be slightly to the left of the prevail­ Social security (OASDI) 117,688 115,754 -1,934 ing conventional wisdom about the mood Federal employee retirement, disability 23,406 23,020 -386 of the American people. A number of Unemployment compensation 15 974 15,710 -264 coalitions have been formed or are form­ Public assistance, other income supps 59: 117 53,914 -5,203 ing to fight against the cuts in specific so­ Supplemental security income 6,504 6,396 -108 cial programs and against increases in the AFDC and other 7,199 6,868 -331 Earned Income Credit 1,573 1,547 military budget. However, these discus­ -26 sions are at the margin. In part because Food stamps 6,293 6,927 +634 the Congressional budget process has School lunch and other nutrition 4 744 4,126 -618 Housing assistance 32'325 27,445 made prisoners of us a11, there is little -4,880 serious discussion of the budget levels Refugee assistance ' 77 166 +89 that would be needed if we were to fulfill Real wage insurance (proposed) o 200 +200 our historic commitments to ending pov­ VETERANS BENEFITS AND SERVICES 21,361 21,024 -337 Income security 11,951 12,251 erty, hunger, unemployment, inadequate +300 health care, and bad housing. Political Education, training, rehabilitation 2,317 2,278 -39 Hospital and medical care 6,452 5,862 discussion, by and large, does not men­ -590 tion these objectives. Instead, discussion ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 4,356 4,304 -52 has been focused by the budget on Federal Jaw enforcement activities 2, 157 2,087 -70 Federal litigative and judicial activities 1, 199 1,346 changes-for better or for worse-that +147 are of relatively little significance com­ Federal correctional activities 343 334 -9 Criminal justice assistance 669 546 pared to what would be needed if we -123 took our national goals seriously. GENERAL GoYERNMENT 4,423 4,528 +105 GENERAL PURPOSE FISCAL ASSISTANCE 9,313 8,804 -509 General revenue sharing 6,977 6,861 -116 Pennies for Programs Other general purpose assistance 2,336 1,943 -393 For example, the budget calls for a Antirecession fiscal assistance 564 0 -564 Targeted fiscal assistance substantial drop in the number of lower 0 150 +150 income housing units assisted by the INTEREST 58,082 57,021 -1,061 Department of Housing and Urban Dev­ ALLOWANCES 2,167 2,426 +259 elopment-from 400,000 requested in UNDISTRIBUTED OFFSETTING RECEIPTS -19,253 -19,021 (232) 1979 to 300,000 for 1980. Predictably, TOTAL BUDGET .AUTHORITY 618,183 615,526 -2,657 proponents of more adequate housing NOTE: Only selected items under major functions are included; therefore the programs are outraged (myself among amounts do not total. them), and are now pressing for restora-

March 1979 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 7 tion of the 400,000-unit level. (It is the federal government as an instrument worth noting that this level was estab­ to address the inequities of our society. lished after the ending of the housing ''.[propose that we set ourselves moratorium, by a Republican adminis­ the objective of raising federal Close Tax Loopholes tration, which came far closer to achiev­ expenditures by 1 percent of the ing it than the Democrats have.) But the Moreover, I propose that these in­ argument over whether we should be GNP each year until our basic creases be financed from tax revenues, assisting 300,000 units or 400,000 units human needs are met.'' rather than by increasing the deficit. for lower income people misses two basic Part of this could be done by closing the points: first, that the number of low in­ more egregious loopholes and part by come people in need of housing assistance to 3.5 percent. Yet the 1978 budget pro­ increasing tax rates, particularly corporate can be conservatively estimated as at least poses to curb the incr~ in youth em­ tax rates. In 1980, corporate income taxes 5 million households; and second, that ployment programs, leveling them off at arc anticipated to be 14 percent of federal the housing programs on which we rely the 1978 figure. Almost three-quarters of receipts. There has been a steady decline are not particularly well targeted to meet­ the 1.2 million jobs required for adults, since the middle 1950s. In 1970, they ing lower income housing needs. to bring unemployment down to 3.5 per­ were 17 percent of all receipts; in 1965, Similarly, public service employment cent, should be provided for women. 22 percent; in 1960,, 23 percent; and in programs have been cut drastically. The Clearly, relying on the private sector to the Eisenhower year of 1955, 27 percent. administration argues that the cuts have provide jobs for youth and women in In 1955, corporate profits taxes amounted come in areas where the need for public the numbers needed is fatuous. Jobs for to 4.5 percent of the gross national prod­ service employment is questionable, be­ young people and jobs for women will uct. In 1980, they arc anticipated to be cause those employed should be able to not be supplied by stimulating the econ­ 2.8 percent of the gross national product. obtain jobs in the private sector. Ignored omy. They can be provided only by con­ We could increase the budget by $44 ~ompletcly is the question of how many scious intervention of the public sector. billion if we reverted to the 1955 level. Jobs should be provided, and by what Politically, the budget is a reflection Finally, we need to recognize and con­ means, in order to reduce unemployment of a "Proposition 13" mentality. It as­ front head-on the need to readjust our to the 4 percent level envisaged by the sumes that there is no support for ex­ standards of private economic consump­ Humphrey-Hawkins Act. Lest purists panded "public programs" and that tion. It is a moral and economic outrage be te~pted to point out that Humphrey­ people are rebelling against expanded that a nation with 6 percent of the ~awkms calls for achieving this objective efforts to meet human needs. There is a world's population consumes something m. 1983, I note that the original objective, protest, to be sure. But this protest is like 40 percent of its nonrenewable re­ with a much shorter time frame, was 3 fueled by misperceptions of human needs sources. Simply addressing the inequities percent. and public programs. Human needs are in our own society, without considering underestimated, remaining largely hid­ the gross inequities between nations, is a den from the sight of most .Americans. politically, economically and morally un­ Need for Public Sector Jobs Public programs provide too many ex­ tenable position. Financing increased so­ We should not, in my view, be arguing amples of waste and inefficiency for cial expenditures by increasing the deficit over whether to provide the same level people not to conclude that they are gen­ begs the more basic question of how we of jobs as last year-perhaps adjusted for erally badly handled. begin to limit private consumption and the increase in unemployment-but over Our agenda for dealing with the bud­ move toward a more equitable distribu­ how to provide all of the jobs which will get should be a positive and aggressive tion of income and wealth. Funda­ be necessary to reduce unemployment in one. We should join, to be sure, in the mentally, we need to engage the issues every major sector to acceptable levels. efforts to improve it at the margin. More raised by the budget at this level. • In December 1978, the unemployment important, however, we should take the rate for white men over 21 was 3.5 per­ offensive. I propose that we set ourselves DSOC member C111hing N. Dolbeare iJ cent. Total unemployment was at a rate of the objective of raising federal expen­ a cons11ltmzt in ho11sing policy and pro­ 5.9 percent, or six million jobless people. ditures by 1 percent of the GNP each year grams and, among other actit1ities, chairs Provision of an additional 2.5 million until our basic human needs are met. the national exec11tit1e committee of the jobs would reduce the overall unemploy­ This would provide funds for major ex­ Americans for Democratic Action. ment rate to 3.5 percent-surely not an pansion of needed social programs, par­ impossible feat, given the unmet needs ticularly employment programs. For ex­ of our economy in the public sector. SAVE 'tffE DATE! ample, if the 1978 budget called for 22.2 April 7 & 8 It is clear, however, that a Keynesian percent of the GNP instead of 21.2 per­ approach, even if the economy could be cent, we would have an additional $38 Harvard DSOC will sponsor stimulated without causing further infla­ billion available. In 1981, the difference a conference on tion, is inadequate to the task at hand. between a 23.2 percent of GNP budget Women and Economic Justice Youth unemployment, for example, stood and the budget proposal of the adminis­ For information, contact: at 16.5 percent, with 1.6 million young tration would be $77 billion. Surely, this Margo Nelson people seeking work. Half of the addi­ would permit us, within a five-year period Adams G-24, Harvard University tional jobs needed to reduce unemploy­ or less, to design adequate employment, Cambridge, Mass. 02138 ment to 3.5 percent should go to youth, housing, health, and other needed pro­ (617) 498-2118 if youth unemployment is to be reduced grams and to use the federal budget and

8 DEMOCRATIC LBFT March 1979 Fighting Spirit Prevails Amid South Bronx Despair By Maxine Phillips growth. He cites one example. "The Port T'S BEEN CALLED A WASTELANr>, Authority has been mandated for decades an armed camp. Newspaper head­ to build a rail freight tunnel under the lines scream of brutal murders Hudson. It hasn't done it. As a result, committed for 25 cents, of packs freight cars either have to go all the way of wild dogs and abandoned north to Albany and then cross the river youngsters terrorizing the streets. and come back to the city, or they are "The South Bronx has nowhere unloaded in New Jersey and trucked into to go but up," says DSOC member the city. This adds $200 million a year and Bronx activist Frank Lugovifia. "The to the cost of doing business in New people here are sick of being used and York. Until the city is linked into the ignored. We're on our way to finding national rail system, we can't attract much some solutions." new industry." Lugovifia and the people he works The combination of Jack of services, with-in the Democratic Party, in hous­ massive shifts of population, runaway ing rehabilitation projects, in the arts. plants and disinvestment by banks has in job training-intend to be part of those made much of the Bronx a horror story solutions. of urban life. The South Bronx, a symbol of urban Its infant mortality rate of 19.3 per decay, received widespread publicity 1,000 Ii ve births in 1977 was higher when President Carter toured it in ''The South Bronx ht1s nowhere th.1.n New York City's overall rate of 17.8 O ctober of 1977. He promised aid, or the national average of 14.2. Welfare which has been slow in coming. to go b11t up'' recipients make up a quarter to a third "The Bronx is a classic example of of the population in half the community how inner city neighborhoods collapse," Many finally took to hiring arsonists to districts. says city planner Paul DuBrul, co-author burn their buildings so that they could Are the problems insurmountable? of The Ab11se of Power: The Perma11 e11/ collect the insurance money. lugovifia refuses to believe they are. His Government and the Fall of Ne111 Y ork, Although hopes were raised by some outlook i ~ summed up by an example he and a DSOC member. of the poverty programs of the '60s, they gives. DuBrul traces the decline of what never att:lcked the problems of attracting "When I first came here from Puerto was once a thrivin,1?, working-class Jewish new industry or changing investment Rico 31 years ago, one of my most vivid neighborhood to deliberate political and policies. In fact, misuse of poverty money impressions was of being surrounded by economic policies. often kept even minimal programs from tall buildings. You couldn't see beyond He notes that in the '50s New York helping the people for whom they were them. It was so limiting. Later, I thought City began to channel large numbers of supposedly designed. of how that can affect our thinking about Hispanics displaced by urban renewal problems. into the South Bronx. It did not increase No-Growth Policies for Area "I wanted to make a better life and any of the public services necessary to do something to help the community," sustain this new population, such as " It doesn't have to be this way. We he recalls. " So I majored in business in housing, health care and education. have great potential as an industrial college because that seemed like the thing At the same time that this population community," says Lugoviiia. for a poor kid from the Bronx to do." shift was taking place, industries in the Indeed, the Bronx, with more rail­ Linking the skills of the business world area were leaving to look for low-wage yards than Chicago, located close to two to a talent for bringing people together labor in the South or in other countries major airports, surrounded by highways has led him into many activities. such as Taiwan or Korea. and waterways, with large amounts of One of his earliest efforts was form­ As services deteriorated and unem­ land available for industrial use, would ing the Young Puerto Rican Confron­ ployment grew, the banks decided to seem to have a lot going for it. tation Committee, which helped young write off the area. Landlords could not But, DuBrul points out, neither na­ people learn confrontation politics to deal get mortgages or resell their property. tional nor local policies have encouraged with local issues. Stints with a bank,

March 1979 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 9 "Even though the situation is almost the poverty program and manpower pro­ secretaries and office workers. In the last hopeless without changes in federal and grams led him to form the Association of .fiye years Mobicentrics has trained more city policies, there are still pockets of Community Trainers, now Mobicentrics, than 1,600 people in this CETA-funded resistance. You really have to admire which organizes and trains community program (Community Employment and those who have stayed to fight." people. With his associates, Sal Ferrai­ Training Act) and has had a placement Lugoviiia believes that the fighting oli and Teresa Rivera, Lugoviiia has rate of about 70 percent. spirit is on the upswing. branched into several areas crucial to the Jobs and housing are vital, but neither Part of what Lugoviiia considers the South Bronx. can exist without national and local poli­ most important part of his work is put­ The company puts together housing cies that encourage them. ting people in touch with each other to development packages for new construc­ make changes and opening doors for tion and rehabilitation under the Housing Need to Consolidate Power young people. and Community Development Act of A recent example includes a meeting 1974. He describes the company's ap­ The power to change that situation he helped arrange between the head of a proach. must come from a united political effort. tenants organization and the chairman of "We look for community sponsors Although one congressman, two state her local planning board, whom she such as the local planning board or a senators and several state assembly mem­ didn't know. church organization. They become in­ bers are Hispanic, minorities have not This type of "networking" needs to go volved in the process and set up an appli­ built up political muscle. With 54 percent on at a national level, too, and there cation and interviewing process for ten­ of the population, blacks and Hispanics Lugovina has found DSOC helpful. ants and help develop tenant managers." account for 23 percent of the primary "I could never have been elected to the Although this legislation encourages vote. In this Democratic county, that is Committee on Cities at the Democratic developers to take risks in the private the only election that matters. Mid-term Conference in Memphis with­ market to expand housing stock, be ques­ "We've spent too much energy fight­ out help from Jose LaLuz of Connecticut, tions whether the programs that make ing each other," says Lugoviiia. "As long whom I met through the Hispanic Com­ direct federal loans and rent subsidies as we continue doing that, we can't mobi­ mission, and others." would not be less inflationary. Such lize the energy we need." Lugoviiia joined DSOC after being programs, however, would require more DuBrul echoes that dilemma, which he invited to attend the youth conference federal funding. sees as a citywide problem. "It's shameful two years ago. Last year he brought sev­ He praises the efforts of the many that a county with such a sizable minority eral South Bronx young people to the community groups that have started population couldn't get a minority bor­ West Virginia conference. working on "sweat equity" projects in ough president appointed by the City "We need to expose young people to abandoned buildings. Local people do Council earlier this year," he says. a different point of view, to let them see most of the work to rehabilitate housing Like many observers, he blames the other ways of dealing with problems." that they can live in. Democratic machine's stranglehold for Recent changes in legislation now al­ much of the county's inability to make H opelul Signs Emerging low the city to take over a building one progress. year after a landlord has defaulted on "But even if everyone got their act The Bronx has been, until now, a taxes. Under the old law, the waiting together, who would they link up with glaring example of the decay affecting period was three years and buildings in the city?" he asks. "The reform so many American cities. In the midst were usually beyond repair by the time movement is not a major force in city of a bleak situation, Lugoviiia sees three the city claimed them. The city is now the politics. positive forces. major landlord in the South Bronx. "First, we are developing new leader­ DuBrul, who worked for seven years ship. The planning boards, the people as special assistant to the Bronx Borough ''We've spent too much energy involved in urban frontier (fanning), President, finds this one of the few bright fighting each other.,, sweat equity and other community devel­ spots in an otherwise grim picture. "This opment projects offer a pool of potential could be a positive beginning if the city leaders committed to life here. is willing to work with people in upgrad­ "The churches, · particularly Catholic ing and maintaining buildings," he notes. churches, are playing an increasingly In an office building near the Mobi­ active role in housing and health. centrics headquarters, a group of young "Third, there is a growing sense that men and one woman listen intently as the time has come for us to iron out our an electrician draws a diagram on the political differences, to end the turf fights blackboard. Pictures on the bulletin board between blacks and Puerto Ricans and show students putting theory into prac­ get on with the business of building a tice as they work in an abandoned build­ healthy community. ing. They are part of a program to train "If we succeed, we can be a model for building superintendents. other cities. We can't afford to fail." • Down the block, other classes work in simulated banks and offices to learn Maxine Phillip1 i1 the mdndging editor skills that lead to jobs as bank tellers, of DEMOCRATIC LEFT.

10 DEMOCRATIC LEFT March 1979 Health Care Legislation Prospects Seem Gloomy

By Tim Smart ITH THB CHALLBNGB OF 1980 looming closer than the memory of 1976, Jim­ my Carter appears likely to end his first term with­ out any hope of passing a comprehensive national health insurance plan. If that happens, and most observers expect nothing more, the American peo­ ple can expect continued high costs for medical services, costs that are now run­ ning close to $200 billion a year. There is a sense around the country that the time has come and gone for na­ tional health insurance, the last unfin­ The Guardiao/cpf ished piece of social legislation inherited from the New Deal. that one bill will face enough trouble in for a publicly regulated private insurance Fragmented political alliances, lack of Congress. system." presidential leadership and the power of Since last year's split, both Carter and In this central way, the plan differs the medical lobby have all combined t9 Kennedy have announced plans for pro­ from the earlier Kennedy-Corman Health leave America the only industrialized de­ posals to be introduced sometime this Security Act. Along the way, James Cor­ mocracy without a national health insur­ spring. However, Kennedy is wise at the man, a Democratic representative from ance program. game of compromise and he has now California, split with Kennedy, charging The most vocal proponent of national moved closer to the Carter position on the Massachusetts senator with selling health insurance is Senator Edward Ken­ national health than he publicly admits. out to the insurance companies. The nedy. From his protected pulpit in the Kennedy people are now shopping for a United States Senate, Kennedy waxes elo­ Major Role House sponsor for their bill, to be known quent about the need for comprehensive for Private Industry as "Health Care For All Americans." health care for all Americans. Possible sponsors in the House include "If national health insurance is good Last July, in a directive to HEW Sec­ two newly-elected subcommittee chairs enough for the wealthy and good enough retary Joe Califano, Carter called for a whose subcommittees will have a major for Congress, then it is good enough for phased-in plan, one that would allow for say in the passage of health legislation: every American citizen in every city, town "a significant role for the private insur­ Charles Rangel of New York and Henry and village and on every farm throughout ance industry, with appropriate govern­ Waxman of California. Although liberals this land," Kennedy told an audience at ment regulation." were pleased when Waxman won a hard the Democratic Mid-term Conference That "significant role" and the idea fight to gain the chair of the Commerce in Memphis. of tying introduction of legislation to the Spbcommittee on Health and Environ­ The call to arms in Memphis signalled state of the nation's economy angered ment, they were piqued when he told The the beginning of a split between Ken­ Kennedy and his labor alliance, gathered lfl' ashingto11 Post he did not think na­ nedy and Carter on the issue of national under the umbrella Committee for Na­ tional health insurance would pass in this health insurance. Carter's professed de­ tional Health Insurance (CNHI) . Congress. si re to "trigger" legislation to the state Working closely with CNHI Execu­ Corman, who re-introduced the Health of the economy leaves Kennedy angered. tive Director Max Fine, Kennedy out­ Security Act in January, has lost the or­ Carter would have the plan introduced lined the broad guidelines of his new ganized labor backing viewed as essen· through a variety of bills submitted when plan. Surprisingly, the latest CNHI­ tial to passage of any national health in­ the economy permits. Kennedy reasons Kennedy plan calls for "a significant role surance bill. In a stinging letter to CNHI

March 1979 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 11 members last December, Corman said, where he chairs the Subcommittee on interest groups who backed Carter have "this new CNHI proposal is uncomfort­ Health and Scientific Research. But the found out-that for Carter, taking a stand ably similar to those of the American bill will probably be killed in the Finance often means nothing more than introduc­ Medical Association and the Health In­ Committee, where Chair Russell Long is ing legislation, making speeches and then surance Association of .America." The already hawking his own plan to cover forgetting the issue. After all, labor rea­ proposal could also be viewed as uncom­ catastrophic health expenses. sons, if the administration cannot even fortably close to that of the old liberal succeed in pushing a hospital cost con­ nemesis, Richard Nixon. In 1971, Nixon Labor vs. Administration tainment plan through Congress, how proposed a national health insurance plan can it expect to pass a national health in­ whose cornerstone was the resulation of What Kennedy staffers and health in­ surance plan ? the private health insurance industry. surance advocates feel would be essen­ The Carter proposal is promised for tial to passage of a national health insur­ this spring. But there have been promises ance plan is administration support and before. Then when legislation appeared ''· .. the time has come and labor backing. Labor is ready, but the imminent, the administration hesitated. gone for national health insur· "new realities" guiding the White House With Kennedy and labor going it leave little room for whatever small in­ alone, the Carter team must now decide ance, the last unfinished piece terest the Carter team had for national whether it is good politics to build a na­ of social legislation inherited health insurance. Back in 1978, every­ tional health platform upon their "new from the New Deal.'' thing seemed possible between Carter, foundation" in 1979. • labor and Kennedy. Labor backed Carter in 1976, in part, because of his stand on Tim Smart, a journalist based in Florid111 "Private insurance, a major contribu­ national health insurance. Since then la­ is currently working as a Congressional tor to our nation's health care problems, bor groups have discovered what other intern in Washington. cannot now be employed as part of the solution, even with the imposition of Federal resulation," Corman wrote in the letter to CNHI members. One representative whose plan has no room at all for the private sector is DSOC member Ron Dellums of California. Del­ European Poll: lums has called for a complete federal­ ized national health service plan to be financed by a combination of payroll and income taxes. Dellums knows his plan, to be reintro­ Left Could Win duced this spring, will be submitted to the tortuous route of overlapping com­ By Bogdan Denitch extreme left, 1.6 percent; regional and nationalist groups, 0.8 percent; and mittee jurisdiction that many see as the HE COMING DIRECT ELECTIONS others, 5.9 percent. What this means is largest obstacle to passage of any national to the European Parliament, health insurance plan. When his plan that the Left would have 47.6 percent the political arm of the nine­ of the votes, dwarfing the other parties was introduced last April, it was referred member European Community to no less than eight committees in the and potential coalitions. The figures do (EC), may well produce a not include Spain, Greece and Portugal, House. Dellums is aware that his bill has political earthquake. The Lon­ no chance of being enacted into law. which, if they do join the Community, don Economist, not known for might well tilt the balance even further "I introduced this bill, H.R. 11879, its softness towards socialist not because I think the country is pre­ to the Left. They also, of course, do not and labor parties, has a startling piece include the non-EC countries of Sweden pared to enact it today or tomorrow or of news in its January 27th issue on the even next year. But because it opens up and Finland, where the Left has electoral prospects of the European Community hegemony. a critically important debate in this coun­ and its parliament. A series of election try," Dellums told his colleagues when polls taken throughout Europe this fall There are other interesting features of he introduced the bill. comes up with the following results: the poll. The socialists are the most As Dellums can attest, the maze of the socialists would have gotten 38.5 per­ powerful force on the Left. Within a committees through which any bill must cent of the vote throughout the nine European context, the Eurocommunists' pass offers little hope that a bill can even countries, which is nearly twice as much influence is reduced to that of being a retain a vestige of its original shape. In as the next largest group, the Christian potential ally of a European socialist plu­ the House, the two pivotal committees Democrats, who would have gotten 22.1 rality. They may provide the edge for a are the health subcommittees of the Com­ percent. The remaining parties split the Left majority which could organize the merce and Ways and Means committees. vote as follows: conservatives, 20 per­ European Parliament. Jn the Senate, Kennedy is given an even cent; liberals, 9.9 percent; communists, The second significant fact about the chance of moving his bill through the 7.5 percent; European progressive dem­ poll is that the socialists tend to do better Senate Human Resources Committee, ocrats (U.S.-style liberals), 3.6 percent; Continued on page 14

12 DEMOCRATIC LEFT March 1979 'S LEFf 10 RFAD By Ronald Radosh Teloo clo Sociology Dept., Washington University, St. need to legitimate their new line to a rank-and-file bred on Louis, Mo. 63130. S3.50 per issue; $12.00 per year by Leninism. subscription. Finally, author Pedro Cavalcanti offers an important dis­ . cussion of the Socialist Intemational's (SI) effort to break out OR MA?o.l' YEARS, Telos HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT, if sometimes abstruse, journal of radical thought. of the First World ghetto. Cavalcanti sees prospects for Its emphasis has been on critical theory (Adorno, socialist growth in Latin America, since "the absence of Horkhe1mer) , the renaissance of Western Marxism radical parties of the European variety will facilitate the (Lukacs, Korsch, Luxemburg), and the current oeo­ recruiting of lay masses unimpeded by competition." Marxism (Habermas, Offe, Castoriadis, etc.) . With The Christian Democrats, he observes, are unlikely to succeed in Latin America, where they are even more the Fall 1978 issue, no. 37, its editors have pro· duced a number indispensable for those concerned conservative than progressive Catholics. Hence, he sees the SI operating in "a kind of 'virgin' continent in terms with understanding the possibilities of a socialist revival. Highlighting the issue is an English translation of Evelyn of the ideals it advocates." Separating the parties which belong to the SI "into social-democrats and democratic Tschirhart's essay "On Chinese Asexuality," which appeared socialists," Cavalcanti argues that if the democratic socialists originally in Lu Temps Moderne.r. The piece ranks in re­ grow, "it will be an event of major proportions resulting portage and insight with the best work. of Simon Leys. . in a change in the balance of forces in the continent." Tschirhart, formerly a French Maoist, was shocked into Stressing that Western socialists have a heritage of paternal­ accepting reality by a recent trip of several months to China. ism and racism to overcome, he notes that the SI today is "a The social manipulation of sex, she reports, was used by the very flexible organization," with a conservative wing function­ Party during the epoch of the Gang of Four (and Mao makes ing as a surrogate for new Western capitalist interests. His con­ Five) to exercise social control. ' Another way of approaching sexuality in China," she comments, " is to pretend that what clusion is optimistic: "Democratic socialism seems to have a better chance than social-democracy in Latin America. But appears to us as repressive is not so for the Chinese, still underdeveloped and subsisting on a daily bowl of rice." only future internal struggles within these parties will decide the issue." This is a rationale that hides the truth of the ugly reality: murder of homosexuals; five-year prison terms for women • • • who engage in extra- and pre-marital affairs ; ten-year sen· tences for men who seduce married women, etc. She cites Lawrence S. Wittner, Cold War America: From Hiro­ many cases of forced separation of spouses and couples who shima to Watergate. Expanded edition. (New York: have fallen in love before marriage, and of forced marriages Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1978), 445 pp. and legal prohibition of divorce, as well as of tolerance of HIS EXCITING, READABLE ONE-VOLUME ASSESS­ wife-beating if the husband in the case is a good and produc­ ment of the Cold War years is an unashamed tive Party member. radical treatment of the collapse of the Cold War Chinese policy, she writes, has but one purpose: "The consensus. Provocative chapters have such titles as Party, unifier of thought, wishes to expropriate the people's "The Rulers and the Ruled" and "The Poverty of morality, sensibility, and values . . . in order to install the 'Progress' : American Society, 1960-1977." absolute authority of its Norm." The Women's Federation Wittner's Cold War America is also the first cannot represent the real needs of women. It is only "an mass market history text, geared for the college instrument of the Party to control women." Its desire is to market, to conclude with a discussion of both DEMOCRATIC dissolve the family, which might function as an arena of AGENDA and DSOC. Wittner, a professor of history at the resistance to the totalitarian state. State University of New York/Albany, writes about the Telos no. 37 also contains a fascinating report on a recent challenge brought by DSOC activists "within the Democratic Eurocommunism conference held in Rochester, New York, Party." He notes that "by 1976, DSOC had signed up more in which Maxy Berni writes that C.P. intellectual Jean than 2,000 members," and he proceeds to sum up the pro­ Ellenstein, "refused to come to grips with the central question gram of Democracy '76. Emerging beyond the limited vision regarding the French Communist Party: how could a Party of the mass media, Wittner comments, are "harbingers of which is essentially authoritarian in structure be at the same revolt," and a "demand to transcend the limits of Cold War time an emancipatory agent ?" Italian socialist Massimo conservatism." His main example is the 1977 convention Salvadori, Berni notes, pointed to a major contradiction in of DSOC which, he notes, included the participation of the Eurocommunist position: they have adopted "typically "labor leaders and community activists." Quoting Michael social-democratic principles and means," yet seek to differ­ Harrington's speech at that convention, he comments entiate themselves by "preserYing a Leninist legacy." Yet, that "the gathering crisis of Cold War America had not Salvadori argued, Eurocommunists "have programmatically gone unchallenged." His new book is itself proof of that relinquished all the Leninist means" they used to invoke as contention. • necessary for the liquidation of capitalism. The stress on continuity with the Leninist tradition is dictated only by the Historian Ronald Rtulosh is a member of the DSOC Board.

March 1979 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 13 EUROPEAN POLL, from p. 12 that there is no international movement Eurocommunism and its relationship to with a European platform, but rather a Europe and the problem of Europeans' in the European elections than they do series of national communist parties. defense and SCCW'ity in a more realistic in the national elections, while the oppo­ These findings are important in a context. These parties have been re­ site is true for the communists. Thus, for number of ways. They imply that a warded and/or punished by the voters example, in France, the socialist vote for unified Europe and its institutions, far in good part in proportion to their com­ the European Parliament is 39.7 percent from acting as a barrier against the ex­ mitment to a unified Europe. The French against the 2 3 percent they got in the pansion of the Left on a European level, communists, with their neo-Gaullism, national elections, as part of a united will be the arena to which the Left, a thus suffer a political defeat while the democratic socialist Left, can post its PCI remains a major party of the Italian claims as the natural governing party of working class. ''The prospect of a unified an advanced industrial Europe. It means, The prospect of a unified Europe be­ Europe becoming a socialist too, that the U.S. government will have coming a socialist Europe, thus posing to do some drastic re-thinking about the an independent alternative to the two Europe, thtJs posing an indepen­ political nature of its European and colossi, looks rosier than it has since the dent alternative to the two NATO partners. It will, at the very least, Second World War. • colossi, looks rosier than it has put into question the comfortable as­ sumption that the Europe Washington Bogdan Denitch i; Executive 0 fficer, So­ since the Second lf"orld Wctr.,, has to deal with is a Europe of the center ciology Department, Graduate Center, and right parties. City Uni11enity of New Y ork and iJ a Finally, it places the debate about me1?Jber of the DSOC Board. Left, while the communists drop to almost half of the national vote, obtain­ ing no more than 10.9 percent in the poll. In Italy, the PCI manages to hold 22 percent of the votes for the European Parliament, making it by far the largest of the European communist parties. The ''In fact, a recession often performs an unavoidable Italian socialists more than double their function by forcing business managers to improve efficiency, national vote with 23.8 percent in the by enabling interest rates to come down, and by wringing European poll. There are a number of ways that these some of the inflation out of the economic system. Recessions figures could be read, but what I would are passing developments in the life of a nation, and a choose to stress is the fact that the social­ government that becomes obsessed with such phenomena ists are seen as the party of good Euro­ cannot develop the sus­ peans. On a European level, the existence Arthur Bums, tained policies that are of a Socialist International is helpful in Condition of the American Economy needed to assure a better consolidating and increasing the socialist quoted in John Herling's LAbor Letter economic future for its plW'ality. The European communist par­ December 23, 1978 . people.,, ties, on the other hand, while maintaining a hold on sections of the electorate, are very much more on their own. Euro­ We've got a new look and a new title, as well as new features and ar­ communism, if it means anything, means ticles. Now we're counting on you, our readers, to help us make sure that Democratic Left is read by everyone who is anyone on the democratic left. Democratic Left is published ten times a year by the Democratic SOCIAL DEMOCRACY: Socialist Organizing Committee. It is available by subscription or by membership in the DSOC. If you liked what you read, don't miss our A Bibliography next issue. Fist and Rose Publishers, who puts out O I want to subscribe. Enclosed find my check or money order. ($10 The New lntematio11a/ Review, has just for a sustaining subscription; $5 for a regular subscription; $2.50 for a published a 16-page bibliography of limited income subscription.) social democratic books, pamphlets and O I'd like to join the DSOC. Enclosed find my dues. ($50 sustaining; $20 regular; $10 limited income. Dues include $5 for Democratic Left.) articles that covers topics from political Send to: Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, 853 Broadway, economy to the question of women and Room 617, New York, N.Y. 10003. Tel.: (212) 260-3270. the family. Name~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~­ Copies can be ordered in bulk at 50 cents for three or more, or $1 per copy. Addres...._~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Order from: The New International Re­ City/State iP-----­ view, P.O. Box 156, Jackson Heights, Telephon.._~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- N.Y. 11372.

14 DEMOCRATIC LEFT March 1979 A Special Introductory Offer to Readers of DEMOCRATIC LEFT: A free copy of Dissenrs 25th Anniversary Issue

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Against the New Conservatism

ConservatNe Onft m Congress by Peter Connolly Tax Nonsense Conservat111 e Style by Robert Lekachman White Fhg ht & Poht1cal Retreat by Ernest Erber Ideology & UtODsa m l..lton Friedman by Rick Tilma n

Ghosts of Vietnam Theodore Draper

The Philanthropic Ogre Octavio Paz

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Sweden: Paradise in Trouble Ulf H1mmetstrand

Looking Back at McCarthyism Dennis H. Wrong

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March 1979 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 15 HIGGINS

TALE OF 1WO BOYCOTrS-In January the AFL-CIO with its location. This is the largest industrial dispute turned around on two boycotts. In the first case, George Meany in the South in decades. A USW win in this uphill battle gave a big boost to the women's movement and the effort to will provide a great boost to the UAW, the Clothing and pass the ERA ; in the second, he let down the hopes of the Textile Workers, the Furniture Workers and other Chilean democratic movement. On January 7, Meany an­ unions trying to organize the South. nounced that the 1979 AFL-CIO convention, which had been planned for Miami, was being moved to Washington. He REALIGNMENT POLITICS. Is organization of state legis­ acted at the re

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