#Yes All Socialist Women p.10 We Need a Party of the 99% - p.3 Alternative Issue #5 - July-August 2014 @SocialistAlt www.SocialistAlternative.org /SocialistAlternativeUSA Price $2

Socialist Alternative After the Seattle supports Victory...

Build a Nationwide Movement to End Poverty Wages What We Stand For Why I am a Socialist

Fighting for the 99% JJImmediate, unconditional legalization Jay Monaco and equal rights for all undocumented JJNo budget cuts to education and social Temple, NH services! Full funding for all community immigrants. needs. A major increase in taxes on the rich JJBuild a mass movement against police Retail Worker and big business, not working people. The brutality and the institutional racism of federal government should bail out states to the criminal justice system. Invest in prevent cuts and layoffs. rehabilitation, job training, and living-wage JJCreate living-wage union jobs for all the jobs, not prisons! Abolish the death penalty. J unemployed through public works programs JFight sexual harassment, violence against I’m a part-time retail worker earning nine dollars to develop mass transit, renewable energy, women, and all forms of sexism. an hour. Even in salaried, “professional” jobs I’ve infrastructure, health care, education, and JJDefend a woman’s right to choose whether held in the past – benefits and all – I was in a hor- affordable housing. and when to have children. For a publicly ribly precarious and insecure position with regard to JJRaise the federal minimum wage to $15/ funded, single-payer health care system my employment and my finances. hour, adjusted annually for cost of living with free reproductive services, including all I’ve been hearing since the days of Bill Clinton increases, as a step toward a living wage forms of birth control and safe, accessible that if I “work hard and play by the rules,” everything for all. abortions. Comprehensive sex education. will basically work out for the best. Such rules don’t seem to be much of a factor for the great JJFree, high quality public education for all Paid maternity and paternity leave. Fully capitalists of American finance who gambled with the fortunes of billions and lost – faced not from pre-school through college. Cancel subsidized, high-quality child care. a single legal consequence. They don’t seem to be much of a factor for mainstream politicians student debt. Full funding for schools to JJEqual rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and who start wars, spy on social justice movements, and enact policies designed to crush work- dramatically lower teacher-student ratios. transgender people, including same-sex ers – which is to say, people like me and you. Stop the focus on high stakes testing and marriage. I’m tired of low expectations, and my spirit will not be deflated. I’m thirty years old, I’ve come to terms with my identity as a worker, and it’s time for me to stand up for my interests the drive to privatize public education. Money for Jobs and Education, JJFree, high quality health care for all. Replace and yours. the failed for-profit insurance companies with Not War At the same time, this is not and can never be a struggle of individualism or isolation. The a publicly funded single-payer system as a JJEnd the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. time has come for organization and unity, to speak with one voice as much as we can. Social- step toward fully socialized medicine. Bring all the troops home now! ist Alterantive’s platform matches up with our interests and even our dreams as workers. This is an organization that is serious about actively forming a left-labor opposition movement that JJA guaranteed decent pension for all. No cuts JJSlash the military budget. No drones. Shut down Guantanamo. represents all of us, right here in the US of A. to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid! I choose socialism; I choose to fight on behalf of all those oppressed because the only JJRepeal the Patriot Act, the NDAA, and all JJStop home foreclosures and evictions. For alternative is to take the side of oppression and injustice. I am a socialist because, at thirty other attacks on democratic rights. public ownership and democratic control of years old, I’ve come to terms with who I am. It’s time for my action to be consistent with my the major banks. Break with the Two Parties identity. Solidarity. J JJA minimum guaranteed weekly income of $600/week for the unemployed, disabled, of Big Business stay-at-home parents, the elderly, and others JJFor a mass workers’ party drawing together unable to work. workers, young people, and activists from Help Fund the Fight Against JJRepeal all anti-union laws like Taft-Hartley. workplace, environmental, civil rights, and For democratic unions run by the rank-and- women’s campaigns to provide a fighting, file to fight for better pay, working conditions, political alternative to the corporate parties. Corporate Domination and social services. Full-time union officials JJUnions and social movement organizations should be regularly elected and receive the should stop funding and supporting the Socialist Alternative played a decisive role in pushing forward independent anti- average wage of those they represent. Democratic and Republican Parties and corporate politics in 2013 with viable and even victorious campaigns. Since then, we were at the forefront of the fight for a $15 an hour minimum wage and the historic JJNo more layoffs! Take bankrupt and failing instead organize independent left-wing, anti- victory in Seattle. We’ve shown that Socialist Alternative gets results! We need your companies into public ownership and corporate candidates and coalitions as a first help with a donation this summer. retool them for socially necessary green step toward building a workers’ party. We are establishing new branches throughout the country. We aim to set up more production. Socialism and Internationalism offices of Socialist Alternative and to put out our newspaper more frequently. We need J JShorten the workweek with no loss in pay JJCapitalism produces poverty, inequality, money to fund speaking tours, local campaigns, and a National Convention at the end and benefits; share out the work with the environmental destruction, and war. We of this summer. unemployed and create new jobs. need an international struggle against this Please dig deep and donate today! Environmental Sustainability system. PO Box 45343 J socialistalternative.org/donate/ JJFight climate change. Organize mass JRepeal corporate “free trade” agreements, Seattle, WA 98145 protests and civil disobedience to block which mean job losses and a race to the the Keystone XL oil pipeline, coal export bottom for workers and the environment. terminals, and fracking. Massive public JJSolidarity with the struggles of workers and investment in renewable energy and oppressed peoples internationally: An injury efficiency technologies to rapidly replace to one is an injury to all. fossil fuels. JJTake into public ownership the top 500 Socialist Alternative JJA major expansion of public transportation corporations and banks that dominate Socialist Alternative is a national organization fighting in our workplaces, communities, to provide low-fare, high-speed, accessible the U.S. economy. Run them under the and campuses against the exploitation and injustices people face every day. We are union transit. democratic management of elected activists fighting for workers’ rights and militant, democratic labor unions; we are a diverse organization combatting racism, students organizing against sweatshops and war, ordinary JJPublic ownership of the big energy representatives of the workers and the people demanding full legalization for all undocumented workers, women and men fighting companies. All workers in polluting industries broader public. Compensation to be paid on sexism and homophobia. should be guaranteed retraining and new the basis of proven need to small investors, We campaign for the building of a mass workers’ party to represent the interests of living-wage jobs in socially useful green not millionaires. workers, youth, and the environment against the two parties of big business. We see the production. JJA democratic socialist plan for the economy based on the interests of the overwhelming global capitalist system as the root cause of terrorism, war, poverty, discrimination, and Equal Rights for All majority of people and the environment. environmental destruction. As capitalism moves deeper into crisis and recession, a new generation of workers and youth must join together to take the top 500 corporations into JJFight discrimination based on race, For a socialist United States and a socialist public ownership. We believe the dictatorships that existed in the Soviet Union and Eastern nationality, gender, sexual orientation, world. J Europe were perversions of what socialism is really about. We are for democratic socialism religion, disability, age, and all other forms of where people will have control over their daily lives. prejudice. Equal pay for equal work. Socialist Alternative is in political solidarity with the Committee for a Workers Interna- tional, a worldwide socialist organization in 47 countries, on every continent. Join us! J

2 socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 Minimum Wage Letter from Kshama Sawant We Won – Now Let’s Spread the Struggle!

Dear readers of Socialist Alternative, you are, I urge you to join 15 Now, donate at 15Now.org, In my election campaign last fall and in the move- and help spread this grassroots movement nationally. ment for $15, I learned that working people are inspired I’m so proud to stand with all of you, celebrating the suc- Second, workers cannot rely on the two parties of by an unapologetic, principled approach. Let’s demand cess of our movement. The $15/hour minimum wage victory big business to represent their interests. We have to what people need to live a dignified life, not just in Seattle was the result of workers, community organiz- build our own independent political alternative. what the political establishment says is “realistic.” To ers, and labor activists joining together to build power. When I was sworn into Seattle City Council on January 6, push things forward, we’ve got to provide a vision of After decades of setbacks, attacks on workers’ rights I announced the launch 15 Now in Seattle. Just six months what’s possible with the huge wealth working people and living conditions, and the ongoing greed of the rich- later, the council voted in a $15/hour minimum wage ordi- create – and not confine ourselves to the crumbs this est 1%, this is a historic moment. 100,000 workers in nance. The speed of this victory is virtually unprecedented broken system of capitalism can “afford” to give us. Seattle will see a raise in their wages. $3 billion will be in Seattle politics. It happened because my organization, I’m confident we can build a powerful socialist move- redistributed from business into the pockets of working Socialist Alternative, and I used our newly won position to ment in this country. But it requires everyone who rejects families over the next ten years. Across the country and build a grassroots movement outside the council chambers. the dominance and greed of the 1% to join us in boldly around the world, millions are inspired by this important This can be done in cities across the country. We need calling for a socialist alternative. Join us today; you can first big step to bridge the chasm of income inequality. more independent left working-class candidates, linked sign up at socialistalternative.org/join. Become a part of We did not achieve everything we fought for to building movements and challenging the big business the growing movement that links today’s campaigns for – but we fought hard. This movement has every politicians of both parties. We must avoid the trap of lesser- economic justice with a fundamental change in society, to reason to be proud of our achievement. evilism, the idea that we can rely on the Democrats to stop replace corporate dominance with a democratized economy. For me, there are three main conclusions to highlight. the Republicans. In reality, the Democrats never deliver The victory in Seattle was an excellent first step. We First, when workers organize, we can win. The cour- without pressure from below, and this pressure is all the must use the energy to spread the fight for $15 nation- age of the fast-food workers who went on strike was greater if we are prepared to challenge them in both the ally and to expand the struggles on other key issues facing decisive in raising expectations and putting the fight for streets and in elections. Just look at Obama’s empty call working-class communities. If we organize with a bold $15 on the agenda. Like the Occupy movement before for $10.10 with no strategy to win, no attempt to build a perspective and a socialist vision, we have a world to win. it, these strikes expressed and pushed forward the movement – and compare that to how we won in Seattle. Solidarity, deep popular rage at class inequalities in America. Third, you don’t have to be a socialist to fight back What made Seattle unique – and allowed us to transform – but it helps! A real mass movement must welcome the slogan of fast food strikers into a reality for 100,000 everyone who wants to join the struggle, but history has workers – was that we built a well-organized grassroots shown again and again that movements are most effec- movement, 15 Now. Open to everybody and democratic, so tive when they have a core leadership who refuses to activists had ownership over the struggle, 15 Now mobilized accept the limitations of capitalism and who can build working people to stand up for their own interests. Wherever mass support behind a vision of an alternative. Councilmember Kshama Sawant Can a Left Alternative to the Two Corporate Parties be Built? Ty Moore said it wasn’t possible to win mass support national scale? With Sanders’ influence and bold, barn- for independent working-class and socialist There is no blueprint, and important local storming campaign to build it, such a con- The potential to build a mass party for politics are silenced. Now the victory for $15 or national political breakthroughs could ference could attract thousands of serious working people in the U.S. has maybe never has convinced thousands of Seattle workers emerge from any number of struggles. Yet it trade unionists, immigrant rights organizers, been higher. Last year, 60% said the two that bold class-struggle tactics, combined would be a historic mistake for the U.S. left environmentalists, and others feeling deeply parties didn’t represent them and that they with complete political independence from to take a “wait and see” approach. There is betrayed by Obama and the Democrats. On would support a third party. For the first the Democratic Party, is the most effective huge potential now. this basis, the backbone of a powerful 2016 time, a majority in Congress are now mil- strategy to win bread-and-butter victories. presidential campaign and a new left party lionaires! No wonder support for them has Yet most discussion on the growing Bernie Sanders could be rapidly assembled. collapsed to under 10%. Class inequality potential for building a mass left party Unfortunately, it appears more likely that Imagine the response, for example, if and corporate corruption at every level have remains abstract. What are the immedi- Sanders will run within the Democratic Party Senator Bernie Sanders, who is consider- deeply eroded confidence in American capi- ate next steps? How can local left electoral primaries, a tactic that the left should firmly ing running for president in 2016 as a left talism and its two parties. efforts be linked to a national strategy? How warn is a dead-end trap. Yet this is not a independent, called a major conference to Then Kshama Sawant’s election last year can we assemble the forces necessary to discuss building a left political alternative. sparked fresh optimism. The pessimists who build a credible working-class party on a continued on p.8 socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 3 Activism The Fight Against Inequality Reaches New Heights

Bryan Koulouris the billionaires and their servant politicians are willing to give us. We This spring, working people in need to make demands that mobi- Seattle won a colossal victory in lize workers and youth into action. establishing a $15 an hour mini- Faced with the difficulties of mum wage. Within days, an offen- “organizing the unorganized,” SEIU sive struggle took off throughout the and other unions, even the AFL- country to win back a chunk of the CIO as a whole, are funding cam- wealth that Wall Street stole from paigns to increase the minimum workers. In San Francisco, Chicago, wage across the country. These are and even New York – three crucial often limited to symbolic actions cities – 15 is being discussed in a and giving a platform to Democrats. real way. After the triumph in Seat- Still, with the ruling class split on tle, a large opening is developing how to deal with the economy and for mass struggle and independent its growing worry of social unrest, working-class politics. gains can sometimes even be won Income inequality is the central without a strong movement from issue in political discussions. This below. However, the wage increases is evidenced by the fact that a mas- will be larger and the lessons of the sive new book called Capital in the struggle clearer with a force like 15 Twenty-First Centry by Thomas Pik- Now coming to the fore. etty has become a bestseller. The The limitations of depending on book deals with inequality, attacks Democrats to get wage increases aspects of capitalism, and puts for- have been shown this June in Rhode ward the need for more sharing of Island. A Business Week story the wealth. Piketty is not a genu- Fast-food workers in New York on strike. showed how Democratic politicians ine socialist, and the book has big there are trying to block a refer- weaknesses. However, its popular- bold minimum wage proposals but strike support, and back indepen- likely see continually increasing par- endum on $15 from going to the ity is an important indicator of the they often limit their tactics by not dent working-class candidates. ticipation. However, there seems to ballot in November because they mood to discuss and alleviate the carrying out a full mobilization of These potential offensive victo- be no serious attempt to unionize the know that it would have widespread vast historic wealth gap. The fight working people. Still, this provides ries, coming in a period of decline fast-food workers in the determined support. for a $15 an hour minimum wage the political space for the demo- and defeat for the labor movement, struggle that would be necessary to is the most active and effective cratic, visible, grassroots tactics can be a shining beacon for future achieve large-scale organization. Changed Political expression of the mood to fight of 15 Now across the country to get struggles. The movement for $15 From OUR Walmart to Raise the Terrain against inequality. a big echo. Instead of depending has taken off far more than imag- Wage, the unions have set up many on Democratic Party politicians in ined by the initial SEIU-supported pre-union formations to organize The fight against economic Raise the Wage Seattle, 15 Now focused on mobi- organizers in New York. The clarity low-wage workers. However, their inequality and for higher living lizing working people with credible and bold nature of the demand was business union approach has com- standards for low-wage workers will After the victory in Seattle, the threats of mass referendums, work- central. The strike actions captured bined with lower levels of struggle dominate politics and prove crucial movement for a $15 an hour mini- ing-class candidates and targeted imagination. The issue links up and consciousness to make it diffi- to give strength to all political fights mum wage is taking off. A section protest actions. naturally with fights against racism cult to organize on a large scale. In against the injustices of capitalism. of the union leaders, in cooperation In San Francisco, a $15 with and sexism as well as with the labor order to achieve union recognition, Independent left political cam- with left Democrats, are making fewer loopholes than Seattle is pos- movement. The success in Seattle there would likely need to be coor- paigns should build the fight for sible. Of course, this wouldn’t be the took it to a whole new level. This dinated mass strike action. Con- $15 and vice versa. case if the example hadn’t already shows the centrality of even small sciousness and organization are not Economic inequality remains as been set. San Francisco is also socialist forces in turning things yet at this level. However, this can the key galvanizing national issue, experiencing an economic boom around for working people. In this change, and unionization will require and the fight for 15 can become the compared to the rest of the country; situation, it is an urgent task to build determined tactics and an inspira- centerpiece of this discussion. This this means that big business there 15 Now to help spark a wider resur- tional vision of how working people underscores the urgency to build a is more willing to grant conces- gence of the workers’ movement. can transform the world. profile for 15 Now, the only organi- sions. The Bay Area has many radi- In 2013, Socialist Alterna- At this point, strikes can back zation in this battle with a consis- cal union leaderships backing the tive pointed out perspectives that up fights for increased wages on tent approach to building struggle effort in a stronger way than unions a movement like Occupy would the legislative plane. However, we and grassroots participation. J backed 15 Now in Seattle. develop, except on a higher level shouldn’t limit our demands to what In Chicago, eight Alderman – with clearer demands and goals. A Socialist Alternative Publication their version of City Councillors – Currently, this process is reflected are backing legislation for $15. They most prominently in the fight for Manifesto of the will be up against a corporate hack $15 and other struggles to raise the in union-busting Democratic Mayor minimum wage. Fast-Food Worker Rahm Emmanuel. To be successful, by Brent Gaspaire (includes shipping and this movement needs coordinated After Seattle and Tony Wilsdon handling) neighborhood action committees to Online at Send check or money support 15 and hold the politicians The days of strike action called www.SocialistAlternative.org order to: Thomas Piketty’s book exposes income accountable. These committees by major unions have spread and Socialist Alternative inequality as a basis of capitalism in the become larger every time they are Print: $5.00 PO Box 150457 could petition, hold actions, plan Brooklyn, NY 11215 21st centrury. called. Future plans for strikes will

4 socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 Elections Interview with Jess Spear Donate to Help Us Win As a Socialist Seattle Could Elect Alternative can- didate, Jess is challenging Olym- pia’s Speaker of the House, Frank Another Socialist Chopp, who over- saw the largest corporate tax break in U.S. history. the bidding of corporations; I’ve got experi- fundamental choice Olympia faces on Electing the second socialist in two ence organizing movements – movements transit: Will they provide affordable and years, on a bold pro-worker, pro-envi- that win concrete gains for working people, massively expanded public transit? Or will ronment platform, would also gener- not giant handouts for corporations that are politicians like Chopp continue to under- ate a serious discussion about building already making record profits. fund Metro, forcing working people into a new political party for the 99% that It is as your question implies: Frank Chopp, expensive and environmentally destructive represents the interests of people, not as one of the most powerful politicians in ways of commuting, while simultaneously corporations. this state, represents the corporate domina- destroying good jobs at Metro? Jess won’t take a penny from cor- An interview by Sarah White, tion in Olympia. He oversaw a record-set- White: So you kick Chopp out of office. How porate interests, while her opponent is Socialist Alternative Seattle ting handout to Boeing – to the tune of $8.7 will things change in Washington State’s already building a warchest funded by billion – while the state remains in criminal Capitol? the likes of Boeing. Coming off a historic win for the $15 mini- violation for failing to adequately fund edu- Removing another out-of-touch corpo- Donate today at VoteSpear.org – and mum wage in Seattle, Jess Spear, 15 Now cation. His 20 years in the legislature have Spear: rate politician would not only rock the politi- sign up to follow the campaign’s ongo- Organizing Director, sits down to talk about left us with the most regressive taxes in the cal establishment here for the second time ing events in this exciting race. her campaign for Washington State House country, while the biggest corporations in this year – after the election of Kshama in which she’ll run against House Speaker, the world are again and again given mas- Sawant – it would give working people Democrat Frank Chopp. sive tax handouts. Frank Chopp is clearly www.VoteSpear.org the king of corporate welfare. across the country the confidence that we Sarah White: First off, congratulations on can reject politics as usual by electing our we have record breaking tax handouts for $15! White: Ok, so focusing now on your district. own independent representatives. A $15 corporations on top of the most regressive Jess Spear: Oh, thank you! But really, the What’s needed for the people in the 43rd? minimum wage was advanced and won taxation in the whole nation! They convene movement for $15 made this happen. The Spear: While Chopp is representing the in Seattle by building a grassroots move- special sessions to give Boeing billions – fast food strikes, Kshama Sawant’s cam- bosses of Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon, ment. We would take that lesson and apply and House Speaker Frank Chopp can’t even paign, the hundreds of people involved in I will represent working-class people and it to issues we want advanced at the state get a minimum wage proposal of $12 an action groups across the city: these were their families. I will fight to end the corpo- level. Kshama Sawant and 15 Now brought hour out of committee, pass a transporta- the real power behind $15. rate domination of Olympia and will demand the movement for $15 into the City Coun- tion package, or fully fund education? Not But isn’t it exciting and incredibly inspir- we fully fund education and expand funding cil, and working people won! Let’s bring a with me, not with us. Socialists fight for ing? The win for $15 in Seattle was one of for transit and clean energy projecrts to put movement for rent control and a movement what working people need, not what we is the first offensive wins for working people us on a path to 100% renewable power. for mass transit into the Capitol in Olympia! “politically possible” – which is code for in a long time. And now we’re starting to Renters in Seattle face the fastest rising White: Sure, a socialist in Seattle, but what business is willing to accept – or what see it spread to other cities! Successive rents in the country. I demand rent control Olympia? the system “can afford.” We forced busi- wins for $15 will only embolden more and and affordable housing. The WA State Leg- [laughs] I think people across the ness and the political establishment to con- more working people to demand and fight islature under Chopp’s leadership, is not Spear: political spectrum are fed up with what is cede to $15, a demand that was considered for their rights, and from there, as Kshama only failing to represent renters’ interests, coming out of Olympia and are looking for unattainable just one year ago. We can win Sawant said, reflecting on what happened it’s blocking measures like rent control from an alternative to politics as usual. The fall more! As a socialist, I’ll fight for every single in Seattle, “We have a world to win!” being implemented locally in Seattle! of Republican House Majority leader Eric improvement for working people and link it I’m running to give a voice to bus riders White: And now you’re running against Frank Cantor is another example [in addition to to challenging this exploitative system of that are facing drastic cuts. As a climate Chopp. He’s got power, experience… Kshama Sawant] of people fed up with poli- capitalism. The clock is ticking on Chopp scientist and socialist, I see this as the Spear: Look, Chopp’s got experience doing ticians that serve big business. Here in WA in Olympia! J Cantor’s Fall – A Terrifying Prospect for Corporate Politicians Jess Spear, Socialist Alternative prominent in his campaign and he painted his anti-establishment message connected candidate challenging the himself as more conservative than Cantor, with working people’s discontent. Washington State House Speaker at its core this defeat was about kicking out a corporate politician who was too close to Rebuild the Left A political earthquake shook the ground Wall Street. For progressives and workers on the left, beneath the Democratic and Republican Even on the issue of immigration, Brat’s Cantor’s defeat shows, on the one side, the party establishment when Republican opposition to reform was focused on expos- potential for real grassroots campaigns on House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was stun- ing corporations’ desire for low-wage labor: bread-and-butter economic issues. On the ningly defeated by an unknown economics “Eric Cantor doesn’t represent you; he rep- other side, it reveals the threat that right- professor, Dave Brat. resents large corporations seeking a never- wing populists like Dave Brat, Ron Paul, and The swift takedown of business-backed ending supply of cheap foreign labor,” (The Rand Paul – who offer no real economic Cantor revealed the alienation of ordinary Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost Nation, 6/11/2014). solutions to rising income inequality, lack of people from the political establishment. in the GOP primary. His opponent painted him as an Cantor raised $5.5 million in contrast to advocate of crony capitalism. jobs, and the all-sided social crisis – pose to Brat even used a certain rhetoric against Brat’s $200,000, and Cantor spent around working-class rights if the left fails to build “crony capitalism” to attack the former $1 million in the final week. Nonetheless, a viable alternative. Help us build Socialist House majority leader. However, he linked Wall Street vs. Main Street Brat’s populist message of challenging the Alternative and a new mass left alternative his attacks to anti-immigrant propaganda out-of-touch politicians energized working Though Brat’s immigration ideas were to the two parties of big business. J and his populist Tea Party-style agenda. people in Virginia. Dave Brat won because socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 5 Low-Wage Workers Need a Raise! How Seattle Won a $15 an Hour Minimum Wage

Kshama Sawant and Socialist Alternative put Independent Movement forward a strategy to win: Building on the fast- food workers’ struggles, we took up the huge Sawant’s election occurred at the same anger about income inequality. We used the time that voters in the nearby suburb of electoral success of Kshama Sawant to build SeaTac approved a ballot initiative for a $15/ and lead the movement. All of that paid off. hour minimum wage. By the end of Janu- Together, we can do this all around the country. ary 2014, such was the momentum that the debate on the number fifteen had been won, Patrick Ayers, Seattle and 68% of likely Seattle voters supported Socialist Alternative $15/hour in a poll. Businesses were forced to accept $15/hour, Seattle is the first city to pass a $15/hour at least in words. Hotel owner Howard Wright minimum wage. 100,000 workers will eventu- III, who fought against $15/hour in SeaTac, ally see a significant increase in their wages. On became a “supporter” of it in Seattle. He told April 1, 2015, workers at McDonald’s, Burger the Seattle Weekly: “I was motivated by the King, Starbucks, and many big businesses way the minimum wage happened in SeaTac. A packed Seattle City Council Chambers celebrates the passage of a $15 an hour minimum wage, 6/2/2014. will see a raise to $11/hour, and all workers I wasn’t opposed to $15 as an eventual goal. will go to $18/hour in 2025. This equals a But I didn’t like the fact there was no phase- was oriented towards the Mayor’s process of encouraged big business to demand more Photo Credit Alex Garland $3 billion transfer from business to the poor- in…. I thought, OK, there isn’t a question of if negotiating with big business. concessions. If the resources of labor were est parts of the working class in Seattle over this is coming to Seattle, it’s really a question The setbacks for the labor movement over redirected behind campaigns like 15 Now, the next ten years. More importantly, we have of getting out in front of it,” (5/20/2014). the past years have understandably lowered giving democratic ownership to the grassroots shown the vital role of grassroots struggle and While it was fast-food workers, socialists, the confidence of working people as well as activists themselves, then the tide could be transformed the debate on the minimum wage and the movement that put $15/hour on the organized labor. But, the times have changed. turned and workers could start to effectively across the U.S. agenda, the Democratic Party and Mayor Socialist Alternative campaigned for a strat- fight back against the rapacious powers of Murray brought business to the table to water egy that could help rebuild a fighting labor capitalism. “Quickly as a Lightning Strike” it down. The mayor formed a business-dom- movement by laying down radical traditions “In the end,” wrote Arun Ivatury and inated advisory committee to come up with of mass campaigning. In particular, our threat Join the Socialists Rebecca Smith for CNN.com, “the outcome in proposal, and a City Council dominated by to mobilize around a ballot initiative cre- corporate politicians had the final approval. ated enormous fears among Seattle’s politi- Seattle demonstrates the effect a single Seattle demonstrates what history has proved socialist on the Seattle City Council could have time and time again: When workers are well- Therefore, working people needed their cal and corporate elite. The Seattle Times own tools to push back. We launched 15 Now commented: “The threat of a 15 Now char- with the right approach. Imagine if there had organized and there is broad support for higher been two, three, four socialists on the council. wages, even businesses that resist the idea are as a grassroots organization. We built links ter amendment created a sense of urgency with labor and community groups, but we also among city leaders and on Mayor Ed Murray’s Imagine what we could achieve with dozens ultimately forced to pay more,” (5/15/2014). of elected working-class representatives at the Fast-food workers themselves lead the way. built action groups all across the city and orga- Income Inequality Advisory Committee where nized public protests to promote the needs of labor and business leaders were pressed to local, state, and federal level, all linked to a After Occupy Wall Street, they began striking powerful mass party of working-class people for a $15/hour minimum wage, first in New York workers in the debate. reach a compromise on raising the minimum wage or face the charter amendment on the that uses these positions to build mass move- City and then spreading across the country. ments of working people for higher wages, The fact that Seattle became the epicenter An Alternative Strategy for November ballot,” (6/12/2014). If labor had backed the threat of a ballot good union jobs, equal rights, and renewable of this national movement for $15 has a lot Labor energy. to do with the socialist strategy put forward initiative for a stronger $15/hour ordinance While a tremendous step forward, there is Socialist Alternative supports every pos- by Kshama Sawant, newly elected city coun- without loopholes or unnecessary delays, no reason to deny that what passed the City sible reform that can be won in a capitalist cil member, and her organization, Socialist then big business could have been forced to Council in Seattle bears the fingerprints of big system. The fight for $15 has shown that when Atlernative. concede much more. business, with loopholes like a decade-long we organize we can win. But this fight has also “Who had heard of [Sawant] before last Labor unions in the U.S. have tremendous phase-in that puts off a $15/hour minimum shown that, under a system based on profits, August?” wrote columnist Jona- resources and political weight. They have mil- Seattle Times wage in 2017 terms until 2025 for a lot of big business will always fight tooth and nail thon Martin, who declared Sawant the winner lions of dollars and millions of members that workers. It includes training wages and a tip to defend its wealth and power. Capitalism is of the minimum wage debate. “For that matter, could be mobilized behind a bold campaign. penalty, allowing a slower increase of the by nature unequal. The fight for better wages, who (aside from Socialist Alternative newspaper A glimpse of that was visible in the fast-food minimum wage for tipped workers – while education, health care, housing, environmen- subscribers) had a quick jump to a $15 wage strikes. But the movement could be much still offering an increase on April 1, 2015, for tal and social justice must also be a struggle on their radar a year ago? Yet the political fear stronger if the unions ended their reliance each and every one of us. for the socialist transformation of society, of Sawant’s organizing skill has put a radical on the Democratic Party and independently This was not inevitable. based on genuine equality and human need. economic policy on greased rails. In process- mobilized the full power of their members and Unfortunately, the strategy of those lead- Donate today and help us fund this strug- loving Seattle, the minimum wage is happening larger groups of working people. ing the main labor unions was not focused on gle. If you want to be part of this movement, as quickly as a lightning strike,” (4/29/2014). Decades of trying to appease big busi- building the movement from below; instead, it ness by accepting concessions have only join Socialist Alternative today! J

6 socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 Low-Wage Workers Need a Raise!

Building 15 Now Nationally A Call to Action!

Jesse Lessinger, 15 and a statewide coalition called National Organizer Raise the Wage PA. for 15 Now Through April and May, 15 Now Philly hit the streets with a peti- The victory for a $15 an hour min- tion aimed at local and state politi- imum wage in Seattle is a story of cians. This petition for $15 was met how working people organized, took with tremendous enthusiasm and a stand against corporate power, and opened conversations with more won. And now is the time to spread than 1,500 community members, that success nationwide. At the center laying the groundwork for a broad of battle was 15 Now, launched and campaign. led by Socialist Alternative. At our first Open Assembly 15 Now is part of the growing on Tuesday, May 20, we moved to movement of low-wage workers to launch three neighborhood com- fight for better wages and working mittees in South, North, and West 15 Now demonstrations from around the country. Clockwise from upper left: Portland, OR; Mobile, AL; Philadelphia, PA; and Davis, CA. conditions. There have been strikes Philly. These meetings will form the and actions in over 100 cities across backbone of 15 Now Philly action This would be a step forward, of the city council suggest she also gaining petition signatures, gaining the country, but it was Seattle that groups and further strategy to agitate but only small one. Neither of those supported $15. Yet Seattle showed endorsements, and building a raised the minimum wage to $15 and organize. figures represents a living wage. In that we can’t rely on promises from movement to demand $15. It is still because of bold plan of action devel- The critical strength of 15 a city like Boston, $15 is just the politicians but have to build pres- the beginning of our NYC campaign, oped by 15 Now. Now Philly involves our diverse orga- starting point for livable, and that’s sure from below. With a movement, but we look forward to building Since Occupy first drew our atten- nizing committee, including low- cutting it close. Working people sign- we can push “Tale of Two Cities” immense momentum over the tion to the unprecedented inequality wage workers from fast-food, retail, ing our petitions have mentioned this Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city summer. in the U.S., our movement has now and home health aid industries. 15 key point to us again and again: They council to act. begun to turn the tide. But no victory Now has generated excitement agree with other minimum wage We have held major interventions 15 Now Portland (PDX), is guaranteed, and big business will across the spectrum in Philly. We’re initiatives because any increase is across the city. 15 Now marched Oregon resist as they did in Seattle. What we ready for real change and a new way good, but those initiatives don’t even in the “St. Patrick’s Day for All” win depends on the strength of our forward for working people. Now we come close to a living wage. That’s parade, and we have held two ener- Michael Cathcart movements. That’s why we need you can point to the success of Seattle to why low-wage workers all over the getic rallies and marches, joined by to get involved with 15 Now today. show people that it’s possible to win. country are demanding $15. Green Party candidate for Gover- On May 15, roughly 40 people You can join an existing chap- To empower the working people nor Howie Hawkins, who has made marched into the downtown McDon- ter or start a new one in your area. 15 Now Massachusetts of the districts we’re campaigning in $15 a key demand in his race for ald’s and read a letter aloud to the See 15now.org for more information. governor. workers, customers, and bosses in Jack Zhang and build the foundations of a move- Below we publish a few brief reports ment, 15 Now New England has On May Day, 15 Now organized a solidarity with the global strike of from local 15 Now organizers about started monthly neighborhood meet- solid contingent in Union Square for fast-food workers. The fight for a $15 an hour mini- the work of new 15 Now chapters ings in Boston. a day of activities and took part in a However, thanks to the restaurant mum wage is heating up in Mas- around the country. These neighborhood meetings are noisy march, shutting down parts of lobby, since 2001 Oregon state law sachusetts. Thanks to the workers open to the broad public. We encour- Manhattan. On May 15, we joined has preempted cities from raising the who paused to sign our petitions, 15 Philly age participants, especially newcom- striking fast-food workers at high- minimum wage locally. This means 15 Now Now New England has collected ers to , to lead the discus- energy, internationally publicized that any effort for $15 will require Median income in Philadelphia almost all the signatures required by 15 Now sion and speak up about community protests. a coordinated statewide effort, or a hovers at $31,000 per household, or the state to put a nonbinding $15 problems. Seattle showed us that The response to 15 Now has been repeal of the state’s preemption. about $15/hour. With over 30% of an hour question on the ballot in six empowering working people to take very positive in New York. Although On June 11, members of 15 the city living in official poverty and districts. matters into their own hands is the the State of New York holds the Now PDX will give a brief testimony 12% in deep poverty, an increase in Our petitioning events have way we can win. power to set the minimum wage, in in front of the city council, highlight- the minimum wage from $7.25 to opened up a dialogue with our fellow order to win the endorsement of the ing the need to raise the minimum $15/hour would completely trans- workers about the minimum wage labor-backed, left-leaning Working wage and presenting them with form the city and region. and the rising cost of living. Almost 15 Now New York City Families Party, Governor Cuomo 1,000 signatures in support of a Philly launched in Febru- everyone agrees that the current 15 Now Daniel Kroop promised this would be changed. $15 minimum wage. We know that ary, with our first action on Interna- minimum wage of $8 an hour is too This represents a big opportunity real change doesn’t come from the tional Women’s Day. Philly low. In Massachusetts, the state 15 Now The 15 Now campaign is growing for the campaign. top; it has to be demanded from paved the way for a coalition with the Senate is proposing a phase-in to in New York City! After the victory in 15 Now NYC plans to continue below. J SEIU fast-food organizers at Fight for $11 an hour over three years. Seattle, we quickly saw the Speaker

socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 7 Civil LIberties A Look at Glenn Greenwald’s Book No Place to Hide Exposing the NSA Surveillance State By Clay Showalter into social movements. In November 2011, primary focus of the NSA is suppressing there was the coordinated, nationwide effort internal dissent and increasing the power of A year ago, Glenn Greenwald and Laura to crack down on the Occupy movement. corporate America across the globe. Poitras began exposing the shocking extent And the Washington State Fusion Center, of foreign and domestic spying carried out by supported by the Department of Homeland Targeting of Activists the National Security Administration (NSA). Security and the NSA, is currently involved in Alongside targeting journalists and Now, in No Place to Hide, Greenwald goes a lawsuit for using a government spy named whistle-blowers, the NSA and its partners well beyond the contents of the leaked docu- John Towery to infiltrate activist groups such systematically attempt to undermine activ- ments to examine the political landscape that as Port Militarization Resistance and Iraq Vet- ist organizations and social movements. A gave rise to the surveillance state. erans Against the War, (NY Times, 6/24/13). leaked document called “The Art of Decep- Spying and surveillance have been hap- tion: Training for Online Covert Operations” pening for decades. But it was Edward Disillusionment With Obama describes how the targeting of activists Snowden, a former private intelligence con- Snowden, like millions of other Ameri- is guided by the four D’s: “Deny/Disrupt/ tractor, who revealed how the NSA recently cans, had hoped that the election of Obama Degrade/Deceive.” Tactics used to under- began to apply its unofficial motto of “Col- would lead to change. After being elected, mine activists include setting up a “honey- lect it All” to domestic surveillance. After Obama vowed to reform the surveillance trap,” luring an activist into an illicit roman- leaking thousands of documents to Green- abuses that had been previously justified by tic affair and then exposing it; hijacking an wald and Poitras, Snowden fled to Russia the Bush administration during the War on activist’s social media accounts to send for political asylum and continues to face Terror. Snowden remained silent in 2009 as damaging messages to their allies; and iden- increasing threats of persecution by the U.S. he waited for the Obama administration to tifying and exploiting fracture points in activ- government. smooth over some of the roughest edges of ist organizations. the surveillance state and military abuses. Despite the elaborate systems of sur- Growing “Need” for Surveillance “But then it became clear that Obama veillance constructed by the NSA, and the Greenwald writes: “It’s not hard to under- was not just continuing, but in many cases despicable tactics used against activists, expanding these abuses,” Snowden told social movements continue to rise up and stand why authorities in the United States a small number of elites working in secret, Green​wald. Snowden watched as Obama win substantial victories. The Occupy move- and other Western nations have been tempted who can decide what kind of world we want prosecuted more whistle-blowers than all ment focused the national dialogue on wealth to construct a ubiquitous system of spying to live in.” directed at their own citizens. Worsening eco- prior presidents combined, and specifi- inequality and emboldened a new wave of nomic inequality, converted into a full-blown cally targeted investigative reporters from young activists. The election of Socialist Building an Alternative crisis by the financial collapse in 2008, has the Associated Press. All this comes from a Alternative candidate Kshama Sawant to the generated grave internal instability.” president who had lauded whistle-blowing in Seattle City Council, on a platform of fighting Greenwald’s newest book, and the revela- It is the growing resistance to capitalism 2008 when he described it as “acts of cour- for a $15/hour minimum wage, rent control, tions he is likely to make after its publish- – the rejection of a system built on inequal- age and patriotism…which should be encour- and taxing the rich, was a historic victory ing, are important for activists. They illustrate ity, racism, and sexism and wracked with aged rather than stifled as they have been that echoed around the world. And then, just that, despite the widespread nature of the economic instability – which has led to the during the Bush administration,” (The Guard- six months later, a $15/hour minimum wage surveillance state, working people have the expansion of domestic surveillance. Green- ian, 6/7/13). was won in Seattle by socialists, a grassroots potential power and numbers to win victories wald writes how, when faced with “strikingly And just as the Bush administration used movement, and organized labor. against the ruling class, their political repre- intense levels of discontent with the political the War on Terror to justify illegal spying, Greenwald concludes the book by empha- sentatives, and their repressive forces. class and direction of society,” the political Obama and top intelligence officials continue sizing the importance of building social move- It is clear that we cannot rely on the Dem- elite have “two options: to placate the popu- to defend the NSA by claiming that counter- ments: “Even the most committed activists ocratic Party – or any party that represents lation with symbolic concessions or fortify terrorism is the main focus. But the leaks by are often tempted to succumb to defeatism. the interests of the ruling elite – to fight for their control to minimize the harm it can do Snowden systematically reveal “economic The prevailing institutions seem too powerful our basic rights. Only by coming together, to their interests.” espionage, diplomatic spying and suspicion- to challenge; orthodoxies feel too entrenched building social movements, and establishing Recent history is rife with examples of less surveillance aimed at entire popula- to uproot; there are always many parties with our own political representation can we begin the political elite attempting to fortify their tions,” alongside the specific targeting of a vested interest in maintaining the status to create the fundamental change that is so control when political discontent manifests activists. Greenwald makes it clear that the quo. But it is human beings collectively, not desperately needed. J

Can a Left Alternative Be Built? continued from p.3 forgone conclusion, particularly if, over the locals, especially where viable left electoral of cities across the country, for local left wider U.S. left took an audacious, smart next year, left forces take bold initiatives to challenges provide a concrete choice. These electoral challenges to win mass support. approach to seize the opportunities. It demonstrate in multiple regions the same local debates can push the process forward This was demonstrated not only in Seattle would be a strong foundation for calling potential already shown in Seattle. nationally. and Minneapolis, but also in Richmond, CA, a national conference to initiate a serious Undoubtedly, the preferred scenario would in Jackson, MS, in Lorain, OH, and beyond. process toward forming a broad left party, be for the unions and other social movement Run Independent Left Even where campaigns are not winnable, bringing together socialists, Greens, and groups that enjoy a significant base in the Candidates the basis exists to run strong left challenges thousands of unaffiliated activists in the working class to break their ties to the Demo- that can push the process forward. unions, community campaigns, immigrant cratic Party and launch a new mass workers’ The deep popular rage at the political Imagine if, over the next two years, we and anti-racist struggles, women’s rights party. This would be a massive breakthrough establishment means immediate opportu- elected just 50 left-wing and socialist can- and LGBTQ groups, environmental cam- raise class consciousness and dramatically nities for left electoral challenges. These didates to local offices, state legislatures, paigns, and others. Just as importantly, this increase the power of workers to fight for shouldn’t be squandered because of mis- or even Congress. Imagine if, alongside left would be a powerful basis to wage a serious their interests in both the political and eco- leadership of the unions or other “base con- community and labor leaders, these 50 left campaign within unions and social move- nomic arenas. While the powerful statewide stituencies” of the Democratic Party that elected officials were united in calling for a ment organizations to break from the Demo- and national unions are not on the verge of would, in the long run, need to be won over new mass party for working people. cratic Party. The time for taking the initiative breaking from the Democrats, there is space to establish a new mass party. This type of scenario, while by no means is now. J opening for vigorous debates in many union There is clearly a basis now, in hundreds automatic, is not outside our grasp if the

8 socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 Civil LIberties Net Neutrality Under Attack Broadband Companies Crack Down on Internet Freedom By George Martin Fell Brown reasonable manner,” (The Washington Post, 4/23/2014). To interpret: net neutral- We assume that everyone online - from ity threatens the freedom of capitalists to political bloggers to big businesses to people threaten the freedom of everybody else. posting videos of their cats - will reach their Without net neutrality, the broadband audiences roughly the same way as everyone companies are empowered to determine else. This is the principle of net neutrality. what information does and doesn’t go New regulations proposed by the Federal across the network. For example, in Canada Communications Commission (FCC) will in 2005, members of the Telecommuni- undermine net neutrality - to be replaced by cations Workers Union were locked out by outright net discrimination, with profound their employer, Telus, a large phone com- consequences for online freedom of speech. pany and Internet service provider. During These new regulations come after a suc- the course of the lockout, Telus blocked cessful lawsuit from the cable company Ver- access to several pro-union websites from izon. Tom Wheeler, newly appointed chair any Telus customers’ Internet connections. of the FCC, was formerly a top lobbyist for Without basic net neutrality protections, we the cable and wireless industry. Wheeler’s can expect to see incidents like this appear- new regulations formally entitle broadband ing a lot more frequently, especially where providers to discriminate in what information struggle breaks out. they allow across their networks. This rep- But perhaps more frequent than out- resents a serious attack, further paving the right censorship will be consigning web- Acivists protest outside the FCC during the vote to end net neutrality. way to a two-tier Internet. In 2007, Obama sites to oblivion, through the creation of a publicly claimed to be a “strong supporter two-speed Internet. The main “right” that Netflix, Google, and eBay, on the other Beyond Net Neutrality of net neutrality” and warned that without it Verizon was demanding in its lawsuit was hand, specialize in the actual content that we’d get “much better quality from the Fox to divide online traffic into a “fast lane” for gets transmitted across those cables. Their The attack on net neutrality is an attack News site and you’d be getting rotten ser- those who can afford to pay, while those profits depend on their ability to easily get on Internet freedom. But this does not mean vice from the mom and pop sites,” (cnet. who can’t would be stuck in a “slow lane.” information across the Internet with as little that net neutrality is a guarantee of Internet com, 10/29/2007). But now he’s allowing Such an arrangement would disproportion- difficulty as possible. freedom. A single law regulating one sector such a scenario, further revealing the presi- ately undermine individuals and others who While content-providing companies may of the economy can’t stand up against the dent’s hypocrisy. cannot pay. oppose the FCC changes, they also act to entire capitalist system. In their dispute with undermine online freedom of expression. Netflix, Verizon and Comcast deliberately What is Net Neutrality? Inter-Capitalist Rivalry While Google promotes itself as a do-gooder, lowered the speed of their Internet connec- from 2006-2010 it operated a Chinese ver- tions to pressure Netflix into signing a deal. Net neutrality is the principle that govern- During the course of the dispute, a sion of its search engine, Google.cn, which Moreover, the deal they ultimately made was ments and businesses should treat all data number of digital companies have come out self-censored websites that were offensive to over a private network, placing it outside the on the internet equally, not discriminating or in defense of net neutrality. An open letter the Chinese state. When Google pulled out domain of any net neutrality legislation. charging differentially by user, content, site, signed by Google, Microsoft, eBay, Face- of China in 2010, it was only after a series Columbia Professor Tim Wu, who coined etc. It is an important safeguard to protect book, and others argued that the proposed of cyber-attacks against its servers. Other the term “net neutrality,” admitted that he free speech on the Internet. changes represent a “grave threat to the search engines such as Yahoo! still operate never accounted for these issues in defin- The Internet is often portrayed as inher- Internet.” Netflix has come into a number censored versions of their services in China. ing the term. He saw net neutrality, not as a ently prone to freedom. But the function- of public conflicts with Comcast and AT&T Different sectors of the capitalist class political problem, but as “solving a joint tech- ing of the Internet is dependent on a vast over the issue, even going so far as to put often find themselves in conflict with one nical challenge” to make the Internet work as physical network that transfers information anti-Verizon messages on Netflix buffering another, but in the last analysis they have well as possible. But solving a joint techni- from place to place, and the architecture of screens. This has given the impression that the same class interests. Capitalism natu- cal challenge is far more suited to a planned that network can have a major impact on these companies are “good” capitalists, rally tends toward monopoly. In the field of economy than a system where big businesses what goes across. The most blatant viola- defending the underdog. communication, that monopoly often takes are competing to maximize profit. As long tion of net neutrality is the so-called “Great However, it would be a mistake to think the form of “vertical integration” between as the Internet is run by capitalists, Internet Firewall of China,” where the Chinese state that Netflix, Google, Microsoft, etc. are different sectors of the economy. As online freedom will be continuously under attack. uses the architecture of the Internet to acting out of altruism. This is, in reality, a shopping sites start their own warehouses, JJ No to the new FCC regulations. Defend directly censor criticism of the government. battle between those capitalists who provide search engines start their own lines of smart net neutrality. According to companies like Verizon, net content for the web and those who provide phones, and movie-streaming sites start JJ For free, publicly funded broadband neutrality is itself a government attack on infrastructure. filming their own shows, the common class access. For a massive program to expand Internet freedom. However, the freedom Companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Com- interests of the different sectors of the econ- the broadband network. Verizon is concerned with is the freedom cast specialize in the physical network of omy become clearer. In 2010, Google and for broadband companies to have “the cables that make the Internet work. Requir- Verizon formed a partnership, and Google JJ Nationalize the broadband companies ability to enter into individual negotiations ing that network to be neutral is a direct significantly watered down its net neutrality under democratic control. J with content providers … in a commercially threat to their profitability. Companies like policy to be more agreeable to both parties. socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 9 Women's movement #YesAllWomen: A Feminist Response to Tragedy

Kailyn Nicholson Day of Retribution” for these sup- and demanding far-reaching social posed offenses. In his own words, change, but it has since retreated The misogynistic massacre of “How could an inferior, ugly black from mass organizing and focuses Santa Barbara, California, is yet boy be able to get a white girl and almost exclusively on working another horrific expression of a not me? I am beautiful, and I am within the established legal and society that is based on the con- half white myself. I am descended political framework. This retreat stant oppression of women. How- from British aristocracy. He is has allowed room for devastating ever, this expression of hatred also descended from slaves. I deserve attacks on previous gains, includ- triggered a massive backlash. A it more.” ing the defunding of Planned Par- storm of tweets around the Twit- enthood, strict anti-abortion laws ter hashtag #YesAllWomen showed Misogynist Ideas popping up across the country, and not only deep-rooted anger but also Promoted by Media an epidemic of sexual violence on the potential to build a powerful college campuses – being shame- mass movement against sexism. While the actions taken by fully mishandled by school adminis- The enormous outcry reveals that, Rodger are an extreme manifesta- trators and police. A similar decline together, we DO have the power to tion of misogynistic hatred, the ide- is being suffered by workers and resist hate crimes against women, ology behind them is frighteningly people of color in the form of stag- end domestic violence, and fight widespread. Rodger was a member nant wages, pension cuts, and job for equal rights in our workplaces – of numerous Internet communi- #YesAllWomen demonstration in Seattle. losses as unions have also moved and to fight for a new society based ties devoted to disparaging and away from militant mass action. on gender equality, social justice, manipulating women, including The and, in the process, our values and wealthy backgrounds like Elliot If we want to push back against and solidarity, a socialist alternative Red Pill, PUA (Pick Up Artists), images of ourselves – particularly Rodger. the wave of misogyny we are living to the oppression we experience and MRA (Men’s Rights Activists). gender roles – are constantly dis- In our society, children are through today, we need to reinvigo- every day in capitalist society. These groups have grown rapidly torted and manipulated. Corporate schooled in the values of capital- rate the fighting roots of the wom- A horrifying massacre took place since 2000, uniting themselves ads try to make women think they ism: to compete for power and to en’s movement and use the same May 23 in Santa Barbara, Califor- under the umbrella term “The need to focus almost exclusively on push ahead of others at any cost. tactics that won us victories before: nia. Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old Manosphere,” (Jeff Moniker, “The their sex appeal, while implying that The pressure to conform to corpo- mass protests, marches, walk-outs, son of a once-wealthy Hollywood New Misogyny,” Daily Kos). This is successful men have access to lots rate-created roles is growing ever and rallies. The #YesAllWomen producer, stabbed three people just one of many frightening devel- of money, power, and sex. more intense. This results in more rallies being organized around the to death in his apartment before opments undermining the progress The investors who control Hol- kids failing and in escalating levels country are a great start. driving to a nearby sorority house won by the women’s movement in lywood, the music industry, and of depression and mental issues, Our movement for women’s and shooting two women there. He earlier decades. the booming Internet porn industry particularly among adolescents who rights will be most effective if we then drove around town shooting at Film critic Ann Hornaday sug- exploit women and male consumers feel alienated and scapegoated, link our fight to the fight of the 99% people, killing one more and injur- gests that another influence on the for their profit, making it appear to who see little solidarity with their against the richest 1% – the ruling ing 13, before taking his own life. development of Rodger’s twisted men that it is completely natural to communities or with fellow human class who use sexism, racism, and Perhaps the most horrifying worldview was the narrow gender view women as nothing more than beings. For the most desperate and homophobia as tools to divide us parts of this tragedy are the youtube stereotypes still ubiquitous in Hol- objects of men’s sexual pleasure. frustrated, the culture of gun vio- against each other to defend their videos and 141-page “manifesto” lywood culture. “Indeed, as impor- These are just some of the many lence promoted by the movie indus- profits and power over society. Our posted by the young man before tant as it is to understand Rodger’s complicated ways that the capital- try, the video games industry, and task as women is to link up with all the attack. The manifesto clearly actions within the context of the ist elite have twisted our society’s the military can become an attrac- working people and build a mass reveals a combination of sexist, mental illness he clearly suffered, values and created an unequal, tive way out. movement, including community racist, elitist ideas. It expresses it’s just as clear that his delusions alienating society. groups and especially the powerful violent hatred toward all women for were inflated, if not created, by the Although entirely inexcusable, Time to Renew a labor unions, against discrimina- not giving him the attention and sex entertainment industry he grew up Rodger’s violence and extreme enti- Powerful Women’s tion, sexism and exploitation which he felt entitled to. in,” says Hornaday. tlement were not, as some reports Movement are promoted by the ruling class He also proclaimed hatred for Of the top 250 movies released would argue, merely a result of his and their economic, political, and all men who were “inferior” to him, out of Hollywood in 2013, only 15% own mental illness or innate evil. Clearly, there was a complex cultural institutions and media. including those with less money or had female protagonists (Martha Our entire capitalist society is in web of factors that led to Rodger The 99% must come together to darker skin, who received atten- Lauzen, San Diego State Univer- crisis, barely recovering from the taking the lives of six people. A get rid of the capitalist system that tion from women. He believed it sity). Among the male protagonists, worst economic shock since the wealthy and privileged upbringing; values profits over people. Women was his right, as a descendant of sexual fulfillment is a nearly univer- Great Depression, and the crisis the racist, sexist, and hypermascu- and all oppressed groups can win a once-wealthy British noble family, sal theme (Hornaday). is having devastating social con- line culture of the corporate media; full and equal rights in a new soci- to lead a life of privilege and con- sequences. The widening chasm and the sexist, alienating capitalist ety that guarantees the rights of all stant gratification. With his desires Gender Roles and Social between the super-rich and the rest society in crisis all played a role in working people. We need a funda- for sex and female attention going Values Distorted by of us not only harms the working this tragedy. How do we respond to mentally new social system, one unfulfilled, Rodger considered men Capitalism class and the poor, who are most such a complex problem? that empowers rather than exploits: from lower-class backgrounds – directly suffering from declining We can start by taking a lesson a real democracy that prioritizes and in particular men of color – get- In capitalist society, we are also economic conditions. The intense from our mothers and grandmoth- human welfare over profit maximi- ting female attention to be a grave endlessly bombarded by corporate social pressure to succeed in the ers. The women’s movement of zation – a socialist society. J injustice against him personally. He advertisements that prey on our “rat race” affects all communi- the ‘60s and ‘70s made incredible referred to his killing spree as “The insecurities to get us to buy products ties, including young people from gains by organizing on a mass scale

10 socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 Anti-War Oil War’s Bloody Legacy in Iraq

Judy Beishon occupation. Grassroots building of demo- cratic, non-sectarian working-class-led orga- As Socialist Alternative went to press, the nizations is essential to organize defense of Obama administration had sent hundreds of all communities and to put forward an anti- military “advisers” to Iraq and was threaten- capitalist program as the only way of showing ing bombings, as well. Below is a shortened a way out of ongoing bloodshed, repression, version of an article that appeared on Social- and poverty. istWorld.net in mid-June. You can see the full That program would need to challenge version there or at SocialistAlternative.org. and expose the self-interest and greed of all At the time of President Bush’s cata- the pro-capitalist political and military lead- strophic and criminal invasion of Iraq in ers that are fighting for hegemony across 2003, Socialist Alternative and the Commit- Iraq today. It should explain the necessity tee for a Workers International (CWI) warned of removing them from power and replacing it could lead to the break-up of Iraq and the them with democratically elected workers’ terrible sectarian war that is now being played representatives who will call for a socialist out in front of the eyes of the world. solution, in the interests of all workers and U.S. imperialism laid the basis for being the poor. faced with not one, but a number of Saddams Socialist Alternative and the CWI sup- and for the rise of al-Qaeda-type terror organ- Iraq is now spiraling into sectarian conflict over ten years after George W. Bush claimed victory. port the right of self-determination for all isations like the Islamic State of Iraq and oppressed nationalities and groups, but we Syria (ISIS) that is sweeping across northern the Kurdish Peshmerga forces used the crisis There is widespread anger among Shias at al- point out that the resulting states and state- Iraq today. This turn of events threatens to to rapidly take the city of Kirkuk into their Maliki’s corruption and sectarianism. Sunnis, lets would not be economically viable unless trigger a shake-up of the entire region, with own hands, seeing it as a capital for a Kurd- Shias, and Kurds alike are suffering from the linked up in a voluntary socialist confedera- profound and possibly tragic consequences ish state. constant insecurity, lack of basic services, tion, in this case of the peoples of Iraq and for the populations. The Iraqi government was left paralyzed, and poor living standards. the region. Only on that basis could coopera- To justify the 2003 war and subsequent with virtually no control across the entire There have been many times, historically, tion be achieved that could lift everyone’s occupation – in which over half a million north of Iraq, unable to even get a quorum in when people in Iraq have shown their desire living standards, making the best use of all Iraqis died, plus thousands of intervening parliament in order to introduce emergency for unity against division, such as in April the natural resources for the benefit of all. J troops – Bush and Blair claimed to be rid- measures. Over half a million refugees poured 2004, when 200,000 Shia and Sunni dem- ding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction out of Mosul and other captured areas, fear- onstrated in Baghdad against the U.S.-led (WMDs) and laying the basis for democracy. ing government bombing raids, ISIS, or both. The WMDs didn’t exist, and their interest was There is another humiliation for the U.S. never democracy – it was the vast oil wealth leaders – to need the cooperation of the Ira- in Iraq and influence in the Middle East. In nian regime, which it has been harshly pun- pursuing their goals, they created the condi- ishing with sanctions and at whose hands it Hospital Cuts, tions for a prolonged period of bloody ethnic had many troop losses during the occupation and sectarian conflict. of Iraq. Another recipient of venom from the The overthrow of dictator Saddam Hus- U.S. administration, Bashir Assad’s forces in Transit Struggles, sein – and the “de-Ba’athification” carried Syria have, too, come to the aid of al-Maliki out – saw Sunni Muslims removed from the by launching some strikes against ISIS bases state apparatus and jobs. Faced with mass in Syria. Assad had previously turned a blind resistance to its occupation, and to defeat eye to much of ISIS’s aggression in Syria Working Families Party, Sunni insurgents, U.S. imperialism resorted because it was mainly directed at seizing to sectarian “divide and rule,” and imposed ground from other Islamic militias that were a Shia-dominated, corrupt government that at the forefront of fighting Assad’s regime. and More at greatly worsened the division. ISIS taking control of Fallujah in January ISIS and now Mosul – Iraq’s second-largest city Some ISIS commanders have tried not SocialistAlternative.Org – is seen as disastrous by the U.S. govern- to antagonize people in the areas they have ment as it effectively reverses the driving seized, while others immediately issued out of Sunni militias from those cities by SocialistAlternative.org features daily updates from working-class sharia edicts telling thieves they would have struggles throughout the country. It is also the best place for in-depth U.S. Marines in what were sustained, brutal their hands cut off, ordering women to cover assaults during the U.S.-led war. analysis of the capitalist crisis and resistance to injustices. up their bodies and avoid leaving their homes, Go there for an interview with Richard Poole, a union activist at a massive banning political parties, and other reaction- Sunni uprising hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts. Richard talks about the attacks on his ary laws. These announcements instilled fear fellow union members that the struggle that he helped lead to stop layoffs. Sections of the nearly one-million-strong into much of the population, including many Currently on SocialistAlternative.org, you can find a report from Karl Iraqi army – U.S.-and-British-trained and Sunnis who initially hoped that ISIS would at Belin about protests in Pittsburgh to demand full funding of public tran- equipped to the tune of $30 billion – disinte- least deliver them from discrimination and sit. The demonstration was led by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) grated in the path of the offensive driven by the arrests and torture that have been meted Local 85 and a community group called Pittsburghers for Public Tran- an ISIS force of less than a few thousand. In out on Sunnis by al-Maliki’s government. sit. ATU International President Larry Hanley called this coalition of labor taking Mosul – a city of two million people – and community a model to be replicated throughout the country. and a number of towns, including Tikrit, ISIS A Way Forward In New York, there is tremendous anger from labor activists against the corporate- was supplemented and aided by uprisings Working-class Sunnis, Shias, Kurds, and backed Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo has collaborated with Tea Party from within the minority Sunni population the other nationalities and ethnic and religious Republicans while slashing budgets, attacking unions, and trying to block increases which has suffered heavy discrimination and groups in Iraq have nothing to gain from any in the minimum wage from being carried out in cities throughout the “Empire State.” victimization under the initially U.S. imposed, of the propagators of sectarian conflict, from The Working Families Party, a group that cross-endorses Democrats through New Shia-led government of Nouri al-Maliki. whichever quarter. Iraqi Sunnis have previ- York's "fusion voting" system, was debating whether or not to run a progressive union- Former Ba’athist security personnel from ously rejected the forerunners of ISIS and backed candidate against Cuomo. SocialistAlternative.org will be carrying an article Saddam Hussein’s ousted regime were among driven them out of their communities, and about this debate, its outcome, and what it means for independent left politics. J those who joined the offensive. Meanwhile, many are now appalled at the actions of ISIS. socialist alternative.org • July-August 2014 11 www.SocialistAlternative.org Price $2

Socialist AlternIssue #5 a- July-Augusttive 2014 How Can We Stop Climate Change?

way we can stop the devastation, maybe we should reconsider whether we should have an economic system centered on profits in the first place. Build a Movement - Demand Green Jobs Instead of fighting for regulations that hopefully bring about the right behavior, socialists call for nationalizing the oil, gas, and coal companies, bringing them under control of democratically accountable repre- sentatives of workers and the public to elimi- nate the thirst for profit and to better regulate emissions. This would allow workers to use the resources to immediately invest in renewable energy projects, creating millions of jobs and putting our future on a sustainable path. However, as the report indicates, both mitigation of - and adaptation to - climate change will require massive investment in renewable energy and infrastructure changes By Toya Chester, Boston In the Northwest, warmer winters means whereas, for white Americans it is one in every that can withstand the sea level rise, storms, and Jess Spear, Seattle mountain snow caps will melt, with terrible 1,000. flooding, and heat waves that are expected. consequences for water supply, hydroelectric But almost everyone acknowledges that History shows us that radical change is “Human-induced climate change means more energy production, and fish populations (so Obama’s new regulation is just a pebble only possible when tens of thousands of ordi- than just hotter weather.” much for the salmon). thrown in front of the fossil fuel giants, drunk nary people unite in movements demanding Third National Climate Assessment Air quality has dropped with the coal and off their profits and stumbling toward climate their rights. Witness the recent grassroots nuclear power industries taking over the Mid- catastrophe. What we need instead are mas- movement, 15 Now, that won the highest We have all heard the horror stories of west. And though the corn-growing season sive boulders and mountains preventing these minimum wage in the country in one year. To global climate change and how it will affect has been lengthened, extreme weather events giant corporations from driving society into the build a powerful movement, environmental- the world. Scientists speak of countries like like droughts, floods, and heat waves are off- abyss. ists and labor must unite forces to demand Bangladesh being under water in the next setting any gains made in crop yields. Obama speaks of homes going solar and democratic control of energy resources and hundred years, but what can we expect here people driving their cars further on a gallon investment in green jobs. in the U.S.? A Pebble in the Path of Giants of gas. This does nothing but shift the blame The root cause of climate change – the In May, the White House released its third of CO2 emissions from corporations to capitalist system centered on maximizing National Climate Assessment: a report by Acknowledging the disturbing findings of consumers. profits at the expense of human lives and the multiple government agencies that is the prod- the assessment, President Obama promised However, the factories are the ones that environment – is a barrier to a safe, sustain- uct of years of work by over two hundred cli- to make efforts to address the issue of cli- release record-high amounts of carbon into able future and to economic security for mil- mate scientists. For the first time, the National mate change. “Those who are already feeling the air – which, coincidentally, go along with lions of people. Climate Assessment looked at each region of the effects of climate change don’t have time their record high profits. A recent report We will only be free of both economic and the U.S., describing the current effects from to deny it - they’re busy dealing with it,” said showed that just 90 companies are respon- environmental crises if we toss the capital- global warming and what we can reasonably the president last year. He has continued the sible for 2/3 of all emissions! (The Guardian, ist system and build a democratic socialist expect over the next century. trend of presidents making commitments, 11/30/2013). society in its place. The only way to guaran- If you live in the Northeast, there will be promises, and attempts to try to tackle global Obama and other Democrats call for tee a habitable planet, where every human coastal flooding that will affect the majority of climate change and regulate CO2. Yet this “market solutions” to deal with global warm- is guaranteed a high standard of living and a inhabitants, as well as heat waves that will dis- same president brags about the largest expan- ing. They advocate a “cap and trade” system clean environment, is to struggle for a social- proportionately affect urban residents, espe- sion of oil drilling in a generation. or carbon taxes, which attempt to incentivize ist world. cially the poor. In a video made by the White House to private, profit-driven corporations to reduce The immediate challenge is to mobilize In the Southeast, sea-level rise, increased address childhood asthma, Obama praises emissions and invest in renewable energy. hundreds of thousands of people for a mas- risk from extreme hurricanes, and decreased his new plan to cut emissions from coal power But because the Democrats do not challenge sive protest in New York City on Sunday, Sep- availability of freshwater are expected to over- plants – a step in the right direction for both the capitalist system and corporations’ right tember 21 and Monday, September 22 called whelm the population. the environment and racial justice as, accord- to profit, their market “solutions” have barely by Bill McKibben, 350.org, and many other In the Southwest, we can expect record ing to the Centers for Disease Control, one reduced CO2 emissions. organizations to demand real action from numbers of droughts and wildfires. in every 100 black Americans has asthma If affecting corporate profits is the only world leaders at the UN climate summit. J The Largest Environmental Justice March in World History! September 21 in New York City. Email [email protected] to meet us there. Read More at SocialistAlternative.Org.