International Women’s Day SOCIALIST Fight for Parental Leave and Kshama Sawant Column p. 5

ALTERNATIVEIssue #21 - March 2016 Suggested Donation: $2

We Need a Party of the 99% What’s a Feminist to Do? Building a page 5 #Movement4Bernie page 6 Clinton Attacks Single Payer #Movement4Bernie page 6 Why Black People Should Builds on Momentum Not Support Hillary Sanders and the Left page 3 page 6 page 8 WHAT WE STAND FOR WHY I AM A SOCIALIST

Fighting for the 99% JJImmediate, unconditional legalization and JJNo budget cuts to education and social equal rights for all undocumented immigrants. services! Full funding for all community needs. JJBuild a mass movement against police Theresa Powers A major increase in taxes on the rich and big brutality and the institutional racism of the business, not working people. The federal criminal justice system. Invest in rehabilitation, Chicago, IL government should bail out states to prevent job training, and living-wage jobs, not prisons! cuts and layoffs. Abolish the death penalty. Black Lives Matter. JJCreate living-wage union jobs for all the JJFight sexual harassment, violence against unemployed through public works programs women, and all forms of sexism. to develop mass transit, renewable energy, JJDefend a woman’s right to choose whether infrastructure, health care, education, and and when to have children. For a publicly affordable housing. funded, single-payer health care system with JJRaise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, free reproductive services, including all forms I used to live in a small, predominantly adjusted annually for cost of living increases, of birth control and safe, accessible abortions. white, liberal-arts-college bubble. I spent as a step toward a living wage for all. Comprehensive sex education. Paid maternity $100K to learn about all of the social prob- JJFree, high quality public education for all from and paternity leave. Fully subsidized, high- lems in the world, with slim concrete solu- quality child care. tions offered except for “go into politics and pre-school through college. Cancel student working. The more I thought about the cycles JJEqual rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and work within the system.” My free time con- debt. Full funding for schools to dramatically of poverty and homelessness, the more I transgender people, including same-sex sisted of delivering sandwiches to folks who lower teacher-student ratios. Stop the focus connected those to the failures of capitalism. marriage. slept outside on the street because that was on high stakes testing and the drive to Regardless of the paradigm that’s hammered the best I knew to do. When I graduated and privatize public education. into our heads, there’s no such thing as pull- Money for Jobs and Education, moved to Chicago from Massachusetts, my JJFree, high quality health care for all. Replace ing ourselves up by our bootstraps. And char- Not War whole world changed. the failed for-profit insurance companies with ities are just band-aids meant to perpetuate JJEnd the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Embarking on a year of service at a home- a publicly funded single-payer system as a the broken system we live in: they rely on the Bring all the troops home now! less shelter, I quickly learned that many of step toward fully socialized medicine. very class that creates many of the problems the problems the nonprofit world is trying so JJA guaranteed decent pension for all. No cuts JJSlash the military budget. No drones. Shut they claim to try and solve. hard to fix clearly stem from a broken system. to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid! down Guantanamo. I am a socialist because I know that, Homelessness and poverty would have no JJRepeal the Patriot Act, the NDAA, and all when we come together and fight, we can JJStop home foreclosures and evictions. For reason to exist if everyone was granted other attacks on democratic rights. win. Socialism offers clear solutions to the public ownership and democratic control of the basic human rights of housing, a living overwhelming amount of problems our world the major banks. wage, health care, etc. When people work Break with the Two Parties currently faces. I’m fighting for equality for JJA minimum guaranteed weekly income of full-time and cannot pay their rent, are not of Big Business all humans, an end to poverty and homeless- $600/week for the unemployed, disabled, receiving adequate mental health services, J ness, and a world that serves the interests of stay-at-home parents, the elderly, and others JFor a mass workers’ party drawing together or are forced out of a home due to domes- the majority, not just a select few. J unable to work. workers, young people, and activists from tic violence, it’s obvious that something isn’t JJRepeal all anti-union laws like Taft-Hartley. For workplace, environmental, civil rights, and democratic unions run by the rank-and-file to women’s campaigns to provide a fighting, fight for better pay, working conditions, and political alternative to the corporate parties. social services. Full-time union officials should JJUnions and social movement organizations Appearing on SocialistAlternative.org be regularly elected and receive the average should stop funding and supporting the wage of those they represent. Democratic and Republican Parties and in March JJNo more layoffs! Take bankrupt and failing instead organize independent left-wing, anti- companies into public ownership and retool corporate candidates and coalitions as a first them for socially necessary green production. step toward building a workers’ party. Supreme Court JJShorten the workweek with no loss in pay Socialism and Internationalism and benefits; share out the work with the JJCapitalism produces poverty, inequality, Battle Heats Up unemployed and create new jobs. environmental destruction, and war. We need After Justice Scalia’s sudden death, the battle Environmental Sustainability an international struggle against this system. to replace him rages between the Republican- J JJFight climate change. Organize mass protests JRepeal corporate “free trade” agreements, controlled Senate and President Obama. This and civil disobedience to block the Keystone which mean job losses and a race to the fight will likely become a focal point for debate XL oil pipeline, coal export terminals, and bottom for workers and the environment. about the country’s political direction. Indeed, there are significant implications for cases fracking. Massive public investment in JJSolidarity with the struggles of workers and affecting women’s rights, labor rights, and environmental protections. This raises the renewable energy and efficiency technologies oppressed peoples internationally: An injury question of how meaningful change to improve the lives of working people is achieved. to rapidly replace fossil fuels. to one is an injury to all. JJA major expansion of public transportation JJTake into public ownership the top 500 The Further Rise of Donald Trump: A Socialist View to provide low-fare, high-speed, accessible corporations and banks that dominate The prospect of Trump winning the Republican transit. the U.S. economy. Run them under the nomination is of deep concern to that party’s estab- JJPublic ownership of the big energy companies. democratic management of elected lishment. But it is also, for very different reasons, All workers in polluting industries should be representatives of the workers and the a major issue for progressive workers and young guaranteed retraining and new living-wage broader public. Compensation to be paid on people, who are rightly repelled by his noxious jobs in socially useful green production. the basis of proven need to small investors, racism and xenophobia. Many say he is a fascist: not millionaires. is that a correct description? How do we fight back Equal Rights for All JJA democratic socialist plan for the economy against the growing threat from the right? JJFight discrimination based on race, nationality, based on the interests of the overwhelming gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, majority of people and the environment. For a socialist United States and a socialist Bernie’s Socialism and Ours age, and all other forms of prejudice. Equal Bernie Sanders has popularized the idea of democratic socialism to an audience of world. J pay for equal work. millions. His program for a $15 minimum wage, free higher education, and single-payer health care speaks to the interests of working-class people. But his vision of socialism Socialist Alternative Editor Tom Crean • Editorial Board Ty Moore, Calvin Priest, Tony Wilsdon, Jess Spear, is of a reformed and regulated capitalism. We, on the other hand, believe the lives of Joshua Koritz, George Brown ordinary people here and around the world cannot be decisively changed for the better • [email protected] until the capitalist social order is overturned. Now is the time for a wider discussion of • PO Box 150457, Brooklyn, NY 11215 how we achieve real socialist change. J

2 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 CAPITALISM Seattle Workers and Youth Push Back Puerto Rico – A Spiraling Crisis of Debt, Capitalism Creates Austerity, and Colonialism Homelessness

Rebekah Liebermann

While Seattle’s economy booms and corporations like Amazon make super-profits, an acute shortage of affordable housing is forcing more and more people into homelessness. The 2016 One Night Count found 2,942 people sleeping Teddy Shibabaw unemployment is at 12.5%, with unsheltered across Seattle, with poverty at 41% overall and 56% for another 1,500 living on the A homeless encampment in Seattle’s University District. A U.S. colony in all but name, children. The multinational corpora- streets or in their cars in nearby Puerto Rico faces a debt crisis tions that treated Puerto Rico like a million additional funding for emergency resources for the which is the byproduct of over a playground are relatively unscathed. suburbs. This is a 40% increase additional shelter beds and basic emergency we have right now. from just two years before. century of subjection by U.S. impe- There is growing anger and services called for by homeless While establishment politicians rialism combined with the wreckage despair among the Puerto Rican However, Seattle’s situation advocates. argue over the “devil in the is not unique. New York City is caused by contemporary casino cap- people, with some protests and The failure to act on this details,” as one councilmember italism. Widely compared to Greece, strikes by students and workers. experiencing the highest level of urgent issue reflects an ideology put it, the fact is that there is homelessness since the Great Puerto Rico is facing unending cuts However, there have not been mass pushed by the corporate estab- no shortage of good ideas for to social services, mass unemploy- strikes and political resistance on Depression, with nearly 110,000 lishment that homelessness addressing homelessness. What people – including 42,000 chil- ment, and a privatization bonanza the scale of Greece, which had over is just unsolvable and should is lacking is a commitment from carried out under duress. $70 bil- 30 general strikes against austerity. dren – sleeping in the city’s not be prioritized for funding. the city establishment to priori- homeless shelters at some point lion of unpayable debt has accumu- Part of the reason is that over It ignores the root of the crisis tize these essential programs. lated – owed to Wall Street inves- 300,000 people – nearly one- during 2015. In San Francisco, and, all too often, it attempts Funding housing and human homeless people were cleared tors, retirement funds, banks, and tenth of the island’s population to blame the victims. In reality, services at the scale the prob- individuals. – have fled to the mainland in the out for the Super Bowl, leading homelessness cannot be sepa- lem requires means decisive to protests. Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. last decade. Historically, emigra- rated from the crisis of inequal- action. Washington State has territory without statehood or inde- tion – made easier because Puerto Meanwhile in Seattle, police ity facing the city. There is no the most regressive tax system are being sent to systemati- pendence means it can neither seek Ricans are U.S. citizens – has cre- doubt that we need to massively in the entire country, with the relief from international lending ated an escape valve. Who can cally sweep homeless people increase funding for additional tax burden falling overwhelm- off public land, dismantling institutions nor seek bankruptcy pro- blame them? The jobs have disap- shelter space, human services, ingly on ordinary working people. tection. There are severe restrictions peared and what remains is largely tents, confiscating personaland safe encampments as an How can we address the root belongings, and pushing people on who the island can trade with, temporary, part-time, and low-wage. emergency option. At the same causes of homelessness when as well as limited taxing authority Yet Puerto Rico’s creditors demand from one precarious location to time, we cannot neglect the dire we do not have the tax revenue another. – denying it income from its role more austerity for the poor and none need for affordable housing, rent to fund basic human services? as an important shipping terminal for themselves. The homelessness crisis is the control, and living-wage jobs so To build the tens of thousands most glaring effect of the massive and making consumer products very The “solution” that some legisla- that people are not forced out of of city-owned, quality, affordable expensive. To make matters worse, tors in the U.S. Congress are propos- wealth inequality that has been their homes. housing units needed, we must undoing Seattle’s neighborhoods the U.S. government is stalling on ing, S. 2381, is to create a Financial In a study by the Journal of demand that big developers pay; providing a lifeline in this crisis, Control Authority that will eliminate for decades. Rents skyrocket Urban Affairs, researchers found we will need to tax the rich and while social service programs are lecturing Puerto Rican leaders all democratic pretenses and “uni- that around the country, an big business. about their profligate spending even laterally restructure the workforce chronically starved for resources. increase of $100 in median rent As long as capitalism exists, The political establishment has though the crisis is largely a creation of the Commonwealth government,” corresponds to a 15% increase vast inequality is inevitable. of U.S. colonial policy. freeze public pensions, and ensure responded to this crisis by essen- in the homeless population. If Whole communities will continue tially declaring homelessness as The U.S. Congress made the “the payment of debt obligations” we are to end homelessness in to be displaced, and people will island a tax haven for multinational (LatinoRebels.com, 2/4/16). unsolvable – yet, over and over Seattle, then we will need to continue to be pushed onto the again, they have refused to allo- corporations in 1976. Having denied We join with workers and youth in address the fact that the major- streets. It will require fundamen- Puerto Rico those taxes for decades, Puerto Rico demanding a cancella- cate resources matching the ity of our residents are “rent bur- tal socialist change – ending cor- scale of the problem. U.S. corporations abruptly left the tion of the debt and a reinvestment dened” and spending well over porate domination and putting island in 1996, when the tax exemp- to create jobs and fund services Last November, the mayor of the 30% of income on housing people’s needs first – to eradi- Seattle formally declared a state tion ended due to U.S. legislative for Puerto Rican workers and poor. that is considered affordable. cate the roots of homelessness. horse-trading – ensuring another No new bailouts for the banks and of emergency over homeless- Nationally, it’s been found that On February 27, Kshama ness. Yet, that same month, he dramatic loss in tax receipts. vulture fund bondholders. Let the a person living on the federal Sawant will host a People’s Politicians have implemented Puerto Rican people decide their and seven Democratic members minimum wage would not able to Assembly at City Hall, where of the City Council – all but Social- severe austerity so that debt service own fate.US workers should stand afford a one-bedroom apartment we will fight for an end to the payments to Wall Street bondholders in solidarity with their Puerto Rican ist Alternative member Kshama in any city across the U.S. sweeps, $10 million in emer- Sawant and one other council- and others can be continued. They brothers and sisters as they demand As a first and immediate step, gency funding, and an end to laid off over 30,000 public sector a reversal of all the austerity, priva- member – shot down a proposal we need to fully fund homeless homelessness. J to support the bare-bones $10 workers in 2009 and raised the tization and anti-democratic mea- services by utilizing the city’s sales tax from 7.5 to 11%. Official sures. J

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 3 POLITICS Rebuffing Clinton’s Attacks on Single-Payer Health Care

Sarah White, Nurse Practitioner Also, no out-of-pocket expenses, no unex- pected health care bills, and no curbs on Single-payer health care, according to pres- access to essential treatments. No wonder idential candidate Hillary Clinton “will never, Sanders is tapping into a broad swath of ever come to pass.” With that sort of wet blan- support though his determination to fight for ket approach during campaign season, it’s single payer. no wonder Sanders’ support has surged. But it’s what we’ve come to expect from Clinton; How to Win Medicare for All whether it’s a $15 an hour minimum wage or free college tuition, we’re told bold measures Clinton’s final answer has been that Sand- to improve working people’s lives just aren’t ers won’t be able to get anything done because feasible. Republicans control Congress. Based on that With rising premiums and out-of-pocket argument, nothing would ever change. Yet is costs, voters in both major parties want to has, repeatedly. That’s because changes that know what candidates plan to do to reduce benefit the 99% don’t come from establish- health care costs (Reuters, 12/21/2015). But ment politicians. From the eight-hour day to despite the establishment economists derid- Social Security, from the gains of the Civil ing Sanders’ plan as “puppies and rainbows,” Rights Movement to ending the Vietnam War multiple studies have shown single-payer – and, most recently, winning marriage equal- health care – also called expanded Medicare, ity – these victories came as a result of public or Medicare for All – is the only strategy to anger and powerful social movements that curb growth in health care costs while improv- changed the political landscape and forced ing patient outcomes. politicians of all stripes to respond or be Unsurprisingly, Bernie Sanders’ call for sin- Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP) summit. replaced. gle-payer health care has come under fierce If working people organize to demand sin- attack from the Clinton campaign. Yet Clinton we’d save $430 billion on useless paperwork are underinsured, meaning they can’t afford gle-payer health care, then we can win it – leads all presidential candidates – both Demo- and insurance companies’ outrageous prof- to go to the doctor or fill their prescriptions along with many of Sanders’ other demands. crat and Republican – in money received from its, more than enough to cover the 31 mil- (CommonWealthFund.org, 5/20/15). Over That’s what Sanders means when he says we drug companies, so her opposition to single- lion Americans who remain uninsured, and half of people with medical debt actually have need a political revolution. He’s opening up a payer is unsurprising (CNN, 2/11/2016). From to eliminate co-payments and deductibles for health insurance. Obamacare has insured discussion about what working people really her time as a U.S. Senator from New York up everyone” (Accuracy.org, 20/12/2016). more people, but it continues to subordinate need, not what they should settle for based to her current bid for president, Clinton has The Clinton campaign has shown no shame patients’ needs to profit. By shifting more of on “what’s feasible.” It’s this discussion that’s received roughly $13.2 million from sources in its attacks on Sanders’ health care plan, the costs of care onto people, health care behind his momentum, and it’s what scares in the health sector, according to data com- relying on half-truths, saying Sanders would is prohibitively expensive for many and has the hell out of the political establishment. piled by the nonpartisan Center for Respon- eliminate Medicaid, Medicare, and the Veter- allowed the health insurance industry to pull The Sanders campaign has brought the sive Politics (International Business Times, ans’ Administration as well as the Children’s in tremendous profits PNHP.org( , 9/16/15). issue of a single-payer back onto the political 1/13/2016). She talks tough about characters Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). On the con- A single-payer system would eliminate all agenda. He’s also given voice to the anger of like “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli – the former trary, under Sanders’ plan these programs the various insurance companies, resulting in the 99% at Wall Street, and that’s why Social- hedge fund manager who jacked up the price would not only be preserved but consolidated an expanded Medicare system, which would ist Alternative calls for a tax on the super-rich of a life-saving medicine by 5,000% – but into one single-payer program, yielding mil- be the single payer. The savings afforded to and corporations to provide high-quality health based on their campaign donations, pharma- lions of dollars in efficiencies. the U.S. economy from this process would care for everyone. We support single-payer ceutical companies don’t see her as a threat As working-class people gain more experi- allow for those people employed by insurance health care as a first step toward fully social- to their profits. ence with Obamacare, seeing costs they didn’t giants to be rehired in other areas. ized medicine, including public ownership of expect, many have been fired up about Sand- Most importantly, it would guarantee the pharmaceutical industry. Until profit is ers’ call for a more efficient system that is everyone health care. No qualification exams, banished from health care, patients will con- Single-Payer /Medicare for All high quality and accessible to all. They don’t no limitations – nothing. Everyone is covered. tinue battling corporations to stay healthy. J Clinton has made wildly exaggerated claims believe Clinton’s argument that the massive about the cost of a single-payer system. But donations she has received from big pharma drastically reducing administrative costs by and the health insurance industry make no dif- closing insurance companies and eliminating ference to policy. They are inspired by Sand- their profit is one of the strategies to fund the ers’ refusal to accept corporate donations. It system. is the ability of Sanders to address the real As Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, professor in issues that working people face – especially public health at City University of New York young people who see no chance of affording and co-founder of Physicians for a National health care, nor paying off student debts or Health Program, recently stated, “It’s indisput- gaining a living-wage job – that is driving sup- able that single-payer systems in other coun- port for his “political revolution.” tries cover everyone for virtually everything, and at a much lower cost than our health care The Realities of Obamacare system. Experience in countries with single- payer systems, such as Canada, Scotland, and While Obamacare did increase the number Taiwan, proves that we can have more, better of people with health insurance, a welcome and cheaper care” (Accuracy.org, 2/12/2016). gain for many, it left the for-profit health care She stated, “If the U.S. moved to a sin- system intact. And, still, 29 million remain gle-payer system as efficient as Canada’s, without any coverage at all, and 31 million CNN Money, 9/22/2015

4 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Kshama Sawant Column @cmKshama Fighting for the Change We Need facebook.com Bernie Versus Hillary: /cmkshama Parental Leave: What’s a Feminist to Do? America’s Only Elected Kshama Sawant, Female Socialist on Women Seattle City A Human Right and the Presidential Race Councilmember Emily McArthur Throughout the Democratic Primary, Hill- attacks. As recently ary Clinton and her supporters have sought as September last Paid parental leave to portray her ascendance to the presidency year, Clinton made has been part of as the next logical step toward gender equal- overtures to anti- the debate for work- ity in America. And, as recently as last fall, choice Republicans, ing women since the her nomination as the first female Democratic saying, “if there’s a way to structure some 1960s, and most nominee seemed all but assured. kind of constitutional restriction [on abortion] countries across the Yet instead of the expected coronation, that takes into account the life of the mother world have passed Hillary Clinton has had a real fight on her and her health, then I’m open to that.” some form of leave hands from the self-proclaimed socialist from Her support for NAFTA and later TPP for families with new Vermont, and that turn of events has perhaps – which of course she’s done an election- babies. been most clearly reflected in young women’s campaign backflip on – again underlines her In the United enthusiastic support for Sanders. willingness to sell out working people – and States, the wealthi- The Democratic Party establishment has particularly working women, who have been est country in the his- been utterly dumbfounded at young women deeply affected by corporate trade deals. tory of the world, we rejecting Hillary – 84% in New Hampshire – Sanders, in contrast, has been a consistent People pack a Seattle City Council meeting in support of parental leave. still don’t have even and has made various ham-fisted efforts to advocate of reproductive rights and a lead- a minimal 12 weeks even conservative news outlets like Bloom- turn back the tide. ing opponent of Clinton’s welfare “reform,” mandated leave for new parents. This glar- berg and Forbes declare that paid parental Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Demo- NAFTA, and TPP. ing exception has become a major talking leave is a logical, efficient way to approach cratic National Committee chair, helped kick If the question is one of policy and not of point in the presidential election cycle. a predictable life event for working people, things off by suggesting that young women identity, can there be any doubt that Bernie why do politicians keep telling us the time were “complacent” about women’s rights in Sanders is the real feminist in this race? “Not Feasible” isn’t right? not supporting Hillary, leading to a backlash on social media. Which Side Are You On? Hillary Clinton claims she wants it, Profit Versus Need The firestorm hit in February with Gloria but – like so many things we need – she Steinem and Madeleine Albright’s widely dis- Perhaps young women have been most says it isn’t politically feasible. Time and Capitalism aims to pit workers against cussed comments. Steinem’s remarks about offended by the implicit assumption that time again, the vital programs that working one another, rather than arranging the young women supporting Bernie because they should set aside their own political views people – and especially working women – economy in a way that is functional. Time “that’s where the boys are” particularly hit a – and, along with them, the interests of the need, like universal healthcare a $15 an off has been demonized in the highly com- nerve, as young women who had long looked vast majority of women – in an act of “soli- hour minimum wage and free higher edu- petitive corporate world because it does up to Steinem were stunned to hear what darity” with ruling-class women like Hillary. cation, are pushed off as politically unfea- not reflect a deep enough commitment sounded more than a little like a demeaning Instead, they are demanding someone sible. Despite studies showing how less to the company’s profit margin, so work- sexist put-down. who will fight for their rights. They are cor- access to education, health care, and time ers who take this time are judged poorly on rectly angry at the corporate domination of off contribute to keeping women as second their performance reviews and less likely to Feminism and Identity politics, at inequality, and at the failure of the class citizens, we are told we should wait become eligible for raises and promotions. Democratic Party establishment – not least or accept far less – except that’s not how Women are encouraged to “lean in” to Why are establishment feminist icons on of all the Clinton Administration – to even progress has ever been won! their careers – or, in the case of tech giant the defensive with young women? effectively defend women’s past gains. Bernie Sanders has tirelessly brought Google – offered egg-freezing services for At the heart of the matter is the deep Under such “leadership,” women have many of these issues to the forefront, point- some hopeful future date when they might divide between the substance of women’s had to keep fighting the same battles that ing out the shameful lack of paid parental be offered time off. By forcing parents who rights and the identity question of gender in their mothers and grandmothers did – and leave in the U.S. at every televised debate. crave bonding time with their newborns this race. And the insoluble problem facing losing ground. He points to the many international exam- to either leave their jobs or take extensive Clinton defenders is the undeniable fact that Bernie’s campaign is the opposite: it has ples and rejects the notion that the things unpaid time off, bosses are able to justify Sanders’ platform and record are far more served as a lightning rod against the domina- we need can’t happen because they aren’t paying some workers – typically women – pro-woman. tion of the establishment’s anti-worker and popular with Wall Street. less. By not having paid parental leave, When you look at Sanders’ commitment anti-woman politics over our lives and our His website features a petition for paid many new parents are put into financial to women’s issues – from the Paycheck Fair- bodies. parental leave. Many mass movements straits by the exorbitant cost of child care. ness Act to the Equal Rights Amendment, As oppressed people, we face the ques- start with petitions – though, of course, To win what working women truly need from the $15 minimum wage to single-payer tion of how and with whom to build the clicktivism is not enough. – including universal health care, free col- health care or a dozen other issues – ordinary solidarity necessary to win. The solidarity we In Seattle, socialist Councilmember lege education, parental leave, and defend- women stand to gain greatly from what Bernie need is with the 99% against the 1%, not Kshama Sawant has put forward various ing and extending reproductive rights – we is campaigning for. with ruling-class women against the rest of paid parental leave initiatives with mass have to build a mass movement. Unions Hillary’s own political history reveals the us. public support. During a recent budget who represent millions of working women hollowness of her expressed oneness with It is our task to build that solidarity - to hearing, union members and activists can play a critical role in building this ordinary women. She helped champion Bill fight for the needs of working women and packed the room demanding that Seattle movement. Clinton’s gutting of welfare funding in the men, of black people, of immigrants, of labor, lead the way on parental leave by setting By building a mass movement with 1990s, which plunged hundreds of thousands of the LGBTQ community - of all the 99%. a major precedent with progressive legisla- clear demands, we can leave behind spine- of women – particularly black women – into a That means building a #Movement4Bernie tion. Disgracefully, this was defeated with less corporate politicians who don’t stand deadly spiral of intergenerational poverty. now, and, most importantly, using this cam- the assistance of wealthy, self-identified up for the things we need. We can push for Clinton’s position on abortion has long paign to build a new independent force that feminists on the City Council who voted independent working-class candidates who been that it ought to be “safe, legal, and can continue the fight after the presidential down the proposals because they weren’t challenge the status quo and fight for a rare.” Safe and legal, yes, but her addition election. “politically feasible” (The Seattle Times, world where decisions are based on human of “rare” is a frightening backtracking on the Solidarity, socialism, and feminism are all 11/23/2015). need not corporate greed – a socialist hard-fought battle for reproductive rights and interconnected and inseparable. Let’s fight If legislation is massively popular and world! J only serves as bait to encourage right-wing for them – together. J

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 5 Defeat the Corporate Establishment! Sanders’ Campaign Faces Key Test Editorial Statement As we go to press, the Democratic presi- hostile terrain for a radical candidate. The dential primaries are heading into a key phase electorate tends to be older and more con- with Super Tuesday primaries. In a number servative than in a general election. Mas- of these states, Clinton has the advantage sive resources are deployed by the corporate and Sanders will be confronted with the media. The DNC has used and will use all power of the economic, political, and media sorts of undemocratic maneuvers. For Sand- establishment. ers to win will require a massive political After his five-point loss in Nevada, the upheaval – and, indeed, this electoral season corporate media was predictably already writ- has seen an unprecedented challenge to ing Bernie Sanders’ obituary when, in fact, the establishment of both corporate parties. he had won more actual votes in the first We cannot exclude further twists, especially three caucuses and primaries than Hillary. In given Clinton’s serious weaknesses as a can- the course of February, several national polls didate. But we must also prepare for the real showed Sanders ahead of Clinton for the first possibility that Clinton will establish a com- time. This is an astonishing development manding lead in the delegate count in the considering he was 40 points behind in most weeks ahead. polls as recently as July. The establishment of the Democratic Build A New Party! Party are, indeed, very anxious to be done with Sanders’ challenge, which has posed an Sanders has said that he will run all the increasingly sharp threat to their interests. way to the convention no matter what. But the Sanders’ campaign is raising the expecta- question must be posed clearly: what does he tions of working and especially young people. intend to do at the end of the process? If he As Socialist Alternative has pointed out, doesn’t win, he has said he would back the Sanders’ call for a “political revolution” Democratic nominee. Backing Hillary would Why Black People Shouldn’t Support Hillary against the billionaire class has tapped into be to mislead millions of radicalized workers the enormous anger of young people and and youth back into the trap of the Demo- workers against massive social inequality cratic Party and to demoralize large numbers and a rigged political system. His demands of them. The real face of the Democratic Party are for a $15 minimum wage, for single-payer Darletta Scruggs, Chicago and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 devastated politicians like Obama’s former Chief of Staff health care, for free college education and black communities by providing for 100,000 Rahm Emanuel who, with Hillary’s continued to end mass incarceration speak directly to new police officers and $9.7 billion in funding support, has covered up cop killings in Chi- For anyone who has been following Hillary the needs of working people. Perhaps most for prisons. cago while attacking public education and Clinton’s presidential campaign, you may have importantly, Sanders’ campaign has popu- This was the ramping up of mass incarcera- the teachers’ union (see p. 10). While not all caught wind of her newly found progressive larized the idea of democratic socialism for tion, which has more black people in prison Democratic elected officials are the same, the ideas, pro-LGBTQ stances, and vague critique millions. today than were enslaved in 1850! Not only party fundamentally exists to serve the inter- of Wall Street – which is funding her campaign. Sanders’ challenge has shone a spotlight did we see generations of black youth being ests of the corporate elite, and that is why Hillary, like any experienced politician, has on the corporate establishment, of which funneled into the prison system but also the big business has invested heavily in Hillary’s transformed into a political chameleon, every Hillary is a consummate representative. Her attack on welfare reforms, slashing funding campaign. day becoming more and more like her oppo- record of serving the interests of Walmart to crucial social services and crippling single- We understand that, out of fear of Rubio nent, Bernie Sanders, at least in words. Hill- and Goldman Sachs is the real story, not the mother-led households that were being created or Trump, millions might vote for the “lesser ary has been faced with a huge challenge that shape-shifting attempts to present herself as due to the masses of black men being incar- evil” in November if Sanders loses the prima- she and the DNC are trying to get in front of: a “progressive who gets things done.” Hill- cerated. We also must not forget the “three ries. But there exists a huge opportunity right the hundreds of thousands of people, particu- ary’s record shows that she is certainly not a strikes” rule that Hillary adamantly supported now to overcome the endless bad choices of larly the youth, being energized by Bernie’s call consistent defender of women’s rights or the against repeat offenders, saying in August: American politics and, by organizing indepen- for a political revolution against the billionaire interests of black people. This is the inevita- “We need more police, we need more and dently of the Democrats, offer a real, demo- class! Hillary has now turned her chameleonic ble result of being a defender of the system, tougher prison sentences for repeat offend- cratic socialist alternative on a mass scale. tendencies in the direction of firming up black which is the source of institutional racism ers. The three strikes and you’re out for violent We say, regardless of who wins the primaries, support. and sexism. offenders has to be part of the plan. We need Sanders should keep running all the way to more prisons to keep violent offenders for as November. Hillary’s Record Obstacles Ahead long as it takes it takes to keep them off the When #Movement4Bernie, launched by Like many politicians, Hillary is relying on streets” (Salon.com, 4/13/2015). Nevertheless, despite the enormous socialist Seattle Councilmember Kshama the corporate-media-driven historical amnesia In the words of Michelle Alexander, in a enthusiasm Sanders’ campaign has created, Sawant, has raised the call for a “new party of and misinformation to win black voters over, recent article written in The Nation titled “Why we cannot blind ourselves to the serious the 99%” at March for Bernie rallies around but anyone familiar with the true history of the Hillary Clinton Doesn’t Deserve The Black obstacles ahead. Clearly, Sanders has so far the country, we have received overwhelming Clinton dynasty – which has molded and sup- Vote,” Clinton “has mastered the art of send- failed to win the type of support in the black support. All those who see the necessity of ported candidates like Chicago’s Mayor Rahm ing mixed cultural messages,” (2/10/2016). working class that he has among white work- moving in this direction must keep working Emanuel – knows very well why Clinton doesn’t For years, Bill and Hillary publicly called out ers and youth. On the other hand, it is signifi- to build movements on the streets, and build deserve the black vote or any working-class “violent offenders,” which is often coded lan- cant that it appears he won the majority of independently of corporate cash and of the vote. During the first Clinton presidency, the guage since the actual policies carried out Latino votes in Nevada. Democratic Party. J War on Drugs and the Violent Crime Control contradict that. The United States leads the The Democratic primaries are clearly a

6 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 Defeat the Corporate Establishment! Sanders’ Campaign Faces Key Test Growing Revolt in Labor #Movement4Bernie Movement Is on the March! Bryan Watson “Bernie Sanders’ campaign In a coup for the Bernie Sanders campaign, the AFL-CIO, the has proven we can build a new largest federation of unions in the U.S., has decided to remain political party of the 99% that neutral during the primaries – at least for now. This surprising refuses corporate money and announcement reflects the growing political division within the fights for real issues like a $15 labor movement between large sections of the rank and file and an hour minimum wage, police the leadership of many unions on who to endorse. accountability, reproductive Bernie Sanders has won the endorsement of nearly 100 union rights for women, and an end to locals, the National Nurses Union – which has been barnstorming the mass deportations. We can across primary states to get out the vote for him – the American Photo Credit: Bob Simpson fight back and win!” Postal Workers Union, as well as the 500,000-member-strong - Darletta Scruggs speaking at Communications Workers of America (CWA). January 23 March for Bernie in Chicago Shamefully, despite Hillary Clinton’s record of supporting anti-union leg- islation like NAFTA and receiving millions in speaking fees and campaign contributions from the likes of Goldman Sachs, the executive boards of many Andy Moxley, Boston 99%. Recent Women for of the largest unions have endorsed Clinton. SEIU, ASCME, UFCW, IAM, and Bernie meetups in Boston both major teachers unions, the AFT and NEA – in all, representing nearly On January 23, thou- and New York City had ani- 10 million workers – are trudging the same worn path to the dead end of the sands of people in major mated discussions about Democratic Party establishment. In the case of SEIU and AFT, for example, cities across the U.S. hit how working-class feminism their endorsements of Clinton have been met with staunch resistance from the streets to support the provides a clear alternative Why Black People Shouldn’t Support Hillary some locals. political revolution in the to the corporate identity This situation exposes the crisis facing the labor movement. While unions first-ever national march politics of Hillary Clinton. overall continue to be pushed back with “right to work” legislation now passed to support a presidential The social earthquake in over 25 states, most of the leadership is afraid to separate itself from the candidate. Socialist Alter- that has driven the Sand- the Democratic Party establishment and get behind Sanders. This is despite native played a key role in ers campaigns continues world in the number of people incarcer- the failure of the Democrats to meaningfully do anything to support the unions organizing these marches to rumble on further into ated in federal and state correctional facili- when they last controlled Congress between 2008 and 2010, as well as the in Boston, Seattle, Chicago, the primaries, shaking the ties. There are currently more than 2 mil- willingness of the Democrats to support numerous attacks on union rights, and several others. In cities ground of the big-business- lion people in American prisons or jails. workers’ benefits, and social services for working people at state and local where the marches were backed Democratic Party. Approximately one-quarter of those people level. organized under the #Move- As we go to press, M4B held in U.S. prisons or jails have been con- Sanders’ campaign is the best opportunity in decades to galvanize working ment4Bernie (M4B) banner and Socialist Alternative victed of a drug offense. Another example people behind a pro-worker program. But this requires moving in the direction initiated by Socialist Alter- have been campaigning for of Clinton sending mixed cultural messages of political independence. The unions representing nearly two million union- native, marchers received a second round of Marches is her comment on gangs in 1994: “They ized workers standing with Sanders are the tip of the spear, pointing the way the message put forward of for Bernie ahead of Super are not just gangs of kids anymore. They forward for labor. a the need for a new party of Tuesday. Most of the events are often the kinds of kids that are called the 99% with enthusiasm. will be held on February 27. superpredators. No conscience, no empa- Additional Since those marches, On February 20, an SA-ini- thy. We can talk about why they ended up Reporting from the call for building an inde- tiated march in Cincinnati that way, but first we have to bring them to Seattle pendent grassroots move- saw over 750 in attendance, heel,” (Fair.org, 2/27/2016). Do black folks ment around Sanders has with similar results expected want a president who views black children On Sunday, February 21, continued to gain steam. across the country due to in gangs as “superpredators”? two hundred labor activ- Hundreds have attended the great echo our call has ists gathered in the Seattle meetings across the country been receiving on social We Need Real Candidates of Labor Temple for an inspir- discussing the need to build media. ing Labor for Bernie event an alternative to the corpo- The Democratic Party the 99% hosted by Seattle City Coun- rate politics of the Demo- establishment is repeat- Hillary’s pseudo-progressive speeches cilmember Kshama Sawant. cratic Party establishment. edly attacking the Sanders and public comments often contradict the Speakers included Larry A recent Seattle Labor for campaign. We cannot rely actual policies she supports. She often talks Cohen, former president of Bernie meeting, headlined on the apparatus of a party about helping address economic inequality the CWA, as well as Claude by socialist City Council- that wants to destroy its own and the enormous wage gap between the Burfect of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, among others. member Kshama Sawant, candidate; we have to con- wealthy and the poor, but when it came to Rank-and-file representatives of WFSE 1488 (a local affiliate of AFSCME) saw 200 labor activists tinue to build a grassroots the question of supporting a $15 minimum and AFT 1789 were there, both of whom went against their international pack into the city’s Labor movement independent wage, her response was, “I’m comfortable unions’ endorsements of Hillary Clinton in inspiring examples of how locals Temple in response to the from the big parties and, with $12.” For years she sat for years on the can resist the undemocratic endorsement process. call for unions to support ultimately, a new party of When Kshama Sawant concluded her comments, saying, “we need to use Bernie Sanders and a new, the 99%. Join the #Move- continued on p. 11 the momentum from this year to begin building a new political party of the independent party of the ment4Bernie today! J 99%,” the hall erupted into a standing ovation. J

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 7 POLITICS Sanders and the Left What Is the Role of Socialists?

Bryan Koulouris of the reactionaries in the Republican race, they have a political responsibility to politi- Bernie Sanders’ campaign has excited cally expose Hillary Clinton’s service to the millions and brought a discussion about interests of Walmart and Wall Street. Social- socialism into the mainstream of U.S. soci- ist Alternative will not support Hillary Clinton, ety. In addition to getting record donations and we think Bernie should run all the way to from working-class people, Sanders has November as an independent if he doesn’t unprecedented support among youth. This is get the Democratic nomination. an important indicator for the future of social Socialist Alternative stands for building movements and politics. Yet the contradic- the type of independent movement neces- tion remains that Sanders is running as a sary not only for Sanders to win but also Democratic Party candidate, a party that has for ongoing struggle against the billionaire been “the graveyard of social movements.” class. This necessary strategy includes politi- The organized left has reacted to this cal representation for working-class people historic yet complex situation in a variety of against the reactionary Republicans and the ways, which raises critical questions. How corporate-backed Democrats. In doing so, we do socialists relate to broader movements are also critical of Sanders, particularly on without falling into the trap of abandoning foreign policy (“Sanders’ Foreign Policy Falls their principles and politics, while work- Short: Socialism Means Internationalism,” ing in a nonsectarian fashion? What is the 1/28/2016). DSA is silent on this issue. Gen- role of socialists in relation to the Sanders uine socialism means united international campaign? struggle and political clarity on issues facing Some groups on the far left have done working-class people worldwide. nothing but denounce Sanders without real- Bernie Sanders walks a picket line. We hope that this article can provoke more izing the opportunities inherent in the situa- discussion as part of the ongoing debate in leaflets contain a lot of useful information Emanuel. This helped to bring together social tion, with millions of newly radicalizing young the organized left on the Sanders campaign. about positive aspects of Sanders’ record. movements in the struggle for economic people and workers. Socialist Alternative has The widely read Jacobin magazine edited by They reference the massive interest in social- equality and racial justice. SA speakers gotten involved in the Sanders campaign Baskhar Sunkara, for example, takes a posi- ist ideas and the need to build the campaign pointed out that it is the Democratic Party while pointing toward the corporate-con- tion not terribly different to the DSA. to win Bernie’s program. This is good, but that runs Chicago and is responsible for trolled nature of the Democratic Party, the DSA, unfortunately, largely echoes the their material provides little in terms of how overseeing a racist police force and attack- need for a politicized movement from below, current mood to support Sanders while fail- to fight against the billionaire-backed leader- ing public education. We argue we need a and a new party of the 99% to fight against ing in pushing the debate further about the ship of the Democratic Party or how to build mass movement against economic inequal- the right wing and Wall Street. nature of the Democratic Party and the need movements for social change. ity and institutional racism. This will require The Democratic Socialists of America for a wider political upheaval to defeat Clin- For instance, DSA’s material never states independent struggle from below, with clear (DSA) is the largest left group in the U.S. – ton. Socialist Alternative’s approach of get- what Sanders is up against in the Democratic demands, coordinated actions, and demo- albeit loosely organized – and they have also ting involved with the Sanders campaign primaries, from corporate cash to media cratic structures, along with building a new gotten involved in Bernie’s campaign. Yet to point the way forward to win by building bashing to superdelegates and DNC sabo- political party to represent working people important differences in strategy, method, independent social movements and calling tage. Meanwhile, they reference promising out of the Sanders campaign. and approach exist between Socialist Alter- for a new party will be proven correct by the poll numbers for Bernie and point to the sig- DSA’s material often highlights the fight native and DSA on how to relate to Sanders. coming tumultuous events and mass strug- nificance of his support. This gives the reader against racism and Bernie’s program to ben- gles in months and years to come. J the impression that the nomination can be efit communities of color, but there isn’t a Building Movements to Win relatively easily won. However, in our view, word in their leaflets on the need to build DSA, in its 40-year existence, has always it will require a massive political upheaval protests and direct action against police vio- been explicit about its goal of reforming the to defeat Clinton and the Democratic Party lence. DSA’s material on the Sanders cam- Subscribe to Democrats to the left. We believe the Demo- establishment. This requires politicizing Ber- paign and racism seems to imply that elect- cratic Party fundamentally serves the inter- nie’s supporters and connecting the cam- ing Bernie would fix most problems of racism Socialist Alternative Today! ests of the corporate elite and that the obsta- paign to building social movements. in this country. cles to it being “captured” by the left are far Our experience has been that there is a SocialistAlternative.org/shop/sa-newspaper-subscription/ greater than the challenges of building a new combative mood to fight back against cor- We Need a New Party mass working-class party. Likewise, many of porate domination among Sanders support- for the 99%! Socialist Alternative comes out 10 times the leading lights in DSA believe that capital- ers and that this mood can be transformed a year. Your $50 solidarity subscription ism can be reformed step by step and does into building for struggles and a movement. While groups like “Bernie or Bust” and supports our ongoing efforts to improve not need to be replaced root and branch. We That’s why Kshama Sawant, Socialist Alter- “Progressives Against Hillary Clinton” reflect our publications and broaden the struggle are for every reform that improves the posi- native member and Seattle City Councilmem- the unease with Sanders’ promise to endorse for socialism. tion of working people, but we do not believe ber, initiated #Movement4Bernie. whoever becomes the Democratic Party that capitalism can be defanged and made In Chicago, Socialist Alternative members nominee, DSA is silent on this issue. We J $50 annual solidarity helped to initiate the “march for Bernie” in think it would be a tragedy if the enthusiastic Two Pricing subscription harmless. Options: The DSA’s approach to Sanders’ campaign January, with 4,000 people participating. support for Sanders ends up being funneled J $25 annual reflects their social-democratic politics. They Marchers heard speeches from union activ- into the campaign of a Wall Street politi- subscription have provided people with a range of mate- ists and Black Lives Matter organizers call- cian. While socialists need to recognize the rial to use to support the campaign. Their ing for the resignation of “Mayor 1%” Rahm fears of workers, women, and people of color Subcriptions available in paper or digitally.

8 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 INTERNATIONAL Break with Capitalism Read news from the Committee for a Workers International SocialistWorld.net Venezuela: Major Defeat for Chavistas

Tony S aunois

In the first electoral defeat suffered World Congress of by the Chavistas since Hugo Chávez was first elected president in 1998, the right-wing coalition Mesa de la the CWI Unidad Democrática (MUD) scored a landslide victory in parliamentary elec- Kelly Bellin tions in December 2015. Winning 7.7 million votes against 5.6 million for Members of Socialist Alternative attended the 11th World the coalition led by Partido Socialista Congress of the Committee for a Workers International (CWI) Unido de Venezuela (PSUV), it won in January, 2016, which brought together socialists from 112 of the 167-seat parliament – 34 countries including Brazil, South Africa, Britain, Paki- 67% of the seats. The PSUV lost in stan, Greece, and many others. Socialist Alternative stands six major states comprising over 50% in political solidarity with the CWI. Around 130 socialists of the population. from all across the globe attended the week-long event to This election result unfortunately discuss the global situation and tasks for socialists and the vindicates the warnings consistently Venezuelans wait in line to vote beneath a murla of deceased president Hugo Chavez. labor movement. SocialistWorld.net has extensive coverage raised by the Committee for a Work- of the World Congress discussion, including key documents. ers International, with which Socialist Prospects for the coming year are even deprived MUD of its super-majority The congress opened with a discussion of the world situ- Alternative is in political solidarity, of worse as the economy is anticipated in the congress, which would allow it ation, against the backdrop of a looming global economic the consequences of the failure to take to contract by another 7%. The eco- to challenge Maduro, dismiss govern- crisis. Driven by the slowdown in China and the drop in the revolutionary process forward. nomic chaos is reflected in the exis- ment ministers, and even reduce the oil prices, export-driven economies across the globe face Since the death of Hugo Chávez, the tence of three official exchange rates presidential term due to end in 2018. economic slump and social upheaval. And working people government led by Nicolás Maduro for the national currency – fuelling a However, this does not mean the across the globe, faced with bearing the brunt of yet another has seen its support undermined by thriving black market. end of the crisis or of the conflict crisis, are fed up with politics as usual. worsening economic and social crises. Enormous queues for everything between the Chavistas and the right- Capitalism has no way out of worldwide economic tur- Even before Chávez’s death, these from toilet paper to rice and beans wing opposition. The dire economic moil and environmental devastation. In many countries, the tendencies were developing. However, have been the daily grind for millions situation and ongoing political power political establishment is in disarray and working people they have accelerated rapidly as the of Venezuelans. The disillusionment struggle are likely to deepen in the are looking for an alternative to fight back. The forthcoming economic situation worsened dra- which developed allowed the right- coming period. A clash between the elections in southern Ireland, for example, will likely see the matically. The failure to replace the wing MUD coalition to score this elec- Chavistas around Maduro and the election of several deputies from the Socialist Party, affili- capitalist economy with a democratic toral victory. It is a similar process to right wing remains a serious prospect. ated to the CWI. socialist system resulted in the regime that which took place in Nicaragua MUD has already presented its legisla- Other sessions at the congress included the U.S. presi- being left ground between two contra- in the 1980s and led to the eventual tive agenda, which includes reversing dential elections, the situation in Europe, Africa, Latin dictory tendencies. On the one side, it defeat of the Sandinistas in 1989. “expropriations” of private businesses America, South Asia, and the special oppression of women. enraged the ruling class. On the other, MUD learned from the failed attempts and freeing its supporters from prison. All of these discussions demonstrated the huge role that it failed to satisfy the needs of the at a right-wing counterrevolution, Leopoldo López, the imprisoned oppo- socialists have to play and that the struggles of working masses. which pushed the masses to the left. sition leader, has already warned that, people on one continent can inspire people on others. That allowed the capitalist ruling Its most extreme sections were reined if Maduro and his supporters “try to Here in the U.S., a joyless economic recovery has even class to conduct a systematic cam- in and the naked neoliberal policies torpedo change by way of ignoring the further exposed income inequality and brought enormous paign of economic sabotage and many of them defend were not openly result, they will have to be removed.” anger to the surface. The Bernie Sanders campaign has destabilization. Shortages of many advocated. A crucial challenge is now posed inspired millions to support his call for a political revolution basic foodstuffs and other commodi- The scale of the recent electoral for the Chavista movement, and to against the billionaire class. A number of speakers noted ties were partly a consequence of their victory has raised the hopes of right- workers and young people. That is to that progressive workers in many countries are closely fol- actions. This was compounded by the wingers that they could immediately draw the lessons from this defeat and lowing the developments here. growth of a massive state bureaucracy roll back the remaining social gains begin to build an independent social- The congress held a session on the special oppression and corruption and mismanagement in implemented by the Chavistas and ist party of the working class with a of women under capitalism. Even though many countries state-controlled sectors. This saw the directly challenge Maduro, removing program to break with capitalism have seen a shift in attitudes and a general recognition that emergence of a “new rich” of party and him from the presidency. However, and introduce a democratic, social- women deserve equal rights, the living conditions of women state bureaucrats, along with company the Chavista forces are not prepared ist planned economy. The right wing are still marked by sexism. Today, there is an increase in owners, who enriched themselves on to simply pack up and go. Many have in Latin America and internationally the struggle for women’s right to their own bodies. Mass the backs of the Chavista movement their own vested interests in maintain- are already attempting to argue that demonstrations in India and Turkey against rape, as well as – dubbed the “boli-bourgeoisie” after ing their positions within the state the result represents an example of the movement for abortion rights in Ireland, are just a few the Chavistas’ hero, Simón Bolívar. machine. the “failure of socialism.” This is not examples. These features accelerated recently The outgoing parliament rushed true. It is a failure of only taking partial This World Congress brought together socialists who play due to the collapse in the price of oil through proposals to appoint thirteen measures encroaching on capitalist roles in incredible social movements globally: for minimum – down from $120 a barrel at the new Supreme Court judges. The court, interests, while leaving their class in wage increases, against racism, for workers rights, to fight time of the global financial crash in in turn, has barred three of the newly power socially and economically. national oppression, and to establish our own independent 2008 to approximately $30, and still elected deputies from taking their This is a shortened version of an parties of the 99%. There is tremendous potential to build falling. Inflation has been running in seats on the basis of allegations of article that can be read on Socialist- the socialist movement all over the world! Join Socialist triple digits, the highest in the world. electoral fraud. In doing so, they have World.net. J Alternative and build a socialist future. J

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 9 EDUCATION Struggle Over Chicago Teacher Contract Heats Up

Steve Edwards, Chicago The situation has stoked an another major public-sector union already-angry mood among teach- that is threatened by Rahm’s bil- The ongoing fight between the ers. This is because of their experi- lionaire friend Rauner, did not turn Chicago Teachers Union and “Mayor ence of living with the last contract. out in support of the teachers’ rally. 1%” Rahm Emanuel may be head- Many of the gains that were won Rank-and-file members need to ing toward the second teachers’ through strike action in 2012 ended build links to start to overcome this strike in four years. What is driving up being unenforceable. Also, the failure of leadership. the current phase of this fight is the last contract failed to prevent the Defeating Rahm and Rauner attempt by corporate politicians to closure of almost 50 schools – a requires an industrial and a politi- deal with the fiscal crisis caused by massacre of public education that cal strategy. The CTU should systematic, longterm underfunding fell hardest on the most deprived actively seek to bring all Rahm’s of public-sector workers’ pension communities and cost thousands opponents onto the streets in the funds by state and local govern- of jobs. The membership and the coming weeks in support of work- ment through cutting benefits or, bargaining team are justifiably sus- ers’ rights and public education. If in this case making workers take an picious of anything the Board is it comes to a strike, the CTU and The 2012 CTU strike shook Chicago and weakened Mayor Emanuel. effective 7% pay cut. offering them. Karen Lewis clearly have the capac- Last December, CTU members allow the state to take them over. happening outside schools before ity to galvanize the enormous anger voted overwhelmingly to authorize Into the Streets This is an ominous threat by a the school day began on Wednes- at inequality and structural racism a strike unless Emanuel and the in Chicago into mass support and, On February 4, the union called right-wing governor who is cut day, February 17. Over 200 Chi- school board deliver a contract that from the same cloth as Wisconsin’s cago schools participated. This if they win, strike a decisive blow meets the needs of teachers and a mass rally in Chicago’s financial for working people across the whole district. Five thousand teachers Scott Walker. type of mobilization must continue that will improve public schools in The union is building commu- and be spread to all city schools country. Such a victory would the city. and supporters filled downtown also pose sharply the question of streets. They protested not only nity outreach in preparation for and communities. Negotiations between the CTU serious struggle. Parents and com- Other unions need to join this launching a new political force of and the Chicago Public Schools Rahm Emanuel’s policies, but also the 99% in Chicago, with the CTU Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s munity members joined students fight. Only by actively support- (CPS) Board of Education are and teachers for “walk-in” protests ing each others’ struggles can the playing a key role, which could truly now effectively stalled. The most recent announcement that he is challenge the domination of the 1% considering declaring the Chicago – part of a national day of action unions hope to stop the corporate recent offer from the Board, ini- against attacks on education assault. Unfortunately, AFSCME, in the years ahead. J tially described by CTU leaders schools as “failing,” which would as a “serious offer,” was unani- mously voted down by the union’s 40-person “Big Bargaining Team” after seeing the details. Even the Workers’ Lives apparently good aspects of the offer began to smell bad when, at the eleventh hour, the Board indi- How to Do More With Less: A Lesson cated that they would not apply unless more than 2,000 teachers took early retirement within the first year of the contract. From Public Higher Education The Board’s response to the bar- helping students navigate the college experi- benefits, is $34,000. Tell me again how we’re gaining team’s rejection of the offer ence. Many of them are first-generation col- to blame for the new nine million dollar short- was to announce that it would uni- Genevieve Morse, lege students and don’t have the network fall? The students faced further tuition hikes laterally cease to pay its portion of Administrative Assistant, UMass Boston needed to get through college. The reality is this past year; tuition has been raised close to the pension payments – equivalent that, for most of us, we are operating with 10% since I started with the university. Where to 7% of each employee’s salary. Working in a public university has given bare minimum staffing, many of us work two is that money going? The Chancellor has his This vindictive response, cor- me a crash course in how to function with or three jobs, we pay $6.00 a day to just come own private drivers to get to and from campus. rectly described by CTU president limited resources. For the past eight years, I to work for parking, and environmental health Tell me again why we need to cut money for Karen Lewis as an “act of war,” was have worked as an administrative assistant at and safety are always questionable – especially graduate students! a tactical mistake on the part of University of Massachusetts Boston. As the with low levels of asbestos flying around in the The administration tells us how we’re the newly-appointed Board Superinten- only public four-year institution in Boston, air. To top it off, we’re constantly blamed for front lines and the backbone of the univer- dent, Forrest Claypool. As a result, it’s often competing with some of the biggest budget shortfalls. Our raises are considered sity. Yet during our last contract negotiations, the union may have legal grounds and wealthiest schools in the U.S.: Harvard, unreasonable and it’s argued that we should they wanted to put a cap on our earned sick for an unfair labor practice strike, MIT, and Northeastern have billions of dollars be willing to sacrifice during tough economic time, fought us on our minimal 3% raises, in which case it would not need to at their disposal. The original idea for UMass climates. and wanted to raise parking fees to $10 a day. wait for the normal “fact-finding” Boston was to be a place for working-class and The administration of UMass Boston and They want to make every cent they can off of process to be complete. It is hard poor people, to serve the “urban mission.” the UMass system generally are some of the our hard work but won’t lift a finger to help us. to see why Rahm – already facing Now, that mission has been turned into a mis- highest-paid public-sector employees in Mas- The unions and students have united against record-low popularity due to the sion for more money. UMass Boston has now sachusetts. The former president of UMass such poor conditions over the years. We’re suppression of the video record- been marketed as the “urban research” uni- made $500,000 a year, with a guaranteed 5% determined to keep the university working ing of the police murder of Laquan versity. This means bringing in the maximum annual raise of 25,000 per year and a possible for us and not for the benefit of corporations McDonald in the run-up to his re- private dollars to fund what big business wants $90,000 performance bonus. With benefits, and administration bonuses. UMass works election – would want to take on the rather than what the community needs. he received over $762,300 a year! The annual because we do! J CTU at this point in time. Most days, I have a sense of purpose salary for a new administrative assistant, after

10 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 CULTURE Book Review Hillary and Eugene V. Debs: the Black Vote The Bending Cross continued from p. 7

board of Walmart, which is one of the largest poverty-wage employ- Ginger Jentzen boycott of Pullman cars, with over ers in the country and has fought 100,000 workers walking off the tooth and nail to keep unions out of From labor leader to five-time Socialist job in solidarity. its stores. How can someone claim Party candidate for president, Eugene V. Debs Federal officials broke the strike they are for addressing poverty but was the voice of American workers in revolt. while the American Federation of support having workers continue to Like Bernie Sanders today, he inspired mil- Labor (AFL) leadership remained work for poverty wages? lions of working-class and young people look- silent. The defeat of the strike Hillary often claims she is a ing for an alternative to corporate politics and by the power of railroad manage- candidate of the people, but in the capitalism. ment working intimately with fed- first presidential debate she openly Debs’ life continues to offer valuable lessons eral authorities led Debs to draw said, “I represented Wall Street as about how the left can build its own strength broader conclusions. a senator from New York,” (Polit- independently of the political establishment. As Debs learned the lessons ico.com, 10/13/2015). The same Of the several biographies about Debs, the of class struggle, he argued that Wall Street during the economic one that best illustrates his ideas and political workers would build more power crash of 2007-08 caused eco- evolution is The Bending Cross by Ray Ginger. by organizing industry-wide rather nomic devastation in large sections Debs’ story demonstrates how working- than narrowly by job class. As The of the black working class due to class consciousness is shaped through the Bending Cross explains, the fail- the effects of the subprime loan experience of struggle. ures of the populist movement and crisis and the massive number of presidency – he never expected to. Yet his Victories are won when workers organize the the bureaucratized AFL leadership foreclosures that followed. legacy in helping build the Socialist Party, and strongest possible movements and fight with under Samuel Gompers led him to ultimately Hillary Clinton does not support in bringing genuine socialist ideas to millions of clear strategy and tactics. As a labor leader, break with both. Instead, he helped form the the black community! From her people, had a historic impact. It helped create Debs had to struggle against the tactics of radical union Industrial Workers of the World campaign donations from private the basis from which major victories could later conservative trade union leaders who undercut (IWW) and later to became a leading figure in prison lobbyists and Wall Street won by the U.S. working class. The existence workers’ power by seeking to appease big busi- the Socialist Party. banks like JPMorgan Chase to her of an organized socialist movement was vital ness and avoided strikes at all costs. Bernie Sanders has named Debs as one of support for closing public schools in the struggles to unionize workplaces, fight Debs himself was initially skeptical of the his heroes, prompting major newspapers like largely in communities of color Jim Crow racism, and win the concessions of effectiveness of strike actions. One profound The Wall Street Journal and The Washington and her continued loyalty to cor- the New Deal. lesson came from the 1894 Pullman Strike Post to write articles introducing Debs to a new porate hacks like Rahm Emanuel Eugene Debs’ life continues to provide a in Chicago. Workers staged a wildcat strike, generation. in Chicago, Hillary’s flip-flops and powerful example for workers and youth in the against the recommendation of the American But, unlike Sanders, Debs had come to pseudo-progressive rhetoric should U.S. and internationally. He showed that, even Railway Union (ARU). Debs was sent to talk recognize clearly that the Democratic Party not fool the hundred of thousands in the “belly of the beast” of global capital- the workers down from the strike. After seeing was controlled by the capitalist class and that of black working and poor fami- ism, working people can organize themselves the “company town” conditions facing Pullman the key challenge was to build a working-class lies that are struggling to survive independently of big business, build their own workers, he instead led the ARU into backing party independent of big business. under policies that she supported power, and challenge the capitalist system. J the strike and organizing a massive nationwide Debs won millions of votes but never the and attacks from a greedy billion- aire class that she represents. We should see Hillary for what she truly is: a loyal servant of Wall Street and the billionaire class. Working people and black folks SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE In Your Area need a candidate who will stand up to Wall Street and to corporate LOWELL, MA, NEW HAVEN, CT, and NEW ORLEANS, LA TACOMA, WA NATIONAL PROVIDENCE, RI contact our national (504) 587-0080 SOUTHWEST (253) 355-4211 candidates like Hillary. We need a candidate for the 99%, not the bil- PO Box 150457 office TAMPA BAY, FL AUSTIN, TX For HAWAI’I, LOS ANGELES, CA, SAN Brooklyn, NY 11215 (727) 641-0252 (440) 339-9793 DIEGO, CA and YAKIMA, WA contact lionaire class! This is why Cornell (206) 526-7185 MID-ATLANTIC MONTGOMERY & BIRMINGHAM, AL, For DALLAS, TX, DENVER, CO, FORT COL- our national office West, Killer Mike, and Erica Garner [email protected] CHARLOTTE, NC and LOUISVILLE, KY LINS, CO, HOUSTON, TX, OKLAHOMA NEW YORK CITY facebook.com/SocialistAlternativeUSA contact our national office CITY, OK, PHOENIX, AZ, and SALT LAKE as well as many others, have come (347) 749-1236 Twitter: @SocialistAlt CITY, UT contact our national office INTERNATIONAL (CWI) PHILADELPHIA, PA out in support of Bernie Sanders, MIDWEST Socialist Alternative is also in political whose program really opposes (267) 368-4564 PACIFIC solidarity with the Committee for NEW ENGLAND PITTSBURGH, PA CHICAGO, IL corporate interests. Beyond this (773) 771-4617 BELLINGHAM, WA a Workers International (CWI), a BOSTON, MA (412) 589-2558 worldwide socialist organization in 47 WASHINGTON, DC, NEW BRUNSWICK, MADISON, WI (360) 510-7797 election, we need to continue to (910) 639-3948 (608) 620-3901 OLYMPIA, WA countries, on every continent. Join us! NASHUA, NH NJ, and RICHMOND, VA contact our CANADA develop a mass movement for national office MINNEAPOLIS, MN (206) 579-5309 (603) 233-2999 (612) 760-1980 PORTLAND, OR (604) 738-1653 black freedom, linked to the fight PORTLAND, ME SPRINGFIELD, IL (503) 284-6036 [email protected] to end the whole racist capitalist (207) 415-8792 SOUTHEAST (217) 546-2537 OAKLAND/ SAN FRANCISCO, CA www.socialistalternative.ca WORCESTER, MA QUÉBEC system. And right now, we need JOHNSON CITY, TN ST. LOUIS/FERGUSON, MO (510) 220-3047 (617) 285-9346 [email protected] (617) 721-8915 (952) 270-7676 SEATTLE, WA to build a political force that truly UMASS-AMHERST www.AlternativeSocialiste.org MOBILE, AL BLOOMINGTON, IN, COLUMBUS, OH, (206) 526-7185 represents the interests of black (910) 639-3948 (251) 300-4727 GRAND RAPIDS, MI, MILWAUKEE, WI, SPOKANE, WA workers and all workers. J NASHVILLE, TN and TOPEKA, KS contact our national (509) 879-7169 (931) 220-0427 office

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • MARCH 2016 11 SocialistAlternative.org Suggested Donation $2

SOCIALISTIssue #21 - March 2016 ALTERNATIVE Ballot Initiative Launched in Minneapolis

Fight for $15 Continues! Eva Metz, 15 Now Minnesota said Claire Thiele, a low-wage worker and 15 important allies and most of the local labor Now volunteer. “If the Council won’t act, we movement. Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges won a will.” Retail Cleaners tight 2013 race promising to fight the racial Business Opposition and economic disparities plaguing the city. A Fight for Racial Justice But two years later, instead of the mayor’s Despite broad support, a victory for $15 Strike election slogan of “One Minneapolis,” the Our fight is greatly strengthened by our will be an uphill fight. To understand the city’s political establishment presides over a partnerships with Neighborhoods Organizing challenges we’ll face, we can look to lessons Demands $15 “Tale of Two Cities.” for Change (NOC), an organization rooted in from #MPLSWorks, which formed last spring The Twin Cities are home to 17 Fortune the predominantly black North Minneapo- around a wider slate of demands for workers’ 500 companies – the highest concentra- lis community, and Centro de Trabajadores rights. The broad coalition included the most tion in the country – yet also the worst racial Unidos en Lucha (CTUL), an organization powerful labor and community nonprofits, inequities in the nation. A staggering 48% dedicated to organizing low-wage workers. groups that had been instrumental in electing of black people in Minneapolis live in pov- NOC and CTUL have led the way in mobi- the mayor and many city council members. erty, compared to 13% of white people. It’s lizing hundreds of low-wage workers to ener- 15 Now was fully involved in the #MPLS- become clear that wealthy corporations like getic mass actions and strikes for $15 and Works effort to win sick days, fair schedul- US Bank and Target pull the strings at City a wider workers’ rights, racial equity agenda. ing, and an end to wage theft, but we argued Hall. The local chapters of Black Lives Matter against over-reliance on an insider lobbying In the face of official inaction, workers of and the NAACP, as well as the Minnesota strategy. Our warnings were borne out when color have been at the forefront of struggle in Nurses Association, are also backing 15 the mayor retreated following the firestorm of Minneapolis this past year, linking the fight Now’s ballot initiative, and more unions opposition unleashed by big business. against police racism to demands for a $15 appear set to endorse. By tapping into As Socialist Alternative and 15 Now Culminating a week of action for an hour minimum wage, paid sick days, and widespread popular anger at City Hall, the argued from the start, workers can’t rely on workers’ rights, nonunion contract fair scheduling. A $15 an hour minimum fight for $15 is emerging as a key struggle politicians who promise to support workers’ workers who clean Macy’s in Minneapo- wage is projected to result in a $900 mil- against both racial and economic inequality rights while also promising to promote busi- lis went on strike February 17, demand- lion transfer of wealth from rich corporations in Minneapolis. ness interests. Going forward, instead of ori- ing union rights, fair wages, and a $15 to the pockets of low-wage workers in Min- Socialist Alternative led the way in popu- enting our fight toward lobbying City Hall, we an hour minimum wage. Organized by neapolis every year, most heavily impacting larizing the demand for $15 in Minneapolis aim to build a powerful, independent move- the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en communities of color. through our close race for City Council in ment that can challenge the corporate estab- Lucha (CTUL), which is backing 15 Despite a year of escalating protests and 2013. That year in Seattle, where Kshama lishment head-on. Now’s ballot initiative, the strike is part strikes for $15, as well as a poll showing 82% Sawant won international attention as an out- Big businesses will unleash floods of of a planned escalation against both support for a $15 an hour minimum wage, spoken socialist elected to a major city coun- money to protect their profits and use the low-wage employers and city officials the mayor and city council majority refuse to cil, we launched 15 Now and led the fight to corporate media to propagate doomsday in Minneapolis. J raise wages. make Seattle the first big city to pass $15 in claims that $15 would tank the economy and That’s why 15 Now is putting a $15 ballot June 2014. destroy jobs. To win, we must transform the initiative to voters this November, to place Here in Minneapolis, we built on the latent support for $15 into a broad, fighting targeting City Hall and low-wage employers, the decision into the hands of working people momentum from our election successes to movement. linking up with low-wage worker strikes for a and those most affected by poverty wages. launch 15 Now in March 2014. While virtu- We’re building up a massive base of $15 minimum wage. Through deep commu- “The $15 ballot initiative is an opportunity to ally no labor unions or big community groups volunteers to prepare a signature collec- nity outreach, we can counter the lies and take the lead and fight against the racial and initially backed $15, by the summer of 2015, tion campaign this spring to get $15 on the fear tactics wielded by big business. J economic disparities tearing our city apart,” through tenacious organizing, we’d won over ballot. We’ll organize big rallies and protests