STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP ARTICLES MANAGEMEl'IT AND CIRCULATION (Act of Auguot 12, 1970; Section 36&5, title 39, United Stares The Family: Code) Real Issues for Real People Th.le of Publication' DEMOCRATIC LEFT by (}uy Molyneux ...•...... page 3 2. Date of f'ilin«: S.,Umber 30, 1987 a f"requency of la~ B~mmthly. Family Agenda Provide A. So. of issllftl publilhed annually: 6. Open ings for the Left ll Anmal SabocriplJam prioe: S!i. BARBARA EHRENREICH -4 LCieation otknown o1l5ce CJ!publioaiion 15 Dutch St. ,Suite 500. by Joan M andle ...... •• page 5 ~- \"crt, SY. I~ MICHAEL HARRINGTON &. Lc.::atian c! Ibo- beoldqmr..en er~ boutineea oftioo ofthe The F amily is not Ideal ~ J.Sl>c:d>&.,~ • .NewYori<, NY, 10038-'l'l06. Editms Slogan for the Left. 6. 2'-.m:! l'llblilben, F.ditnrl, and Managing Ediur °'1IK
Name Look for mote details on costs and dead-lines in a full Address ------page ad in the July/August City/State Zip issue of Democratic Left. Phone ------Union, School, Other Affiliation ------
DEMOCRATIC LEFT 2 MAY·)UNE 1988 The Falriily: Real Issues for Real People by Guy Molyneux sented by neglect of children. What be gan as a maneuver by anti-poverty forces has blossomed into a larger set of issues, ome years from now, when with even greater political potential. historians try to determine At the same time, the increase in just when the political cli working women has produced another mate began its leftward shift, set of issues centered on parenting and they may well note Senator work. Efforts are under way that address OSrrin Hatch's submission of a quarter both workplace issues (flextime, leave) billion-dollar child care bill in 1987. One and broader public policy questions (child could hardly ask for a clearer signal that care, afterschool programs, child support Democrats now set the nation's political enforcement). This agenda promises to agenda while Republicans merely re strengthen each movement while also de spond, a dramatic reversal of the prior six fining specific common ground for coali years' pattern. And choosing the playing tion-building. field, as we have painfully learned, takes one a long way toward winning the game. Powerful Theme Family policy issues (parental leave, Taken as a group, these represent preschool programs, flextime) make up something greater than a set of effective an important part of that agenda and issues, or even a clever appropriation of have significantly contributed to the language. These issues are bound Democrats' change in fortune. They also together by, and help define, a potent provide a theme and strategy that could political theme - the family - which help us build a progressive political involves thinking and talking about prog majority. The left can potentially play an ressive concerns in a new way. In these important role in this project, but seems campaigns we see a new strategic sophis unsure of how to proceed. The choice is tication on the part of progressives, stark: engagement and influence, or marked by efforts to reach new consti isolation and irrelevance. tuencies, a deeper understanding of the places for public policy intervention and importance oflanguage and symbols, and are looking for political leadership in this Political Roots a creative approach to defining issues in area. As we start to win victories, pa The new family agenda com•ists of a ways that maximize support. The poten rent8 and children will have direct ex number of diverse issues, each with a tial inherent in this approach cannot be perience with policies and programs well-organized and growing constituency overestimated. which expand their options and improve behind it (see box on page five). They While the left has learned well that the quality of their lives. Imagine it: share roots in a set of interrelated social the "personal is political," it has too rare average Americans having positive in and economic changes that have pro ly understood that the political must also teraction with the public sector in their foundly affected American family and be personal. I have no quarrel with re daily lives! (Quick now, when's the last work life. Three changes stand out as forming the Federal Reserve or fighting time it happened to you?) This will open particularly important: the greatly ex intervention in Central America, but the door to relegitimizing affirmative panded participation of women in the these are not exactly issues that "get you government, one of our most difficult workplace, including the mothers of where you Jive." The family agenda ideological challenges. young children; stagnant or declining addresses immediate felt needs of mil This suggests a crucial point: "Fami wages; and the alarming increase in the lions of people - a prerequisite to build ly policy" is not merely the application of number of children Jiving in poverty. ing a majoritarian movement. Public a "good" word to an existing progressive Several distinct strands that are now opinion polls show strong and growing agenda; it's a recognition of how people being woven into a national family agen concern about pressures on the working actually experience and understand da can be identified: The first i1:1 the focus family. Anxiety about parenting, the many contemporary social and economic on children as a way of reopening a dis future of children, young adults begin ills. That is why the language of family cussion of poverty. New concerns about ning families of their own, and elder pa now permeates discussion of"older" poli "human capital," fueled by record trade rents is prevalent. cy issues like health care, taxes, and deficits, have only increased attention to Moreover, polls indicate that people housing. Uneven economic growth the tragic waste and injustice repre- think of these concerns as appropriate means your daughter has to move 1,000
DEMOCRATIC LEFT 3 MAY·)UNE 1988 change those definitions. "We" should be working families, of whatever cla -; ''they" is anybody who opposes the ~ family airenda. The left S11me will surely object that family politics represents, if not outright capi tulation to the oppo:-ition, then a gamble we can't afford to take. Might not our use of "family" imply support for a conserva ~ tive social agenda, or a patriarchal family ~ ~ structure? Couldn't a family approach di .. )I ""',.,. lute our radical vision? It "F: To begin with, this underestimates ~ 2: our audience. The people to whom we are :t reaching out know that women aren't ""'l going to return to the home. What they t want is help in balancing their careers 3 with their parenting responsibilities - ! precisely what our agenda seeks to do! < Moreover, the right certainly sees that ~ \ " ;-~ our family agenda expands and preserves " . Mother and daughter at Local health clinic. women's new freedom of choice, which is why they oppose it so strongly. miles from home to find a good job. The have deserted the Democratic party in Such concerns also reflect a complete absence of labor market policies means recent years, many of whom don't belong misunderstanding of the right's situa your son isn't qualified for a decent job to any political organizations. This is a tion. It is precisely their allegiance to a when he graduates from high school. Our bottom line question for any political traditional family model that prevents indecent healthcare system means strategy: does it allow us to reach new them from effectively addressing the new grandma may have to divorce grandpa, people? work and family issues. Anytime an or risk losing the house when he goes into This broad appeal is only possible ideological commitment puts you at odds a nursing home next month. because many planks of the family agen with the political majority, you are Are these not issues in which the da are universal entitlement programs. A vulnerable. Just as conservative,; use the entire society has a proper interest? Of universal approach that builds cross death penalty as a club to beat up on course. But for most Americans they are class support is essential both for winning liberals, we are now in a po;,ition to label understood first and foremost in the con victories and for defending programs many Republicans "anti-family." text of real family relationships. Talking over time. We must build a politics of However, there is ~urely more than about social policy in terms of the life solidarity rather than generosity, one simple misunderstanding involved in cy cl e makes it more concrete and based on enlightened self-interest and hesitations about embracing family poli meaningful. mutuality, not guilt or altruism. Progres cy. We have been on the defensive a long Ideologically, this approach opens sives now use words such as "greed" and time now, during which lefti:-ts could find the possibility of an American-style social "selfishness" too freely - middle-class comfort only in their own political "cor democratic politics by avoiding a direct voters often suspect we're talking about rectness." Some shelbhocked veterans challenge to the ethics of self-reliance and them. Besides, self-interest used to be find it tempting even now, I suspect, to personal responsibility. We're not asking the right's fear - that the masses would continue clinging to that thin reed. But that people become wards of a bureaucra use the ballot box to take what they we must resist this collr:'e, for now is a tic state. We are offering assistance to couldn't get in the marketplace - and time for motion, for political engagement them (and their children and parents) at that's the way it should be. Talking to with our fellow citizens - not comfort specific times when self-reliance is not a people about their family concerns facili able and pure isolation. reasonable expectation. Americans are tates such a reclaiming oflegitimate self Such left cavils also reveal, I fear, a not looking for government to take over interest. passive (stubborn?) acceptance of cur crucial family functions, but they are Politics, in one sense, is nothing rent political language, issues, and con looking for government to help them bet more (or less) than defining "us" and stituency. To be sure, there is a certain ter fulfill their obligations as parents, "them." For too many Americans "us" nobility in slugging it out, going toe-to spouses, and offspring. has meant the hard-working and over toe with a powerful -opponent. But if taxed middle class, while "they" are wel you're being soundly beaten, isn't it time Us and Them fare recipients on the dole. Ronald to choose new weapons, or even new ter A further strength of the family Reagan convinced the former he had rain? That is precisely the opportunity agenda is the extraordinary breadth of its more concern for their well-being, and we have today. appeal. Of particular significance is the had more respect for the way they lived We must regain a faith in the trans opportunity it gives us to speak to those their lives, than did the Democrats. The formative power of politics. What's most middle- and working-class voters who politics of family can help us begin to exciting about family politics is that it
DEMOCRATIC LEFT 4 MAY-JUNE 1988 Family Agenda Provides Openings for the Left by Joan Mandle is on the advol'acy of day care and advocac,y programs, both tactically after-l'chool programs: leave:; of abs and fo1· reaRons of principle, democra iverse new familv forms. which ence from work associated with the tic socialists should endorse programs Dhave developed over the last few bilth of a child, or with the need to which are universal in nature. These decades, now exist alongside a minor care for ill children or relatives: and programs would be open to all ity of familieH of a more traditional workers' demancb for more .flexibility citizens, not only those with particular type. With the emergence of the!\e in work scheduling and jobsharing in characteristics, such ru; poverty. Such new family types. tiignificant changei:; order lo enable worker:; to tiilfill lheir uni\'ersal programs are important be in the kinds of problems facing fami family re::;ponsihilities. cause they promote the principle of lie. have also appeared. A second theme concPrns health equality, as needier families take far The political right, particulai·ly in care, as awarene.~., growi; of the large gi·eater advantage of social programs the last decade, has been the self number of American familie:; that are than do the wealthy. Rut universal so· appointed critic of changing family \dlhout health insurancP 01· adequate cial programs also recommend them forms. Consistently denow1cing these care. Many different programs have selves tacticall~'. sin<·e they are more changes, the right has attacked the been proposed - from full national likely to be accepted hy large sectors women's movement for destroying health insurance, to inc·reaserl spend of the population than are programs "the" family, and hru- resisted any in~ targeted on infants, voung chil which are more nan-owly focused. attempts at problem-solving other dren, or nursing and at-home care for ThP recent acthism around a pro than turning the clcX'k back to the tra the elderly. What is common to these gressive family agenda - including a ditional family. Recently, however, :-;uggestil)llS is a critique of America's demonstration in Washington on May liberals and progressives have in health care system as woPfully in 14th called the "American Family crea: offers the possibility of alte1fog the very even of constituting new constituencies. Guy Moly11eux i.~ the Executive Director meaning of import.ant political terms, of Such possibilities do not come along of t~e Commonwealth Institute and changing the way people think about often, and we let them pru;s only at great serve/J 0 11 DSA 's National E xecutive their relationship to government , and ~~. . Committee. DEMOCRATIC LEFT s MAY·JUNE 1988 '""' Pamphlets DSA Price A Socialist Perspective on the Politics of Poverty, by A Socialist Perspective 011 THE POLITICS OF POVERTY Michael Harrington with contributions by Barbara Ehrenreich, William Julius Wilson, and Mark Levin son. Special bulk rate: $.20/copy for orders of 20 or more. $1.00 __ Toward a Socialist 'Theory of Racism, by Corne! West. $1.00_ THE HISTORY~ Taking Control of Our Own Livee: DSA Transitional A FUTURE Economic Program. $.50 -- by I First Stepe Toward a Neti· Civilization, by Michael Michael Harrington Harrington. $1.00_ H.E-1VJJ.~ DEMOCRATIC LEFT 6 MAY-JUNE 1988 The Family is not An Ideal Slogan for the Left by Barbara E hrenreich family, (married couple, male breadwin But there are other, potentially ner, etc.) even though this type of family more serious, problems, with using the (at about 15 percent of households) is rhetoric of "family." For one thing, "the nearly extinct. The right did not mean to family" - when introduced into discus include gay couples, unmarried hetero sions of economic policy - carries with it ' ' sexual couples, female-headed families, the conservative assumption that respon T the~~eF;::i~;t~o~~ New Right, or other arrangements not endorsed by sibility for the economic well-being of in has suddenly be Scripture. These omissions have resulted dividuals lies principally with their next come a liberal ral- in social policies based on the assumption of kin. Consider how the right has man lying cry. Initiatives to promote activism that gay families and female-headed aged to shift the debate on poverty away around a "progressive family agenda" are families are not real families but symp from such issues as low wages, to victim being undertaken by a wide variety of toms of "social pathology." blaming arguments about teen pregnan forces. And although none of the Demo The least we can do then, if we wish cy, promiscuity, and male irresponsi cratic candidates has much to say about to appropriate "the family" for the left is bility. women's issues, all of them are eager to to stress the diversity of actual families We can get around this, of course, by present their views on "family issues" - so that we do not inadvertently reinforce continually hammering away at the eco a category that now includes parental the right's patriarchal ideal. It was dis nomic prerequisites for stable family life leave, pay equity, child care, raising the appointing that the literature for - especially decent wages and social be minimum wage, national health care, and CLUW's rally, which was endorsed by nefits. But not all t)OOr people - from just about any other liberal social initia gay and feminist groups, nowhere men children to senior citizens - live in fami tive you can think of. tioned the diversity of real families. lies of any sort. And people without fami In some ways, the liberal appropria Without this essential qualification, the lies have equally urgent claims on our tion of the "pro-family" label is long over CLUW slogan, "Strengthen the Amer support. We can use pro-family language due. The right's claim to be the defender ican Family" [chk] sounded unfortunate if we want, but only at the risk of com of the American family was always fun ly like something that could have come promising our own deeply held belief as damentally cynical. While upholding the from the right-wing Pro-Family Forum. socialists: that responsibility for the eco- virtues of the family - invariably pic tured as a white, middle-class, nuclear family lead by a male breadwinner- the Reagan administration undermined the economic viability of this or any family: It cut social programs that help support poor families and it encouraged a wave of wage cutting and plant closings that have hurt millions of American families. The right's favorite fetishes - "free enter prise" and ''the family" - just don't go together. But this doesn't make "the family" an ideal slogan for the left, much less a suitable rubric for the entire progressive economic agenda. There are dangers to borrowing the language and themes of the right: They haven't been "pro-family" all these years for nothing. The most common objection to using "the family" as a political catchword is that it downplays the real divel'l:lity in the way Americans organize themselves into households and make long-term commit ments to each other. In proclaiming themselves "pro-family," the New Right was upholding a particular ideal of the Two Women at Gay Pride March, NYC DEMOCRATIC lEfT 7 MAY-JUNE 1988 nomic well-being of individuals lies ulti But what is the real issue here? Once left has to offer - both in the short term mately with the entire society. we acknowledge the diversity of families, and in the democratic socialist society we we also have to acknowledge that there is are working toward. Women Left Out not, as the right so often claims, a "crisis The retreat - if only rhetorical - to But what bothers me most about the of the American family." There are just the family reflects the poverty of our cur new liberal emphasis on "the family'' is many kinds of families - plus non-family rent thinking about community. Eight that it seems so often to come at the ex living arrangements - all of which need hard years of being on the defensive on pense of women. In 1984, with Geraldine social respect and economic support. almost every issue have taken their toll Ferarro on the Democratic ticket and the Surely we do not want to even appear to on our imaginations. Yet it is time to take gender gap still a hot topic, the word support government "family policies" up, once again, those questions that are "women" was at least part qf the political that would encourage one kind of family both "utopian" and close to each person's vocabulary. In the 1988 campaign, the over another. Whom we live with, sleep heart: What is our vision of community? W-word is hardly ever uttered, though with, and love is simply not the business Can we imagine a revival of community all the candidates are eager to address of government. that is both richly engaging and fully re "family issues." So thoroughly has the The real issue, the repressed issue, spectful of diversity? How can social poli phrase "family issues" replaced "women" is not family, but community. The attrac cy promote genuine community - both in that I half expect to begin to see "men's tion of "family" as a catchword is that it the divided society we live in now and in rooms" and "family issues' rooms." seems to provide an alternative to the the classless society we aim to achieve? Yes, I am picking a quarrel about relentless individualism of capitalist soci For ultimately the only way to semantics. Some former "women's" ety. But most of us have families of one "strengthen the family," if that is ow· issues do make more sense as "family sort or another, and what we need, and goal, is to embed it in a vital and caring issues;" at least calling child care a family often consciously long for, is a sense of community. e issue may help remind men that they community extending beyond the bonds Barbara Ehrenreich is co-chair of DSA. have some responsibility in the matter. of kinship. In fact, this larger sense of Her most recent books include The Mean But other issues that have recently fallen belonging, of human connectedness, is Season (1987), and Re- Making Love: the under the family rubric are in fact one of the most important things that the 'Feminization of Sex (1986). women's issues. Pay equity, for example. Higher pay for women will of course help women's families, but it will also streng Join DSA Co-Chair Barbara Ehrenreich and socialist- feminist women from across the country .•• then the independence ofwomenfrom the family, including all the single and child less women who have tended to vanish Charting Our Future: altogether from political discussion. Women - not "families" - are a distinct and politicized constituency, as .A. Socialist Women 4 shown by the continued (though un noted) existence of the gender gap and by women's strong affiliation with feminism. ~ and our ~ (A 1989 Gallup poll found that 56 percent of American women - and 65 percent of Feminist Agenda black women - identify themselves as "feminists.") Eliminating women from Democratic Socialists of America Feminist Commission Retreat the political discourse is a way of saying that we are just another "special interest Jum with younger and older women. students, activists, researchers, unionists, and teachers from acro.'s the country committed to democratic !IO<:iali~m. Create a "()Cialiot- feminiot agenda by group" - too self-interested or perhaps brinjlin)!' your knowledge and expenences to bear on the follo";ng que•tion• and others: How do too brazen to be an asset to any party or wcialism and feminism inter\\eave? Where is the multi-faceted women's movement going? How is the changing eronomy efft>Ctmg women? With work.,hops on organizing women workers, local candidate. femini~t activity. \"iolence against women .... Women, of course, are the people who do most of the work of holding fami lies together - caring for the very young June 18-19, 1988 and the very old, doing the day-to-day domestic and emotional maintenance work, and increasingly, bringing home an Oberlin College indispensable paycheck. But not all of our Oberlin, Ohio concerns - or even the primary concerns !Dy rar, Ob<-rlm Colle~• is only :!5 mil•· •outhwei;t of Cl1•velanrl off of Route 4><0. Frum Cleveland Hopkins of all women - can be wrapped up under Airport, take the Hopkin• hmoo•me >eTVl DEMOCRATIC LEFT 8 MAY-JUNE 1988 States and Cities Take the Lead on Work and Family Issues by Debbie Goldman care subsidies to include low-income and difficult to afford. The average cost working families and parents enrolled in for full-time child care in Massachusetts training programs and raised income is over $5,000 a year ancl parents often he federal government has limits to be eligible for subsidies. wait one to two years for child care slots. been slow to respond to the It is primarily the wealthier states Still, contrast the Massachusetts dramatic changes in work (i.e., Massachusetts, California, Connec situation with the state of Alabama. and family patterns that ticut, and New York) that have taken the There, child care providers, parents, and have taken place over the lead. A contrast between state child care advocates have been fighting an eight pastT twenty years. During the Reagan assistance in Massachusetts and Alaba year battle to maintain even the most years, no major federal initiatives have ma provides a case in point. In 1987, Mas minimal level of funding for state child passed Congress to help families meet sachusetts won the Coalition of Labor care. The fight has been lead by the Fed their needs for economic security, access Union Women's "Hit" award for most eration of Child Care Centers of Alabama to health care, child care and family progress in child care assistance. The (FOCAL), a savvy, gra~sroots coalition leave. state's $100 million initiative includes: that cuts across race and class Jines. "Ala In the absence of federal action, • subsidies for 22,000 low and mod bama legislators consider child care a pri many activists have organized to press erate income children, including 8,000 vate concern," says FOCAL's assistant ure state and local governments to imple children whose parents are enrolled in or director Jack Guillebeaux. "We had to ment new family programs. Across the graduates of the Employment and Train convince our political leaders that child country, broad coalitions have lobbied ing Choices job training program. care was essential for the economic de legislatures and city councils to pass mod • establishment of twelve resource velopment of the state - only then were el legislation. These initiatives provide and referral centers around the state. we able to get child care funding into the successful examples of programs that • an initiative to raise the wages of state budget." work. At the same time, the limitations of child care providers in centers with state Finally, several cities are ex the state and local models demonstrate contracts by 40 percent to $18, 000 a year. perimenting with new funding sources that action is needed at the federal level • provision of child care for state em for child care. Several locales have fol to solve what are essentially national ployees at thirty centers in state facilities lowed the lead set by San Francisco in problems. throughout Massachusetts. 1985 by passing ordinances that require Despite this $100 million effort, child developers to include child care space in Child Care Initiatives care in Massachusetts is still hard to find new buildings or contribute money to a Since 1981, the major federal prog ram providing child care subsidies to low income families, Title XX of the Social square Services Block Grant, has been cut in half (adjusted for inflation). Until the Act for Better Child Care Services was intro duced into Congress earlier this year, Congress had considered no major child care initiative since President Nixon vetoed a child care bill in 1971. Many states and cities have stepped into this vacuum to establish innovative programs to expand the supply of afford able, quality child care. While progress is uneven - twenty-eight states are spend ing less on child care than they did i'n 1981 - model programs in key states and cities demonstrate what can be done. For example, twenty-two states have initi ated or expanded school-based pre-school programs for three, four, and five year olds and thirteen states provide some funding for school-age, after-school care. Several states have expanded state child Child Care Center in Boston, MA. DEMOCRATIC LEFT 9 MAY-JUNE 1988 job security to new parents. According to in the Bay area will receive over $19.5 Resources on Work the Congressional Caucus on Women's million in salary adjustments. Issues, thirty-three states in 1987 either • In the fall ofl987, the state of Ore and Family Issues had or were considering some form of gon distributed $22.6 million in pay equi ty adjustments to 9,000 state workers, National Center for Policy Alterna maternity or parental leave legislation. with raises averaging about $100 a tives, Women's Economic Justice • Five states (California, Hawaii, month. Worker control over how pay Center, 2000 Florida Avenue NW. New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Is equity adjustmenU; would be distributed Washington, DC 20009 (202-387- land) and Puerto Rico require employers 6030). to provide paid leave to new mothers in was a key demand in a brief 1987 strike the form of Temporary Disability Insur waged by the Oregon Public Employees Congressional Caucm1 on Women's ance (TDI). Union!SEIU Local 503. • Four states (Oregon, Minnesota, Issues. 2471 Rayburn Building, Raising the Minimum Wage Rhode Island, and Maine) passed paren Washington, DC 20515 (202-225- The federal minimum wage has been tal leave legislation in 1987 or 1988, pro 6740). stuck al $3.35 an hour since 1981, which victing periods of unpaid leave to new represents a 27 percent drop in purchas fathers and mothers. The period of leave Children's Defeni:;e Fund. State Child ing power after inflation. Raising the ranges from six weeks (in Minnesota) to Care Factbook, 1987, 122 C Street minimum wage is an important first step thirteen weeks (in Rhode Island). Unlike NW, Washington, DC 20001 (202-628- to provide low-wage workers - the the legislation pending before Congress, 8787). $5.95. majority of whom are women - the abil none of these billc; include medical leave. ity to support their families above the • At least seventeen other states re National Coalition on Women, Work poverty level. quire employers to provide job and Welfare Reform, c/o Wider Ten states and the District of Col guaranteed maternity leave. Opportunities for Women, 1325 G St. umbia have taken the lead in raising the In addition, many state and local NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202-638- minimum wage. These are primarily governments provide generous leave 3143). states in the Northeast with booming provisions to their own employees, won economies and low unemployment rates. at the bargaining table or through the National Committee for Pay Equity, • Connecticut raised its minimum legislature. Virtually all major public em 1201 Sixteenth St. !'o.'W. Suite 4.."0. wage floor to $3.75 an hour in October, ployee contracts negotiated by the Ser Washington, DC 20036 (202-822- 1987 and it will go up to $4.25 an hour in vice Employees International Union 7304). October, 1988. (SEIU) and the American Federation of • California minimum wage will go State, County, and Municipal Employees National Black Women's Health Net up to $4. 25 in July of this year as a result (AFSCME) provide at least sue months work, 1237GordonStreet, SW, Atlan of a binding recommendation by that leave to new fathers and mothers. Some ta, GA 30310 (404-75.1-0916). state's Industrial Welfare Commission. go even further. For example, the Sac Legislative efforts to raise the minimum "Insuring the Uninsured: Options for ramento, California Unified School Dis wage hit a stalemate after Governor State Action." available from National trict provides up to two years leave to Deukmajian vetoed the minimum wage Health Care Campaign, rna4 G St new parents. bill. NW, Washington DC 20005 (202-6.'l9- Pay Equity Access to Health Care 8833) or Citizen Action, 1300 Connec In 1986, women earned only 65 per Thirty-seven million Americans lack ticut Avenue NW, Suite 401, cent of male wages, and the wages of health insurance coverage. Of these, thir Washington, DC 20036 (202-857- blacks and Hispanics continued to lag far ty million are workers and their families. 5163). behind that of white men. The federal Despite the mounting health care crisis, government has failed to take even the action on Capitol Hill has been limited. Service Employees International Un most minimal first step - a study of National health insurance is not even on ion, "Work and Family Kit,'' 1313 L St federal job classifications - to provide the agenda, and Senator Kennedy's bill to NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202-898- leadership in the fight for pay equity. require employers to provide minimal 3350). $5 pre-paid. Once again, it is the states and locali health insurance to their workers has ties thatare leading the way. The Nation only three co-sponsors. child care fund. Seattle in 1986 overwhel al Committee on Pay Equity reports that Therefore, most advocates have mingly endorsed a bond levy to fund four in August, 1987 twenty states and count looked lo the stales for action. Mas teen day care centers to be built in the less local jurisdictions had pay equity sachusetts' leads the way, with the re public schools. While the programs will wage systems in place or were im cent passage of Governor Dukakis' initia be operated by non-profit agencies, they plementing new programs. Additional tive requiring employers (beginning in are a first step toward a comprehensive, states and the DL D EMOCRATIC l..EFT 10 MAY-JUNE 1988 DSACTION REPORTS Levine at (212) 962-0390 for more in and the Left by Robert Beauregard, the formation. fourth pamphlet in the 8-pamphlet • Over 2,500 people gathered April 8- • This year's DSA Mid-Atlantic Re Alternatives series, is available. For a lOth for the sixth annual Socialist Scho gional Retreat for DSA activists from subscription to the entire 8-pamphlet lars Conference, the largest and longest Maryland, the District of Columbia, Vir series, send $12.00. For individual pam gathering of its kind in America. This ginia, and Central Pennsylvania will take phlets, send $1.50 each. For bulk orders year's Conference, which was titled place at Notre Dame college in Balti· of twenty or more, the price is $1.00. "Socialist Movements: National and In more, June 24-26th. Contact the Balti Postage is included in all cases. Mail to ternational" featured such notable DSA more DSA office at (301) 467-9424 to reg Analysis and Policy Press (A&PP), Box speakers as Frances Fox Piven, Barbara ister or for more information. 374, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Ehrenreich, Cornet West, and Bogdan • Will you be a delegate at the Democra • Witness To Two Worlds: Salvadoran Denitch. Closing remarks by Michael tic convention in Atlanta, or are you Refugees in Washington, D.C. by Kater Harrington helped to ensure that the fin simply planning on attending the event ine Sciacchitano, a pamphlet produced by al plenary was especially inspiring. on your own? If so, make sure to let the D.C./Maryland chapter of DSA, is Panels and workshops addressed a DSA's field director, Shakoor Aljuwani, now available. The pamphlet looks at Sal range of critical issues, including femin know as soon as possible. Call him at the vadorans displaced by the war and at a ism and psychoanalysis; Jesse Jackson, National Office at (212) 962-0390, or write U.S. foreign policy which denies the de the Rainbow Coalition, and the 1988 elec him at 15 Dutch Street, Suite 500, New velopment needs of third world coun tions; resistance and conflict in the Mid York, NY 10038. He will be in contact tries. To obtain a copy contact the Local dle East; and radical education. The DSA with you prior to the convention, and will at P.O. Box 33345, Washington, D.C. literature table and the Saturday evening fill you in on details about the DSA recep· 20033 (202) 483-3299. reception (at which Barbara Ehrenreich tion that will take place during the con • The Spring issue of Religion and and Michael Harrington spoke) both vention. Socialism features articles on "Religious proved to be tremendously successful: In • Michael Harrington health update: In Socialism on the Supply Side" by Jack addition to distributing large quantities addition to regular treatments of che Spooner, "A Vision for Religious Social of literature, many new members were motherapy, Mike continues to actively ists" by Arthur Waskow, and a debate on recruited to the organization. battle cancer of the esophagus through abortion between Judy Harrow and John • The Democratic Socialist of America his writing: His most recent autobiogra Cort. Subscriptions to the newsletter are Youth Section thirteenth annual Sum· phy, The Long Distance Runner, will be available for $5.00 from 45 Thorton mer Conference for student activists will completed and out in print soon. He has Street, Roxbury, MA 02119. take place August 25-28th at Circle Pines also be doing some public speaking; he • Bulk Orders of Democratic Left are Retreat Center, Kalamazoo, Ml. It will recently spoke at the Socialist Scholars available from the National Office. Send feature workshops and panels on repro Conference and at Union Theological 50 cents for orders of twenty or more to ductive rights, labor and the economy, Seminary's annual reunion; He will be 15 Dutch Street, Suite 500, New York, domestic racism, and the 1988 elections. participating in the Religion and Social NY 10038. For more information and to register for ism Congress over Memorial Day the conference, contact Elissa McBride, Weekend in Chicago, plans on attending Youth Organizer, (212) 962-0390. the Democratic convention in July, and Moving? • The first annual DSA East Coast Re will be the recipient of the Sidney Hill Please send both your old mailing label gional Economic Justice Media Train man Foundation award in New York on and your new address to: ing will take place in Philadelphia, June May 19th. DEMOCRATIC LEFT ll-12th. Activists from Philadelphia, 15 Dutch Street, #500 New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut RESOURCES New York, NY 10038 will gather to learn how to articulate a Allow 4-6 weeks for processing. radical economic agenda to the mass • The Center for Social Studies Educa media. For more information or to regis tion recently published the nation's first ter for the seminar, contact Sherri secondary school curriculum on the Vie~ Levine at the DSA office, (212) 962-0390. nam War, The Lessons of the Vietnam SAVE THE DATE • You can still sign-up for the DSA War: A Modular Textbook. Jerold Starr, Feminst Commission Retreat, "Charting the book's editor, is also a longstanding A 60th Birthday Tribute Our Future: Socialist Women and Our DSA member. To order, send $29.95 for a to Feminst Agenda," June 18-19th at Ober teacher edition or $24.95 for a student lin College, Oberlin, OH. Join women edition to Center for Social Studies Michael Harrington from across the country as we plan an Education, 115 Mayfair Drive, Pitt action agenda for the feminist commis sburgh, PA 15228. Thursday, June 30, 1988 sion for the 1980s and beyond. Call Sherri • Gentrification, Strategic Initiatives, DEMOCRATIC LEFT 11 MAY-JUNE 1988 DSACTION ness. An upcoming membership meet local library from installing South ing will focus on education on the African granite. national scene. A tremendously suc Maine cessful fundraiser was organized by DSAer Harlan Baker, a 10-year the Local to support DSA member member of the Maine Legislature, Bernie Demczuk's campaign as a Jack also lectures in public speaking at the by HARRY FLEISCHMAN son delegate. University of Southern Maine, where Jlti11()1s he is a member of the American Fed Alaaka Chicago DSA held the 30th eration ofTeacherR Part-Time Facul Alaska DSA was represented by annual Norman Thomas - Eugene V. ty Association. Because of his work, John Dunken of Juneau at the 15th Debs Dinner May 7th, honoring Joe says the AFT's On Campus, county annual convention of the Yukon New Jacobs, pioneer union lawyer, and employees can bargain collectively, Democratic Party. Juneau DSA, Saul Mendelson, Teachers Union employees can expect to be given two which meets at noon, the first friday of organizer and long time socialists months notification of plant closings, every month, recently held their sixth activist. The dinner awards were pre and workers have clear guidelines to annual May Day party.... In interior sented by Deborah Meier, DSAer and becoming cooperative ownerR of the Alaska, despite a serious financial renowned educator. DSAers Carl businesses for which they work. crunch, Fairbanks voters rejected a Shier and Stanley Rosen were among proposal to turn the Borough transit Maryland the speakers at a series of forums on Howard County DSA's April system over to private enterprise. "Work and Jewish Chicago" held in The fight was led by DSAer Mary meeting focu~sed on "The Economici; April and May. Shier, a retired UAW of ProtectioniRm and the 1988 Elec Hamilton. For information on Alaska representative, spoke on ''The Jewish DSA, contact state secretary Dick tions." .... Baltimore DSA's April Radical Tradition," and Rosen, a pro meeting discussed "Building the Next Farris, P.O. Box80646, College, Alas fessor of Labor and Industrial Rela ka 99708. New Left - a Discussion of Student tions at the University of illinois, Politics." On April 30th, Baltimore Arkanaaa spoke on "The Role of Socialist Zion DSA held a Middle Eastern DSA fun The April 14th opening program ism in Shaping Community Attitudes draising dinner for over one hundred of the Arkansas Historical Associa Towards Work." people at the home of Laila Atallah tion, devoted to Ea.c:;t Arkansas Delta lou.n and Lou Curran. The film, Tlze. Gfobal Hi.story, featured a showing of Our The March issue of United Voice, Assembly U11e, followed by a talk Land Too: The Legacy ofthe Southern the newsletter of Local 12, AFSCME, from the film's producer, Maria Fer TenantFanners Union (STFU), with features an article on Steward Kim nandez Kelly, was shown at the Prog comments by H.L. Mitchell, a DSA Jones, an active DSA member in Iowa ressive Action Center as part of Balti member and the union's founder. City, who talks on his frustration that more DSA's co-sponsored women's California the U.S. is the only industrialized na film series. Local activists are actively The Los Angeles Local and the tion where democratic socialism has working with the Justice Campaign to Socialist Community School honored not been accepted widely by the labor help secure passage of a Gay Civil Chuck Sohner, one of California's movement .... Barbara Ehrenreich re Rights bill in City Council. foremost labor educators, at this cently drew a crowd of250 at the Iowa Masaachuaetta year's May Day celebration. Local 660 Memorial Union. "Eyes on Justice," This year's Boston Eugene Debs of the Service Employees Internation an interview with Ehrenreich, will be N orman Thomas dinner will honor al Union l'ent a letter of thanks to the aired on a local Iowa radio program three local anti-poverty and , ocial jus Los Angeles DSA for its help on the throughout May. tice activi~t.o:;, and Michael Harring picket line in its successful struggle to Kanscu ton, National DSA co-chair. The Bos help the registered nurses win their Barbara Ehrenreich recently ton DSA's softball team, the DSOX, strike in county hospitals .... National gave such an inspiring presentation at are gearing up for spring training, DSA co-chair Barbara Ehrenreich Kansas State University, that stu with their fin;t practice already sche spoke to the Political Caucus of Holly dents and members from that com duled. The Labor support group of the wood Women. In attendance were munity are committed to forming a Boston Local continues to play an ac Barbara Streisand and other film new DSA chapter. tive role in the Harvard Union of Cler luminarieR .... Virginia Franco and ical and Technical Workers union Eleanor Richmond of the San Diego Ktnt11rk11 Local were integrally involved in drive. "Glasnost: Change in the Soviet Kentucky DSA showed a video Union" is the name •of an upcoming organizing a ma.o.sive Labor for Jack tape of Barbara Ehrenreich debating forum where Bogdan Denitch, DSA son fundraiser and rally. Communist Party leader Gus Hall on National Executive Committee mem Diltrict of Columbu1 the Donahue show at its April mem ber, and Judy Hempfling, a board The Washington/Maryland DSA bership meeting. DSA activists have member of Campaign for Peace and Local has joined the National Cam been instrumental in organizing a Democracy East and West, will paign to End Hunger and Homeless- community-\\ide campaign to block a speak. DEMOCRATIC LEFT 12 MAY·)UNE 1988 DSACTION Missauri anti-war speech in Canton, which Congress on Religion The Kansas City Local celebrated caused his arrest .... Cleveland and Policies: May Day by kicking-off DSA member DSAers were heavily involved in Wade Hannon's campaign for fifth organizing around Jesse Jackson's Theologies Ward Democratic committeeperson campaign ... On March 30th, the DSA of Peace Oregorr Washington University Local heard Portland DSA activist Beverly Bob Corbett, Webster University and Justice profes,-or and director of the People to Stein is running a well-organized cam paign for State Representative. Chicago Theological 11 People Project, discuss "The End of the Democratic Dream in Haiti." A Drawing on her support from such Seminary organizations as the Rainbow Coali three-part. series on "Justice in the tion, DSA, and the Oregon Women's May 27-30, 1988 Workplace" was held at Washington University in St. Louis under the au Political Caucus, Stein is waging an aggressive, grassroots campaign. Plenary Speakers: spices of the DSA Local and Washing Jesse Jackson t on University Labor Organizing Pninsylvania Michael Harrington Committee. Rosemary R. Ruether Pittsburgh DSA hosted a "Rain BonganJalo Goba New Hampshire bow party" at the University of Pitt Come! West sburgh's Intercultural House, where a The New Hampshire chapter of Arthur Waskow member of the local Rainbow Coali t he N alional Association of Social James Cone tion spoke. A Media Action Project Jim Wallis Workers honored DSAer Earl Bour has recently been initiated by activists Mart.in Marty don as "Citizen of the Year" at its John Cort annual awards dinner. The New throughout the Local. Pittsburgh DSAers were critically involved in all Rebecca Chopp Hampshire BusinesR Review in its aspects of Jesse Jackson's primary Harvey Cox February/March issue spotlighted Michael Lerner campaign .... DSA's organizational Bourdon's TV ads supporting Jesse Schubert Ogden director Patrick Lacefield spoke to a Jackson as proving "that this state is Robert Aitken Roshi as capable of seriously consideting a meeting of the Central Pennsylvania DSA Local on DSA's priorities for For conference information black candidate as any place, be it Chi please contact: cago or the South." 1988. The Local recently voted to affiliate with the Pennsylvania Public ReJigion & Politics Congress Nevada Interest Coalition ... Philadelphia DSA Rm 1201, 1608 N. Milwaukee, Mayana Lea, a DSAer from Los organized a tremendously successful Chicago, IL 60647 Vegas, has been nominated to be a slide presentation on Vietnam, at (312) 252-1686 Jackson delegate to the State conven which DSA members shared their ex tion, and hopes to increase DSA visi periences from a recent visit to that bility throughout the area. country. An upcoming forum will fea ture Tom Cronin, president of N~w York AFSCME, D. C. 47, speaking on privi A Daily News survey found tization. DSAer Ruth Messinger the best City Council member in New York City. Tmnuaee She got top marks for intelligence, de A unity picnic marked May Day in dication, concern for citywide issues, Nashville this year, as activists If and her willingne~s to take unpopular gathered to celebrate working men stands.... New York DSA held its and women thr oughout the state. Mochaet Hamngtoo Harold MO)'Ofson annual convention April 30th to elect W.itoam Julo>s Witoon - Sltinfats officers. The morning plenary session Te-xas ._. Htwtzb9tg Reaht F..., featured Ruth Messinger speaking on Statewide organizing for t he Botbara 9e DEMOCRATIC LEn 13 MAY-JUNE 1988 Directory of DSA Locals and Organizing Committees Albany DSA Local, Martin Gawoski, 518-436-0670, 129 Dove St., Albany, NY 12202. Albuquerque Local, Mary Burke, 505-345-1394, 3120 Glenwood Dr., Apt. 1, NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Ann Arbor DSA Local, P.O. Box 7211, Eric Ebel, 313- 662-4497, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Atlanta DSA O.C., John Studstill, 404-378-1490, 119 S. Donough St., Decatur, GA 30030. Austin DSA Local, Larry Braden, 512-444-5797, 1408 Yz C Nikerson, Austin, TX 78704. Baltimore DSA Local, Laila Atallah, 301-467-9388, 1443 Gorsuch Ave., Baltimore, MD 21218. Black Swamp DSA Local, Wally Smith, 419-867-0801, 6493 Garden Rd. , Maumee, OH 43537. Boise DSA Local, James Holden, 208-343-2838, P.O. Box 9424, Boise, ID 83707. Boston DSA Local, Eric Bove, 617-426-9026, 186A-188 South St., Boston, MA 02111-9922. Carbondale DSA O.C., E.G. Hughes, 618-549-1409, P.O. Box 2701, Carbondale, IL 67902. Central KY DSA Local, Jim Ryder, 606-263-1973, 3351 Cove Lake Dr. # 53, Lexington, KY 40502. Central PA DSA Local, George Demshock, 717-652-3331, P.O. Box 80, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Chicago DSA Local, Tom Wakely, 312-384-0327, 1608 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647-5412. Cleveland DSA Local, Randy Cunningham, 216-932-2827, 3314 E. Overlook, Cleveland Hts., OH 44118. Danville DSA Local, Brian Mitchell, 217-431-8251 1002 Glenwood, Danville, IL 61832. Dayton DSA Local, Tim Cissner, 513-275-2907, 1215 Harvard Blvd, Dayton, OH 45406. DC/Maryland DSA Local, Lisa Foley, 202-328-9117, 3205 Adams Mill Rd., Washington, DC 20010. Detroit DSA Local, Roger Robinson, 313-352-6519, 23245 Hunters La. , Southfield, MI 48034. East Bay DSA Local, John Katz, 415-653-4644, 585 62nd St., Oakland, CA 94609. Fairbanks DSA Local, Richard Farris, 907-479-8516, Box 80967, Fairbanks, AK 99708. Grand Rapids DSA O.C., Anthony Travis, 616-454-5192, 29 College Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Hartford DSA Local, Harry Siebert, 203-232-4178, 61 Tremont, Hartford, CT 06105. Houston DSA Local, Jerry Lynch, 713-864-3689, 3220 Louisiana , Houston, TX 77006. Howard County DSA Local, Bob Feldman, 301-381-0727, 7205 Talisman Ln., Columbia, MD 21045. Iowa City DSA Local, Kim Jones, 319-351-6094, 2023 9th St., Coralville, IA 52241. Ithaca DSA Local, Theresa Alt, 607-273-3009, 206 Eddy, Ithaca, NY 14850. Juneau DSA Local, John Dunken, 907-586-4409, 609 Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801. Kansas City DSA O.C., Wade Hannon, 816-753-2219, P.O. Box 32063, Kansas, MO 64111. Keene DSA O.C., J oan Roelofs, 69 Beaver St., Keene, NH 03431. Kent DSA Local, Ken Calkins, 491 Stinaff St., Kent, OH 44240. Los Angeles DSA Local, Steve Tarzynski, DSA office 213- 385-0605, 2936 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA 90005. Mahoning Valley DSA O.C., Allan Curry, 216-534-9327, 117 Caroline Ave., Hubbard, OH 44425. Marin DSA Local, Gianna Easson, 37 Clorinda St., San Rafael, CA 94901. Nashua DSA O.C., Tom Wall, 603-889-0049, 22 Meade St., Nashua, NH 03063. Nashville DSA Local, Jean Harrington, 615-227-3945, 1510 Franklin Ave., Nashville, TN 37206. Nassau DSA Local, Charlie Russell, 516-423-3760, 107 Jackson Ave., Huntington, NY 11743. New Brunswick DSA Local, R. Greene LevitUB. Volonte, 201-249-7581, P.O. Box 10405, New Brunswick, NJ 08873. NYC DSA Local, Steve Oliver, 212-962-1079, 15 Dutch St. Suite 500, New York, NY 10038. North Virginia DSA Local, P.O. Box 286, Bobbie Robbins, 203-435-8624, Arlington, VA 22210. Palo Alto DSA Local, Carolyn Curtis, 415-364-6124, 645 East View Bay, Redwood City, CA 94062. Orlando DSA O.C., John Hedrick, 305-894-9579, P.O. Box 1613, Orlando, FL 32802. Philadelphia DSA Local, Bob Hoffman, CIO Summit Church, Green & Westview, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Pittsburgh DSA Local, Rob Shepherd, 412-823-8500, 362 Princeton Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Portland DSA Local, Melvin Bell, 503-289-4642, 1804 Simpson, Portland, OR 97217. Princeton DSA Local, Henrietta/Bernie Backer, 609-683- 1853, 81 Moore Ave., Princeton, NJ 08540. Reading-Berks DSA Local, Bob Millar, 215-944-0991, RD4 Box 4482A, Fleetwood, PA 19522. Sacramento DSA Local, P.O. Box 162394, Duane Campbell, 916-361-9072, Sacramento, CA 95816. St. Louis DSA Local, Danny Kohl, 314-327-2670, 742 Trinity , St. Louis, MO 63130. San Diego DSA Local, Virginia Franco, 619-276-6023, 5122 Gardena Ave., San Diego, CA 92110. San Fransisco DSA LocaJ, Robert Lehman, 415-821-1502, 1022-B Shotwell, San Francisco, CA 94110. Seattle DSA O.C., Rich Smith, P.O. Box 1182, Bothe!, WA 98041. San Antonio Local, Sylvia Romo, 526 W. Kings Highway, 512-733-4248, San Antonio TX 78212. Sonoma County DSA Local, David Walls, 707-823-7403, 943 Mc Farlane Ave., Sebastopol, CA 95472. Southern MS DSA O.C., William & Judy Johnson, 601-474- 2813, 4606 Parkinson Ave., Moss Point, MS 39563. Suffolk County DSA Local, Hugh Cleland, 516-751-0340, 528 Pond Path, Setauket, NY 11733. Twin Cities DSA Local, Corbin Kidder, 612-227-5171, 442 Summit Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55102. Utah DSA Local, P.O. B-0x 395, Mary Reddick, 801-531- 6233, Salt Lake City, UT 84110. Westchester DSA Local, Alfred Greenberg, 914-834-9405, 55 Chatsworth Ave, Larchmont, NY 10538. Wichita DSA Local, Jim Philips, 316-681-1469, 2841 E. Kinkaid, Wichita, KS 67211. D EMOCRATI C LEFT 14 M AY·JUNE 1988 The End of the Cold War? U.S. Politics and the INF Treaty by Paul Jo~eph tal level continue to improve while the termine which path is followed. 1''or bet remarkable spread of sub-government ter or worse, we will soon live in a world contacts between citizens and diverse without any U.S. or Soviet ground e stand now at a key organizations of both nations is deepened launched mis1:1ile:; \\;th a range of be historical moment in and institutionalized. The chances for re tween 300 and :l,500 miles. The question which the proper com solving regional conflicts in Afghanistan, is how this fact will be interpreted, and bination of actions can Kampuchea, and Central America are what impact the interpretation will have lead to an entirely new nurtured, and more space is carved out on the political, economic, and social internationalW situation. The signing and for the autonomous play of indigenous trends that produced INF in the first almost certain ratification of the INF political forces within each area. A more place. treaty between the United States and independent and diverse Europe contri What then is the significance of Soviet Union may lead, over the next butes to a multipolar world. And con INF? Skeptics point out that the treaty decade, to the dismantling of the Cold tinued democratic restructuring within covers only 2,000 out of more than 50,000 War and the emergence of new global the Soviet Union - important in its own U.S. and Soviet warheads. Virtually all structures that permit both a more Re right -enhances the possibility for prog of the targets now assigned to the Per cure peace and a more open political, eco ressive change eb1ewhere, particularly shing Ils, GLCMs. SS-4s, and SS 20s can nomic, and :social agenda within most na within the United States. be covered by other nuclear weapon sys tions. The circumstances suri·ounding At the same time, there can be no tems. Thousands of nuclear warheads re INF do not guarantee such a positive de guarantee that events will adhere to the main in Europe, and each side continues velopment, but the contrast with the pes lines sketched above. In what follows, I to harbor the elaborate social system, simism of five years ago is stdking. outline the possibilities that emanate ideology, manufactw·ing infrastructure, The optimistic scenado runs some from INF, the underlying social factors and scientific resources that constitute thing like thi:;: INF is followed by an that helped produce the treaty, and the the "nuclear establishment." equitable STA RT agreement that signifi potential obstacles that might undermine While factually correct, these argu cantly reduces the number of :;trategic the positive trend and revive the shib ments miss the central point: the INF is a launcher:; and warheacls, while constrain boleths of the Cold War. major step away from strategies that ing modernization and preserving rough embrace the political and military utility parity between Washington and .Moscow. P ros and Cons of nuclear weapons. Intermediate-range U.S.-Soviet relations at the governmen- The INF treaty will not by itself de- missiles signalled the potential, no mat- A . PEAC£ -~~~ ( ( f ·;•• ;, -0 .-. .·." .~:a~,,,.,~ ....., ...... >tw. ···~···~ "~ ~ The Ribbon Project demonstration in Washington, D.C. DEMOCRATIC LEFT 15 MAY·)UNE 1988 ter how remote in actuality, of conduct Another intriguing aspect of the cur to the need for illegal actions to circum ing limited nuclear war. Rationalist doc rent situation is the increase in sub vent congressional aid restrictions won trines assuming that nuclear weapons are government U .S.-Soviet contacts, or by anti-intervention forces. The cir ''big artillery,'' differing only in degree what is sometimes called Track II di cumstances are similar to the Watergate from other types of weapons, have re plomacy. U.S. travel to the Soviet Union scandal and the War Powers Act, both of ceived a major shock. A key sector on the has quadrupled during the 1980s. Many which were rooted in the anti-war move "ladder of escalation" has been removed recreational ventures, such as joint ment of the sixties. from the NATO military· doctrine of mountain climbing teams, have been We can also detect a significant shift "flexible response," and the nuclear established. Students are visiting the among professional strategists. Adhe "menu of options" has lost a course. The Soviet Union in greater numbers, as are rents of MAD ("mutually assured des actual configuration of nuclear forces is performing artists. Contacts and ex truction") are currently much stronger now a step closer to reality, namely that changes within the professions are also than supporters of counterforce. Space they are good only for inflicting mutual increasing: Harvard Business School is has opened on the dovish end of the main devastation. The removal of the Pershing sending a team to study Soviet decision stream policy spectrum. Respected Ils, which the Soviets feared would facili making in critical economic enterprises. strategists and policy-makers now dis tate a "decapitation" strike, also im The precise significance of these more cuss and give legitimacy to the posture of proves stability. On a deeper level, INF numerous opportunities for U.S. and minimal deterrence and a strategic does not simply block a nuclear weapons Soviet citizens to meet each other face-to arsenal with approximately one thousand system, or hold one at a particular ceil face in a broad range of settings is diffi warheads on each side. Indeed, save for ing, but actually removes a system after cult to ascertain. But five more years of the most conservative periodicals de deployment. Finally, the precedents still-deeper contacts will make it all but voted to strategic issue::;, it is rare to find established in the verification procedures impossible to reconstruct Cold War hosti a flat--0ut defense of the military and poli are important for future negotiations. lities at the popular level. tical utility of nuclear weapons. Organized peace movements are not This combination of changed public INF and U.S. Opinion as visible as they were five years ago, yet attitudes, the latent power of the peace Why do U.S. politics now support a their influence remains important. Peace movement, and the shift in strategic fundamental shift in military posture and activists have played an important role in thinking had created something like a U.S.-Soviet relations? American opinion lobbying, educating, and occasionally "nuclear Vietnam-syndrome." Vietnam has changed significantly over the past electing members of Congress. As a re left a legacy of public hostility to the five years. Support for defense spending sult, Congress, while not itself a propo further use of U.S. ground troops in prot has declined and Americans are now nent of a new world order or even of racted (more than a week) direct engage more likely to identify strength with a significantly changed attitudes, reflects ment against an opponent who will inflict renewed economy, rather than a robust the varied social forces that are bringing significant casualties (more than a hun military. Fewer people accept the "evil about the post-Cold War era. While con dred). Though somewhat inchoate, this empire" images that equate, in terms of siderable work remains, the educational sentiment has nonetheless served as an the danger posed by an adversary, Mos efforts of tens of thousands of local peace effective constraint on policy, and the cow with Hitler's Germany. The Soviet activists have helped produce a change in Reagan administration has been unable Union still does not enjoy the mystery public awareness. The latent influence of to reverse it. In a similar fashion, it is and attraction that China holds in our the peace movement is also significant. difficult to imagine, for nuclear weapon popular culture, but die-hard attitudes Government officials are aware of the ry, the recrPation of a political coalition are now Jess prevalent. The majority of opposition that will rally against any devoted to strategic modernization, im Americans, while certainly not embrac overt attempt to once again achieve proved counterforce, and meaningful su ing the Soviet way oflife, are nonetheless strategic superiority. periority. more inclined towards a pragmatic The peace movement has had an in One of the most intriguing aspects of approach that allows for substantially im direct influence as well. The Reagan the situation is that the next U.S. presi proved relations and the resolution of administrations' attempt to salvage its dent, whether Democrat or Republican, common problems. reputation through renewed arms con will have to swim in that sea. Even in the trol efforts, in the aftermath of Iran/ circumstances of a polarized presidential Significantly, Gorbachev enjoys a contra revelations, may be traced in turn Continued on page 18. two-to-one approval rating in the United States. The success of the Gorbachev re forms may lead to still more openness among Americans. Indeed, the inter dependence of U.S. and Soviet political futures is such that progressive domestic change here may depend on measured progress in perestroika in the Soviet Un ion. A significant restructuring in domes tic priorities, a hundred billion dollar re duction in the defense budget, or a prog ram of economic revitalization can take place only in a global environment that does not contain powerful enemies. D EMOCRATIC LEFT 16 MAY-JUNE 1988 Who is the Foreign Competition? by Steve il.fax olden Arches in Moscow? Yes! The Soviets will say goodbye to lunches of black bread and radishes when twenty McDonald's openG in their capital. Is it progress or decadence? The question is too subjective to answer, but the agreement between McDonald's Restaurants of Canada and the Moscow City Council tells us more about American corporations than about glasnost. International joint ventures are part of a larger pattern that is chang ing the way corporations do business. The results have serious implications for our jobs, wages, and family life. They also affect our approaches to trade policy. But policy makers have not caught on to the new realities. The New York Times reported, after Good Year firm located in South Africa the Senate recently voted on a new trade bill:"... the United States will play the for foreign markets. For example, a Chrysler/Mitsubishi/Hyundi; Cru·ysler/ game of ... making it tougher for foreign typical New York Times report on the Samsung, and Chrysler/Maserati. competition to take business from domes auto industry notes: General Electric boasts of more than a tic companies." But who is the foreign " The Pontiac division of hundred such partnerships; IBM, GM, competition and which are the domestic General Motors is expected to in AT&T, and Xerox each have a dozen or companies? In this era of joint ventures troduce a model. .. manufactured by more. Since 1980, AT&T has taken on and international mergers, a real distinc Daewoo of Korea, even though it partners in the Netherlands, Italy, tion is often missing. Today, many Amer will bear the familiar LeMans Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. ican multinational corporations are label. [G.M. owns half of Daewoo. Other uartnerships include: Boeing/ American in name only. The headquar The Korean LeMans is already on Mitsubishi, Corning/Cieba-Geigy, Ford/ ters building may be in New York or the market, and as of this writing Measurex, Kodak/Cetus, 3M/Harris, and Bonn, but the corporation acts like a Daewoo workers were on strike. - U .S.X./Pohang Steel. separate independent nation. S.M.J ... Volkswagen will bring in When American corporations go in Carlos Di Benedetti, the head of the the Fox, a small car manufactured search of cheap products to sell at home, Olivetti corporation described the end of in Brazil. [The V. W. Westmorland, the results are almost always harmful to the era ofnational corporations this way, PA plant is closing. The Brazilian our economy. A recent Wall Street Jour "The concept of the multinational is pas plant is a partnership with Ford. - nal article datelined Taiwan illustrates se, you can find success today only S.M.] And in Canada where Hyun the point: through alliances that place you simul di has been a best seller ... com " .. . very few Taiwanese com taneously in every global market." He petition will soon come from the panies export ... to the U.S. In ought to know, he doesn'tjust make type For d Tracer made by Ford's stead Americans come here to . .. writers. He makes the computers that Taiwanese affiliate, Ford Lio Ho." send back to the U.S., under AT&T sells in America. It doesn't sound like the American American brand names, every Increasingly, competition for mar team is out fighting the competition. It thing from cheap shoes to consum kets goes on between alliances of Amer sounds like it is the competition. Here are er electromcs. If the Taiwanese ican and foreign companies working some of the recent auto industry alliances don't make something, U.S. com together against other alliances of Amer or partnerships: G.M./Toyota; G.M./ panies help them get ~tarted, and ican and foreign companies. These Daewoo; G.M./Isuzu; G.M./Lotus; Ford/ many American companies operate mixed-nation alliances compete for por Mazda; Ford/ Mazda/Kia; Ford/ their own Taiwanese factories sole tions of the American market as well as Volkswagen; Chrysler/Mitsubishi; ly to ship products back home." DEMOCRATIC LEFT 17 MAY-JUNE 1988 American corporations are not calls for a new response from people like In considering this question, we rec acting any differently from Japanese or ourselves. In the years when the Third ognize that for the near future the United European companies. Indeed, there is a World was essentially a source of cheap States (as well as the Soviet Union) will worldwide interpenetration of corporate raw materials for American industry, have a large military budget. The United enterprise, which, in some respects, is Americans really did enjoy a higher stan States and (to a lesser degree) the Soviet making national boundaries obsolete. By dard of living because of lower foreign Union have significant economic, politic 1989 Japan will have increased its own wages. Understanding this, working al, and bureaucratic interests tied to the offshore production of electronic equip people often supported a foreign policy maintenance of those budgets at as high ment from 10 percent to 25 percent. aimed at maintaining that. wage differ levels as possible. This is the most signifi National boundaries fade before the ence. Today, it. is in our most. immediate cant obstacle to change. new internationalization of production. A self-interest to have our government im We should also recognize that INF flood of Europeans has been buying up plement a foreign policy aimed at raising may be the catalyst for new conventional American corporations. Hanson Trust Third World living standards. This "full weaponry. Under one set of circumst buys SCM, British Prudential buys Jack employment foreign policy" includes ances, a START treaty and a U.S. dec son National Life, Bretelsmann buys withdrawal of support from repressive laration of "no first use" may produce a Doubleday, Siemans buys GTE. Thomp governments I.hat hinder unions, partial perceived need for additional non-nuclear son S.E. (a French nationalized com debt forgiveness, and added tariffs on expenditures, especially as long as the pany) buys the entire consumer electro products from corporations that don't myth of Soviet conventional military su nics division of General Electric. observe minimum labor rights and stan periority is accepted. This is clearly the Five Hundred Japanese companies dards. This is key to reducing Third fallback position for the traditional are now manufacturing in America. Busi World wage competition with us, as well Atlanticists in the wake of INF. Another ness Week predicts that by 1990, with as making it possible for Third World possible substitute is European missiles Honda in the lead, Japanese companies in workers to actually buy the products produced and operated jointly by France America will be producing more cars than they make, in addition to some made and Germany. (French defense minister Chrysler. Meanwhile, G.M. steps up its here. Andre Giraud denounced INF as a own imports of Korean cars. Now which Ironically, while business is now "European Munich.") is the foreign competitor? achieving greater internationalization, it Finally, at the top level of the Re Blind to these changes, American is also inadvertently creating the basis publican party motivation for arms con policy makers continue to ask in what for a new community of interest among trol is limited to only short-term pres country a company's headquarters is lo working people the world over. To turn idential interests rather than a broader cated, instead of where are its products this opportunity into real cooperation and understanding of its role in preserving actually made? This confusion suits unity however, requires an organized the national self-interest. Yet the belli American multinationals as they in effort attacking the old myths and clar cosity of Republicans (and mainstream creasingly abandon domestic manufac ifying the new reality. • Democrats, for that matter) may be kept turing, and distribute products made in check by business interests which do elsewhere. Of course, many countries do Steve Max is a longthne DSA activist not support the continuation of the Cold have greater trade restrictions than who works for the Midwest Academy. War. In fact, the current fragility of the ours, but as long as the specter of unfair stock market helps dictate a ceiling to the and sneaky foreigners dominates the dis INF military budget. Some corporations are cussion, the fact that many "American" Continued from page 16. once again tentatively exploring the pos companies are now part of the problem race, it is difficult to conceive of Bush sibilities of new markets in the Soviet will be ignored. berating Jackson about being "soft on the Union. The changing role of multinational Russians." Improved relations between Readjustment always involves corporations in the economy raises new the superpowers and a strategic arms bumps and bruises. The importance of policy issues for socialists and progres pact seen to be on everyone's political maintaining a base line of stability be sives. The first is how to move the debate agenda. Even Secretary of State George tween the superpowers through the arms away from the notion that there is a loyal Shultz speaks of the need to recognize control process is very clear, yet we must American corporate team out there fight "new realities." Questions remain only also recognize that the opportunity for ing foreigners and protecting jobs. One about pace and specifics. fundamental change is now quite real. answer is legislation requiring that each In economic, political, and military The polls are clear: Americans want to be product. carry a label revealing the per terms, the United States has dominated "number one" again, but in ways that centage of foreign parts and materials. the post-World War II order. That era is indicate new openness as to how this goal Beyond that, a new approach to trade now coming to an end without any clear might be achieved. The possibility of policy is needed, one that regulates indi signs of future structure and leadership being both strong and cooperative is vidual multinationals, foreign and Amer save for the fact that the United States clearly present. It is om· challenge to help ican, as if they were independent coun and Soviet Union will continue to play define how we can achieve our national tries, and that checks on their corporate major roles of some kind. Historically, interests within the context of continuing trade balance with America. Is the com superpowers have not easily made neces to lower the nuclear threat, preserving pany taking more out of our economy sary adjustments in their position. The peace, and encouraging more equitable than it's putting in? That parasitic activ question then arises whether the United international economic growth. e ity can be stopped by trade restrictions, States will join the list of those for whom case by case. military adventurism has accompanied Paul Joseph, a DSA member, teaches Most important, the new situation their loss of status. Sociology at Tufts University. D EMOCRATIC LEFT 18 MAY-JUNE 1988 The Pro-Family Agenda: Co-Existing with the Bohemian Left by 1H arty :Jezer 'm to address the question of a pro-family agenda from a coun tercultural perspective. As one who, many years ago, went to the woods to live communally andI reinvent family life, I approach the subject somewhat humbly. I'm part of a nuclear family now. My perspective has chanJ!'ed, more ~o than my politics, but in this disrussion of family issues, we are not quarreling over political substance, I hope. Justice demands subsidized day care, Head Start programs, parental leave. better services for the elderly, more funding for schools, tax relief for parents. accessible family planning, programs to deal with violence against women and children, and other farnily related programs. We also need social ized health care, a higher minimum wage, a shorter workweek, and a guaranteed income or something similar to ensure economic security and social support for every American regardless of family status. Demographic trends dictate a broad and economic security. Does the pro But this begs the question: Do we definition of family. The nuclear family is family agenda advance these goals? Or dress these demands as family issues and no longer the norm. Those of us with does it incite theoretical arguments that take theoretical positions on family life or count~rcultural ideals, who railed against encourage divisiveness? do we let them stand on their O\\!Jl, advo the nuclear family years ago, can take no For all of its furor, the right's family cating them because they are just and credit for its decline. Changing economic agenda hasn't got very far. And the pow wise? and social conditions, not ideological pre er of the right is starting to wane The right was the first to make the ferences, did it in. (though, down the road and in another family one of its rallying cries. For them, We'll do better advocating concrete guise, it's surely going to reassert itself). "pro-family" represents a rear-guard ac programs than theoretical ideas. The Provoking the right in a battle over the tion to glorify the p~t; Father Knows "pro-family" ideology is a hornets' nest of definition of family would unify it as it Best, the patriarchal nuclear family as contention. What constitutes family? Un fractionalizes us. But this is stating the the American norm. At its core, howev married women with children? Gay cou c~e against the "pro-family" agenda de er, is a far more sinister design. The ples who want to raise children? Gay cou fensively, as a caution against a resur right's notion of family is anti-feminist, ples who want to marry? Heterosexual gent right. The crux of the matter is, do anti-gay, pro-patriarchy, and pro couples who don't want to marry? Ex we need it? Does it advance the spirit of hierarchy. tended families that include ex-spouses tolerance and concrete programmatic Do we want to wrestle with the right and collective offspring? The permuta goals'? over the definition of family in that putrid tions are boggling, and some of them Those on the left who have been puddle? Just as the left should be taking would destroy a broad-based pro-family most assertive in promoting family issues the lead as advocates for the elderly, for coalition. We should stand for the right of have been fixating on the past as much as children (the rights of the just born), and any person or persons to live peacefully they have been looking to the future: parents. it should be unwavering in its any way they want to. And we should trying to counter the right (at its peak) by commitment to gay rights, abortion fight for programs that give all Amer making amends for the excesses of the rights, and similar issues that the right icans, regardless of sexual or family pre 1960s. I agree that the left's libertine considers ''anti-family." ference, an equal right to social support agenda of the late 1960s and early 1970s D EM OCRATIC LEFT 19 M AY-JUNE 1988 trashed the American family and gave ists and leaders of the anti-war move National Health Care Campaign) even to the right an opportunity to organize ment believed their views about sex and win small victories. working-class constituencies around family would offend working-class follow • Washington state adopted an in issues of family life. And I agree, also, ers. Bourgeois feminists also kept them surance plan to offer coverage on an ex that we can attract working-class fami at a distance. The only support they got perimental basis to 30,000 uninsured re lie.s to our progre&;ive banner by cham was from bohemian men who discarded sidents. Wiscoru;in has a similar program pioning issues of family life. The pro the feminist ideology and transformed targeted at 9,000 uninsured residents. family agenda is, in this sense, a back "free love" into sexual freedom, an equal • Several small cities in the San door to class politics. The astonishing opportunity to get laid and errjoy it (a Francisco Bay area joined together to success of Jesse Jackson, who is per change not to be slighted given the form a regional health pool, reducing ceived co1Tectly as socially conservative staying power of sexual repression). Ex health care costs by 20 percent while im - especially on issues of youth and drugs cept for the fact that men are no longer in proving coverage for their employees. - verifies this. a position to define feminism, the left These small, piecemeal victories American radicalism has always nur hasn't changed. It still faces a dilemma: If make it clear that only a comprehensive, tured (in reference to its origins) a bohe it pushes a bohemian agenda of social ex universal, national health care plan will mian left. A cauldron of activist politics, perimentation, it frightens away families provide a cost-effective method to pro alternative lifestyles, and avant-garde who value security above all else. (And vide health care for all Americans. expression, it runs like an unruly cur the bohemian appeal to affluent youth rent, sometimes paralleling, often over rarely translates into lasting political Family Policy is a Public Issue lapping, and occa..-.ionally, as during the gain). But if it tries to distance itself from Until recently, most Americans late 1960s and early 1970s, swamping the bohemian radicalism it loses a creative have regarded family issues as private programmatic and working-class orienta liberatory force and diminishes itself in concerns. Perhaps one of the most impor tion of the traditional left. In addition to the process. The two currents must rec tant achievements of these state and local peace and justice (and often socialism), ognize each other and coexist. initiatives is that they demonstrate there the bohemian left demands tolerance for The bohemian left needs tolerance are public programs that can help fami creative expresi-;ion, freedom for social more than advocacy. Social experimenta lies meet their responsibilities. experimentation, "deviant" lifestyles, tion goes on, except in periods ofrepres Public opinion polls document wide and the politics of self and transcendence. sion. What's worthy (and much that is spread public support for issues such as The bohemian left does not sit comfort not) percolates into the broader culture. child care, family and medical leave, rais ably with the goals of a pro-family agen Family issues, on the other hand, need ing the minimum wage, pay equity and da. The latter desires stability and secur advocacy and a working coalition of government health programs. Focus ity, the former wants to kick out the "straight" or "square" working- and mid group discussions with low-income, occa jams, in personal as well as creative life. dle-class organizations. Where does that sional women voters conducted as part of The bohemian left, a.~ in its 1960s man lead us? the Women's Vote Project reveal that ifestation, can take things too far. But its To a note of caution. The debate isn't these women want government activism core ideas cannot be written off. an either/or proposition. Advocates of a on such economic and family issues as The hoary expr~ssion "free love" is "pro-family" agenda are going to push child care, decent jobs, and health care an example. A-s initially raised by bohe their initiative. I would urge: avoid access. And yet, politicians have been re- mian feminists in Greenwich Village be theoretical debates about what consti 1uctan t to mount campaigns framed fore World War I, it meant not only an tutes family life, stress tolerance and di around a progressive work and family assault on the anti-erotic, double stan versity as essential values, and recognize agenda. dard ofVi<'torian morality but a challenge the importance of experimental (and A growing number of family advo to every aspect of the status quo that often shocking) bohemian projects. Like cates are therefore looking to the 1988 corroborated male privilege and res Emma Goldman, I want to dance at the election as an opportunity to educate and trained female opportunity. Bohemian revolution; but I want to note that many mobilize voters to hold politicians feminists demanded that men and women of my comrades prefer to polka rather accountable on family issues. Prelimin be equal, not just as lovers, but also as than boogie. I also want to insist upon the ary discussions have begun under the au frienrls, comrades, and intellectual peers. rights of wallflowers and of grouchy spices of the Women's Vote Project (a To thrive, free love required a context of neighbors who start banging on the pipes coalition of women's groups set up in 1984) shared J"esponsibility, with men assum when things get raucous in the early to initiate several projects in targeted ing equal roles in child care, housekeep morning hours. e House and Senate races. If successful, ing, and all the other daily chores that these projects will demonstrate that chained women to the home. "It must be Marty J ezer, a DSA rnember, is author of work and family issues can unite broad manly as well as womanly to know how to The Dark Ages: Life in the U.S., 1945- groups of voters around a progressive cook, sew, and clean, and lake care of 1960 (South End Press) and is writing a family agenda and should spur elected yourself in the ordinary exigencies of book on the bohemian left. officials at all levels af government to life," Crystal Eastman - who, typical of adopt programs that meet the needs of the bohemian feminists of that time, was States today's families. e a :;ocialist and an activist against World Debbie Goldmari, a member of the War I - wrote. Co11tinuedfrorn page 10. D.C.!MarylandDSA Local, works as Eastman and her group were coverage have required long, hard bat a policy a11alyst for the Seniice Em admired but isolated. Traditional social- tles (often led by local affiliates of the ployees Inteniational Union (SEIUJ. D EMOCRATIC LEFT 20 MAY-JUNE 1988 A Letter From Sweden by Ti11wtl!Y Sears months," a frustrated young parent ex strength of the labor movement. With a plained, "families must make their own tight labor market and approximately 85 n a recent visit to Sweden child care arrangements, whether with re percent of all workers organized into trade I found that almost every latives or neighbors or whatever, from the unions, the Swedish labor movement acts one I spoke to-including time the kid is a year old until he's two or as a countervailing force to the political trade unionists, feminists, two and one half. Society has failed to meet power of the corporations and the rich. political activists, resear- its responsibility for care of the youngest The resultant Social Democratic hege chers,0 and ordinary citizens-believed children." mony creates enormous opportunities for that the nation':, child care system was Clearly, Swedish familie:s face the same progressive public policies. · woefully inadequate. Forme, an American problems as American families, but the The strength and political sophistica trade unionist ~dying the relationship two societies have addressed these chal tion of the Swedish labor movement makes between the Swedish labor movement and lenges in a radically different fashion. And for some exciting alliances. For instance, the women'· movement, this attitude was of course, the scope of the problem is of a one current controversial proposal would hard to under.;tand. We in the United different order. Working parents in the require that a portion of parental leave State"' look to Sweden's comprehensive U.S. must rely, for the most part, on "rela (perhaps three to six months of the pro family policy a,.,. one of the most impressive tives or neighbors or whatever" for their posed eighteen) must be taken by the accomp~nt,; of the democratic social child care arrangemenL.; virtually from the father. Many feminists see this as the only h;t movemenL Its pro\'isions outstrip any time children are born until they can look way to make men accept their share of thin~ e." DEMOCRATIC l£FT 21 MAY-JUNE 1988 CLASSlflED OFFICE SPACE WITH DSA- DSA is subletting two offices from its NYC suite. Offices are 430 sq. ft. @ $552/month includ ing electricity & 262 sq. ft. (ci $.336/month including electricity. Call (212) 962--0390. INTERNSHIP POSITIONS AVAIL ABLE with DSA for the summer or dur ing the school year. Make plans now to spend a summer interning at the DSA national office. Call (212) 962-0390 for more details. MEET OTHER LEFT SINGLES through the Concerned Singles N ewslet ter. All areas and ages. Box 7737-D, Ber keley, CA 94707, for free sample. but consider a man who takes extended to eighteen weeks ofunpaid parental leave parental leave to be less serious about his has been gutted to apply to employers with SOCIAL C HANGE JOBS - COM career. more than fifty employees and provide MUNITY JOBS, a non-profit newspaper, Interestingly, a number of the most only ten weeks of unpaid leave. Even so, lists progressive jobs/internships nation important reforms that have created grea the bill has faced stiff business oppositions wide you can believe in. Cun·ent listing $3. ter equality between the sexes in Sweden and has little chance of passage. COMMUNITY JOBS, 1516 P Street, were not the direct result of the concern Similarly, for the first time since NW, Washington, D.C. 20005 for gender equality, but rather the labor 1973, a comprehensive day care and child movement's general concern for social development bill has been introduced in UNION ORGANIZER TRAINEES to equality. Thus Swedish women workers in Congress. The Act For Better Child Care, work for a medium sized AFL-CIO union the blue collar sector on average make introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd repl'esenting workers in the food indus more than 90 percent of the wages earned and backed by twenty other Senators, try in the U.S. and Canada. Primary by their male counterparts; in the U.S., would provide day care for children of the duties involve organizing the unorga women make only about 60 percent of male poor and working poor. It, too, has little nized in the union's industrial jurisdic earnings. This smaller wage gap results chance of passage this session, although tion, largely in the Southern U.S. Re not from policies such as equal pay for the mere fact that it could be introduced is quirements include willingness to put in work of equal value-the concept of com seen as a sign of a growing consensus that long hours doing hard work; interest in parable worth is still considered something child care is a societal responsibility. (Con and commitment to career in labor of a novelty in Sweden-but rather from servative Senator Onin G. Hatch has in movP.ment; willingness to relocate; col the trade union movement's "wage policy troduced his own, much less expensive, bill lege graduate preferred. Training pro of solidarity," which has sought greater that would provide child care in family day vided. Modest salary, full benefits. To equality in wage scales across all sectors of care homes. Despite the fact that the day apply send resume, references to Union, Swedish industry. care would be inadequate and insufficient, 8811 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD Although there are problems that still his proposal would still cost more than 20901. need to be addressed, having tackled some what is now being spent on almost all cur of the broad reforms provides room for rent child care programs and illustrates NEW BUTTON: ''DSA" design, white showing sensitivity on a smaller scale. And the potential for building alliances on this lettering on red background. 50 cents sometimes these little things can mean a issue.) each, plus 50 cents postage and handling lot. The Social Democratic municipal gov One of the best known idealogues of pet· order. Don't be left without one! Send ernment in the southern industrial city of Swedish social democracy, Ernst Wig to Rich Smith, P.O. Box 1182, Bothell, Maimo recently decided to provide every forss, once explained the movement's prin WA 98041. expectant father with an electronic beep cipled pragmatism in these terms: "If the er, so that he could be notified when the renewal of society is of value, ifsocialism is "Socialist Party-Wo1·kers of the World mother went into labor. of value, it is precisely because through it Unite" T-shirts, $8. Specifiy size. WRL This simple and.inexpensive program we create better conditions in which peo Organizer's Manual, $i0. Free catalog. that helps ordinary folks share one of life's ple can love and suffer, work, hope and Socialist Party Favors, Box 8211-D, Des most precious moments exemplifies the believe, live in nature, among friends and Moines, IA 50306. politics of a society that cares. The con comrades, poignantly experiencing a life trast with our own, supposedly child that is worth living." e Claui.fied atftoert~ing rates arc $2 per li1111, centered society, is painfully stark. Here, Tim Sears, a long-time DSA rnernber, $50 per column inch. Payment in a.dvance. a simple bill to require employers with warks for the Brickwyers International Twenty percent 'discount if ad runs two or more than fifteen employees to provide up Union . more times. We reserve IM right to reject ads. DEMOCRATIC LEFT 22 M AY·JUNE 1988 REVIEW Children's Stories Eritpowering to Young and Old than the first-line audience of educators ancl mental-health by Jfaxine Phillips workers. NARRATIVES OF LOVE AND LOSS: In fact, the first response of this parent-reader was re gret al having been born too soon and in the wrong country lo STUDIES IN MODERN CHILDREN'S have enjoyed these works at the appropriate age. The seco.nd FICTION, by Margaret and Michael Rus was anticipation that in a few years I could share them with tin. London and New York: Verso, distri my daughter. No more wondedng whether a diet ~f captive princesses and wicked stepmothers would warp her images. of buted in the U.S. by Methuen, Inc., 1988. women. Here are books "ith more nuanced, more true-lo-life $35 cloth, $13.95 paperback. characters and plots. These are not representative of all modern children's o why is a nice book like this being reviewed in a literature, but they do qualif~· as classics - works that. are socialist ~agazi .n e? One oft~e co-authors, Michael popular and appeal to adults as well as children. With their Rustin, is head of the sociology department at emphasis on feelings and internal life, the Rustins argue, North East London Polytechnic, author of For a these works represents a crossover into children's literature Pluralist Socialism, and a contributor to Dissent. of the English novel of sensibility. In the Victorian period, MargaretS Rustin is a child psychotheraph;t at the well-known children's literature was divided into male and female Tavistock Clinic in London. spheres of activity and sensibility. One can certainly argue Do we have, then, a socialist analysis of children's litera that gender division is still with us in children's and adult ture, a left-wing answer to Bruno Bettelheim's Freudian fiction, but in the works discussed here. seven of the ten interpretation of classic fairy tales? Not exactly. Although authors are women, and the themes ar<' of interior life. Pa not as heavy-handed as Bettelheim in explaining why these rents, however, don't have to worry about their children stories appeal so strongly to children and adults, the authors stick \\ith fairly traditional psychoanalytic interpretations. They examine works, primarily British, drawn mainly from List of Principal Works Discussed the period of the mid-1950s to 1980, and aimed at five-to Fox, Paula, A Likely l'lar.e, M:wmillan (New York) 19ti7. eleven-year-olds. --· How JIany .\files to l.fobylo11, Da\'i::< and White&. Most of the stories have elements of fantasy (the charac Co. (New York) 1967. ters in C.S. Lewis' TheLilm, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the __, The Slave Dancer, Dell Publi,,;hinJ.? Company miniature people in Mary Norton's The Borrowers series, (New York) 19'17. talking animals in E.B. White's Charlotte's \l-'eb) and deal, as Godclen. Rumer, The Dulls' House, Michael Jo~eph IB.Ji. the authors say, \\ith phantasy, "the inner, or unconscious __, Tiu~ Fairy Doll, .Macmillan 1%1.i. mental life of a person.·· Whether they cope with separation 1 __, The Sfcwy of Hol/11 mul Ivy, Macmillan IH57. and loss through their relationship:> to wholly imagined fi Lewi:;, C.S., The liun, thr. Wildt rwd /he Wa rdmbe, (;eof gures or remembered loved ones, the children i~ the nan._-a- 1 frev Ries 1950. Penguin Book:::. ltl7H. tives find the strength to move beyond the matnx of family -·-· Prin<'c.Caspinn, Geoffrpy Bit•:; 1951, Puffin Books into the wider society. This struggle, which certainly does not 1!)62. end at age eleven, becomes paramount when a child reaches The Sill'er Chair, Geoffrey Blc:; 1953, Pnftin school-age, and it presents different developmental tasks Books, Hl65. than those identified by Bettelheim in his treatment of the --·The Hor.sea wl his Bo11. GPOffrey Bies 1!)54, Puffin fairy tales. Hook,; 1965. The Rustins place this internal struggle in a social con Norton, Mary, The Hurm11·e1·11, Dent 1952. text, finding, for instance, in the tales of The Borrou•ers a The Bomnce.n1 A(iefd, Dent 1955. saga of postwar working-class life, or in the .trave.ls and ==: The Borrou•e1's Affoaf, DE>nt 1959. travails of Russell Hoban's The Mouse and His Child the White, E.B.. Clwdntte's W1:b, Hamish Hamilton 1952, immigrant experience in America. They point out that t~e Puffin Books 1963. books under discussion reflect a more modern psychoanalytic --·The Tn1mpelofll1eS1rn11, Harpl!rand Row(Uf\A) emph~is on moral and emotional development as well as a IH70. postwar optimism of manifold possibilities. They write with --· Sl11arl Liftlr. Puffin Book..; 191i9. grace and clarity, making the material acce::;sible to more DEMOCRATIC LEFT 23 MAY·)UNE 1988 Children Continued from page 29. ORDER FORM being bored. There is adventure enough for everyone, although all of the writers, with the exception of Paula Fox in The Slave Dancer, deal with themes that are not quite so DSA M\K;S horrifying as those of the Grimm Brothers. As life, at least for [i_p middle-class children, has become easier, children's stories 12-oz. fronstone with a 2-color (red and black) imprint no longer reflect the life-and-death struggles of an earlier, of DSA1s logo, on choice of white, beige harsher time. or lig_ht gray mug Yet what all classic children's stories share, and the Rustins allude to it in their discussion of hopefulness, is the $5 50 BACH Postpaid triumph of presumably powerless children over the adverse when you buy 4 or more. Two or more, $6.00 each aspects of their lives. Bettelheim speaks ofresolving Oedipal Singly, $6 50 per mug. longings. The Rustins speak of working through separation L DEMOCRATIC LEFT 24 MAY·)UNE 1988