Does It Matter Which Party Wins?

www.peoplesworld.org July 9918, 2011

Does it matter which party wins?

By Sam Webb

t is obvious that there is a growing feeling of - say no, it doesn’t. frustration and even anger among support- Some even go a step further and say a Demo- ers of the Democratic Party with its perfor- cratic victory creates popular illusions, which in mance over the past two years. turn weaken the people’s struggles. And the only IAFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, speak- way out of this vise is to form a third party now. ing for the labor movement, strongly expressed Communists don’t agree with either one of this unhappiness in some recent speeches. these views. In our view, the differences between I am disappointed too with some aspects of the two parties of capitalism are of consequence to the Obama administration’s domestic and foreign class and democratic struggles. policy. Neither party is anti-capitalist, but they aren’t But I don’t forget that this administration identical either. Differences exist at the levels of governs in a very hostile political environment in policy and social composition. And despite the which the right is laboring overtime to wreck its many frustrations of the past two years, the elec- initiatives at every step of the way. In addition, there are the structural pressures this week: of governing in a capitalist economy and state. Then there are conservative pressures coming • Does it matter which party wins? from some congressional Democrats and members • N.Y. marriage law giant step for civil rights of the administration. • Why progressives should not support Ron Paul Everything can’t be explained away by the objective context, however. The president and • Texas legislature leaves trail of wreckage his administration can be faulted for a number of • Chile: trabajadores se anotan gran triunfo policy decisions. read more news and opinion daily at www.peoplesworld.org But the main question from a strategic point of view is this: Does it make any difference, from the standpoint of the class and democratic struggles, which party gains political ascendency? tion of Barack Obama was historic and gave space Some - though not the labor movement nor to struggle for a people’s agenda. other mass organizations of the American people If, on the other hand, the Republicans had

Page 1 been victorious in 2008 the character of class and cal realities and strategic necessities. Nor does it democratic struggles would have unfolded very mean that we hit the mute button when the Obama differently. Our movement would have been on administration takes positions that we don’t agree the defensive from Day One, the Democrats would with. Just as we show no hesitation in supporting, be running for cover, and the Republicans would and fighting for, the administration’s progressive have an unfettered hand in their efforts to liqui- initiatives, we should have no compunction about date the welfare state, roll back the rights revolu- taking issue with the administration when it takes We don’t have any tion of the 1930s and 1960s, and crush the peo- positions that we don’t agree on. illusions about the ple’s movement - labor in the first place. We are keenly aware of the fact that the agen- Democratic Party, As for the wisdom of a third party, we have al- da of the far right is to bring this administration but we don’t have ways advocated the formation of an independent and country to its knees, with a heavy dose of rac- any illusions about people’s party. It is essential for any deep-going ism, lies and economic sabotage, setting the stage the Republican social change. But its realization depends on more for a full blown return to power of the most reac- Party either. than our desire, more than our political-ideologi- tionary, racist, anti-labor, anti-women, homopho- cal attitude. Millions who have to be at the core of bic and militarist grouping in U.S. politics. this party still operate under the umbrella of the We want no part of that. We don’t have any Democratic Party. illusions about the Democratic Party, but we don’t Moreover, to separate ourselves at this mo- have any illusions about the Republican Party ei- ment from these forces would be contrary to ther. our strategic policy of building maximum unity Furthermore, we are also aware of the unde- against right-wing extremism now and in next niable fact that no other party besides the Demo- year’s elections. cratic Party stands a chance of beating the GOP That doesn’t mean we give up advocacy of an next year. independent people’s party; we also understand that its formation is dictated by concrete politi- Sam Webb is chair of the Communist Party USA.

N.Y. marriage law giant step for civil rights

By PW Editorial Board

ew York took a jump into the 21st thing. Unlike in California, where voters came century as Democratic Gov. Andrew out against gay marriage, the movement in New Cuomo signed a bill June 24 legaliz- York was organized enough to win. ing same-sex marriage. But no one could honestly say that LGBT There was NThis was not a gay issue, not a Republican- rights are won. There have been big steps forward compromise in the Democratic issue and not a simple “social issue”: in recent years. The military’s “Don’t ask; don’t bill, and some say It was a question of fundamental civil rights. tell” policy was ended. Still, LGBT people can’t it may set a Still, politics does matter. Had New York not get married in most of America and the federal standard going gone from Republican to Democratic leadership government won’t recognize the state marriages. forward. recently, the right couldn’t have been won. There’s a long way to go in this fight, and a There was compromise in the bill, and some lot of work to do. Most importantly, the Repub- say it may set a standard going forward. To neu- licans have to be defeated in 2012 - can anyone tralize opposition from the Catholic Church and imagine what would happen to LGBT rights in a some other religious groups, the bill’s sponsors nation led by tea party extremists? And we need added a provision allowing churches and similar to build unity for fundamental civil rights: Every entities to decline to perform same-sex marriag- working person in America will benefit by guar- es. This gave wavering politicians cover to vote anteeing civil rights and freedoms to all. for the bill. In New York, much of the labor movement No matter what the compromises made, it’s understood that the fight for LGBT rights is their clear that the bill would not have passed wihtout own. That’s why SEIU took a stand and helped to the active, popular pressure put on legislators. organize for them, as did the labor-backed Work- Thousands of people from around the state called ing Families Party and other groups. their lawmakers to demand that they do the right This is the way forward.

www.peoplesworld.org Page 2 Why progressives should not support Ron Paul

By Ryan C. Ebersole

on Paul has become a living legend for many due to his outspoken libertarian views. He has attracted a multi-gener- ational following that occasionally bor- Rders on cult-like status. Some of Paul’s views have drawn the support of progressives. For example, he has steadfastly been against our massive deployments in the Mid- dle East, and opposes the encroachments on our civil liberties found in the Patriot Act. However, he holds several core policy positions, ranging from opposition to social programs to ignoring climate change, that should send progressives running. Paul holds to the right-wing view that Amer-

ica is a Christian, rather than secular, nation. He sexual orientation. Additionally, he opposed ex- steadfastly opposes the concept of the separation panding hate crimes protections to include sexual of church and state, enshrined in the First Amend- orientation and gender identity. ment’s “establishment clause.” Instead, he claims He holds several It’s not just gays and lesbians that Paul seems “the notion of a rigid separation between church core policy unwilling to protect against discrimination. Paul and state has no basis.” He argued “the Founding positions, ranging says he would have voted against the Civil Rights Fathers envisioned a robustly Christian” nation. from opposition to Act of 1964, saying it “reduced civil liberty” and Paul’s supporters have tried to promote the social programs violates private property rights. He voted against notion that his positions are pro-LGBT in his own, to ignoring climate renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. libertarian way. However, his libertarian dogma, Paul supported a 10 percent flat income tax, change, that should which his supporters claim treats everyone in a the big beneficiaries of which would be the richest send progressives “live and let live” fashion, does not advance LGBT people in our country, who would have their taxes running. rights in any way. While he opposed the draconian drastically reduced. federal amendment banning marriage equality, he Paul opposes regulations on industries, even stated that he would have voted for the Defense the financial industry. According to him, regula- of Marriage Act and he is not against individual tions are burdens rather than consumer protec- states practicing discrimination against their gay tions, and the much hailed “free market” will reg- and lesbian residents. ulate itself. Paul opposes any federal regulations Paul opposed banning prohibitions on sod- against corporate monopolies. He also opposes omy, claiming that the Constitution provides no the federal minimum wage, Social Security, Medi- protections for those wishing to engage in “sod- care and Medicaid, many federal departments, omy.” FEMA the notion of climate change, and Planned Moreover, Paul opposed the Employment Parenthood. Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would have His record should be enough for any progres- prohibited employment discrimination based on sive to be turned off.

www.peoplesworld.org Page 3 local news Chile: trabajadores Local contact se anotan gran triunfo [email protected] Por La Federación Sindical Mundial Tex. legislature l gobierno derechista de Se- istra de Trabajo y Previsión Social, bastián Pinera debió retro- Evelyn Matthei, se reunió con el Di- leaves trail of ceder en su intención de re- rector Nacional de Trabajo con el fin bajar las indemnizaciones, de reconsiderar el dictamen, alegan- wreckage Edespués que pretendió modificar por do que la ley “está muy mal hecha”, decreto el Artículo 172 de Código del por contradicciones en los artículos By Jim Lane trabajo. que no permiten resolver adecuada- El Lunes 6 de Junio la Dirección mente. hat long loud shrieking shudder del Trabajo órgano administrativo de- En este sentido el Director de you heard on June 29 was the en- pendiente del Ministerio del trabajo, Trabajo en la Región de Aysén, Eu- tire population of Texas breathing emitió el Ordinario 2314/038, por el genio Canales, señaló que este jueves their sigh of relief; the legislature cual pretendía modificar la Base de 16 se decidió dejar sin efecto la cir- Thad finally ended its reign of terror and gone cálculo de las indemnizaciones por cular de dicho decreto ; a fin de que home. años de servicio y de aviso previo, sean los parlamentarios los que me- The legislators tried to cripple the right eliminando los bonos, ante este decre- joren la ley. “Por consiguiente y con- to organize; they assaulted democracy, they to del gobierno derechista, dirigentes forme a los señalado por la Ministra, tried to “out-Arizona” Arizona on the rights de Confederaciones, Federaciones y se entendió que este problema debe of Latinos, they tried to humiliate and tor- Sindicatos del sector privado, agru- abordase íntegramente por vía de un ture women who bear unwanted pregnan- pados en la Coordinadora Nacional proyecto de ley, más que por un dicta- cies, and they threw themselves into the task de organizaciones amigas y afiliadas men y sobre esa base y las consid- of gutting children’s education. a la Federación Sindical Mundial- eraciones expuestas por la ministra A signal victory for anti-worker legisla- FSM, mas la Confederación de gente se solicitó a la dirección del trabajo, tors came in their two-pronged attack against de Mar, como tambien otro grupo de la reconsideración de este dictamen democracy. Their redistricting efforts face organizaciones Sindicales en coordi- 2314 y por ello la dirección del traba- legal challenges before the full effect is felt, nacion con la Escuela Sindical toma- jo ha estimado pertinente dejarla sin but their voter ID attempt to restrict voting ron contacto con algunos diputados y efecto, manteniéndo por ende la doc- with extra requirements was finally passed otras organizaciones Sindicales para trina anterior contenidos en el inciso in 2011 after failing two years before. salir al paso de esta maniobra, los segundo del articulo 41 del codigo de The worst of the many anti-worker bills dirigentes solicitaron formalmente a trabajo” was Representative Tan Parker’s “paycheck la Dirección del Trabajo la anulación Los más de 100 dirigentes re- deception,” which would have effectively de- del decreto de la discordia, también unidos en la Anef han insistido en funded any advocacy and political activity se dirigieron al presidente de la Corte presentar una segunda solicitud para by organized workers. It was beaten back by suprema para solicitar la revisión de asegurar que los anuncios de la Min- heroic efforts led by the Texas AFL-CIO. La- dicho decreto en la Sala de lo Laboral, istra no queden solo en palabras, al bor’s Legislative Director Rene Lara wrote, esta sala a través de algunas senten- mismo tiempo se convocaron para “The list of bad bills we killed is long.” cia han negado la valides del articulo los proxima dias a una reunion para The assault against abortion rights even 172 para el cálculo de las indemniza- analizar lo que acontece con la pro- spilled over into birth control cuts! ciones, apagándose en las facultades puesta del Gobierno de entregar tan The Senate finished their list and left que la Constitución les entrega, según solo un 4,7% para el Salario Mínimo, Austin, without even waiting to see what los dirigentes. Al mismo tiempo que medida que es rechazada por todo the House would do, and the House finally convocaban a dirigentes sindicales el Movimiento Sindical, los partici- threw in the towel. Governor Perry missed del sector público y privado a coordi- pantes acordaron seguir coordinando participating in this particular fiasco be- narce para enfrentar esta arremetida esfuerzos para impulsar la defensa de cause he was in California trying to build gubernamental contra sus derechos. los derechos de los trabajadores. support for his presidential bid. The disaster Mientras tanto en Aysén la Min- that is Texas legislation is now pointed at the rest of the United States. national contact But the AFL-CIO Legislative Direc- tor ended his summary with the most fit- Editorial: (773) 446-9920 Business: (212) 924-2523 ting question possible, “Are you with us in Email: [email protected] 2012?”