Issue #179, September 20 – October 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENTA FREE PAPER FOR FREE PEOPLE

Generation Debt IS COLLEGE STILL WORTH IT? coverage begins, p8 Stacy Oliver, a student at University. ASHLEY MARINACCIO

VENEZUELA’S WORKER-RUN FACTORIES P12

A REVOLUTION NYC’S LABOR DIVIDE YOU CAN DANCE TO P4 P14 PITCH LIKE A PRO WANT TO GET PUBLISHED, BUT AREN’T SURE HOW? JOIN THE INDYPENDENT FOR A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP WITH PROFESSIONAL EDITORS AND FREELANCE WRITERS AND LEARN THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE. TO REGISTER, EMAIL [email protected]. DEADLINE OCT. 22. OCT. 27 • 1-4PM • $75 • 666 , SUITE 510 INDYPENDENTFOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT BIT.LY/PITCH-LIKE-A-PRO. 2 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS: VOLUNTEER INDYPENDENT THE Schneider, John Tarleton, Lucy Lucy Tarleton, Wolf. Amy and Valkury John Schneider, Martin, Ann Patrick, Jessica Gary Okamoto, Larsen, Karen Marinaccio, Christine Ashley LaQuinta, Rob Kansara, Anooj Ivanova, Irina Garcia, Leo Fisher, Seth D’Souza, David Tony son, Ellen Bau Castillo, Eleazar Saint tista, Nikki Baumer, Bennett site (nyc.indymedia.org). (nyc.indymedia.org). site web open an is IMC NYC IndyKids and with production, media grassroots interna fostering to dedicated an network tional global movement, the of Indymedia part is which Media Center Independent City York New Indypendent The and content clarity. length, for articles edit Indypendent The globally. and locally of people lives the — — affect and social power political economic, of lens, systems how critical exploring a through culture and news at look that submissions accept We andadvertising. benefits sales, dise sub merchan by donations, reader scriptions, funded is Indypendent The awards, Alliance Media York New Community 50 than more of Winner project. this in activ participated have media ists and artists journalists, 700 than more 2000, Since man agement. website provide and fundraise distribute, photos, take design, draw, edit, write, report, who volunteers of network a by produced than is It more 100,000. of readership online and 13 print our for Mondays York-on published year a times New newspaper free a based is Indypendent The Mary Annaïse Heglar, Ari Paul, Paul, Ari Heglar, Annaïse Mary SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS: AND SUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected] Steven Arnerich, Anna Gold, Anna Arnerich, Steven Ellen Davidson, Anna Gold, Gold, Anna Davidson, Ellen ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION: AND ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS AND NEWS TIPS: NEWS AND SUBMISSIONS [email protected] SENIOR EDITOR/COORDINATOR: SENIOR Arun Gupta, John Tarleton John Gupta, Arun ILLUSTRATION COORDINATOR: ILLUSTRATION [email protected] Amelia Holowaty Krales Holowaty Amelia [email protected] indypendent.org/donate PHONE: 666 BROADWAY, SUITE 510 SUITE BROADWAY, 666 [email protected] Elizabeth Henderson Elizabeth INC. INDYPENDENT, THE , a children’s newspaper. newspaper. children’s a , PHOTO COORDINATOR: PHOTO BOARD OF DIRECTORS: OF BOARD ASSOCIATE EDITORS: ASSOCIATE [email protected] READER COMMENTS: READER GENERAL INQUIRIES: GENERAL NEW YORK, NY 10012 NY YORK, NEW Manny Jalonschi Jalonschi Manny Nicholas Powers Nicholas Mikael Tarkela Mikael Frank Reynoso Frank Adam Johnson Adam ONLINE EDITOR: ONLINE VOLUNTEER: DESIGNERS: (212) 904-1282 INDYKIDS: INTERN: is affiliated with the the with affiliated is reserves the right to to right the reserves

Sam Alcoff, Alcoff, Sam

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130 St. Mark’s Pl. Mark’s St. 130 Bakery Earth Whole St. Jefferson at Broadway E. 192 Park Seward St. Leroy 66 Library Park Hudson St. Crosby 126 Works Housing 39 B Avenue Union Credit Federal People’s LES St. 172 Allen Bluestockings St. Barclay 125 37DC Headquarters fl. 10th St., Wall 120 FM -99.5 WBAI 14 BELOW WHERE DO I GET MY COPY OF THE INDYPENDENT ? Meet at the Broadway side of City Hall Park. munity Safety Act. policing and to call for passage of the Com to share their experiences of discriminatory pre-scheduled visits with Council Members the rally, New Yorkers will participate in community safety at 11:30 a.m. Following a rally calling for NYPD accountability and ACT. ACTION: PASS THE COMMUNITY SAFETY 11:30am • Free THU SEPT 27 water to let go of the obstacles Racial and Economic Justice by the flowing EVENT: JFREJ TASLICH. 2-5pm • Free SUN SEPT 23 212-592-0116 • indykids.org Scholarships available. and to RSVP, contact [email protected]. Sept. 29 and Oct. 6. For location information workshops will be held at the same time on rent events and social justice. Two additional to research, write and edit articles about cur Kids work alongside professional journalists per is offering a workshop to kids ages 9-13. REPORTING WORKSHOP. CLASS: KID REPORTERS WRITING AND 12-3pm • Sliding scale SAT SEPT 22 10 W 37th St, Suite 4W Domestic Workers United ersunited.org. provided. RSVP to lorraine@domesticwork members. Delicious food and drinks will be development training opportunities for York Department of Labor and professional rights education advocacy with the New information about the group’s know-your- supporters and allies. Updates will include UNITED. RECEPTION: DOMESTIC WORKERS 5-8pm • $20 THU SEPT 20 [email protected]. SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS AT INDY community calendar 212-481-5747 • domesticworkersunited.org 212-647-8966 • jfrej.org 9th St & Prospect Park W, Bklyn tion, and let the current carry them away. consciousness and willingness to take ac and communal This day of advocacy will kick off with

Join DWU leadership, long-time

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ST. that block our empathy,

Join Jews for

IndyKids — 155 First Ave. 155 First City New the for Theater Pl. Washington at 716 Broadway &Co. Shakespeare 451 St. West Forum Brecht Pl. Mark’s St. 22 Restaurant Falafel Mamoun’s 537 St. W. 59th Network Neighborhood TenthAve. 942 Library Columbus Ave. &Ninth W. St. 23rd Restaurant Square Chelsea St. 23rd E. 228 Library Epiphany 14 personal newspa TH TO 96 TO -

- - - - - TH 666 666 Broadway, Suite 510 The Indypendent is limited. org for an application. Deadline Oct. 1. Space outlets. Email ehenderson@indypendent. for SHOP. •347-689-3908 thecommonsbrooklyn.org changethenypd.org [email protected] • City Hall SCREENING: 7:30pm • Sugg donation, $9 MON OCT 7 212-904-1282 • indypendent.org CLASS: 1-5pm • $20 SAT OCT 6 388 Atlantic Ave, Bklyn The Commons Brooklyn production. of goods and services by increasing local shortening the distance of transmission pathways for pedestrians and cyclists and landscapes. Topics include creating green and soil back into city centers and urban Explore ways to bring clean air, water CENTERS — BRINGING IN NATURE. DISCUSSION: REGENERATING URBAN 7-9pm • sliding$10-$20, scale FRI SEPT 28 Street movement. experience and values of the Occupy Wall The Occuponics was founded on the energy, equality through song parodies and satire. that promotes global peace, justice and Grannies is an international movement NIES AND THE OCCUPONICS. PERFORMANCE: THE RAGING GRAN 8pm • $10, sliding scale SAT OCT 13 uniondocs.org 322 Union Ave, Bklyn Union Docs to follow. hood change. Discussion with the filmmaker partnerships that drive “natural” neighbor politicians and secretive public-private uncovers the web of global corporations, and chain retail, director Kelly Anderson replaced by high-rise luxury housing As 100 small Brooklyn businesses are ST.

The Indypendent

Learn how to report and write articles INDYPENDENT

MY BROOKLYN

209 W. St. 209 23rd Library Muhlenberg 200 Eastern Pkwy. Eastern 200 Museum Brooklyn BROOKLYN St. W.150 100th Library Bloomingdale &Amsterdam W. St. 156th Sister’s Uptown W.503 145th St. Library Grange Hamilton St. 9 W. 124th Library W. St. 526 112th Culture 518 St. W. 125th Library Bruce George 96 ABOVE

and other radical media

REPORTING WORK

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The Raging

TH ST.

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- 315 Fifth Ave. 315 Fifth Café ’sNice Ave. Bedford 197 Café Blackbird St. 1014 Fulton Café Outpost Ave. Fourth 25 Library Street Pacific Ave. Myrtle 505 Café Pillow St. 5th Ave. &N. Bedford Verb Café Ave. &Seventh St. Union Tea Lounge Ave. DeKalb 248 Brooklyn of Tillie’s Ave. Lafayette 30 BAM 212-777-6028 • bluestockings.com 172 Allen St Bluestockings recently reissued by PM Press. 212-787-3903 • peoplesvoicecafe.org 40 E 35th St Unitarian Universalist The Community Church of New York crime novel joined by Kenneth Wishnia, author of the confront life in the Great Recession. He’s Stops his just-released novel, contributor Steven Wishnia for a of RELEASE. EVENT: BROTHERS IN CRIME BOOK 7PM • Free THU OCT 18 lished but aren’t sure how? CLASS: PITCH LIKE A PRO. 1-4pm • $75 SAT OCT 27 Sliding scale: $95-$125 revolutionary dynamics. term takes on a specific facet of anti-capitalist and often socialist Gerardo Renique and others. Participants can join at any time. Each This is an ongoing study group led by Michael Lardner, Rust Gilbert, 10-SESSION CLASS BEGINS: REVOLUTION — MEXICO 1910-2010. MON, OCT 15 • 7:30-9:30pm Sliding scale: $75-$95 professor at . Chris Williams, a long-time environmental activist, author and adjunct ecological crisis via a Marxist economic and political analysis. Led by This class will examine the capitalist roots of the multi-faceted THE ROOTS OF THE CRISIS & ENVISIONING SOLUTIONS. 8-SESSION CLASS BEGINS: MARXISM AND ECOLOGY — ANALYZING THU, OCT 4 • 6-7:30pm Tuition: $275 poetry, literature and music of Central and South America. learn to express sophisticated ideas through the use of revolutionary teaching experience, students will increase their vocabulary and Led by Jose Rosa, an immigrant from El Salvador with 15 years of 8-SESSION CLASS BEGINS: INTERMEDIATE SPANISH. WED, OCT 3 • 7:30-9:30pm , in which middle-aged rock ‘n’ rollers UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING Join long-time

23 Shades of Black

(btwn Bank and Bethune) and Bank (btwn

451 West Street Street West 451 When the Drumming Indypendent A MOVEMENT A MOVEMENT Want to get pub The Indypendent THAT THAT MOVES , which was 203 Parkside Ave. Parkside 203 Deli Parkside Ave. Franklin 496 Library Bedford 41-17 St. Main Library Flushing St. 81st 35-51 Library Heights Jackson 77-11 St. 37th Center Diversity St. Steinway 2512 Caf Kabab St. 23rd 45-30 Diner Square Court QUEENS

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moving forward after 9/11 at at 9/11 bit.ly/icarus. after forward moving and loss anger, about Powers, by essay Indypendent nonfiction creative recent most the “Icarus,” Read COVERAGE 9/11 ONLINE:

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THE INDYPENDENT SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 3

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FIRST PERSON . For For young people who are The Mitt Romneys of the repeatedly repeatedly exhorted to invest in their future but lack the

“start-up “start-up capital” needed to er public goods are denied us. denied are goods public er pay for a college education, world did hoarded not gold. Let’s tax them earn still40 did we way the heavily their

this means entering into a sys years ago when quality public LIZ tem of debt peonage. debt of tem education, health care othand education, MARTIN GB education was still broadly af fordable. fordable. And while we’re at it in which the resources needed for for needed resources the which in under under a regime of artificial scarcity let’s downsize our bloated military This isn’t Thison the agenda our of politi isn’t People, let’s think let’s the We box. People, outside ($661 billion per year) and end the war and end billion per year) ($661 cation cation free of charge to everyone who it. wants es to provide first-rate public higher edu higher public first-rate provide to es in Afghanistan which clocks in at $111 tured by the 1 percent. In turn, we live to to suffer with my student loans and so should you.” billion a year. We could use these resourc these use could We year. a billion live live in a society of great abundance in cal elites but a resurgence of mass move ety conservatives saying in effect, “I had To To read more about how student debt impacting is everyone from recent to graduates the movement, turn Occupy to college 8. page on starting coverage, extended our which most of the new wealth that has been has that wealth new the of most which ments ments like Occupy Wall Street (itself fueled I wince when I read comments from crotchcommentsfromread I wincewhen I last last year by indebted people from all walks of canlife) change that calculus. Finding the wild blueberry helped me my solve individu al problem but the only real solution to the action. collective in lies crisis debt student created over created the over past 30 years has been cap OUTSIDE THE BOX - AND ASK FOR ASK FOR AND - 212-904-1282 Besides the finan cial burdens imposed by student loan debt, it is the have graduates also college today’s of lamentable few that luxury of being outwardly aimless, of doing first the not for time and right feels whatever trying to please or impress anyone – neither parents, nor teachers nor a prospective em ployer. It takes a certain amount of privilege social to graduate from truths own college your for and search to entitled feel are you instead of searching for a steady job, but if will you? 20s, when your in it do don’t - - The - OR CALL OR - - - - I I returned again and again The work was brutal but I My wanderings My in the summer ‘91 of Indypendent and now as a ist labor for journal one of the most progressive in unions the city. But when I family look incomes stagnating around while the I cost of see college tuition is soaring. Student loan debt nationally has topped a trillion dollars and millions of young people are temp strugglingwhichin economy an inloans back pay to andunpaid work internships are increasing arethescarce.andnormgoodjobs ly Andif you want to run off and work the blueberry harvest? Good luck. Most of done mechanical by now the harvesters. work is PRESENT DAY Fast forward to the present day. I have been able to put my formal education as well experience as the gained life from years to of good use traveling — first as a co-founderof nance another round of ad ventures. to the migrant fields, ally paying off gradu my student loans by harvesting 60 tons of blueberries eight summers.over At the age debt-free. was I 31, of cided cided to become a migrant fruit picker. Growers were paying 12 cents a pound (or, $240 a ton) for workers to scoop the berries off inches sprawled off the ground bushes that hopes by Fired fields. whole across of quick riches and bent over in the blazing sun harvest. the gathered serfs,we like medieval found I enjoyed it and the hard who women and men scrabble setting. a such drawn to were was I month, the of end the By loan student my on up caught payments and then some. I then to headed over Vermont to pick apples during the fall and use those earnings to fi took me far up the coast of Maine the of the coast far me to up took home of the wild blueberry where I de - - - - - [email protected]

hat’s hat’s how much I Bank of New owed for York my July 1991 Chemical student loan payment. I already had

This was a moment I had pushed out of my my of out pushed had I moment a was This I soon ran out of money and butted up

THE INDY! THE EMAIL TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AFFORDABLE RATES, OUR ABOUT MORE OUT TO FIND PLACE YOUR AD IN AD YOUR PLACE

DIFFICULT CHOICES Walkingfrom debts my away was tempting. After all, I didn’t want to live my life just to be a source of easy profitsfor fat cat bank ers. But what would happen to my parents who were the co-signers on my loans? They alreadycallsbeingbombardedwerefrom by bill collectors who were trying to find me.And, what would become of brother’s my chances younger of going to had a right live to college? his dreams too. He T $124.90. PAYMENT DUE: AUGUST 1. By John Tarleton Tales of a Student Loan Survivor Loan a Student of Tales

evitable. mind from the time I signed my first student loan yearsforms five atearlier theof19. age I was carrying almost $15,000 in debt (or, about $25,000 in degree present-day a earn to money). me for My possible it made loans the in schools journalism best the of one from country. But a year out of college, I realized I want didn’t to be a journalistconventional writingSo, I a ditched Midwestern for daily. the mainstream career I had hitch been vagabond, groomed a become to decided and for hiking the across and United traveling States and down into Latin America listeninglanguage, second a learning — writing, reading, to the stories of people I met from all walks life. of against a double dilemma — how enough to dough earn to maintain my new ant itiner lifestyle while also figuringout what to do about those pesky loans. I found myself helpless fear, of mix same the with grappling ness and shame that grips millions of young people today who are overwhelmed by the face. they debts loan student four other months of theseotherfourmonths of bills hadn’t thatI paid yet. Looking ahead, I owed the sum same every month for what appeared to be the rest of the eternity. Default seemed in INDYPENDENT 4 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT living wage] will cramp business, so if busi if so business, cramp will wage] living [the that feel “They University. Rutgers at Relations and Labor of School Management the at professor a Fine, Janice ployers,”said have unions unions’ always been tight with em their these don’tmembers trade construction get paid. building “The without and construction, impeded has Recession Great wage. was of no there a promise living site because the at project development a blocked Union when Store and 2009, Department Wholesale the Retail, to back dating unions building trades among resentment rekindled has Kingsbridge at project ice-skating the fact, of of rest the instead labor the movement. In employers their with siding are who unions, construction powerful city’s the been has block also stumbling a But re-elected. ting get about worried are who politicians and down costs operational who their keep developers to want estate real as such nents, oppo of lot a have immigrants — color of are people and whom of retail low-wage many of workers, living of standard the courts.” go not to the and elect, who they to look should People loudly. pretty spoken h Indypendent The telling intransigence, Bloomberg’s at eye brows her raised Institute Manhattan vative conser the of Gelinas Nicole Even purview. ofoutside its acted council the that claiming lawsuit, a filed has mayor the as , le gal in now is bill The “Soviet.” to as idea referring the breaks), tax or loans as (such subsidies government with operating for firms mandates wage setting government of idea the opposes veto; Bloomberg Mayor Michael mayoral a overrode also but islation legislation.” wage’ stan wage ‘living with passed recently city’s by the set dards line in hour benefits, an without $11.50 or benefits, with hour an by created the would project pay at $10least job every that pledged “voluntarily veloper ben Diaz Jr., backed the the plan because de York Times York the to According rinks. ice-skating of How Real EstateHow Real SplitstheLaborMovement L Paul Ari By BUILDING YORK NEW July,a hearing was held to discuss Ratner should City whether Forest re controversialrecentinprojectsmemory.Inmost the oneofbeproven to has space.It office of ft sq 336,000 anduse retail for ft sq clude247,000 Barclaytheaddition into Center, that, in willBrooklyn Downtown inect Ratner Forest City is the developer responsible for the Atlantic Yards proj Forest City Ratner Corporation in forgone taxes. property million lastyear an$257 affordable.programThis estimated city thecost exchangerenovationsinprogramkeepingpromote designed for rents to a of part asbreaks tax receivingdespite rents raisedcollectingillegally for SpeyerTishman from rebatesdamages rent andinmillion $215 to up Tenants,moreover, have been cleared bystate’sthehigh pursue tocourt deal. the from debt ofbillion $4.4 onyear last defaultedSpeyerTishman result: The years. five in triplewould it incomefrom the thatassumption heady the onbased was property this ofvaluation Their Village. Cooper deal in U.S. history: the billion$5.4 purchase of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Tishman Speyer partnered with BlackRock Realty in the largest real2006, In city. estate the playerin estate majorreala isSpeyerTishman assets, iconictheCounting BuildingChrysler andRockefeller amongstCenterits Tishman Speyer Properties LP NYC IN DEVELOPERS The dynamic makes practical sense. The The sense. practical makes dynamic The increase to meant — bills Living-wage The City Council not only passed this leg not this only passed Council City The Kingsbridge Armory into a complex complex a into the Armory convert Kingsbridge to proposal joyously a endorsed officials Bronx month, ast , Bronx Borough President Ru President Borough Bronx , , “The City Council has has Council City “The , New New ------labor movement. In mainstream unionism unionism mainstream U.S. In the movement. labor in division long-standing a from dilemma.” the That’s construction. in engage [they] can’t then expand can’t nesses This interruption of labor solidarity stems stems of labor interruption solidarity This - - - savings it wanted. laborcost-the get notdid it nonunionprojectuseif labortheenedto for unions after months of tense negotiations. Related Cos. reportedly threat construction city’s the from measureslabor-cost-cutting foragreement an extracted Related August, HudsonendoftheYards the to At project. theend of 2015justbillion to service theon interest inthe $3 bonds given tax variousmaybreaks. nowcity The be responsible million by for an additional and$500 investment infrastructure massive re-zoning, through has already made to makeextensive efforts the area ripe for development nies for yet another commercial tower when the Bloomberg administration posal to give further subsidies to the tune of $100 million to Related Compa arguepro againstYorkaDevelopmenttoNewIndustrial JulyAgency in Publicsubsidywatchdog thegroup Goodbefore Jobs YorkNew testified billioncapstoneproject. Hudson Yards Sideits as Westfar project the in Holding$15 billion of thisassets, developer worth counts the 10-year, $15 Related Companies attended by a few dozen people, and would-be voices were drowned out. publicizingin hearing.madebarewastheonly theminimum onlyIt effort city the yet project, the forbonds tax-exempt inmillion $92 nearlyceive the latter organizes workers in a whole in whole a in workers organizes latter the while jobs, get who can to control ability its from and jobsstrength itsderives by specific organizes former The and organizing. industrial craft approaches: basic two are there — Anooj Kansara - - - - ROB LAQUINTA movement just went out the window.” out went the just movement labor the to threat a is largely sector a unorganized that idea “The said. Fine class,” working the with and identification model [their] lost business a to married and became roots movement their lost of sort and rifts.” ing to keep from creat a this, way of containing or ground common some find to best its ing try is Council Labor Central the sure “I’m II War World Since Labor and Life York: of author and Center Graduate CUNY the at history of professor said and Josh resurfaced,” receded Freeman, and surfaced has years the over that tension War. of types the these supported unions Vietnam when left the in a schism including ferences, dif political other been have there But tors. unions sec other trade in workers alongside fought have Building times. rocky some another. or group nic eth one by dominated be to tend cupations oc certain why explaining thus family, and of friends to jobs give to hamlets used are into they power, turn locals these because And etc.). carpenter, plumber, trade (electrician, by organized unions different of ens doz has contrast, in site, construction given Any levels. wage different at backgrounds ethnic different from members 30,000 with jobcategories, most in workers transit sents repre union, 100, Union an Local industrial and diversity in power inclusion. finds and dustry lives of these construction workers.” construction of these lives the on impact some has workers these low-wage of fate the that sense some be to “There has said. Fine organizations,” their by but a nitely tohas possibility, be encouraged each interests. recognize others’ to spectrum the across ers work for order in workers, service and tail re alongside class attend worker might iron say,where, should be more forums There an education. labor of lack the is believes, Fine industry industry will be an construction uphill battle. the in foothold their regain to struggle unions’meansthat workforceunion non immigrantlargely the organize to plans clear have not do unions construction many and benefit concessions.Further, the fact that and are more likely to be forced to make wage means that unions density have Erodingless bargaining nonunion. power now are city the claim five ofjobsoutconstruction in two that companiesunionizedconstruction costs, bor la cut to pushingdevelopersmany with But members. union by held were jobs struction pie. For many years, at least 85 percent of con are seeing an increasingly smaller slice (mostly of this 171,000 unionsbuilding to belong the that workers male) of percent 40 the but inbillion billionbetween $20 to $30 each year, of rakes Yorkers.Newindustry fordaily Thelife certainties many the of one is struction Just like subway delays and jams, traffic con POOL ASHRINKING IN WATER TREADING So how to fix this? Part of the problem, problem, the of Part this? fix to how So bureaucratized became “Organizations of kind a of iteration current a is “This for made has dynamic York,this New In Workers Transport way: this it of Think “That’s the kind of solidarity that is defi is that solidarity of kind the “That’s

Working Class New New Class Working ­— Bennett Baumer - - - -

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THE INDYPENDENT SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 5 Brooklyn Rail to the Brooklyn www.brooklynrail.org/subscribe SUBSCRIBE 6 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT PRECARIAT job arrangements. don’tbuttheir about employed, ask as them count surveys household Its jobs. having as them count won’t surveys payroll monthly in form its deductions, tax with W-2form a on of 1099stead a on reported in is their come If workforce. U.S. the of 15 percent to 10 were they that estimated 2005, it when since study official an done not has Statistics Labor of Bureau federal The ers? work contingent and freelancers are Who WAY WORK WE NEW THE A Wishnia Steven By IF YOU DO GET HIRED, IT MIGHT NOT BE FOR LONG Temp Worker Nation in a period of decline forworkers.” of decline aperiod in we’re that is truth “The Union. Freelancers head of Horowitz, Sara the New York-based union. alabor to form right the have not do they contractors, dependent in are they pay.If their of out them cheats pay forit.) to help them sidies sub some get will people lower-income working-class and and rates, group at surance in private buy to able be will people 2014, in beginning (However, that. change won’t Obamacare and insurance, health own their for pay to have They of taxes. share Security Social employer’s the and worker’s the andhave they generally to unemployment benefits, pay both for eligible not usually are They overtime. working for extra paid don’t get They vacation. or days sick paid get rarely very They come. will it when or from often coming is job they next and their where know next, don’t the hustle to they gig as one from security job no have They them. support don’t workers for nets safety social traditional the because “proletariat,” and “precarious” of combination a cariat,” companies. large 200 at workers the of percent 22 averaged workers contingent that found survey ferent dif a year, Last percent. 16 to 2009, since one-third by up gone had surveyed it panies workers at com of contingent average share the that in reported company, an research dustry Analysts, Industry Staffing July, In years. 10 last the in half to close by creased ofshare that their workforce the has U.S. in estimates Brooklyn, in College at Joseph’s St. professor and sociologist a Greenwald, Richard rising. are numbers their — and ers design graphic and drivers truck con sultants, business and janitors workers, house ille contractors.” “independent as gally) (often them define employers their or call, on or or contract on freelancers workers, temporary as work They job. manent per a don’thave they means That tingent.” “con are workers U.S. of percent 30 about that estimate organizers labor and many experts find, to Though impossible are had. figures exact traditionally full-time have permanent workers that security nomic “Instability is going to be with us,” says says us,” with be to going is “Instability employer an if options few have They “pre the called often are workers These ware and writers include ranks Their they lack almost every kind of eco of kind every almost lack and they freelancers, of kind some now are workers U.S. of one-third lmost ------were “shoved into it.” The most successful successful most who The it.” into those “shoved were and freelancing chose who ers aren’t. shows TV reality and cable basic on those but HBO’s unionized, on are shows writers scripted example, For East. ica of Writers’ the Amer Guild with organizing of director Molito, Justin says non-union,” or freelance that’s way a in so does often it basis. per-manuscript on a editors hire now publishers Many efits. no with them back ben as freelancers hiring cies have designers, graphic their outsourced agen book and publishers years, advertising college is sector thefew In last “creative”in fields. graduates fastest-growing the levels, but income all at This workers affects jobs. trend “permatemp” began, new recession many the with since increased has pace the and says, Greenwald years, 15 last W-2s. on 1099s on than income more and people who listed businesses prietorship sole-pro counting by estimates ar his at rived Greenwald Richard laborers. day tion construc as such cash, in paid people and franchisees, 1099s, on paid people cluding in employee,” W-2 a not who’s “everyone worker contingent a as counts York, New in Project Law Employment National the of big as the shift from farm to factory,” Gre factory,” to farm from shift the as big harder,” and says. he harder is living a [making] low,but is in get to bar “The charisma. and clout skills, marketing without worthless are talent and work hard to have workers gigs,and low-paying forintermittent, scuffle most but benefits, with work steady have professionals of minority a and rich get of superstars a handful which in business, music the like more becoming is work of world the that means it sentially, cial model, it doesn’t work,” Es he explains. of individuals.” backs the onto have to used institutions large that the all risks he says, has “shifted This, tions. their regula workplace or obey for insurance, health pay sick, they’re when them pay periods, slack during payroll the on people keep to don’thave they means “Flexibility” says. Greenwald risk,” any without ibility consultants. hire or tasks source out they needed, work all perform to staff on employees keeping of Instead projects.” as work at “look to evolved management’s has philosophy 1980s, the Since economy. the in change long-term a reflects It says. he have no security. employer, they and an by covered be normally would that taxes and insurance health supplies, office the for to $45,000 a year, $50,000 he incomes, says, but they have to pay middle-class freelancers make white-collar Many entre preneurs.” as themselves of “think and clients, steady and skill specific a consul have They tants. finance and management tech nology, information are says, he freelancers, rewl dsigihs ewe work between distinguishes Greenwald tweaks, technology or industry the “As the in significantly risen has number The co-director legal Ruckelshaus, Catherine The overall social change “might be as as be “might change social overall The so a as but model, business great a “It’s flex tremendous companies gives “This thing, recession-induced a just not is This ------a o lf. t em t b a hf bc to back culture.” shift artisanal a 19th-century be to seems It life. of way permanent a as this of thought have lancers free many that think don’t “I says. enwald eri-ra lns te lsi bsin of bastion classic the plants, Detroit-area Ford’s at Even plant. the at hired manently years, five per been ever has temp no say workers and after earn workers permanent what than less $7-11 hour, an $12 at start temps The temporary. be will all but year, company this workers new 1,000 hire to The plans it says newsletter. monthly Notes the to according 4,400 temps, are the workers of percent 20 than more Miss., Walmart June. in released warehouses of study a Greed,” of “Chain in the reported Project Law Employment National in-house,” performed previously jobs the to - compara similar work in for wages lower resulted tively also has industries these in outsourcing agencies, staffing and tractors.” either temps or as con defined “independent now are workers home these of Many and healthcare. delivery warehousing, of fields fast-growing the in especially blue-collar too, of workers number this huge a consultant, affects computer shift or writer - zine maga a like professional middle-class a is of image a freelancer the traditional Though CLASS WORKING CASUAL THE At the Nissan auto factory in Canton, Canton, in factory auto Nissan the At temporary of use the on relying “Often Labor Labor - - - eral rule is that an individual is an indepen an is individual an that is rule eral gen Service’s Revenue Internal The costs? increased on pass they can money,and own their inde investing they are — an business pendent running is person the whether is enjoy.” contractors independent true workthat overtheir control the yet without are employees, of benefits and protections the without toil they worlds: both of worst the suffer workers “These on Ground. report FedEx 2007 a in said nonprofit, rights labor- Washington-based a Work,at Rights American employees,” as working fectively the ef are] by [they but for, work they contractors companies independent as sified scheme. color and logo FedEx the with vans drive must and routes company-assigned drive they though even contractors, independent as drivers 15,000 construction a job.” drywall before partnership) a and of a corporation features combines that ness busi of form a LLCs companies, liability form (limited to workers asking are ployers em “Some contractors. independent as ers work is defining elshaus, employers illegally workers. contract or temps are of workers percentage significant a says ber, Auto Workers mem United Feeley, a retired Dianne activist local labor, industrial union The legal definition, Ruckelshaus says, says, Ruckelshaus definition, legal The clas Americans of millions are “There its defines example, for Ground, FedEx Ruck Catherine says problem,” huge “A ------JESSPATRICK.COM THE INDYPENDENT SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 7

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------When the “I exist in reality,” she says. “The first Instead, she touts what she calls the “new But how is any of that going to help get Organized freelancers “will be able to Workers should speak out about abuses, Legally,says,she “justenforcing the law” Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Lynn Still, trying to improve conditions for “The social contract that was part of alternet.org. doned the traditional union model, to pointthewhereorganization might the bemore accurately described as a service and lobby Drumming Stops (Manicearlier version of D this article Press). appeared on An ing group than a labor workers union. are Permanent losing securitysays union and benefits, head Sara should freelancers expect them? Horowitz, so why step is admit to that something’s changed.” mutualism” — freelancers banding together “affinityprinciples the of solidarity,” on and such as networking and organizingeratives to coop buy food and health insurance. (The group sells nonprofit health insurance 23,000 to members and plans in New York, to expand that to New Jersey and Oregonwhenthe Obamacare in2014, insurance ex changes open.) freelancerspaid sick days?“Good luckwith that,” she answers. make the freelance better,” she economy explains in work an e-mail, even fluencing “by in the freelancecontinuing labor to improve the market, laws that by affect freelancers (i.e., passing legislation to givefreelancers recourse when they are stiffed) and by continuing to give portunities freelancers to work together.” On the other op hand, she says the larger Freelancerseco“reverse to own its on able be not Union will nomic trends” like declining wages media in industry. the says Johansson. The bad publicity created by “shining a light on working conditionsfor large companies” such as Walmart and might help hold them accountable for how subcontractors and their are workers treated. against misclassificationJune, would the National help. Labor Relations Board ruled In that the taxi 350 drivers Baltimore- at Washington International Airport had been wrongly classified as independent contrac whichtors.Theirhasanexclusive employer, taxicontractfor serviceairport,the at ap is pealing the decision. Woolsey (D-CA) have introduced tighten bills to the definitioncontractor. of an independent freelancers and contingent workers is ficult in dif an economic system that has been vampirizingrights incomesworkers’ and for a generation. American society for many years is dead,” says Greenwald. “We need to have a ous seri conversation about who’s winning and not winning.”who’s Steven Wishnia is a editor freelance and writer author and of the novel ------The Writers’ Guild of America,Guild Theof Writers’ union of a “This is a long-term movement to aid The Freelancers’ Union has largely aban Walmart insists on ever-lower costs, so Another issue is that freelancers have The Freelancers Union says 77 percent “If you have 30 percent of the workforce Traditional union organizing is notoriously difficult with contingent workers. Orga everybody,” says Johansson.everybody,” WHAT CAN BE DONE? nized labor’s strongest power over employ ers is workers’ ability to go on stop strike production. and If freelancers try thattheir on own, the employer someoneelse. That willthey neither have com a simply hire mon location nor a collective workforce is also a barrier organizing to collectively. TVscreenwriters,andmovie hassuccessful ly organized freelancers, winning elections and creating collective-bargainingments at studios. In agree July, it won company- paid health benefits, paid vacation, minimum and a salary for writers York at reality-show two studios. New But members’ status its is 4,000 much closer to nent workers than perma - that of most freelancers. They usually work on long-term contracts, typicallythree fouryears,or “pro andhave fessionalrelationships and solidarity among themselves,” says the Guild’s Justin Molito. those who’ve fallen through Molito the says. “As cracks,” other industries more freelance, become the labor movement has to develop strategies to create thatprovideprotections and make improve organizations ments.” Those strategies include “building a long-term movement, raising across the board, standardstrying to organize an en tire industry.” The result is “rampant minimum wage and overtime violations,” the report said. Work ers also have to unload dangerously stacked piles of boxes, some of which weigh up to 200 pounds, says Johansson. “workers are the ones getting squeezed and chiseled,” says Ruckelshaus. “This relation ship is hurting low-wage women and those at the bottom of the supply chains, and the big corporations aren’t being held account wages for low able and poor conditions.” almost no recourse if an them. employer State cheats wage-theft laws do freelancers. not If a cover client stiffs them, it’s sidered con a business dispute, so their only re course is to sue in small-claims court. That can take months and multiple court appear ances, and even if you win your case,lecting the debt is not guaranteed. col of its 180,000 members have collecting had money trouble they’re owed. Earlier this enact to year, lobbied a law it for New York that would let stiffed freelancers filewage- theft complaints with the state Department gerrymandered inButLabor.New York’s of legislature, the measure It passed “one-housebill”: in the Democrat- wound up as dominated Assembly, a but never reached the Republican-controlledfloor the in state Sen ate. being exploited, that lowers standards for ------The scam’s advantage for employers is Some employers even definejanitors and Coverall, a Florida-based cleaning-ser In home healthcare, a field with 3 mil “There’s no enforcement,” she says. “It Warehouse and shipping work is a major “They pit these little subcontractors Inthis system, according the“Chain to of dent contractor if the person hiringpersonhasthem the contractorif dent directcontrolor right“the to theonlyresult of thewhile work,” the worker decides “the means and methods of accomplishingresult.” the that they have don’t to pay minimum wage, overtime, workers’ compensation or Social Security, Medicare and unemployment tax es.The result, the American Rights Work at report said, is that FedEx drivers not make only less money than those at are UPS, permanent workers who with a union; maintenanceandgas for for they pay to have also their vans. Many lease vans from a compa supplier, Ruckelshausny-approved says. home healthcare aides as “franchisees” she continues. For example, an officebuilding’s management might hire a cleaning-services subcontractor, whose workers then “buy” the job of cleaning one section of the build ing, paying in advance in piece the of fee. company’s exchange for a vices company, calls its more workers than “franchisees,” 9,000 and its more 90 regional offices “supportare than centers.” In Boston, says Ruckelshaus, these franchisees might have to pay the company as much as $10,000 to claim a job, recouping that in vestment from their wages. have If the money, they they don’t can borrow a it company-recommended from lender. In cases, some she says, they have had to work thefirst month on spec, getting paidfor it only if the Coverall boss approves them for the job. They also have to buy cleaning equip ment and supplies from the company. Coverall But makes the deals thefor jobs, the so workers can’t raise their rates or ask the cli on theirent for work own. lion mostly women workers that is one the of fastest-growing job sectors in the economy, U.S. for-profit agenciesselves “registries” of call independent contrac tors. them They do this, says Ruckelshaus, even though they hire the workers, train assign them them, to jobs and set rates. It means they don’t have to pay minimum overtime. wage or becomespartthestructure of these of jobs.” area of abuse as well. Walmart and zon outsource Ama their massive warehouse and shipping operations to subcontractors, who thenuse temporary agencies hire to employ ees. Workers often don’t even their actual know is, employer says Ruckelshaus. who ErinJohansson,says re againstother,” each searchAmericandirector of Work. Rights at compete and“To win a contract, got you’ve your pay to workers minimal wages.” Greed” report, workers are paid piecework, according to the number of trucks containers or they finishinstead unloading of an hourly on wage. They don’t paid get a for shift, anything else they do on the job. 8 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT “ DEBTOR NATION O McKee Yates By TAKING AIM AT THE TIES THAT BIND THE 99% OWS and ‘Strike Debt’ dream should take debt as its focus.” its as debt take should dream obvi ous movement that a to seems political a build new it circumstances, these Under moment have for a reached the 99%. critical faced are “We and with a contract, social broken American Alternet: on article June a in it put Brown Pamela organizer OSDC As of kinds debt-servitude. different ing against organiz and from suffering groups alliances among forge to how is organizers many for question key a approaches, anniversary one-year the As sympathizers. and par ticipants many for motivation already self-conscious was a sorts all of indebtedness that finds one Tumblr, 99% the as such forms, OWS plat early to back looks one when yet And another. one from isolation cam in paigns single-issue as debt of sectors ferent dif treat to tended have efforts organizing However, these student $1 trillion. reached has debt outstanding that fact the marking 1T April, with Day in crisis debt student the to attention national drawing in succeeded the Occupy Student Debt (OSDC) Campaign and crisis, foreclosure the around revolved have broadly, more movement Occupy the and OWS, of initiatives prominent most the such. as themselves identifying ors debt of movement a — States United the in movement political of kind new a for pad” ”launching a calls Nurse Sandra what build the day and its to surrounding build-up light in OWS spot to plan media the use ganizers or Many One. Year Occupy and Monday Black S17, as known variously 17, Sep tember on anniversary one-year and movement’s organizers OWS toward the to build begin as they allies their for thread nective con a as emerging is debt that sign one just event. of the conclusion the at die-in” “debtors’ cathartic a with home driven — a point population of the majority the for life of Street condition basic Wall a is creditors to servitude zombie-like that suggested march the reference, pop-culture necromantic its With itself. finds currently 99% the which in of indebtedness condition perpetual the concerning discourse broader a into debt education and sur tuition rounding struggles student-specific York translate New to in march coordinated first the undertook — program Disobedi training School ence Summer OWS the recent of — graduates organizers pots young and the pans, confetti and red balloons, red ners, Equipped ban red squares, red felt of arsenal an hikes. with tuition austerity-related against Quebec in mobilization sive popular mas the with solidarity in summer this lier out that ofmarches ear began the nocturnal grows that activists student of initiative an Red, the in All by organized was event The Park. Square Washington and campus sity York New Univer the around march Debt” costumed Living the of “Night a 100 undertook protesters around June last of noshing zombies, mindless the with chant Street A major development last spring was the the was spring last development major A of Some focus. new entirely not is an This was march Debt Living the of Night The Wall Occupy a familiar infusing Playfully tion is… om-nom nom-nom…” om-nom is… tion occupa this THREE; indebted! are we TWO; zombies! the are we NE, ------political subject.” political a become to debtors for other, each find to “debtorsfor space a created assembly the it, put one of attendees, the Shyam As Khanna, capitalism. contemporary under life of tion individual an condi enforced an than rather failure moral is indebted be to that sense insidious the — debt-shame with of breaking experience shared a on based solidarity simple and community built openly The of act speaking right. own its in process ering to as others was address debtors, an empow and debtor, a as To speak debtors. as status their about publicly speaking time first very their was this that remarked speakers the of all almost debt, mortgage or card, healthcare credit student, of effects ruinous the of speaking Whether institutions. mediary inter its and Street Wall to debt-servitude of experience the about first- testimonials person charged, emotionally delivered genera tions and backgrounds of range wide a from people dozen several hours, two mic.” Over “debtors’ cardboard a “debt with their stories” share publicly to invited were assembled those Quebec, in struggles stu dent from familiar square felt red the with adorned and Debt” “Strike reading a banner around Seated the minimal. was and facilitation simple, was format on The 11. Park June Square Washington in Assembly Debtors’ City New York first the of staging strategy, alliances and goals. and alliances strategy, tactics, on reinvention and of reflection riod pe fruitful a as interregnum Day post-May the seen have Others exhausted. been has itself movement and trope a both a Oc as that cupy claim to some leading energy, of diffusion and focus of lack deadly a to utes contrib condition “structureless” this that other and work times in Some isolation. have lamented overlap sometimes of that groups network disparate project and groups a affinity groups, working is stands cur rently it as OWS decisions, make movement-wide to empowered is that a or spokescouncil assembly general a Lacking OWS. trajectory of overall the in development tant Times, Federal Reserve Bank of New York) YorkNew Report,World & News U.S. WashingtonBloombergWeek,Post,(Sources:Business Percentage of families educationwith debt in19.2 percent2010: The amount of past-due student loan balances:billion $85 Average amount of student debt per person: $24,301 Total amount of student debt in Over U.S.: $1 trillion NUMBERS THE BY DEBT STUDENT h Dbos Asml ws n impor an was Assembly Debtors’ The (Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, PR Newswire, Huffington Post, CNN Money) for pay to cards Percentage credit of 19 to 29-year-olds theirhaving payingdifficulty medical use bills or medical36 debt: who percent Americans out-of-pocket medical middle-income expenses: 50 percent and low of Percentage Average amount of credit card debt per household: Almost $16,000 Total amount of automobile debt billionin the$730 U.S.: Total amount of credit card billiondebt in the$693 U.S.: DEBT STUDENT BEYOND ------than a supplementary facet of the overall overall the of facet Rather supplementary a than neighborhoods. poor throughout scattered shops pawn and sharks loan day pay by exemplified institutions, lending by upon preyed still are systems credit stream main from excluded those Even sort. some of debtor a is States United the in everyone a whole. as OWS of forefront the to moving of cess are in havethe pro OSDC long preoccupied that questions major several networks, cial so OWS throughout online circulated were in dicated the which notes from the meeting, in As movement campaign. single-issue political a than rather full-scale a for focal point galvanizing the indebtedness of condi tion the make to required tion-building coali and messaging tactics, about strategies, conversation the focused highly a with format testimonial the together wove It up. opened it space of kind the for remarkable full-scale was — week the a by Assembly Debtors’ preceded NYC which — sembly terms. of these intersection the around specifically movement political a building on focus a with Debt,” and tion “Educa to to assembly subsequent decision the devote a came world the around and York New in developments to attuned cess pro organic an From Quebec. in struggles student ofintensifying the light in solidarity global of concept the on focused assembly May late One OSDC. the and Banks The F Tank, Think University Free University, py the in of Occu were members assemblies thematic participants the Among political problems. specific on reflection open-ended emphasized assemblies OT the groups, ing work OWS of culture insular often the as well as Assembly, General Zuccotti-era the of apparatus decision-making unwieldy the publishes also which (OT), Theory Occupy group the by Square Washington at basis weekly a on ed host assemblies” “thematic outward-facing outdoor, of series a were experiments Day FOCUS THE BECAME DEBT HOW Debt Debt is the tie that binds the 99%. Almost as Debt and Education OT initial The post-May interesting most the Among — KAREN OKAMOTO & TONY D’SOUZA OKAMOTO — KAREN aaie Avoiding magazine. Tidal

------pear together without shame.” without together pear ap can the we where space a shedding creating and fear silence, the breaking is step The first and individuates. atomizes isolates, debt capitalism, global to all us connects as it “Even assembly, inaugural the in it put group Labor and Arts OWS the of Kasper as yet, And Chris and communities. families of lives the affects Street Wall of - preda logic tory the which in way is tangible system highly a debt The instruments. elaborate financial through banks by resold and er togeth bundled loans unpayable in dollars trillion a with 2008, of crisis the to led as that analysts many bubble mortgage subprime the to analogous by regarded is bubble student-loan the Indeed, crisis. it to and prone is profits, Street Wall of engine mary pri a is system debt personal the economy, likely likely to debtors with living resonate already un is groundwork thorough without strike To and support. for nizing simply a call debt orga research, long-term requiring project system.” chal debt- predatory and collective illegitimate an to lenge empowering, an is hand, other the on Refusal, sin. its from freed be a to asking debtor guilty a implies idea, noble certainly while “Forgiveness, Casuccio, Christopher member OSDC of words the In Act. Forgiveness Loan Student the around rallying groups by some advocated been has which forgiveness, debt of notion the to tive alterna significant a is — pledge online an in it describes OSDC as refusal, debt or — strike Debt potential. political massive with defaulters” of army “invisible an as de scribed been has what constitute facto de debt-strikers These strike. on effect debt in are their and pay cannot and not Millions do perpetuity. already in paying them keep to designed system the from debtors by sent con of withdrawal deliberate a a strike, of debt question the been has movement ors’ awhole.” as movement the indeed and assembly, the banner, the of scale collective ofthe and body the scale be intimate the tween mediates It generally. more debtors of but struggles, student of only not signature York a New as in recognized increasingly is “The felt ofbanner: square the participatory protesters. of clothing the to affixed typically sort the of square felt red pinned creditors, safety- a by highlighted to signature each with owe they dollar-amount the with banner the sign to invited are semblies as debt the in participants design; this ing A featur produced been also has banner large nametag. a resemble to designed Is…,” Debt My “Hello, reading sticker a been has assemblies debt the from emerge to project propaganda well-received Another Loan.” a “You Not slogan the Are alongside a meme, as forward put been has Death,” = “Silence AIDS, about slogan UP ACT famous the on indi playDebt,”a = “Silence — condition vidual stigmatized otherwise an embracing collectively by forged was identity of political sense new a which in movement, rights to gies the notion of “coming out” in the gay MAKING THE IN MESSAGING However, organized collective refusal is a is refusal collective organized However, debt of discussions these over Looming creator Bocar, Leina artist to According analo drew assembly in the first Speakers ------

THE INDYPENDENT SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 9 ------

De sign DEBT last fall, “How might debt be debt might fall,“How last The call to strike debt also incorporates As debt provides a gateway into a radical Can we think beyond existing models of The physical tactic of occupation firstde has started to go viral on Facebook. viral on go started has to strike debt To aid. mutual of principles OWS would involve legal, financial and cultural infrastructures and caresupport of those for suffering from indebtedness or deliberately taking the risk of debt refusal. Mutual aid in this sense would be the prefigurativeop posite of Wall Street’s atomizing, predatory and fear-mongering system. Andebt intrigu ing possible pilot project is a citizens private campaign of “debt in groups which fairy” would pool resources to purchase defaulted debt for pennies on the dollar from lib typically agencies) sell to (who banks erating the debtor from their burden. While applicable not and — solution structural a not to student loans — it could, if implemented on a larger scale, become what David Grae ber imagines as a “moving capable jubilee,” of both garnering media attention debtors’ struggles around and taking business away from the intermediary companies that profit are penalizingwho those and hounding from pay. to unable conversation about the capitalist system it self, strategic and analytical questions arise about the role of the state — questions that have always haunted OWS as a movement grounded in anarchist principles. What can we learn from the debt cancellation forced upon the Icelandic dots government the connect we by do How year? citizensthis earlier debt public the and debt between“personal” of municipalities and governments subjected to corporate bondholders and credit-rating agencies? How do we link struggles against budgetary austerity with the grievances As Andrew the on indebted? asked Ross of Now! mocracy rethought as something socially productive and collectively managed, rather than as an 1%?” the for profiteering predatory of engine public finance, planning and infrastructure somethingtoward closer to the ideal of “the commons”? Activist and New Univer York sity professor Nick would what Mirzoeff abolished, were debt speculates, to “slavery” if a “Reconstruction” subsequent process look like? For ordinary people to delve into these and right, own its in empowering is questions for OWS they will continue to be explored through public assembly and direct action of the sort that began at Liberty Square last September. of on last Sept. is year, ployed unlikely17 to be replicated, but the spaces of empowerment education, and imagination created by Occupy remain open. Debtors — which is to the say, 99% — are poised to step out of it providing space, that into and shadows the what for required focus and content the with evolve to encampment precarious a once was socialmovement. sustainable a into Yates McKee is an City. NewYork artin based critic and activist articlethisearlierAn onversionof appeared waginingnonviolence.org. ments, an echo of draft-card burning protests protests burningdraft-card of echo an ments, of the 1960s and 1970s. The iconic Quebec the with supplemented square red ------in fear

a r o u n d LUCY VALKURY LUCY their cred it it ratings and day-to- An alterna . Playing on day survival. tive messaging framework that has emerged from DEBT these assemblies has been “Strike Debt” — variously tele graphed as #strikedebt and age of burning debt-state ganda depicts the striking match,evokingimthea of the metaphorical possibili crippling debt is registered. Some Strike Debt propa out thetabulationwhich out on of of a physical blow against a specified target, or crossing things; it conjures images termined model.” Striking debt here can mean many ties of the word “strike,” in withoutlimiting politicsa of indebtedness to any prede trum of thought and action “Strike Debt opens imagina tive space for a wide spec the words of Amin Husain, 10 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT ‘I’m too scared to check the real number Iowe’ GENERATION DEBT worst. line: Bottom time spare her in shows Broadway to sells tickets newspaper; trade estate areal at assistant apublisher’s as position Part-time job: Current Theater Musical in BFA University, Pace Education: $40,000 Around Debt: 25 BOND, KERRIE I’m not sure anything is really worth this amount of debt. And mine isn’t even the the even isn’t mine And debt. of amount this worth really is anything sure not I’m with the question: Is a college degree worth it? Here are some of their stories. of their have some are it? Here worth degree acollege Is colleges question: the with four-year from graduates of grappling are graduates college yet, salaries And make. graduates school what high average to twice grown the years, 30 past the Over slavery.” loan “student as described of as what reminder Mae serve one a to contributor constant Sallie occupystudentdebt.com from letters Monthly mark. decades. take owewill trillion they what $1payback to the struggle many,For the passed States United the in debt student of amount the spring, Last Marinaccio by Ashley Photos Marinaccio &Ashley Henderson by Elizabeth Text payments are to supposed be in deferment. payments even all College, though Community Montgomery college, Fulton- for loansmy previous est from I havebeenI’ve to graduate. chargedyet inter backpaying my loans even though to start notices received I’ve a year twice since 2008. almost line: Bottom enrolled currently degree inAssociate’s Communications, College, Community andCollege Kingsborough Education: Debt: 21 WALKER, DANIELLE $16,500 Fulton-Montgomery Community Community Fulton-Montgomery My loanhasMy collector changed

- very, very, hard. But this will be a thorn in my side for the rest of my life. my of rest the for side my in athorn be will this But hard. very, work and very, industrious incredibly Iam been. have Never lazy. not Iam not. have we but out bailed been have Banks day. passing each with bigger and enrolled line: Bottom currently Divinity, in Masters Seminary, Theological York New Sociology; in BA College, Spelman Education: $110,000 Debt: 38 DUNCAN-SMITH, YVONNE NICOLE I believe that we should always invest in our lives, but by no means should we live under a boulder of debt that seems to grow bigger bigger grow to seems that debt of aboulder under live we should means no by but lives, our in invest always should we that Ibelieve yet, so it stands to get much worse. much get to stands it so yet, graduated Ihaven’t Iowe. that number real the check to scared too Iam week. last loan student a for application my declined Mae Sallie classes. of out and in Iam since far so deferments line: Bottom enrolled currently College, Community Manhattan of Borough Education: $12,000 Around Debt: 28 ARNESON, LAUREN I have mostly been able to get get to able been mostly Ihave Bottom line: Bottom Design and designer web Applications Web Self-employed job: Current Studies/Integrated Interdisciplinary and Unique in BA York, New of University City Education: $40,000 Debt: 50 HIEGER, ROBERT I honestly ask myself every day whether my college education was worth the debt. I have not come up with a conclusive answer. aconclusive with up come not Ihave debt. the worth was education college my whether day every myself ask Ihonestly most nofor atime most social I I how wish muchknew life. debt I had. I evendon’t have a ballpark number. and al for schoolwork, time make megiven a haslittle it dent in my Instead madeloans. me restless, and hasn’t helped it me all working, of time my my almost free spent loans, I’ve off of paying thought line: Bottom Education: Debt: 19 OLIVER, STACEY Unknown; Cost of college $240,000 Cost Unknown; , BA in Acting, currently enrolled currently BA in Acting, New York University, I definitely missed out on the “college experience.” I was so overwhelmed with the the on out missed with “collegeexperience.” IwasI sodefinitely overwhelmed portunity for irony. for portunity op an up pass would economy this if As loans. student own her off pay to calls these making part-time working was she that me told then and laugh, apolite me gave She you!” pay to money enough make Ican so me for job apart-time have you unless “Not back, Ishot And with?” you help Ican else anything there is “Now, asked, she call phone the of end the Toward voice. my in defeat utter and complete of sound the as recognized undoubtedly she what to sympathetic seemed called who woman The Services. Education ACS line: Bottom time spare her in bakes and tutors babysits, office; box amuseum run Helps job: Current Administration Arts in BA College, Wagner Education: $15,000 Debt: 30 ROTKER, SARAH I recently got a collection call from from call acollection got Irecently

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THE INDYPENDENT INDYPENDENT THE 11 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 19 OCTOBER – 20 SEPTEMBER 12 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT make clear. make to likes himself he as president, company a having of obligation legal the fulfill to only elected the exists Escalon’s company position president. Escalon, Henry self-man says collective agement, of model a be should tory should and that the aim decided be run, sawfit. they as to manage workers the to factory the awarded effect in company,” which the of reactivation the for tion occupa temporary of “decree a released try minis labor Venezuelan the before months eight lasted that occupation tory fac a began workers the re sponse, In him. with machinery the and taking factory, union the close to tried workers’ the with to a negotiate new fused contract re boss former early the when in 2009, began Grafitos in trol on. getting were at Grafitos workers the how see to returned had region, the in movement trol con worker the into vestigation in an of part as 2011, and April in activists with factory the ited vis previously had I Venezuela. eastern in region Guayana the in factories worker-run and successful advanced most the of one consolidating in Grafitos succeeded at had workers the ment, self-manage in process learning former boss and a trial-and-error the against struggle long a after admission, own their By ebrate. cel to plenty had they and lies, barbecue, for workers party fami and their Christmas 2011 December was the It below. the yard the from in drifted on laughter and music salsa zling vor. fa in not employees 55 factory’s the of one only with unanimous consensus, almost had an workers reached the bonus. unsurprisingly, end-of-year Perhaps an themselves pay to whether evidence: in still was assembly tory fac workers’ the of decision latest the the door, to next board white the On interview. the conduct to down sitting before factory INTERNATIONAL screw, no, that’s falling into the abyss.” the into falling that’s no, screw, emphasizing a buy to agree to assembly an “holding that Escalon with out,” workers “wore and inefficient proved This Grafitos. at body decision-making “sovereign” the is which workers, the all with assembly tory was fac a mistakes in decision every make to attempt the their of One self- management. for unprepared been had they first at Escalon how me factory. to described workers the other the the and organize of to control how workers’ decide to installed was council workers’ a 2010 September In COUNCILS WORKER W Ewan Robertson By WORKER-RUN FACTORIES SPREAD IN VENEZUELA Calling the Shots h wres hn eae hw h fac the how debated then workers The con worker for struggle The siz meat of sound The ers from the Grafitos del Orinoco Orinoco del Grafitos the from ers work greeted I boardroom, style corporate- plush the into alking ------

working class movements have played a key role in radicalizing Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution. Bolivarian Venezuela’s radicalizing in role akey played have movements class working LEFT: MOVING ------overcome the divide between manual and labor. and intellectual manual between to divide helping the wish, overcome they if can positions workers change and worker), a of that times 15 earned boss factory the (before, cleaner paid the to “president” the from salary, is same the worker every Also, Barreto. member Cesar committee explained ticipation,” par of level maximum or minimum a have workers the all workers, the without done is nothing here, “It’s to say that client. main Grafitos’ plant, steel Sidor nationalized the for produces factory the parts graphite the to bus workers a on and transport agreeing for prices buying include Decisions vote. and a voice a has worker every and sembly, conditions. pay on and ample ex for proposals, introduce also can union trade factory the and assembly, general the to back report president committees company the the and which at assembly meeting a factory holds the months three Every ing over to his accountability. actions ensure of self has eight workers a watch committee him Escalon problem. or issue particular a into look to up set be also can committee A production. and finance as such factory, the running of aspects specific on focus to ated cre are committees body, decision-making the remains workers all of assembly factory the While management. collective of model current their at arrived workers Grafitos the comrades on the national level, [but] I think [but] I think level, national on the comrades of fellow experiences other are cally. “There democrati themselves organize allows to workers that model management a veloped Thousands of workers and activists march through the capital city of Caracas on May Day 2011. Militant, Militant, 2011. Day May on Caracas of city capital the through march activists and workers of Thousands h ky eiin ae ae n h as the in made are decisions key The error, and trial of process this Through ned te okr fe te hv de have they feel workers the Indeed, ------illustrate their point, the workers recounted recounted workers the point, their To illustrate strengthened.” been has companies, er oth with ofcomparison in sense fellowship, The freedom. is Now there boss. by the tion persecu was there “before saying changed, had workers between relationship the how conveyed Barreto Escalon. said belonging,” of sense a gained and consciousness, raised have We . … Guayana] [of industries basic the of production the boosts that hub a of We’re part hours. eight for power labor our sell to just come longer no “We region. the com a of mon toin project linked the wider industries part are workers the that growing sense a as environment such gains, work tangible less improved and an is there children. their to buy toys for efits andben bonuses such as Christmas benefits new enjoyed have and cars, own or houses for mortgages get to managed time, first the for have, Workers increased. has life of ity qual enjoyed by material worker,each their pay rising and equal and this, With record). production their broken just had they that of rate the 2011 April me in (they informed production increase to able been have ers work the ownership, of common sense bya on Spurred management. factory of control model worker democratic the community of benefits and psychological economic, sion of owner, the factory workers described permis the with only enter previously could [ofidea worker Barreto. control],” said this advancing keep to struggle same the in workers fellow accompany to available are we and Venezuela, in companies controlled worker- important most the of one are we In addition to material advancement, advancement, material to addition In comfortably in Sitting the boardroom they ------the workers said that they were satisfied satisfied contin with were Indeed, arrangement. the they with that said workers Afterward, the Grafitos. to visit 2011 cember De my after days few a government the by announced was measure this it, have would chance As interference. workers without by the run but buyout, prevent to state owned the by was factory the which in situation a the nationalization: full What was wanted owner. workers private of a possibility by takeover the a create would it expire, to allowed was decree the If times. several renewed been had it though even ministry, labor government’s the from decree porary tem a upon rested ultimately position their table. the around from of agreement murmurs to said, Escalon Guayana,” in es experienc and factories successful most the work the improving ex from “Apart Barreto plained, As community. the in factory factory. the in life ing work for important” and valuable really is and comradeship solidarity “this of Barreto, opinion the In it. put worker one as heart,” the “from gesture a help recovery, his to with him salary days two gave All workers 2011. the November in accident an fered suf who colleagues their of one of story the - rela class and production of mode existing the of transformation a for pushing ezuela, Ven in movements social radical most the of one forms movement control worker The REVOLUTION BOLIVARIAN model. control worker its under strong now is running tory fac the state, the from protection legal ued The legal issue for the workers was that that was workers the for issue legal The the of role the been has change Another

EWAN ROBERTSON hm tews. hs s n of one is This otherwise. them capable of Well, this.’ we showed aren’t you matters], ministrative or ad legal with [to deal lawyers said to ‘Get us, practically “They give respect. and to recognition workers failed often have plant the with dealing figures outside factory, the running for sibility respon overall assuming below” workers “from of ordinary result as that a explained cally, Escalon to Politi for years. upkeep in invest neglected owner former the after renovation of deal great a needed plant The challenges. gal le and political has economic, faced factory the model, control worker a developing of process after 2010 earthquake. January the Haiti in refugees as helping such causes international to donations and equipment school for funding groups, community to grants include These causes. social and community resources various to its of portion a allo cates Grafitos projects, worker control other supporting cally politi and industries tionalized na Venezuela’s supplying Along with society.” are toward produce geared we resources the that to seeing society, to want contribute we life, of quality ers’ Beyond the sometimes tricky tricky sometimes the Beyond ------THE INDYPENDENT SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 13 ------18 Staff Indypendent — Continued on page Throughout the summer, various polls have have polls various summer, the Throughout A victory for Chavez and his “Bolivarian Chavez has vowed to continue his drive to “There is no question that the proposal themselves. Indeed, there are those in the socialismlittlebe governmenthold that to industryand of ownership statethan more central planning from above, with participation little from workers. Regardless, workers at Grafitos del Orinoco and oth er worker controlled factories continue to The role of President Hugo Chavez has CHAVEZ, AGAIN? to D.C., Washington, from Right-wingers Venezuelan it,but like to going aren’t Caracas headed be to appears Chavez Hugo President country’s his in victory landslide another for elections. 7 Oct. consistently shown Chavez leading his con servative opponent Henrique Capriles by 10 to 20 points. In early Datanálisis, September, projected pollster, private leading Venezuela’s a Chavez victory with 56 percent of the vote rating. approval current his to equal about — 19th- a Bolívar, Simón for (named Revolution” Venezuelan and leader independence century national hero) would mean a paratrooper. Army former third the for six-year office in term 21st- a build to wealth oil vast Venezuela’s use century society. he Earlier socialist this year, released a detailed roadmap of his plans for 2013 to 2019, which includes bringing more sectors of the economy under public owner and landholdings rural large up breaking ship, the councils, communal of role the expanding community-based organizations that carry out many of Chavez’s programs on a level. local seriously aims to eradicate the old capital ist institutions and market, them and replace with grassroots control and and ‘alternative’ production and distribution organization Venezu of Pearson writes Tamara methods,” elanalysis.com CROSSROADS The worker control movement in Venezu ela, and in Bolivar state in particular, is at a key moment. Progress made by threatens workers those who only support for personal gain and Chavez political opportunism and who see worker control as a threat their to privileges and vested interests. It also undermines those who hold a more restric socialismwhat view of tiveargue and is that workers are not ready to operate factories develop new systems of power, and several CVGfactories are holding elections inorder councils.others,establishInthis workers’ to reactionary faction is mining successfullythe PGS. This is particularly evident under inAlcasa, whichconsideredwasmany as by the most advanced of the CVG factories in implementing the PGS. also been contradictory. Through both his discourse and actions, important Chavez ongoing institutional has and given moral ------In a packed press conference on Chaurán, Yasmin spokesperson, The

livarian revolution formed a coalition called Patriotic Collectives of Popular ResistanceGuayana. in Revolutionary Feb. 29, a spokesperson for the group accused the Rangel faction of having “taken advantage” of sence Chavez’s in order to regain control of ab the Guayana industries. The spokesperson further argued that the Alcasa not decision to sell by more aluminum to the “sin” transnational was companies post.his Sayago cost that reported also herself, worker Alcasa an taking since Alcasa the presidency that Angel Marcano had undermining already the structures of begun worker control in the factory, not attending factory working group meetings, and EWAN ROBERTSON EWAN The conflict spilled over into national level level national into over conflictThe spilled In a surprise announcement Feb. 25, Ven Alcasa workers reacted with fury to the In response to dismissal,Sayago’s a large instead setting up a with six “parallel vice-presidents apparatus” who were fingertips.” their naming“at posts other in late March when PSUV deputy GeneralAttorney Venezuelan asked Zabayar Adel El examina psychiatric a for Diaz Ortega Luise CONFLICT INTENSIFIES The conflict over Plan (PGS) has Socialist intensified in Guayana 2012. This reflects struggle the inparticular of exacerbation the between the withinBolivarian the revolution sectors reactionarypolitical and bureaucracy fur committed to genuinely forces those and transformation. radical ther ezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua said that, by order of President Chavez, Elio Sayago , worker-president of the state-owned alumi num plant CVG Alcasa, was to be replaced by Angel Marcano. was in Chavez unCuba time. the at cancer for treatment dergoing news, designating the move a “state coup” against PGS by reactionary the Bolivarian forces process led by United withinSocial ist Part of Venezuela (PSUV) Bolivar state Francisco Rangel Gomez. They governor of called upon organized communities and so cial movements in Guayana to resist the strategy by “disastrous” a as termed they what government. network of organizations Bo the of wing radical more and the representing individuals tion of Rangel Gomez, on the grounds that Rangel’s attack on El Zabayar and the Pa triotic Collectives represented “an abuse of power, xenophobia and exclusion” toward differinghis.views with those from efforts at worker control are the influential multinational corporations that buy prima ry materials from the CVG companies. This is unsurprising, as the PGS aims to obtainbetter terms from multinational companies and aspires to reduce exports tionals overall. to transna------Workers at the Grafitos del Orinoco factory Members of Venezuelanstateinstitutions,Members of Some labor bureaucrats and reformist Mafia networks within the basic indus Under the PGS, the aluminum, iron and usurp the process from within. Writer and activist Jorge Martín union bureaucrats argues oppose that worker because control it undermines many the power, privileges uninformation enjoy key theyaccess to and tions and have provoked opposition a from range of groups right — wing from and transnational the companies country’s to corrupt or reactionary politicians, trade mafias, union bureaucrats and state managers within the Bolivarian camp. including MIBAM and CVG, have also re sisted the implementation PGS. of unions have also opposed PGS. According pro-PGS to activists, thisunionthesector of movement has employed tactics such as col laborating with state bureaucracies, overtly attacking worker control experiments and setting up alternative “working groups” to der the current system. tries are also resistant to PGS becauseaccountabilitygreateropennessentailed and the in the plan threatens their profits from sell on contractsstealingsellingand products to the black market. Opposed to any and all OPPONENTS OF WORKER CONTROL Thisandendeavor the wider control worker movement challenge existing power rela state-owned industrial complex in the re ing the iron and steel production the other, process,the aluminum process. Decision- makingexercisedbethrough would factory- floor-levelworker councils andvarious co gion. President Chavez supported the plan, uttering his now famous cry “I play on the side the of workers!” steel workers of Guayana, working in tan dem with the Venezuelan government, were to take direct control of the production of the region’s heavy would industries. integrate all The of the move CVG into industries two mega-companies, one compris ordinatingbodies. Venezuela’s worker control movement demonstrates that workers workers that demonstrates movement control worker Venezuela’s can collectively self-manage their labor. of divisions and hierarchies capitalist without factories and workplaces ------SHOP FLOOR: make a plan. ------Guayana has become the key battle In 2005, Chavez began to promote the Since 2005 more and more factories have The relationships between the ezuelan state Ven and different sectors of Venezuela’s organized working class have been key factors in Venezuela’s worker control movement. Nowhere has this been more marked Guayana. than This in region, sitting along side the great Orinoco River, enjoys a wealth of natural resources that have spawned a set of heavy industries ex tracting and manufacturing iron ore, steel, aluminum, bauxite, more. The gold most strategic and of these in dustries are owned by the state, and the majority are overseen by the gov ernment’s Venezuela Guayana poration Cor (CVG), and the (former) Ministry of Basic Industries and Mining (MIBAM). With around 30,000 workers, the extract ing and manufacturing industries is second only oil to in financial clout. ground for movement Venezuela’s over the last worker three years due the launch Planof to control Socialist Guayana (PGS), a joint project between the Venezuelan state and organized workers in the CVG entirethe controlfor indus worker triesdevelop to KEY BATTLEGROUND litical force, helping to spur on Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution, the process of social, political and economic change led by Presi dent Hugo Chavez since his election in De cember 1998. idea of worker control as a means of restor ingproductivity factories to closed recal by citrantmembers the of business class. His initiative, “company occupied,” closed: was part of a company left turn by the Bolivarian movement after it defeated nu merous destabilization attempts country’s by the right-wing Chavez announcing in opposition, 2005 that the goal with of the Bolivarian revolution was struction of thesocialism. His government then con set about nationalizing strategic sectors of the economy such as telecommunications,energy and food production and promoting grassroots organization through communal councils, among other mechanisms of par ticipation. been occupied and put under various forms of worker control in ery Venezuela. model Not established ev since 2005 and the process survive, has been fluid andat times uneven, yet the idea of worker control has grown in popularity working class. Thus, despite among the number of Venezuela’s factories under worker control representing only a small part of Venezuela’s economy, the by mid-2011 Bicentenary of ComFront panies Under Worker Control (FRETCO)declare: to wasable “The Bolivarian revolu tionhasentered critical a point inwhich the exploitthe bourgeoisie over controllosthas beenacquiring have ever anworkersThe ed. greater level of political consciousness and are organizing themselves to respond theto capitalists’ attacks.” tions, the division and hierarchy of and labor, decision-making within the In economy. fact, the movement has emerged as a po 14 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT arrived. trucks garbage before minutes them re to trieve able was and curb a on piled ments instru the found Blust released), be would they before days two (and arrests the after Eight hours in had confiscated. been struments Their backs.” their behind hands their with curb, a on all there “sitting colleagues her see to Square Union to work from came She Blust. says musicians, 20 about rested ar and entrances several off blocked NYPD the when 2004, 31, Aug. on Square Union York New in City. Convention National Republican 2004 at the protests the during Blust Sarah founder co (RMO) Orchestra Mechanical Rude to hind them. But that’s what exactly happened be cuffed hands their with curb the on ting RUDE MECHANICAL ORCHESTRA RUDE MECHANICAL wne t sat bn fr h women’s the for band a start to wanted I said and hand my raised “I be. to tend es” by “women’show was boring struck march Blust meeting organizing (NARAL) League March for Women’s the Lives. for preparing 2004 of summer tive who works women’sin the spent health, na D.C., Washington, a Blust, around. still who’s member founding only the is Blust ist trombon members, RMO’s Of 60-some the BEGINNINGS SHAKY M Ivanova Irina By Revolution You Can Dance To Strand bookstore last May Day. May last bookstore the at Strand workers striking join to Broadway down march members Orchestra Mechanical Rude ARUCKUS: MAKING The RMO was part of a mass march to march mass a of part was RMO The At one National Abortion Rights Action Action Rights Abortion National one At et o id hi bnmts sit bandmates their find to pect ex don’t performance, a for arrive late they when musicians, ost ------nor any publicly accessible calendar (though (though calendar website, nor any accessible publicly band’s the on not — gigs coming and move on. There’s furiously no of list up play abruptly, appear they event, weather a Like challenge. a is RMO the tracking But wings. acces fairy or usually glitter stripes, green, with sorized Kelly and outfits black their of from but away, blocks from audible band’s brass, of the raucous because of Occupy.”because to play now are RMO forthe the asking groups of percent “75 Blust, says days, These strike. store grocery a to inauguration den gigs playing years, gar community a to ride Up! Time’s a from six past protest the York for New the scene on regular a be to Bookstore. at Bluestockings time and a lot of flyers posters, through recruited they which for YorkCity, Na in New Convention tional Republican the 2004 and Lives for Women’s March a the for planned band women the Lounge, Tea Slope Park the At Blust. says date,” blind a like was similar “It idea. a proposed who had Hardisty, with Michele touch in Blust put member another though, pin drop.” a heard have “You could said. she march,” You know when you see them — not just just not — them see you when You know grown has RMO beginnings, these From meeting, the After - demonstration in 2011. in demonstration STREETS: THE TO IT TAKE - - - members will come to an event. to an come will members its of many how knows band the even not it). publicize Sometimes, often will hosts the group, another for event an play they when pet of snakes, or engaging onlookers. engaging or of snakes, pet car synchronized a like musicians of playing front in dancing entourage musicians, the fluttering around a forms often Spectacle, which Tactical troupe, dance spin-off onstrations. dem impromptu many in ingredient es sential an RMO the made has this limitation and exists, such no however, instruments, loud playing on planning you’re If NYPD. the from permit a need you loudspeaker, a use to and loudspeaker, a need usually you Yorkstreets, New on loud effectively To be PLAYERS AND AUDIENCE Daniel Flag is a dancer in the RMO’s RMO’s the in dancer a is Flag Daniel Fellow marchers break out into dance with RMO members at the end of the May 12 May the of end the at members RMO with dance into out break marchers Fellow

IRINA IVANOVA forming at the Queens Queens the at per forming RMO the saw first accordionist, and teacher can join. instrument brassy sufficiently political a and in ruckus interest an open- with Anyone policy: door an has recruited. band The actively was who members band few the of one is band, the in friends many with RMO the of admirer long-time name. the thus cession, pro RMO an of head the at flag black enormous an ence. audi the the from marchers separating ricades bar police the by trated frus was she and were small, marches The years ago. four Parade Pride anh epe a Temple, Hannah a been had who Flag, carries frequently Flag “I came up to them and and up to them “I came ------behave. to how for loss a at often are punks and ies fair of band well-behaved but loud a meet who police notwithstanding), arrests RNC (the that is Another protest draining. be can march a where activating energy, violent of diffusion a as music RMO’s the members describe Some protests. of component — effective and — adored an such one it’s is reason spectators and performers between stayed. she band.”But a in piano a having “It’slike instrument. difficult a is Temple, said dion, said. she accordion,” an they’d if take asked that anybody can play music is a political political a is music play can anybody that fact “The Hardisty, Michele cofounder For POINTS PROCESS power.” was viduality of indi myTemple. said life, parts other “In individual,” an as protests to going in ested mem indoors. collective bers the escorted playing, still and, police the to up danced band The lice. po by surrounded partially collective Bash Back the of members upon coming recalls Flag exception. partial a made they apolis, Minne In instruments. musical of expense the of “conbecause largely avoid events, to frontational” try members RMO RNC, and Pa. Md. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, including — way the along as possible places as many in stopping it, of out trip road a made They collective.) Vroom the through one found (They ble oil. vegeta on run to retrofitted bus school an old buy to was out, turned it Midwest, the to instruments their with to 50 get members way cheapest The exhaustively. options tion transporta researched they Minneapolis, in Convention National at Republican to the prepared tend RMO the when 2008, In ROAD THE ON IT TAKING The RMO’s disregard for the distinction distinction the for disregard RMO’s The led This to a The accor heated discussion. “The “The RMO made I’m me realize not inter York New the at experiences their After ------ANDY STERN THE INDYPENDENT SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 15

Roadmap to Apartheid ), The Color Purple M AYS L E S C I N E M A SEPT 22 – 2:15 PM (BTWN 127TH ST & 128TH ST) 343 LENOX AVE /MALCOLM X BLVD HARLEM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROADMAP TO APARTHEID Narrated by Alice Walker (author of ADDITIONAL SCHEDULEDFRI SEPT SHOW 28 - TIMESNYUMON - OCTINCLUDE:5PM 1- -ThomasHagop HUNTER Kevorkian BuildingTUE Center,- TIMEOCT 2 room 50TBD- COLUMBIAWashington -#111 WED68th OCT- & Contact: UNIVERSITY Lexington 3Sq -(Main S RUTGERS [email protected] Campus)Ave - UNIVERSITY7PM --MON Contact:Contact: OCT - 82:30PM [email protected]@yahoo.com JOHNFor JAY more COLLEGE showvisit time- 7PM roadmaptoapartheid.org. information,- Contact: [email protected] is as much a historicalabout document why many ofPalestinians theand rise why andan feel increasing fall they of areapartheid number living of inas people anit apartheidis aaround film thesystem world today, agree with them. AND WE SUBSCRIPTION WILL YOUR RIGHT AWAY! BEGIN INDYPENDENT.ORG/ SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE TO THE TO THE SUBSCRIBE INDYPENDENT YEAR! WHOLE THE FOR $25 MAKE MONEY OR CHECK SUBSCRIPTION ISSUES). RATE: $25/YEAR (13 TO “THE BROADWAY, INDYPENDENT” TO: AND SEND 666 PAYABLE ORDER ONLINE SERVICE, FOR UP FASTER SIGN NEW YORK, NY 10012. SUITE 510, INDYPENDENT ------“Nobody ever really leaves the RMO,” Sheadded, “If I moved, it would have to Butmoney does playan uneasy role. The While the band does encourage those “We try not to be the free band you Several years ago, the RMO was asked Theonly known member tohave left the COMMUNITY Friendship with dozens of RMO members isone thing that’s kept Sarah Blust in New York through several urges to move away. It’s one way, she said, to “justifyI pay.” the rent says Blust. Though she’s theing memberonly who’s stillfound active in the band,most of the others have stayed inand theythe seecity each other frequently. be to another city with a band.” val, an annual gathering of activistbands street in Massachusetts,documentary explained why in musicalpowerful: a “You don’t protest need electricity, is you don’t so need a computer, you don’t need in ternet access, you don’t need a lot of mon ey.” You don’t need a sound permit the NYPD.from just You go out there and play. bandhas certain expenses, such as renting a rehearsal space, that members.are Othershared outlaysby — allmusic for lessons individual members, are not covered for collectively. example — groups that can to pay theformances band — for example,for ifper they’re asked to perform at a fundraisernot a— strongpayment factor is in the decisionan to event.play Any money the band earnsinto goes the general fund. can hire because you musicians,” don’t want said to Temple. hire Thecounted professional RMO hasmusicians among members,its and many particularly band sensitive membersto avoid taking work are from musicians. to play a festival infew centraldays afterBrooklyn. accepting, A tactedthey by a localwere bandcon that had originallybeen hired to play at the event. valThe organizers festi backed out of the contract,thinking the RMO would be cheaper.ter Af learning about RMO refused the the engagement. cancellation, the WHY PLAY? John Bell, founder of the HONK! Festi their efforts on specificBand localmembers comecampaigns. and go with frequencyenough that there’s an for goingofficial “on hiatus.” process band for career reasons is the banjoer, playwho’s completing a medicalin New residencyOrleans. ------The equal emphasis on politics and mu There are also band members for whom New members pair up with a buddy to Thisisin addition, course,of toactually Theband’sleaders andlogistics planners The band makes most decisions by “This band loves process,” Blust said. There is a challenge definingasaband, and as apolitical themselves,group. Mostly the RMO tries to make organizing notfun — just at the peak but inof the a day-to-daydemonstration, work. They seeas a thiscrucial part of their mission of keep CONTINUING EDUCATION ing activists sane. The RMO doesn’t teach oradvocate specific politics, instead work ing as an ally of a range of activist groups. sicianship can be a liability.hardtime keeping “We very good havemusicians a in terested,” said Blust. On the other hand, a few current members have learned to play an instrument in order Howto join doesthe band. this Temple. She herself happen? has taken up “Slowly,” the bari tone sayshorn since joining. the RMO is theother political “fun” projectengagements. left betweenOthers the bandhave to return to graduate(a schoolmajor competitor of the band,ing accord to Blust), and occasionally to focus statement about ownership of culture.” help them integrate into the can band,mean whichlearning the consensusand how processto avoid burnout. of work behindThere’s the marches’a lotebullient joy. The band practices everyholds Tuesday additional night, sectionalneeded, and rehearsalsmeets once abouta as organizationalmonth toissues. talk playing events, which canfour a numberweek. During up citywide to actions,bandcan playhalf-dozenthe a gigs inone day. are volunteered by their peers on a gig-by- gig basis. This includes both the memberswho coordinate the event’s logisticsthe with host organizationthose who march at (“captains”)the front of theand determineband and its course at the event itself (“majorettes”). For trombonist Slopen,this Meredithstructure means “we can have leadership without authority.” consensus, including whichrequests performanceto accept and instrumentswhether to thatadmit are a marching unconventional band. for(The RMOhost to hasa banjoplayed and two violins.) An elec tric guitar and bagpipesments are that two never instru close. made it in, but came In fact, the RMO cess and has structure helped for several with of theradical many pro brass bands that acrosshave Americapopped in the eightup years since the RNC. 16 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT 450 pages |$21.00september2012 compelling new And anafterword by DavidGraeber Occupy andmany Research, more. Williams, Yvonne Yen Liu,Rose Bookbinder, Holmes, Joel Olson,Rachel Herzing, Kristian awal, Premo, MattSmucker, Michael Marisa Lester Spence, ManissaMcCleave Mahar- Crabapple, Cindy Milstein,Yotam Marom, With essays by Vijay Prashad, Molly “Few initiatives revolutionary formed outof the 1960sleftsuch a profound aging their own $17 WWW.HAYMARKETBOOKS.ORG WWW.HAYMARKETBOOKS.ORG $17 historical vista change, Wolffchange, workers man- manifesto for intellectual andpolitical legacy the as STO.... 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edited by kate khatib, margaret killjoy, and mike mcguire T Crown Publishers, 2012 By Christopher Hayes Twilight oftheElites AMERICA AFTER MERITOCRACY Twilight of the Elites: REVIEWS cade — most notably the financial financial the notably most — cade de past the over elites of failures they plate. it to home made that is it impressive how of base to third on born those part convince in serve stories to-riches few of members the elite rags- with says oligarchy.”racy relatively The meritoc says who “he members, of their intentions the despite chies oligar into complex turn to of organizations tendency wrote the who about sociologist a German Michels, Hayes’ Robert of In paraphrase donations. and tions connec personal old-fashioned to better tutoring from after-school and schools myriad, are nisms mecha The progeny. their to tus sta their on pass to seeking elites by mechanisms selection tocratic meri of corruption the is central themes book’s the meritocratic of One our elites. of world brave new the explores Hayes topher warfare. in engage ofa politics envy or class even of is to outcomes of inequality talk to opportunity, of of equality mantra the Given inequality. skyrocketing justifies that myths central the of one is inheritance or luck than more aptitude and work doled power on outare hard based and wealth that notion The topia. however, we to aspire Young’s dys pond, the of side this On intel ligence. by determined strictly was position social where society ture fu 1958a in dystopian to describe it coined Young Michael ciologist A second theme is the myriad myriad the is theme second A In Twilight of the Elites the of Twilight tirical term. The British so British The term. tirical sa a as intended originally was “meritocracy” word he , Chris , ------bankers, bankers, investment of ethnography nating multi-million salaries. dollar collect to con tinuing they’re options, stock their surrendering or donning jumpsuits prison executives financial of enment — it that instead is striking Watergate, if not since Enlight the authority” of “crisis a of has talk been there — questionable is tion periodiza his While Movement. of outrage the the both Tea and the Occupy Party of much of root the decade-long at is that a authority” of “crisis to rise given has behavior this argues Hayes tions. ac their for accountability take to — crisis refusal and collective their of American elites. The problem problem The elites. American of responsibility take to refusal and judgment of failures the underlies that ethos meritocratic the about distinctive something is there that argue convincingly to fails Hayes on and them pass to children. their privileges their defend to attempt elites sloppy. arule, As tellectually in are makes he connections spectrum, the ideological the mobilization across political for nar promising rative a perhaps is ure fail elite and ethos meritocratic a obligation. no such feel meritocrats but society, of rest the to something owing of sense into a aristocrats shamed torically his birth of accident an to owed was wealth their that knowing of embarrassment The elites. of ing cor corrupt also is it been elites, by rupted meritocracy has only not Hayes, to according short, In brains. oversized their for sation paychecks are just outsize compen their that notion the internalized have sector financial the in those Street Wall of raphy ae cts ae H’ fasci Ho’s Karen cites Hayes While Hayes’ linkage between between linkage Hayes’ While iudtd A Ethnog An Liquidated: , to argue that that argue to , ------opportunity can only be a mirage. amirage. of be only can opportunity equality equality, of substantive absence the In inequality. for myth as a legitimating meritocracy of notion the abandon to instead society. It inely is meritocratic time genu more a for work to is lution but so the that meritocracy, Hayes is naïve to think existing really reproduced. is equality in by which vector sole the hardly is it but tutoring inequalities, accentuates Private offspring. of their success the ensure to order in to bear resources their all bringing child-rearing, of mode tivation” parents cul a tend to in “concerted engage Affluent selective schools. to public entrance gaining in succeeded children their whether in role major a played still parents of capital cultural and intellectual financial, the existed, Review eton Princ or Kaplan before even But classes. prep test expensive in dren chil their enroll and tutors hire to parents students’ prospective for of unheard still was it when time, meritocracy. of a simpler of a picture paints Hayes ideal the nearly attended it was he 1990s, late the in school the when that he suggests School, High College Hunter mater, alma his to devotes he ter of meritocracy. bilities In the chap possi democratic the of view too rosy far a retains he Nonetheless, we if outcomes. of equality greater have is greater opportunity have of can equality we way only oligarchies. of all teristic that is a and key inequality charac distance social the with as tocracy is perhaps not so much with meri with much so not perhaps is e ae ned en ald by failed been indeed have We the that insists correctly Hayes

— Matt Wasserman — Matt

------LEO GARCIA THE INDYPENDENT SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19 17

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Oct 6 Oct Oct 13 13 Oct Oct 20Oct Sept 22 Sept Sept 29Sept and resistance

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Saturdays at 8 p.m. at Saturdays 40 E. 35th St. WITH VIKKI VIKKI WITH of peace of The Raging Grannies; The Occuponics The Grannies; Raging The , as they touch on some some on touch they as , , in which middle-aged middle-aged which in , of celebrating music celebrating of years , which was recently recently was which , www.peoplesvoicecafe.org with special guest artistMario Casartelli artistMario guest special with More if you choose; less if you can’t; no one turned away turned one no can’t; you if less choose; you if More Marie Mularczyk O’Connell & Friends O’Connell Mularczyk Marie Suggested Donation: $18 or TDF; $10 PVC members members PVC $10 TDF; or $18 Donation: Suggested doors open 7:30; wheelchair accessible wheelchair 7:30; open doors He’s joined by Kenneth Kenneth by joined He’s DON’T LEAVE YOUR YOUR LEAVE DON’T

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radicalbookstore activist | centerfairtrade cafe| COURTESY OF WHITNEY MUSEUM WHITNEY OF COURTESY ------— Mike Newton Within the late-’60s counterculture,late-’60sWithinthe Kusa Kusama is an inveterate self-mythologiz “happenings” Kusama’s theget at essence from become1991: “...we part of the unity of our environment, I become parteternal, obliterateourselves we and love.” in of the tive. Sadly, the show doesn’t have anything from her Wall Street action in 1968, but it doesincludeotherhighlights activismher of from the same year. There’s a photo of her Brooklyn Bridge “antiwar naked happening Presi letterto a as well burning,” flag as and dent Richard Nixon that she read aloud in Board frontthe Elections of of New York in 1968. In her appeal, she offers to have sex with Nixon in exchange for the end of the Vietnam War: “...truth is written in spheres soothingly,willlovingly,adornwith I which your hard masculine body. Gently! Gently! Dear Richard. Calm your spirit!” manly That fighting same year, Kusama over presided what she claimed gay wedding was in United States, the with the two first-ever grooms united in a single, dot-strewn cos tume her of own design. ma found a way to harness social upheaval through her own unique, personal expres sion. Her celebrations of freedom and uni versal oneness emerged out of a crisis, human the body used as an imperialist tool in Vietnam. It can be freeing to think of these protests as actual works of art. But, there’s something creepy about protest movements beingthroughsiphoned singleen a person’s Kusamadeavors.seeking was liberation and truth, shebut was also looking for publicity and money. er, positioning herself as a countercultural doyenne and a sort of disturbed, genius. mysticalSome late-’60s flyersfor her “Body Festivals” feature an image of Kusama as a LouisVuitton cartoonishthisJuly, and, logo released a collection of polka-dot Kusama-inspired, fashion accessories (the house fashion is also one of the exhibit’s sponsors). With these projects, Kusama becomes more than just a myth: she turnsbrand. herself into a bodyhuman the — protestmeaning theof of space,publicchannelingin frighteninglythe vast potentialities of freedom, dignity love. and At cosmic levels, change involves cre ation and destruction and Kusama’s work shows us that protest (along with art) is chance to a feel that change within ourselves. Or, as she put it in a public performance significant part of her Whitney retrospec ------both 2009. No. B White, and

No. AB

urn Wall Street…Wall must stop Street all of this men fake Obliterate ‘business.’ Wall Street men with pol

Kusama’s Kusama’s protest events are a small but

These “happenings” usually featured Born in Japan in 1929, Kusama has long Kusama has made cogent, often pioneer B Through Sept. 30 Sept. Through Protest Kusama Yayoi Art American Museum of Whitney Ave. 945 Madison Polka-Dot Polka-Dot An Encounter with a Flowering Season, from 1959) gather simple little circles into unpredictable bouts of psychic distressoceanic or calm. Kusama fidelity is to known particular forms for — her the dot,sphere, the the phallus — but Kusama’s art about more than is just repetition. At its best, comesneurotfrom a work her of thepower catharticpriestessyet communinga place:ic usewithdemonsthrough to obsessivean(or her term, “obsessional”) devotion. ka-dotsontheir naked bodies.” This appeal lastZuccotti Park at sign a writtenon wasn’t fall — it was part of a press release penned by artist and writer Yayoi Kusama to help promote her “naked protest” outside of the Stock ExchangeNew York in 1968. Kusama painting polka dots on protesters’ naked bodies in an attempt to bring atten tion the to antiwar movement. been a fringe-y figure. Herwork has includ ed a variety of mediums, such as painting, sculpture, fashion and performance. How ever, recent years have soaring found into her the upper profile reaches of tional interna art world stardom, and a retrospec tive of her life’s work, entitled KusaYayoi ma, at the Whitney Museum chapter in this journey. is the latest thesome of of ingbiggest out work high-art ideasthe of last 60years abstract— expres art,sionism,popsocial happenings, psycho analytical self-realization — all while man aging to remain true to art herself. is Kusama’s about the life-giving of nature “obliterations” and the cosmos, a vision that was at its height in her youthful “infinitypaintings.These large, net” abstract works (with names like “ 18 SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 19, 2012 THE INDYPENDENT only by workers’ ability to organize and and organize to ability workers’ by only not determined be will forward movement control worker the push to available spaces political The Boli Peoples of our America. varian the for Alliance the as such alliances international solidarity-based to programs social from internationally, and mestically do policies government radical and groups; wom and indigenous en’s, LGBT, afro-descendent media; community communes; cils; coun community encompassing Venezuela, in way under process exciting and varied a of worker movement is The one control part POSSIBLE IS WORLD ANOTHER out of power. opposition right-wing the keeping of objective strategic the on cused fo eye his has Chavez that it possible quite is Radonski, Capriles Henrique candidate behind united opposition an and (see sidebar), 7 Oct. on elections presidential light the In of situation. balance particular a the in forces on of depending and political pressures differing to response in made decisions also has Chavez However, activists. control worker among support strong joys en he that nothing for not is it and general, in control worker and PGS the for support 13 page from Continued Venezuela for Independent Media Independent Exchange’s for Funding by part in *Funded FOR OBER 4th-7th t 7 - h t 4 R E B TO C O .streamingforchange.org r o . e g n a h c r o f g n i m a e r t s w. w w G N I M A E R T S 6 FILMS ONLINE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE SOCIAL FOR ONLINE FILMS 6 Visit streamingforchange.org for more details more for streamingforchange.org Visit CELEBRATING ACTIVISM

CHANGE Paul Robeson Fund Fund Robeson Paul ------tories and workplaces, and that capitalist capitalist that and fac workplaces, and their tories can self-manage workers collectively that indeed world the to onstrates dem movement control Venezuela’sworker years. and months coming the in direction takes revolution general the the by also but struggle appeared on venezuelanalysis.com. on appeared from adapted a longer is version that originally article This Venezuela. Mérida, in based activist and journalist a is Robertson Ewan like. look world could that what also but possible, is world better, of example is not another only how another, Venezuela in control worker capitalism, of crisis latest of the a result as America North and Europe across elite be the by imposed austerity ing of context the In formation. trans social and economic the deeper for lays basis and capitalists, for profit not society and of needs the toward geared is tion produc as a whole, as society benefit also can model a Such workers. of consciousness and education greater the to leading while resources, produced of distribution unfair the and labor their from workers’ alienation collective of’ a problems addresses in manner democratic production Running life. economic organizing of way best, nor only, ofand divisions labor ­hierarchies are not the Based on what has been achieved so far, far, so achieved been has what on Based FILM www.fex.org * STREAMING FOR - - - - - IndyKids! is a current events and social justice newspaper written written newspaper justice social and events current a is IndyKids! publishedinIndyKids! • Have work your students' orkids' teacher's guide • Use theIndyKids! Program• EnrollReporter intheKids

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