LEITE RS Matewan But the right track can only be accom­ plished if the Soviet Union gives up on military adventurism. Imperialist wars A S«ra/1$1 P~"I'" '' .-. "" To the Editm: THE POLmcs OF POVERTY are a very costly enterprise. A real solu­ After seeing Matewan and reading tion to the Afghanistan crisis can only help the review of it in the November/ the Soviet people. But what is currently December issue of Democratic Left, I proposed as a solution is a sham. Imagine would like to know what books or articles that the United States invades Nicaragua. .., ! have been written about the Matewan International crisis is set. Negotiations be­ \hchH'I H.amn(lton strikes. Can you tell me anything about gin. The U.S. promises that it \\'ill leave the historical accuracy of the film? Were Nicaragua in a year only if the safety and 10otlh'-!fikho11111J\ any episodes or characters invented? Any Bubar.1 (htt"t1retch guaranteed participation in the ruling cir­ Willi.-m Julius Wilwn information would be welcome. cles of their puppets is secured. What gall, .... M;uli. Ltvinson Neil Copertini right? San Francisco, CA To keep silent on what's happening in Afghanistan can only feed Gorbachev's (Editor's response: The American Social enemies and the enemies ofprestroika. In­ To order DSA's new pamphlet on History Project recomends the following ternational indignation to the Soviet pull­ poverty send $1 .00 for a single issue. book as a good source of information about out is needed. Shams never resolve any­ Make checks payable to DSA, 15 that period in labor history: David Corbin's thing. Dutch Street, Room 500, New York. Life, Work and Rebellion in the Coal Lorenze Canizares New York 10038. Fi.elds: Southwest Virginia Miners, 1880- New York, NY 1922, which was published by the Uni­ versity of Illinois Press in 1981.) ARTICLES The Soviet Union and Afghanistan Super Tuesday: Conservative Yearnings and BAJUIARA EHRENREICH To the Editor: Progressive Realities MICHA&. HARRINGTON EdiUJrs It is perplexing to see a serious analy­ by Ann Lewis ................. page 5 tical article such as Louis Menashe's Israeli-Palestinian SHERRi t.ivJNE "Understanding Glas?wst'' of the Novem­ National Executive Committee ManJJging Ed1tqr ber/December issue of Democratic Left, Resolution .................. page 10 which does not consider the Soviet Union's Could Canada Vote for EolTORIAL COMMITI'EE involvement in Afghanistan. Democratic Socialism? Joanne Barkan Maxine Phillips By now it should be a clear political vania Del Borgo Jan Rosenberg position, to most political activists of the by Desmond Morton ...... page 11 Guy Molyneux left, that the foreign policy of a nation is a Hollywood DEMOCRATIC LEFT (ISSN 0164-3207) is pub­ reflection of its internal policies. How suc­ and the Vietnam War lished six times a year at 15 Dutcli St., Suite 500, cessful perestroika is going to be is tied to a by Al Auster New York, NY i0008. Second Class postage situation very similar to one we face here paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription $8 reg­ and Leonard Quart ..... :. page 13 ular; $15 institutional. in terms ofour own economic well-being­ POSTMASTER: Send address changes to how much resources are devoted to the DEPARTMENTS DEMOCRATIC LEFT, 15 Dutch St.• Suite 500, military. New York, NY 10038. It seems clear that Gorbachev would like to eliminate at least some missle ex­ DEMOCRATIC LEFT is publislted by the Democra­ LETI'ERS................. .... page 2 tic Socialists of America at the above address, " penses. It also seems clear that Gorbachev phone (212) 962-0390. Microfilm. Wisconsin is seriously trying to shake up the EDITORIAL ................. page 3 State Historical Society, 816 State St., Madison bureaucracy in order to improve the DSAction .. .... ................. page 7 WI 53700. Indexed in the Alternative Press In­ Soviet people's standard of living. All ON THE LEFT ............. page 8 dex, P.O. Box 7229, Baltimore MD 21218 given, Gorbachev seems to be on the right CLASSIFIEDS ............ page 15 Sign"d arliclu express the opinion8 of Uu <ll• tJwrs and not n«usarily those of the arganiza· track. ti.cm. DEMOCRATIC LEFT 2 JAN.-FEB. 1988 EDITORIAL Democratic Candidates Need A Progressive Program rogram, the cynical wisdom One of the reasons why program has only Democrat who has come up with a says, makes no difference in to count in this election is that the people comprehensive response to the national American presidential ~ l ec­ sense that something is wrong. Events plight, which includes full employment tions. like the stock market crash have broken based on redistributive justice, and Third Most of the time, alas, the Reagan spell. But although the system World development as a means of solving Pthere is a rough, real-world truth to that is in crisis - the.stock market crash; pri­ problems in the rich and poor lands. That is attitude. Most of the time, Democrats and vate, corporate, and international debt; why the DSA Political Action Committee Republicans are not arguing about basic the multinationalization of the world eco­ voted to endorse Jackson at its December principles and new directions but about nomy; and so on - there is no assurance meeting. whether there will be a progressive or that this will be obvious to the voters on Paul Simon supports an excellent full reactionary version of a common con­ election day in 1988. employment program - and persists in a sensus. If a recession begins this spring, reactionary commitment to a balanced If this were just another standard which is possible but by no means certain, budget amendment. He is also, however, election, we socialists would be denounc­ the Democrats can build on the facts of the only candidate, besides Jackson, who ing the vacuousness of the campaign but everyday experience. If not, the progres­ has pushed for tax justice. without much hope of getting the Demo­ sive task is much more difficult: to speak to DSA will, of course, be putting all of crats to take ideas seriously. Only 1988 is the fears that exist even now, to show that its energy behind Jackson. But, as the De­ not most of the time. a crisis will come, and to develop alterna­ cember convention recognized, a good In 1980, the most ideological candi­ tives to it. Accomplishing these tasks re­ number of our members and friends will be date in the twentieth century was elected, quires leftist imagination, not leftist bom­ backing other candidates. We believe that in part because he promised radical new bast. all of us on the democratic left have to work departw·es from a welfare state consensus If the Democrats allow 1988 to be a together on program. The time has come which could no longer cope with the furious senior class election, they will lose. They to turn that most derided of political in­ pace of worldwide change. Unfortunately, need program to reach out to that uneasi­ stitutions, the Convention Platform Com­ he was as good as his word. The Treasury ness that is shared by a majority of Amer­ mittee, into a serious vehicle for ideas that has been given to the rich, the poor and the icans. And they also need to have some will both mobilize the electorate and make middle class have been under assault, and idea how to deal with the economic crisis it possible for the next Democratic presi­ America now lives in an economic house of that is sure to break out during the next dent to face up to what is already the most cards. Presidency, if not before. serious crisis of the system since the Great The lease on that house of cards is As it now stands, five and a half Depression. going to run out sooner or later, and quite Democratic candidates are dodging the possibly sooner. fundamental issues. Jesse Jackson is the -BY MICHAEL HARRINGTON Hl ,I'M YOU~ EMfU>YER ANO :I'M 6DVERNMENT. WE HEARD YOIJ WERE STRANDED WHAT YOU NEED ARE GOOD :ro6S, CHILO CARE, 6000 H[ALTH(OVERA6E, FLEXl~LE WORK HOV~, TOB TRAININ6, £TC. .. DEMOCRATIC LEFT 3 JAN.-fEB. 1988 ""' Pamphlets DSA Price A Socialist Perspect n>e 011 A Socialist Penpective on the Politics of Poverty, by THE POLITICS OF POVERTY Michael Harrington with contributions by Barbara Ehrenreich, William Julius Wilson, and Mark Levin­ son. Special bulk rate: $.20/copy for orders of 20 or more. $1.00 _ Toward a Socialist '11teOryofRacism, by Come) West. $1.00 Taking Control of Our Own Lives: DSA Transitional Economic Program. $.50__ by I Fint StePll Toward a New Civilization, by Michael Michael Harrington Harrington. $1.00 __ Democracy & Dictatorship in Latin America. Essays with «>nfnbuhon• by by Octavio Paz, Jorge Edwards, Carlos Franqui, & Barbar• Ehrenreich others. $3.00 William Julius Wilso The Black Church & Man.ism, by James Cone. $.50 •nd Perspectives on Lesbian and Gay Liberation and Mark Levinson Socialism. $1.00 Alterrnitives Pamphlet Series: #1 A Call for a U.S. Family Policy, by Ruth Side!. $1.50__ #2 Democracy & Productivity in the Future American Economy, by Lou Ferleger and Jay R. Mandie. $1.50 _ _ #3 The Common Good: Stalemate or Reconstruction, by Gar Alperovitz. $1.50_ Tax Policy and The Economy, debate between Michael Harrington and Representative Jack Kemp. $.50 _ _ Books Publications DSA Price Democratic Left.. DSA's bimonthly periodical. $8.00/ The Next Left: The History of a Future, by one-year subscription. Most current and back issues Michael Harrington. His most recent work on the {including the annual Labor Day double-issue) avail­ able in quantity. $.50 __ current political/economic crisis. Published at Labor Voice.